Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Neal Brennan is responsible for some of the most daring and unique moves in the comedy world, and his new Netflix special 3 Mics is no exception. Each mic represents a different form of comedy: one-liners, stand-up, and emotional stuff. And that last one is the one that really matters.
Brennan can write a one-liner better than the best of them. One glance at his Twitter proves that. Plus, even though he jokes that he did his career backwards, excelling at TV and movies before turning to stand-up, he’s both a natural, and someone who watched enough of it to know what to do (and not to do). So, check, he’s got that one in the bag as well.
Now, the emotional stuff is the key to this special. It will floor you in the best way possible. Neal tells stories about his depression, his family, and his career that are so utterly honest you’re almost waiting for a punchline to come in to alleviate some of the tension you’re feeling in your own heart. But there is no room for punchlines here. It’s just raw, uncut honesty that has maybe never been so expertly used.
There’s a reason why people like Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, and Seth Meyers have worked so closely with this guy. There’s a confidence and an ease to his stage presence. Perhaps because he performed the John Legend-produced show all over the country, or maybe it is truly the world he feels most comfortable in, as he tears through topics such as relationships, sports, and race. He knows how to make an audience feel supremely uncomfortable, and then crack right through that with a joke that will have them laughing not only from relief, but from how expertly crafted it is.
The most surprising thing about 3 Mics is how unsurprising it should be. Of course the guy that was behind “Black White Supremacist” and encouraged Jimmy Fallon to hire The Roots was going to come out with a truly unexpected way to perform comedy. He’s full of unique ideas, and his format here for executing them is refreshing as ever. It’s simple yet deep, funny and sad, and enthralling throughout.
3 Mics is worth experiencing, as it will be a comedy special we point to in the future when we realize the “What’s the deal with…” relatable joke model is evolving to a much more sentimental, truthful state where comedians don’t punctuate an observation with a laugh. Instead, open, honest feelings are punctuated with more genuine, heartfelt emotions. Comedy will always be as disruptive as it is comforting, just now the LOLs are balanced with the silence of feels. And once again, we’ll have Neal to thank for this comedic innovation.
