So, as you'd expect, the media sometimes adapts material from social media and websites. This show is based on a popular Subreddit of the same name, where users discuss conflicts they've had and declare if they're the ___hole in this situation. And somehow Comedy Central decided to commission this Jimmy Carr-fronted comedy game show (I know there's a co-host as well, but I've forgotten her name) and call it a day.
This show completely misses the mark on why the Subreddit is so popular. The whole concept is similar, where members of the public discuss something very embarrassing or awful (normally, really average, normal things like riding e-scooters to work, etc.) and win money if they do. Except, why turn a subreddit into a game show? The whole point of the subreddit is that you are (mainly) not telling this to the public. This is just a bad idea right from the start.
The whole show screams "Gen-Z", and it's obvious. Almost all the contestants featured are young social media influencers, and there are references to things like Nando's to fill in the boot. As for the humour, it's the same forced shock value that plagues other modern comedy shows, including Jimmy making his standard fare jokes he's well known for. Edgy jokes used to be fun. The subreddit isn't entirely about shock tactics, and yet the British comedy scene thinks that's the best way to make a viewer sit down and watch this.
As for Jimmy's role, he doesn't do a great job. He's one of the most popular British comedians, and when he's directed right, he can be the talk of the town on most shows. On this show, he doesn't. It feels like the only reason he decided to even host from the start was that he needed the money and ran for it. I don't even remember if he had any chemistry with his co-host.
My final verdict: Jimmy Carr's Am I the ___hole? Completely misses the point of why the Subreddit is so popular, and shows that the media is running out of ideas (by going to the internet to grab a shameless concept). I don't expect this series to last another season, and maybe that could be for the best! This show is just awful, and it is easily the lowest of the low for comedy shows, even more so than when I reviewed Silence is Golden a few months ago!
