Shame the Devil

Michael Che brings his signature conversational detachment to the stage, treating massive cultural shifts and personal neuroses with the same flat, indifferent shrug. He is at his best when poking at the contradictions of public discourse, such as his breakdown of how corporate commercials misrepresent the reality of menstrual cycles, or his extended closing bit on the slow, awkward acceptance of mental health care in Black communities. Rather than chasing theatrical moments, he relies on a quiet, rhythmic delivery that feels more like an after-hours conversation than a performance.

Taped at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California, the 2021 special arrived during a busy period for Che, who was balancing his duties as co-anchor of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update with his HBO Max sketch series, That Damn Michael Che. Released on Netflix shortly after a period of intense public controversy for the streaming platform’s comedy division, the hour features Che leaning into his reputation as a low-key provocateur. He tackles the aftermath of the 2020 protests, American patriotism, and the absurdity of modern leadership with a skepticism that keeps the audience slightly off-balance.

While some critics and fans felt the hour did not quite match the tight consistency of his 2016 release, Michael Che Matters, the set succeeds on the strength of its individual premises. The closing segment on therapy and emotional vulnerability represents some of the most focused and sincere writing of his career.