Whenever I'm commissioned to write about a stand-up comedy series, I make sure to do a little research on the performers beforehand—those I'm not familiar with, of course. As a critic, I feel it's my responsibility to familiarize myself with the style of comedy the performer brings to the set. The reason is that stand-up comedy, in my humble opinion, is a very complex art form and probably has millions of subgenres that many of us aren't aware of. For example, I'll admit I had no idea "working-class comedy" existed before I was commissioned to review comedian Dusty Slay's latest Netflix special, titled Wet Heat.
Slay is an American comedian from the South, and his specialty is working-class comedy. You wouldn't find a clear description on Google (I tried), but what I gather is that it's a type of comedy based on working-class life, like many jokes that are based on situations as everyday as a man buying a bottle of water and having a conversation with the cashier. That's the premise of one of Slay's best jokes, by the way; not the conversation, but what he says about it.
Star: Dusty Slay
The international stand-up comedy scene has expanded beyond just laughter. Thanks to many artists choosing to engage in introspection, self-reflection, and political and social awareness, comedy has become so much more. While I completely agree, the downside is that you end up with a lot of unfunny comedy specials. I've watched countless Netflix comedy specials that I had to sit through without moving a single muscle. While not all of Slay's jokes are perfectly delivered, it's fascinating to see a comedian address the issue of the unfunny nature of his jokes. It's as if he recognizes that not all jokes are funny, and in doing so, creates a new one that actually gets laughs.
Now, going to Slay's set, this is my first experience with the kind of comedy he does. What I can say for sure is that, while I didn't appreciate much, I laughed at at least a bunch of the jokes and chuckled at a few. I take that as a positive sign; perhaps over time, I'll get the hang of it. That said, when someone's on Netflix, it's incumbent on them to create content that's universally acceptable, as millions of people will be trying to watch it. Many comedians adapt to that. In that regard, I can say Slay has done a good job; not that he's especially good, but not that bad either.
One of the things I wasn't convinced about is a trait I've noticed in many comedians: the same problem of overstaying their welcome with a joke. There are several moments in Wet Heat where Slay starts talking about something funny, but after a while, he loses the thread or keeps talking about the same thing. Take the cashier joke, for example. I thought the main joke was brilliant. Slay talks about how difficult it is to make small talk and then criticize himself for saying things when he could perfectly well stay silent. His example is going to buy a jug of water, and as the cashier is filling the jars, he ends by commenting that those jars used to have handles back then.
The cashier is gracious enough to respond, but as they leave the store, Slay criticizes himself for saying something so absurd. It's a perfectly acceptable joke, up to the point where Slay extends it to, "What would the woman think if she watched Netflix and saw Slay (referring to his set)?" The joke could have ended with Slay labeling himself "the water bottle guy," but instead of staying there, he keeps talking about the same topic for at least five minutes. Because of this problem, many of his good jokes devolve into an overcooked steak, with barely a hint of pink in the original tasty meat. I really don't have any other complaints, but this issue is a major one, and despite the fact that I enjoyed watching the comedian perform, as a critic I have no choice but to point it out.
But since I liked Dustin Slay's overall vibe, I'm going to conclude this article by mentioning a few good things that deserve mention. The name of the set, "Wet Heat," is actually a joke, and it's a good one. Slay, as he mentions, comes from the American South, where people often use terms like "dry heat" as if it were a good thing. Slay's title, in fact, contradicts that idea, as it means he doesn't like dry heat; he prefers a sauna-like climate where he can sweat. One of Slay's cleverest jokes on the set is undoubtedly the way he differentiates between social awkwardness and "lonely" awkwardness; the joke is pretty self-explanatory, if you know what I mean.
Despite not being a huge fan of pee-poop humor, I did like Slay's elevator gag where he basically got stuck inside with a bladder problem; you know what can happen next. The best and most original elevator joke is the one where Slay questions elevator brands. He wants to know who cares about elevator brands, as if to say, "Wow, what a cool elevator! What brand is this? I'm going to recommend it to other hotels!" That's some top-notch blue-collar humor; you have to admit. Overall, Wet Heat works because of the vibe and the way Slay delivers the joke, but it also falls flat because of the comedian's overindulgence. Still, I recommend it, in case you're wondering.
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