Not Fancy

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes spends much of this performance leaning into the friction of being a working-class Latina who suddenly has access to first-class flights and red carpets. The stage setup is simple, but her performance relies on character work and vocal shifts. She excels when leaning into self-deprecating humor, particularly when confronting her own hypocrisy—such as wearing Forever 21 to high-end industry events while simultaneously complaining about the discomfort of riding on public trains.

Taped at the City National Grove of Anaheim, California, this 2015 Netflix release represents a transitional hour for the former MADtv cast member. Having established an online following from viral character sketches in the late 2000s, she uses this set to move toward personal storytelling. While the opening stretch relies on standard travel observations, the material gains momentum when she turns the lens on her own life. Highlights include her struggle to learn Spanish using Rosetta Stone, the differences between “cholo church” and regular church, and a breakdown of Latino hierarchy based on cuisine. Her line, “I love Jesus, but I will punch a hoe,” anchors her performance, capturing the tension between her faith and her real-world reactions. Critics noted that the special found its stride once she moved past broad pop-culture references to focus on her marriage, family, and heritage.