The Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia, PA, Friday, July 12, 2013
Shown L-R, W. Kamau Bell, Kevin Kataoka, Aparna Nancherla, and Janine Brito
First, I must say I’ve never attended a live stand-up act. Ever. And for my first experience, it was amazing. I didn’t know what to expect, how the whole thing would go down, or who would grace the stage. Here, I was thinking I’d see the headliner and make my way home in under an hour. What I got was three of the Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell writers, and W. Kamau Bell himself, in a set that lasted for a little over two hours with an impromptu Q&A session afterward. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay to meet the comics and drill them with questions about the upcoming new season of Totally Biased, but I got a few good tidbits before I left.
Sitting second row center, I was in a great spot and didn’t miss a thing. Aparna Nancherla was first up with her subtle, quirky, dry humor. Her jokes are ones you think about after the fact and die laughing once you’ve realized the point. Though she didn’t garner a ton of laughs (I could be caught scratching my head at a few of them) I got her sense of humor, and can understand why she’s a writer for the show.
Kevin Kataoka was up next with a booming presence, infectious laugh, and jokes one would usually blurt to break the ice. You know, when you’re the one of the few people who isn’t Caucasian and can feel that elephant in the room where no one dares to say something offensive. If you don’t know how it feels, you better ask somebody! I love it when comics can make fun of themselves by not taking their differences too seriously. As a Japanese-American, Kataoka joked about being accosted on December 7th every year as a kid, as if he were the cause of the bombing at Pearl Harbor. Not everyone can do that.
Janine Brito almost ran away with the damn show. She had me crying at one point because I was laughing so hard. An out and proud lesbian, she began her set by stating “I don’t care if you like me; I don’t care if you laugh at my jokes.” I should have known that would mean she’d be hilarious. Highlights include an engaging story about how she “… learned everything there is to know about being a woman from a Harley riding, bearded, bus driver named Sam,” who turned out to be Brito’s now deceased father. Her impression of him was beyond funny and you could feel the love she has for the man in every word. I would look out for this woman. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Bell, finishing up his set as the tour’s headliner.
If I thought Brito was amazing, W. Kamau Bell took the cake. I laughed, snorted, shook my head in agreement, and clapped along with everything he said. I’ve seen Totally Biased several times so I kind of knew what to expect from the comedian. But I was still surprised by how funny he was during his stand-up routine. Totally Biased’s format isn’t exactly like what you’d expect to hear from the comedian. I think the show is focused more on social media escapades from the perspective of Bell and the other writers, but his stand-up touches on topics more close to home. For example, being black in a city where the total black population is 4%. Oh, the things you learn about San Francisco… He also touched on topics from Paula Deen’s N-word scandal, to the George Zimmerman trial, all things relevant to the black community. Bell didn’t focus too much on anything political and doesn’t label himself as a strictly political comic. He touches on the topic if it comes up, but doesn’t sit around thinking about it with venomous intent. ‘Cause yeah, he could, being a 6’4” black man with crazy ass hair. He’s gotta be up to something, right? LOL!
I enjoyed the show, laughed my ass off, and turned my brother onto Totally Biased. All in a day’s work, if I may say so myself. When the sketch comedy returns this fall, the format will have a few additions to it, but won’t stray from the show fans know and love. The biggest difference is now Totally Biased will air five nights a week. I urge you to tune in to Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell if you haven’t already, and if you can catch the tour to do so. You won’t be disappointed.
Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell premieres in September on FXX. For more information on the show, visit the official site.
For more information on the tour and upcoming dates in a city near you, click here.
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Photo credit: Elle/YEC © 2013 Your Entertainment Corner. All rights reserved.
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