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Indiana Mike

Mike Epps

Netflix · 2022 · 58 min

A loose, nostalgic homecoming set in Indianapolis.

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Mike Epps walks onto the stage at the Madame Walker Legacy Center with the loose, hyperactive energy of a man who knows exactly how to work his hometown crowd. Returning to Indianapolis for his third Netflix special, Epps skips polished setups in favor of an off-the-cuff, physical style that feels more like a backyard party than a scripted hour of stand-up.

The most effective stretch of the show finds Epps tackling the pandemic with a practical, self-serving honesty. He admits he was highly skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine—until Netflix threatened to remove his previous specials from the platform, at which point he immediately fell in line. From there, he targets pandemic-era scammers, fake vaccination cards, and the stark contrast between today’s youth and older generations. Epps is at his strongest when he leans into local nostalgia, reflecting on his parents meeting at a club on Indiana Avenue and joking about his own failed attempts at both basketball and drug dealing.

At this point in 2022, Epps was balancing his stand-up tours with a starring role in the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws. That comfortable industry status shows. He is not fighting for the crowd’s approval; he is simply enjoying the homecoming. While the pacing occasionally meanders, his physical commitment and expressive face carry the slower segments.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Flavored COVID-19 vaccines

    Argues that more Black Americans would take the COVID-19 vaccine if pharmaceutical companies flavored and marketed it like drinks, such as 'pineapple Moderna' or 'watermelon Pfizer'.

  2. Pretending not to like white people

    Admits he loves Indianapolis and confesses he is tired of pretending he dislikes white people only when he is around other Black people.

  3. Mike Tyson refusing to return to Indianapolis

    Recounts a conversation with his 'The Hangover' co-star Mike Tyson, who swore he would never return to Indy, leaving unsaid that Tyson was convicted there in 1992.

  4. Overweight cousin getting kidnapped

    Riffs on body types by joking about an overweight cousin needing to get 'forklifted' rather than snatched.

  5. Defending Dave Chappelle and Bill Cosby

    Comments on high-profile controversies, commending Dave Chappelle's boldness while joking only wealthy comics can afford the backlash, and criticizing Bill Cosby for lecturing young Black men on their pants.

How it plays

Tone
Nostalgic, raw, upbeat, and locally flavored hood humor marked by community pride and warmth.
On stage
Charismatic, goofy, and animated; amused by his own jokes and projecting a relaxed, fun-loving party energy.
Pace
Active physical comedy utilizing the full stage, incorporating body language and hand gestures to punch up jokes despite a wandering, sometimes loose delivery.
About
Indianapolis upbringing and local Hoosier culture, COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy, Growing up in a Black neighborhood and Black pride, Parents' legacy and family memories, Past history as an unsuccessful drug dealer and basketball player, Controversies surrounding Dave Chappelle and Bill Cosby

What the critics said

Mixed; reviewers commended Epps' stage presence, charisma, and energetic physical act-outs, but observed that the material relied heavily on hyper-local Indianapolis references that may not translate well to broader national or international viewers.

In the room: Deeply supportive, celebratory, and warm hometown crowd cheering for local references and welcoming back their native son.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: develop.thewrap.com, rottentomatoes.com, decider.com, readysteadycut.com, leisurebyte.com, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

A hometown homecoming special in Indianapolis celebrating his roots and his parents' legacy, attended by local dignitaries including Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Congressman André Carson, Indiana Pacers players, and his criminal defense lawyer from 1992.

Details

Released
Taped
2021, Walker Theatre, Indianapolis
Runtime
58 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Alfonso Johnson
Topics
Before
Only One Mike (2019)
After
Ready to Sell Out (2024)

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