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Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
If you aren’t familiar with the names James Acaster, that, my friend, changes today! And what better day to get clued-in on this British comedy champ than on his 37th birthday?! There’s a chance you may have seen or heard Acaster do his thing already, as his professional pursuits include everything from writing 2017 autobiography James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes to co-hosting hilarious food podcast Off Menu with fellow-comedian Ed Gamble to portraying a mouse-turned-man (as one does) in 2021 romantic-musical movie Cinderella.
But what Acaster is most known for above all is incredible his work as a stand-up comic. The comedian has spent the last decade making memorable appearances on hit British panel shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You?, Taskmaster, Hypothetical (which he co-hosts with Josh Widdicombe), and The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year. Acaster has also had notable appearances and performances doing stand-up on Conan, guesting on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and baking his heart out on The Great British Bake-Off.
Most of all, however, he has left a lasting mark through his stand-up shows that have earned him everything from four Chortle Awards to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show in 2019.
While you should definitely make it a priority to check out Acaster’s most recent special (which also won him that MICF Award), the Critics’ Choice Television Awards-nominated (and perfectly titled) Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999, you should first celebrate the man, the myth, the ice cream loving legend by checking out his Netflix comedy special Repertoire. The special is, in fact, really four different “episodes” or mini-specials (each clocking in around 50 minutes), dubbed “Recognize,” “Represent,” “Reset,” and “Recap.”
The first three are fascinating, colorful sets each filmed one year apart from 2013 to 2015 when Acaster performed them at the esteemed Edinburgh Festival Fringe (each of which earned him nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show), and the fourth combines both the colors and threads of the prior three episodes, making for an interwoven and clever finished product that will delight all Acaster fans (and well as earn him plenty of new supporters).
Throughout the episodes, Acaster covers cardboard boxes, Secret Santa, witness protection, British museums, and more, so there’s really something for pretty much everyone, here.
Honor James Acaster the way he deserves, folks: by watching his comedy specials and scarfing down ice cream (truly a win-win for all).
