Ali Wong: Single Lady

I've been a long-time fan of Ali Wong's standup, so I was excited to see her latest routine. This is far and away not her best work at all. It was nothing more than an entire hour devoted to her divorce, and telling the audience (repeatedly) that she's rich and successful, and how she deserves men who can gratify her properly with oral sex. OK, fine for a short while, but move on. I'm not complaining about the raunchy humor; you expect that from Ali Wong. Just be more imaginative with it. Move on to other topics. That used to be what was appealing about Ali: her talent for observational humor. It's almost entirely missing here.

As a longtime fan of Ali Wong, I enjoyed her previous Netflix specials, "Baby Cobra", "Hard Knock Wife", and "Don Wong", and her award-winning performance in the black comedy "Beef" with Steven Yeun. She's always excelled at balancing raunchy humor with biting social commentary and while I love some vulgarity as much as anyone when it serves a larger comedic goal, her latest special, "Single Lady", feels like a missed opportunity. Exploring post-divorce life and re-entry into the dating world has potential, but the material becomes repetitive quickly. After initial laughs at her escapades, we felt like we were being hit over the head with the same punchline again and again. That said, Wong's stage presence remains undeniable; she's as brash, unapologetic, and charismatic as ever, commanding attention with bold delivery and great comic timing. However, lazy writing and lack of fresher material results in fewer chuckles and chortles than I expected, and it's missing the sharpness and originality that made her previous specials so captivating.

I don't really know what to say broadly beyond saying that this is fine, but not as funny as the previous Ali Wong specials I remember watching. She really just sticks to the one topic the entire time, and I'm always down for the concept album equivalent of a standup special, but this one wore out its welcome at a point.

It's just about getting back into the dating scene after a divorce and going through some short-term relationships. On and on and on. I'd complain if a male comedian did the same and just talked about dates with women for an hour nonstop.

I also don't find comedians - regardless of gender - bragging about wealth very appealing because I don't like hearing anyone bragging about wealth. I don't like the idea that it should be something one's proud of, let alone people saying it and then expecting cheers or laughs. Anyway, there were some decently funny parts for sure, and it's entertaining enough, but also a bit underwhelming.

The only interesting observation I can really offer concerns wondering whether this is a standup special with product placement? She references My Octopus Teacher, The Last Airbender, and Squid Game, which are all available on Netflix, and this special is on Netflix. So it makes me wonder. I don't really want to think about Netflix being a brand while I'm watching standup, but it could also be a coincidence. There are references to non-Netflix properties, too, admittedly (like E. T and Ferris Bueller's Day Off).

Imagine being a forty year old adult woman having a child and embarrasing yourself and your family in talking about your promiscuous post divorce relationships in such detail.

Even if it is fiction.

In what universe do you think that your child won't be bullied in school even if it's a private school?

Have a little class.

The problem with this type of "humor" is that it is just cheap, crass devoid of any intelligence.

It is zero uplifting, it is not inspiring it is exactly nothing.

Is this how you want to be remembered by your child?

I get it, sex sells, but were you thát broke that you had to stoop this low?

Lengo en el culo ahorita?

Wow.

Just gross.

I enjoyed her other specials and her new Netflix series "Beef." I loved them and laughed so much I watched them several times with other people. I'm beyond disappointed of the new special. I couldn't even finish watching it. I got no enjoyment watching it. It was literally her talking about having sex with a bunch of men since her divorce. It started extremely raunchy and didn't have any sense of depth in her comedy. I'm not sure what audience she is trying to relate to but it was extremely disturbing to hear all her sexual desires and experiences in almost every joke. While some jokes were okay she still deviated back to being raunchy. I'm not saying she is a pervert but the skit was definitely perverted. I understand the whole single, proud, independent woman mind set but this performance is very extreme. I'm a lover of comedy and love when a comedian can incorporate some sense of depth and intellect in the humor. My opinion but this one doesn't have it. I only gave three stars because her other specials were good.