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Talking Monkeys in Space

Joe Rogan

Spike TV · 2009 · 69 min

A relentless rant on evolution, weed, and the extinction of dinosaurs.

Watch it free on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Before he became a podcasting fixture, Joe Rogan used the stage as a high-volume delivery system for his particular strain of stoner philosophy. The comedy in Talking Monkeys in Space operates like a free-associative rant rather than a structured series of setups and punchlines. He paces the stage with relentless momentum, questioning the logistics of evolution, analyzing the demise of the T-Rex, and detailing exactly why he considers Dr. Phil a fraud. The pivot between discussing heavy marijuana use and the realities of raising a newborn highlights a comic caught between his wilder impulses and encroaching adulthood.

The performance was filmed at the Southern Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, and originally broadcast on Spike TV. At the time, Rogan was still primarily recognized as the former host of Fear Factor and a color commentator for the UFC. The structural choice of the release is unusual. He burns through his prepared material in a tight forty minutes, then spends the rest of the hour fielding questions from the crowd. Reviewers praised the pacing of the main act but noted the Q&A largely devolved into fans yelling about weed and mixed martial arts.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Dr. Phil and his television audience

    Rogan performs a spot-on imitation of Dr. Phil McGraw while mocking his audience and his perspectives on male masturbation.

  2. Fatherhood and infant daughter feeding

    Contrasts his infant daughter's intense sensory pleasure while feeding against the mundane lack of joy adults experience while eating.

  3. Tiger attacks and human instinct

    Uses physical act-outs and vocal impressions of a tiger to illustrate the mind's fight-or-flight panic during a predatory encounter.

  4. Marijuana legalization and anti-pot commercials

    Advocates the cognitive benefits of smoking weed while mountaineering and breaks down the absurdity of governmental prohibition.

  5. Evolution and monkeys

    Tackles anti-evolution arguments, televangelist hypocrisy, and human hubris by reminding the audience that people are simply talking monkeys in space.

How it plays

Tone
Raw, profane, provocative, and philosophically inquisitive.
On stage
Straightforward, blunt, and hard-edged 'pot-head philosopher' who eschews traditional joke setups in favor of passionate, unfiltered rants.
Pace
Rapid-fire, freight-training delivery driven by high kinetic energy, vigorous act-outs, and intense momentum.
About
evolution and Darwinism, marijuana and drug policy, religion and cultural taboos, fatherhood and parenting, sexuality and masturbation, animal behavior

What the critics said

Generally praised for its sharp, energetic, and intelligent philosophical humor, though reviewers noted that the 25-minute audience Q&A included on the uncensored home release slowed the momentum of the main set.

In the room: Energetic, sold-out theatre crowd composed largely of UFC fans and marijuana enthusiasts who actively participated during the post-set Q&A.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: prnewswire.com, imdb.com, allmusic.com, watch.plex.tv, underthegunreview.net, dvdtalk.com, dead-frog.com, themoviedb.org, en.wikipedia.org, pro.imdb.com.

Backstory

Filmed in the wake of the 2008 election of Barack Obama, amidst ongoing national debates over marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage, and shortly after Rogan became a first-time father to a baby girl.

Details

Released
Taped
Southern Theatre, Columbus
Runtime
69 min
Where
Spike TV
Director
Anthony Giordano
Topics
Before
Shiny Happy Jihad (2007)
After
Live from the Tabernacle (2012)

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