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Please Like Me

Taylor Williamson

Comedy Dynamics · 2017 · 42 min

Awkward observational comedy from a prominent reality show runner-up.

Watch on Comedy Dynamics(opens in a new tab)

Taylor Williamson wants you to like him. On stage, his whole persona is built on a nervous, dry desperation that worked wonders on America’s Got Talent in 2013, where he finished as the runner-up. Filmed in Denver, Colorado, and directed by Steven Feinartz, this 42-minute release marks his first proper stand-up special since that reality television run, capturing a comedian trying to transition brief TV sets into a sustainable live show.

Williamson addresses his time on television early, poking self-deprecating fun at losing the grand prize to a Japanese dancer. He spends the rest of his stage time on standard observational fodder: the sheer exhausting effort of dealing with strangers who talk on airplanes, the mysteries of duvets, his broken-home upbringing, and his lingering obsession with getting a kiss from Heidi Klum.

Because his style relies heavily on slow, awkward pacing and a halting delivery, the actual written material is relatively thin. To stretch the set to its modest runtime, Williamson spends considerable energy on crowd work and off-the-cuff asides. While his physical ticks and specific vocal cadences carry the performance for those already fond of his reality-show run, critics noted that the set occasionally struggles to fill the clock, highlighting the difficult gap between short-form competition comedy and a headlining club act.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Japanese dancers taking jobs away from Americans on reality shows

    Riffing on his experience finishing as runner-up to Kenichi Ebina on America's Got Talent

  2. Getting a kiss from Heidi Klum

    Reflecting on his interactions and flirting with AGT judge Heidi Klum

  3. Strangers wanting to talk to you on airplanes

    Exploring the social dread and awkwardness of airplane conversation

  4. Duvets being the worst problem of all

    Comedic frustration with bedding and everyday domestic inconveniences

  5. Growing up in a broken home

    Opening up about his childhood and family upbringing

How it plays

Tone
Edgier than his television appearances.
On stage
Capitalizes on his distinct looks and voice on stage for comedic effect.
Pace
Stretches to fill time using crowd work and asides.
About
broken home upbringing, America's Got Talent experience, airplane travel, everyday annoyances

What the critics said

Sean L. McCarthy of The Comic's Comic observed that Williamson stretched to fill the 42-minute runtime with crowd work and asides, arguing the special did not show him in the best comic light and that comedy specials often come out too soon after reality show fame. Audience reviewers noted the set felt edgier than his TV work but relied heavily on recycled America's Got Talent material.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: tv.apple.com, tvguide.com, thetvdb.com, thecomicscomic.com, letterboxd.com, gratislydboeger.dk, vulture.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Taylor Williamson was named runner-up to dancer Kenichi Ebina on America's Got Talent in 2013, where he gained national popularity and frequently flirted with judge Heidi Klum.

Details

Released
Runtime
42 min
Where
Comedy Dynamics
Director
Steven Feinartz
Topics

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