Michael Che Matters

Michael Che succeeds in this hour by refusing to give his progressive Brooklyn audience the easy, self-congratulatory applause they expect. Instead of offering comforting political consensus, he spends his time poking at the boundary between liberal pieties and actual progress, making the crowd squirm before letting them off the hook with a sharp analogy. His defense of Black Lives Matter bypasses standard talking points, comparing “All Lives Matter” to a husband telling his wife “I love everyone” when she asks if he loves her.

Released on Netflix in November 2016, the special was filmed at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse in Brooklyn. At the time, Che was two years into his run as co-anchor of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, and the hour captured the same casual, slightly contrarian style he brought to the news desk. He wanders the stage with a microphone in hand, dealing in laid-back provocations that target both sides of the political aisle. Notable bits include his blunt assessment of police relations, a routine questioning why historical art depicts Jesus as a white guy, and a dismissive riff on the public outcry over Harambe. He even coaxes a few boos from the crowd by admitting he finds Donald Trump amusing. Reviewers appreciated this willingness to agitate, pointing out that his loose, unpredictable style stood out in a sea of highly rehearsed political sets.