If you know how comedy shows work and what happens as comedians gain popularity then you will enjoy this special for the masterpiece that it is. Nate is super popular right now and is everywhere. Over the last 12 months, Nates guested on tons of podcasts, morning tv shows, late night tv shows and SNL twice. And he tells jokes while doing these appearances which are from his latest stage act. But critics complains his jokes are "old or reused". They aren't. He's just shared a few jokes recently on the multiple media platforms he's been on.
Yes his delivery and timing seems slower than his previous specials, because this special was filmed in front of a crowd OF OVER 20,000 PEOPLE!! He has to let the laughter of more than 20k people quiet down before starting his next joke. That is going to translate differently when you watch this on your living room couch. Comedians who perform to small crowded clubs have to be loud to be heard over the voices of barkeepers and wait staff, people eating and drinking and the noises coming from the busy kitchen in the back. Luckily volume can easily be edited and manipulated when these performances are broadcasted on TV, otherwise it would appear these comedians are just screaming jokes from the stage. Nate pauses for a beat so that the laughter dies down enough that the beginning of his next joke can be heard by the audience. So of course these pauses are shorter in his previous specials because his performances were in front of theatre size crowds. His timing isn't off. He is just brilliantly adapting and adjusting his delivery to meet the needs of his much larger arena crowd, as a great comedian should.
There are rational and explainable reasons for all the things Nate is being criticized for in this special. Not excuses, but rational reasons. And it is infuriating to see this comedic genius be criticized because people don't understand how stand up comedy works. It's a wonderful show, unbelievably funny and it showcases Nate's brilliant mind. It is hilarious! Watch it! It's Comedy Gold!
I give it 12 stars.
