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The Al Dente Special

Matteo Lane

Hulu · 2025 · 57 min

Matteo Lane brings his online charm to a theatrical hour.

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

Matteo Lane spent years building an audience on the strength of crowd-work clips and self-released YouTube videos that felt like catching up with a friend over brunch. In his first hour-long outing for a major streaming platform, he translates that casual internet presence to a theatrical stage, dressed in an unlikely uniform of pink dress shorts, white socks, and a brown designer sweatshirt. Lane leans hard into his personal oddities, skewering everything from Katy Perry’s space-cadet phase to the theatrical overlap between Catholic mass and drag shows.\n\nThe hour was recorded at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica and released on Hulu in May 2025. Jared Lapidus directs, bookending the stand-up set with scripted, backstage sketches that capture the casual chemistry Lane has with his real-world friend group. His material stays anchored in specific, fast-paced storytelling—detailing dating struggles in Italy, a chaotic family trip to Mexico, and the agonizing realities of living with a partner who snores.\n\nWhile fans of his crowd work might miss the unedited chaos of his club sets, the hour proves Lane can structure a larger narrative. He plays to his strengths as a high-society gossip, delivering observations about gay Disney villains, white wine drinkers, and the differences between American and European audiences with the theatricality of a trained opera singer.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Conversations among white women

    Riffs on how white women across HR, PR, Rome gelato shops, and TikTok all sound identical and could finish each other's conversations.

  2. New York Uber etiquette and accident

    Describes New York rules about never speaking to drivers, highlighting getting into a car accident on 39th and 6th, locking eyes in the rearview mirror, hitting cancel, and walking away silently.

  3. Restaurant workers in Italy

    Observes from family visits to Sicily that Italian restaurant waitresses are either gorgeous models or 'E.T. in a housecoat.'

  4. Appearing on a Mexican television show

    Explores embracing his Mexican roots and how the show interpreted his grandfather's history differently than his family did.

  5. Accidentally hiring an escort

    Recounts needing a simple back massage and unwittingly hiring an escort instead.

  6. Katy Perry meet-and-greet in Las Vegas

    Details awkward banter at a casino meet-and-greet, concluding that friends should tease you to keep you humble.

How it plays

Tone
Good-natured, conversational, playful, and candid.
On stage
Down-to-earth, charismatic, self-deprecating, and gossipy; delivers humor framed like catching up with an old friend over brunch, with occasional bursts into song.
Pace
Speedy, stream-of-consciousness pacing filled with tangents and ad-libs.
About
Italian and Mexican heritage, Travel experiences, White women, Uber culture, Celebrity encounters, Gay identity and dating

What the critics said

Decider gave it a 'Stream It' rating, highlighting Lane's friendly, conversational hour and the fun backstage sketches featuring comedian friends that bookend the special.

In the room: Mixed fan responses: long-time viewers appreciated his charisma and sharp humor, but several noted the special felt overly produced with recycled tour material compared to his raw, energetic YouTube releases.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: pro.imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com, disneyplus.com, laughingplace.com, decider.com, tvinsider.com, press.hulu.com, wnycstudios.org, imdb.com, deadline.com.

Backstory

Part of Hulu's 'Hularious' stand-up comedy slate; released alongside his debut cookbook 'Your Pasta Sucks' and in the midst of his nationwide Can't Stop Talking Tour.

Details

Released
Taped
Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, Santa Monica
Runtime
57 min
Where
Hulu
Director
Jared Lapidus
Topics
Before
The Advice Special Part 3 (2024)

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