Under the Influence
Prime Video · 2018 · 64 min
A chaotic Irish stand-up set in an intimate London rock club.
Tommy Tiernan paces the floor of a cramped London club like a man who has either just escaped an asylum or is about to start one, declaring early on that the evening is not a platform for sincerity but a “theatre of devilment.” He delivers a sermon that is equal parts cosmic nonsense and pitch-black social planning. This is Tiernan at his most physical, contorting his body to impersonate a crazed crow, mocking the absurdity of swearing a court oath on the Bible, and offering chaotic solutions to modern crises. His fix for the overburdened health service? Accept that humans live too long and adopt the motto, “We’re not supposed to live forever.”
Filmed at the intimate Water Rats venue in London, this 2018 release marked the first time the Irish comedian recorded a special outside of Ireland. The small rock-and-roll club environment suits Tiernan’s intense, sweat-soaked delivery. At this point in his career, he was experiencing a massive television resurgence, playing the long-suffering Da Gerry in Derry Girls and hosting his acclaimed, unscripted RTÉ chat show. Yet this release serves as a reminder of his roots in pure stand-up.
He pushes into touchy subjects with the confidence of a man who knows how to make the familiar completely absurd. He suggests solving Irish-UK border issues by annexing Scotland on a bank holiday while they are too hungover to notice, and explains that while Irish people remain deeply repressed about sex, “it’s sex worth being repressed for.” He even suggests legalizing abortion up to the age of eighteen, mostly so parents can finally kick lazy teenagers out of the house.
The set list
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Translation of the Bible into English
Comedic examination of religious scriptures and how the Bible was translated into the English language.
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Domestic intimacy and erectile dysfunction
A candid and self-deprecating confession about throwing his wife against the fridge and subsequently experiencing erectile dysfunction.
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Family dynamics and his children
Observations on his sons transforming into Scousers during Liverpool matches and accepting his daughter unconditionally if she were a lesbian.
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Aging and people over 90
Physically animated, boundary-pushing routines addressing the realities and mannerisms of the very elderly.
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Animal impressions
Physical and vocal impersonations of various animals woven into his storytelling.
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Addressing past controversies
Bringing up previous media controversies regarding the Irish travelling community, feigning an apology before escalating the premise.
How it plays
- Tone
- Irreverent, confessional, controversial, and joyous.
- On stage
- Described as a wide-eyed philosopher of love and life appalled by the idea of being bland, carrying a distinct sense of mischief, vulnerability, and irreverence.
- Pace
- Dynamic physical tempo with strong vocal projection across the room; utilizes calculated pauses, sly looks, and engagement with all sections of the audience.
- About
- sex, drugs, religion, family, marriage, aging
What the critics said
Praised as a gripping, joyous, and near-perfect hour of comedy from a comic at top form who never risks being bland.
In the room: Consistently roaring with laughter, responsive to playful audience interactions and crowd work.
Backstory
Personal developments including his decision to resume drinking alcohol after abstaining, and navigating material drawing on his family life and a satirical 'comedy wife' persona.
Details
- Released
- Taped
- The Water Rats, London
- Runtime
- 64 min
- Where
- Prime Video
- Director
- Stuart Laws
- Topics
- Before
- Cracked (2004)
- After
- Tomfoolery (2024)
More from Tommy Tiernan
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Tomfoolery
Comedy Dynamics
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Live
Universal Pictures
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