RELevent
Comedy Central · 2015 · 42 min
A highly physical, story-driven homecoming set in Chicago.
Lil Rel Howery builds his comedy around the rhythm of a natural storyteller who sounds like he is holding court at a family barbecue. He does not rely on setup-punchline structures; instead, he crafts long, animated anecdotes about everyday indignities, punctuated by expressive physical act-outs and vocal shifts. The centerpiece of this approach is a bit where he recounts getting thoroughly bullied and roasted by a group of sharp-tongued teenagers on a Chicago public bus, highlighting how quickly a grown adult can be humbled on their commute.
Filmed at the Vic Theatre in his hometown of Chicago, this 2015 special marked Howery’s first hour-long stand-up release. At the time of filming, he was beginning his run as Bobby Carmichael on NBC’s sitcom The Carmichael Show and performing on the sketch series Friends of the People. The special, executive produced by Kevin Hart, captures Howery just before his breakout role as the TSA agent in Jordan Peele’s Get Out catapulted him to film stardom.
Much of the set is anchored in Chicago specifics, family dynamics, and the chaos of early parenthood. He covers the stress of raising young kids, the financial adjustments of living in a ghetto apartment, and the post-divorce reality of dating again. He also targets the absurdly dramatic, fictitious stories told by his father, and the terror of surviving a bizarrely terrible cab ride.
Vulture named the hour one of the ten best stand-up specials of 2015, praising Howery’s ability to turn neighborhood memories into highly physical character work.
The set list
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Discovering his father was not a medical doctor
Believing his father was a physician for years until learning to read and discovering a certified nursing assistant diploma.
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Getting roasted by high school teenagers on public transit
Recounting encounters with salty teenagers clowning him while riding a Chicago bus.
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Cousin holding in emotions
Act-out of a cousin who puffs out his chest because he keeps his feelings pent up inside.
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Pastor uncle falling asleep
Impersonating a preacher uncle who dozes off in the middle of conversations.
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Losing eyeglasses in childhood
Recounting a parent scolding him about wasting insurance money on his blind-ass glasses.
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Mocking Bluetooth headset users
Joking about people wearing Bluetooth earpieces who lack teeth rather than Bluetooth phones.
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Troublesome rides with cab drivers
Using exaggerated foreign accents to describe misadventures and entanglements with taxi drivers.
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The closer (spoiler). Show it
Kids having no filter / raising children
Reflecting on the differing challenges of raising sons versus daughters and children speaking candidly without social filters.
How it plays
- Tone
- Engaging, observational, and familial, occasionally veering into biting or sharp commentary.
- On stage
- Charismatic, natural performer known for physical comedy, facial mannerisms (such as quivering or shaking lips), and animated impressions of family members and everyday acquaintances.
- Pace
- Signature high-energy delivery that at times fluctuates with slower narrative storytelling.
- About
- Family and upbringing, Parenting a son and daughter, Divorce, Chicago life and hoodrats, Public transit encounters, Racism within the Black community
What the critics said
Praised for Rel's engaging stage presence, physical comedy, and affectionate family characterizations, though reviewers noted pacing lulls and flat accents in his cab driver anecdotes.
In the room: Riotous and supportive hometown Chicago crowd welcoming Howery back with enthusiastic warmth.
Backstory
Filmed in his hometown of Chicago after relocating to New York and preparing to move to Los Angeles, navigating life as a divorced father raising two children.
Details
- Released
- Taped
- The Vic Theatre, Chicago
- Runtime
- 42 min
- Where
- Comedy Central
- Director
- Rich Schlansker, Royale Watkins
- Honors
- Named one of 'The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials of 2015' by Vulture
- Topics
- Before
- Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents (2013)
- After
- Live in Crenshaw (2019)
More from Lil Rel Howery
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Rel Talk
Tubi
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Live in Crenshaw
HBO
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Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents
Comedy Central
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