Sebastian Maniscalco: Is It Me?

He tries hard, one might say too hard and always have tried too hard but his act just isn't funny. Really never was.

His whole act is starting a story, doing some physical stuff and voices and just leaving it for the next one with no real punch lines. Can't remember a single laugh, the most was probably a single chuckle somewhere.... And after all these years does he himself know what exactly he is trying to do? Is it a persona or a poor impersonation? Because it feels a lot like the latter.

I still can't watch him and not get reminded of Dice. But that's just the extent of it. Dice was on a whole other level and sadly even after all these years Sebastian has failed to improve his act above an opening act.

I've been a big fan previously. This one was way, way below past stand-up specials. Bits start and seem to not go to a real punchline moment. Feels like he forgets where it's going midpoint. Sebastian's stand-up has typically been laugh out loud loudly funny, this one was good for snickers. His eyes appear red and many have suggested maybe he was stoned for this performance which may explain how the bits end with a whimper and no good punchline. The greyhound bit just seemed to evaporate after the visual bit, that was all there was? Disappointing. Giving it a 5 might even be generous for me. I'm almost surprised Netflix deemed this to be suitable for streaming, everything felt unfinished. I hope this is not what to expect in the future. Had I paid to attend this show I'd have been rather irritated.

Didn't really feel much like a stand up special. Just some guy who tells stories and is a little funny. Lacked punchlines. Some of the stories even cut short. I was waiting for the Asian punch line and got nothing, it's almost as if he forgot the joke, "it matters he's Asian" then he gets dude tracked by another story and forgets to go back to that one. But the hardest part was the ending. Like a soda can without the bubbles is the best way to describe it. Genuinely bad climax and just random with no point. In all honesty I would have given it a two, but some of the stories gave me a couple of chuckles. But yeah that's about it. No good.

Good grief that's hard to watch. He thinks that making faces, bold gestures, talking like a working class Italian immigrant is funny. The bits have no arc. There's a beginning and then he flatlines. The most forgettable stories with no insight. His observational skills are puny compared to Seinfeld. Someone close to him needs to tell him, don't do that again. I kept thinking of Steve Martin talking to John Candy in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles":

"And by the way, you know, when, when you're telling these little stories, here's a good idea. Have a point. It makes it so much more interesting for the listener!"

The start is poor, he comes in with his usual mentally challenged voice doing very slow, very banal jokes about "my wife / my dad". He's done this countless times, I was hoping for something new and better.

The special picks up steam near the middle, though, and has its moments and fun stories, although not a single one to actually make you audibly laugh, like someone like Bill Burr or Patrice Oneal can...

Sadly the ending is as poor and generic as the beginning, just once again - yet another "my dad" tale that wasn't even a joke, just a story without really a punchline.

It feels about as bad, overdone and generic as Jeff Foxworthy and Jim Jefferies' last specials. Speaking of Jim Jefferies, at least one joke here felt like it was copied from Jim, which is some Inception stuff, because Jim himself is quite the joke stealer. Another two jokes felt pretty similar to Bill Burr bits.

So this wasn't really worth the excitement I felt for finally getting a comedy special on Netflix from someone recognizable and generally good.

I think it's time to change things up, Sebastian.