Summary
Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer is far from perfect, but when Sykes hits her stride, very few are better.
Wanda Sykes has been performing stand-up comedy for over twenty years, which has earned her the title of one of the 25 greatest comedians of all time. Sykes returned for her second stand-up comedy special for Netflix, Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer.
Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer is a good set but too many politics at play
The start of the set sees the comedian return to the stage to discuss parenting with her French wife, public bathrooms, and why she is exhausted from going high when others go low.
Sykes hits the stage, talking about everything we’ve been through since her last special in 2019. Of course, COVID was brought up, and thankfully, she brought something fresh to the table.
After two years of dodging COVID, it finally got hold of Sykes. Her time in isolation made her realize that she got the freedom she didn’t know she needed from her family. It was a very solid opening; she made it relatable and brought us into her daily life.
While covering stand-up comedy specials, I have mentioned several times that I have a huge issue with people using their time on the stage to become politicians. A massive chunk of this special felt like one giant TED Talk instead of a comedian telling jokes. Over and over again, you think Sykes is going to reel us back in, and she turns it political. It’s frustrating to the point where most will turn it off.
There is a massive chunk of the special that is just that, and while you can agree or disagree with what she is saying on stage, that’s up to you, but this could be saved for a podcast. They aren’t jokes, and I’m not laughing, so please stop with the TED Talks on the stage.
One hilarious thing was listening to Sykes dissect her relationship with her white wife and kids. While she gets deep into the racial divide in the country, she tackles it in a funny way, highlighting how her interracial relationship can bring such an interesting perspective to her life. I would love to hear her wife’s reaction to some of these jokes because they were hilarious.
When Sykes hones in on the jokes, there aren’t very many people who are better on stage.
Her stage presence, over-the-top impressions, and her honest look at the racial divide in a way that makes it funny but honest at the same time. Very few are able to make you laugh and say preach girl within the same joke. Also, her deconstruction of the Democrats and Republicans was spot on.
This special will divide audiences based on Sykes’s political rant, which will cause some to turn it off. However, the special will be for you if you don’t mind the political preaching mixed with some fantastic jokes. When Sykes focuses on the jokes, her stand-up is legendary. If you take out that fifteen-twenty-minute rant, you are looking at a great special.
Fans of Wanda Sykes will be clamoring over this special for the right reasons. While the political nature of the show may derail some of the special, how Sykes blends together her family into her jokes will have audiences laughing for the majority of the show.
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