Aziz Ansari’s new Netflix special, Nightclub comedian, overflows with cynical energy. The comedian tackles hot topics like the pandemic, anti-vaxxers and the election in his tame jokes, dunking on Aaron Rodgers and Nicki Minaj (the latter for his viral tweet about his cousin). He casts a wary eye on the current situation, particularly the addiction to celebrity gossip and social media — he even pulls out his flip phone to show he’s not letting go.
Of course, Ansari may have other reasons for a social media blackout: Parks and recreation the actor was accused of sexual misconduct in an article published about the deceased Babe.net in 2018, for which he issued a public apology. He retired from the public eye afterwards, then returned in 2019 with the stand-up tour and a Netflix special, Currently, in which he darkly addresses the allegations. For master of nothingIn season three, Lena Waithe took center stage as Denise, while Ansari focused on writing and directing the series.
On January 25, Ansari makes a relatively simple return to the television scene with the half-hour Nightclub comedian. The special was filmed in December 2021 at The Comedy Cellar in New York City in front of a small audience who didn’t know he was performing. Ansari relies on tepid humor to appeal to the limited crowd. There’s a bit of a hit about how Ansari, unlike other celebrities, doesn’t own a drinks or skincare business, and a forgettable one in which the comedian reflects on what would happen if Timothée Chalamet were enraged accidentally Asians throwing away his boba tea.
Like with Currently, Ansari forgoes a suit in favor of casual clothes. His laid-back (cleverly cultured) appearance and demeanor add to Nightclub comedianthe relaxed appeal. He uses his time to try to incisively examine the political division of the country. It’s an unusual approach for Ansari, who sits here close to his audience, but doesn’t associate them with his act like he usually does – his comedy is often swag-driven.
The actor makes the case for empathy for anti-vaxxers because “shaming them clearly doesn’t work.” It may seem like a bold stance, but he launches into a story about his own uncle dying from COVID because he wouldn’t take the vaccine. It’s a brief but solid moment. The whole seems much more intimate than his past works; it even kicks off with old footage of him as an NYU student performing at the same venue for the first time. Nightclub comedian isn’t so much a comedic endeavor as it feels like an effort to poignantly reclaim its place in the industry.
Ansari laments the current lack of political energy that has been seen in 2020 to oust Donald Trump. He laughs when he compares the former president’s seemingly entertaining speeches to those of Joe Biden. He also takes a swipe at Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she basically disappeared after her “We did it, Joe” moment which has since been memorized to death. Ansari claims that at least Trump gave everyone content, which has become the most important thing today. In his latest attempt to hold a mirror to society, he tells his audience that none of them are likely to offer the homeless man a dollar because it wouldn’t create content.
The irony, of course, is that Nightclub comedian is exactly that: content. The half hour passes quickly because Ansari is still affable as a comedian, but the humor is bland and empty. He wants to connect with viewers on a more emotional level, but the transparent attempt to rebuild his image feels overly measured and staged, taking precedence over the performance itself.
