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Cover image credit: Thumbnail: YouTube · Yannis Pappas

Mom Love

Yannis Pappas

YouTube · 2022 · 61 min

A cynical look at fatherhood and overprotective parenting.

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

Yannis Pappas spent years as a mainstay of the New York club scene and co-host of the cult-favorite History Hyenas podcast before releasing this self-produced hour. He uses his stage time to argue that modern men have been emotionally ruined by too much maternal coddling, a theory he tests against his own new role as a father. It is a cynical, fast-paced set that contrasts the high-stress production of a modern wedding with the cheap reality of taking his wife on a budget honeymoon to Cancun using a voucher left over from his ex-girlfriend.\n\nRecorded at Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin, the special captures Pappas during a transitional phase in his career, leaning heavily into his signature mix of high-energy ranting and pointed social observation. He moves easily from a bit about the absurdity of talking to his daughter’s future class on career day to a run about JFK Jr. conspiracy theorists. Instead of going the traditional network route, Pappas released the hour independently on YouTube, building directly on the online fan base he cultivated through his podcasting.

The set list

2 bits
  1. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Mom love versus dad love closer

    Explores how society has gotten out of balance due to excess unconditional 'mom love' and infinite empathy, contrasting it with conditional 'dad love' that reflects how the real world treats people based on performance.

  2. Having a baby daughter during the pandemic and modern gender exploration

    Riffs on waiting for his child to declare her gender, humorously offering to transition along with her or buy an Elon Musk neurolink dick, while exploring his own boredom with male routines.

How it plays

Tone
Jaundiced, irreverent, observational
On stage
Described as reminiscent of Sam Kinison without the screaming, holding a jaundiced, cynical, and observational perspective.
About
Fatherhood, Gender identity and modern culture, Mom love vs. dad love, Empathy and societal balance

What the critics said

Viewer reactions varied, with praise for his comedic take on gender identity and comparisons to Sam Kinison, alongside critiques that podcast humor did not fully translate and weariness toward jokes about gender non-conformity.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, letterboxd.com, cinetvlocations.com, fight.fudgie.org, en.wikipedia.org, yannispappascomedy.com.

Backstory

Fatherhood following the birth of his first daughter during the pandemic, alongside navigating modern social attitudes regarding empathy and gender identity.

Details

Released
Taped
Comedy on State, Madison
Runtime
61 min
Where
YouTube
Director
Angelo Lozada
Topics
Before
Moments of Wonder (2022)
After
Property Owner (2025)

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