Summary
Whilst the audience was cracking up, I was disengaged and bored. Simple storytelling doesn’t always make for success.
Comedian Stavros Halkias was named a “comedian to watch” by GQ and Vulture, and this Netflix special marks the standup comic’s second special. In the usual one-hour allotted time, Halkias cheerfully skewers tech culture, sex, breakups, and himself, covering all bases with the hopes of entertaining the masses.
If you’ve not heard of Stavros Halkias, let’s give you a little more info. Halkias was born in Baltimore, USA, and has previously served as a co-host and founding member of the “Cum Town” podcast, which ran from 2016-2022. In addition to this standup, Halkias works as an actor and was recently featured in the Steven Soderbergh-created sci-fi series Command Z. He also starred in and co-wrote a 2024 untitled comedy feature from Queensbury Pictures.
Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal review
The show opens with Stavros running late, coming out of the theatre topless to a bunch of biker girls who have his shirt, saying he’s the best lover they’ve ever had. Interesting, yet weird opening. His show Fat Rascal is filmed at the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, and is a fabulous, classic theatre stage to showcase your talents. We have clips of the balconies with audiences laughing. It’s a beautiful theatre, and the shots show it’s filled to the rafters.
Halkias instantly jokes about his bright white jeans, settling into his set calmly and confidently and moving into jokes about Elon Musk. Whilst I didn’t find his comedy clever or charming, the audience sounded like they were seriously enjoying it. He’s a fun character to look at, with his bright shirt, gold jewelry, glasses, and mustache, like a geeky hipster. I just wish his comedy mirrored this.
His style is simple — he stands and tells jokes in an easy, comfortable way. Underneath some of his gags there are real-world social and political issues. This is what comedy is for — being able to poke fun at difficult topics.
Yet, whilst his jokes were relatable topics his set fell flat. It was low energy, low quality, and didn’t meet my expectations. Halkias has fans and a following but I doubt he’ll stand the test of time, and it won’t be long until he and his jokes are forgotten.
Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal | Image via Netflix
Is Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal worth watching?
The best part was a little section of interjection with the audience, and this made the show more lively. It’s always a risk when involving the audience, but it shows me how prepared and quick-witted the comedian is when they face off against a heckler or play around with a fan. It brings a nice dynamic to shows, and here it was the funniest part of the whole hour.
With a runtime of fifty-five minutes, this and other comedy specials are always worth investing your time in. They are here to showcase talents and let audiences not only get an insight into the comedian’s professional tours but also give you a chance to see and explore jokes you may not have thought of before. Comedy is subjective, after all. However, Halkias’s overly simplistic style isn’t easy to remain engaged with, so mileage may vary.
What did you think of Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal? Comment below.
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