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Showman

Michael McIntyre

Netflix · 2020 · 62 min

High-energy physical comedy about trivial middle-class struggles.

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Michael McIntyre relies on physical comedy and an exaggerated vocal range to transform the most mundane annoyances of suburban life into arena-sized theatre. His first Netflix special, Showman, treats everyday minor inconveniences like military operations. Getting out of bed to use the bathroom at night becomes an exercise in stealth to avoid creaking floorboards and waking up his wife, who might otherwise start buying expensive shoes online. Getting into a bath that is too hot yields a highly specific sequence on the ‘red skin socks of pain.’

Filmed at the London Palladium in March 2020 (literally days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down live performance), the special captures McIntyre at the tail end of his ‘Big World Tour,’ which saw him perform for nearly a million people worldwide. That global perspective filters into his material here, which includes bits about avoiding sharks in Australia, the vowels of New Zealanders, and the difference between performing for British audiences and polite Americans.

Despite his massive commercial success, McIntyre has often been a polarizing figure for comedy purists who find his material lightweight. Yet, Showman demonstrates his reliable ability to stretch thin premises. He mocks a shark-attack survivor for being surprised to find a shark in the ocean, and demonstrates the frustration of constantly resetting online passwords. His act relies heavily on expressive physical acting and relentless pacing, filling the cavernous Palladium stage with nothing but nervous energy and marital complaints.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Stealth pissing in the middle of the night

    McIntyre describes memorizing every creak in the floorboards so he doesn't wake his wife to use the bathroom, fearing she will wake up and start online shopping.

  2. Australian shark attack news report

    Examines a news interview where an attack survivor claims the shark 'came out of nowhere,' remarking that the attack would not have occurred had he simply not entered the ocean.

  3. His appearance and visiting Hong Kong

    Turns a premise about Asian appearances entirely onto himself, self-deprecatingly examining why he looks different from the rest of his family and feeling surprisingly popular in an Asian nightclub.

  4. Wife finding reversing a car attractive

    Pokes fun at the baffling nature of his wife finding his driving technique attractive when reversing a vehicle.

  5. Accents across the world and Northern Irish sneezing

    Explores New Zealand vowels, performing for polite British audiences versus US crowds, and doing an impression of a Northern Irish sneeze.

How it plays

Tone
Warm, witty, silly, and non-offensive observational comedy centered on trivial everyday life.
On stage
Charming, larger-than-life, self-deprecating storyteller with an upbeat, cheery demeanour who portrays himself as an uncool 'wally'.
Pace
Infectious, high-energy delivery marked by animated mannerisms, jumpy arm movements, and narrative pacing built around suspense and comedic anticipation.
About
family and marriage, technology, international travel, accents and linguistic quirks, bodily functions and aging

What the critics said

Praised for McIntyre's magnetic stage charisma, animated physical delivery, and mastery of crowd-pleasing relatable observational material, though reviewers noted it sticks strictly to his unchallenging, predictable formula.

In the room: Energetic and warm theater atmosphere at the Palladium, with the close-proximity audience generating tight, audible laughter compared to distant arena shows.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: comedy.co.uk, imdb.com, allmovie.com, theguardian.com, pastemagazine.com, shortlist.com, alilbitofeverything7.wordpress.com, entertainment.ie, metro.co.uk.

Backstory

Filmed on March 6, 2020, less than two weeks before COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns commenced, making it McIntyre's final live gig before venue closures.

Details

Released
Taped
London Palladium
Runtime
62 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Chris Howe
Topics
Before
Happy & Glorious (2015)
After
Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special (2024)

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