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Oh, Come On

David Cross

Comedy Dynamics · 2019 · 70 min

David Cross rails against fatherhood, colonics, and the Trump era.

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David Cross is not here to tell you that fatherhood made him a better person. Instead, the veteran alt-comic frames having a child as an act of pure, unadulterated narcissism—an existential urge to see more of himself in the world. He brings that trademark exasperation to everything else in his crosshairs, trading his usual political fury for a mix of personal confessions, scatological misadventures, and a familiar contempt for the cultural landscape. Filmed at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, and released in 2019, this hour captures Cross as he talks about raising a daughter with his wife, Amber Tamblyn, while trying to find something original to say about the Trump presidency. Critics were somewhat split on the results, with some finding the political segments exhausted by their subject matter, while others appreciated his technical breakdown of why writing jokes about Donald Trump is a craftsman’s nightmare because there is ‘no reveal’. The centerpieces of the set are a highly detailed, multi-part story about getting a couples colonic, and a series of smaller rants targeting Grateful Dead cover bands, Twitter, and Southern accents. It is a looser, more digressive outing than his past politically-heavy specials, leaning on a casual, conversational stage presence that occasionally borders on self-indulgent but remains distinctly, unapologetically cynical.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Opening pair of shock jokes ('Too soon?')

    Cross wakes up the audience with stand-alone shock jokes before transitioning to discussing new fatherhood.

  2. Unconventional dad jokes and parenthood

    Subverts wholesome new-parent tropes by integrating dark topics like abortion and the Holocaust, claiming he wouldn't bring a child into a horror-show world.

  3. Couples colonic at a spa

    An extended narrative about elective discomfort and embarrassment during a colonic irrigation date with his wife, taking aim at pretentious Santa Monica culture.

  4. Donald Trump grievances and violent fantasy

    After reading a growing list of presidential grievances from a written script, Cross indulges in an admitted crass, puerile, and violent scenario detailing Trump's downfall.

How it plays

Tone
Provocative, biting, wry, and scatological with elements of muffled anger.
On stage
Provocative, cynical, and self-described 'America’s original Southern Gentleman', acknowledging middle-age, bougie compromises while maintaining an edgy, biting persona.
Pace
Understated and languid delivery sustaining a mild-mannered, measured tone even during impassioned rants.
About
Fatherhood and parenting, Donald Trump and political culture in America, Elective medical procedures and colonics, Santa Monica hipsters and faux-progressive culture, Scatology

What the critics said

Jason Zinoman of The New York Times remarked that Cross was 'doing more punching than punch lines,' while John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter noted the special was stylistically straightforward and strongest in its absurdist sneak-attacks rather than extended narratives. Film Threat gave it a 9 out of 10 score.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, comedydynamics.bandcamp.com, nytimes.com, hollywoodreporter.com, chortle.co.uk, imdb.com, ew.com, comedydynamics.com.

Backstory

Filmed during the presidency of Donald Trump shortly after Cross became a new father with his wife, actress Amber Tamblyn.

Details

Released
Taped
2018, The Orange Peel, Asheville
Runtime
70 min
Where
Comedy Dynamics
Director
Lance Bangs
Topics
Before
...America... Great... (2016)
After
I'M FROM THE FUTURE (2022)

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