"The Awkward Comedy Show" is a delightful DVD for Grown-Ups

The Awkward Comedy Show is a stand-up comedy showcase. Five comedians are featured, and all deliver satisfyingly funny routines. So why awkward? None of the comics looked embarrassed; they all appear comfortable and give confident performances. The backstage scenes were no different. These are five people doing what they do very well.

 Interspersed between clips of routines are informal interviews, backstage footage, and “True Story,” a collection of animated remembrances from the comedians. This is where some of (but not all) the “awkward” comes in; stories we pull from our younger days don’t always present us in the best light.

 Having seen the edited-for-TV version of The Awkward Comedy Show on Comedy Central, I eagerly anticipated the release of the DVD. Although I would be familiar with most of the material, I expected that it would be more enjoyable because there would be no censoring and more material presented. Was I right? Absolutely! The DVD exceeded my expectations. If The Awkward Comedy Show has a flaw, it’s that it doesn’t give us enough time with each performer. I wanted more of every one of them

The show begins with an animation detailing the birth of stand-up comedy, which—of course—happened centuries ago in Africa. The animation is nicely rendered and amusing, a good set-up for the show to come. Marina Franklin performs and serves as host of a show featuring The Awkward Kings of Comedy, “four ground-breaking African-American comedians.” The Awkward Kings of Comedy are Baron Vaughn, Eric Andre, Hannibal Buress, and Victor Varnado.

 While viewing the DVD, I began to realize whence the “awkward” appellation. While much of their material goes the route of standard stand-up topics, there are areas that are “different,” let’s say nerdier or geekier. They riff on subjects that most comics don’t touch—not because they are not funny, but because they aren’t cool. These four comedians take uncool situations and make them very funny. More than funny. Why didn’t I catch that the first time I watched? Because I, too, am nerdy and geeky (yes, both), and didn’t find them to be weird at all. (What was it Einstein said about us all being weird? Oh, right. He didn’t say anything about that.)

Of the five performers, Marina Franklin is the only female and she assumes hosting duties. Her laid-back delivery brings emphasis to stories about looking for a man, the gentrification of Harlem, checking out losers, and being desperate, as well as some of her experiences abroad where she was considered “brilliant.” Franklin explains why ugly girls are better fighters (they’re not afraid of getting their faces messed up, they already are), and demonstrates her white voice. Later she does a funny bit on trying to be “sassy,” and how it just didn’t work for her because she’s not “black enough.” She’s an especially appealing performer with a great repertoire.

Baron Vaughn stands out among the male comedians with his solid delivery and excellent timing. His topics include old school hip hop, mainstream hip hop (“rapping like they’re filling out their taxes”), and a great take on being tested for HIV. He also related a story about his gay roommate, who felt that gays were even more oppressed than blacks (“What’s the difference between being black and being gay? You don’t have to tell your parents you’re black.”), and admits that he is bi-racial; his mother was black, and his father was absent. He talks about traveling, and going to the south a lot lately “which is good because I’ve been meaning to run more.”  and does a very funny piece that involves pterodactyl wings, kool-aid, and crack, but I’m not giving that away. Every moment Baron Vaughn is on camera, we are thoroughly entertained. How good is he? Good enough for me to rewind and watch twice more (the same for Marina Franklin).

Eric André describes himself as arrogant and Bluish—black and Jewish (which is why, he explains, he looks like a Muppet from Sesame Street. He starts his set with a manic impression of stand-up comics, then talks a bit about racism. He’s full-speed hilarious on

Colonial Williamsburg (who’d have guessed?), and over-the top with his own promotion of Wendy’s Baconator. He inspired me to look up the Baconator, which is one pretty gross-looking sandwich; I’m sticking with the junior cheeseburger, although I wouldn‘t mind some bacon on it.

When Eric Andre performed his bit on Colonial Williamsburg, I laughed harder than I did the first time. I found that with every comedian I laughed at the jokes I was hearing again just as heartily as the new material, and I would often laugh out loud, pause and think further on what I just heard, and laugh out loud again.

 Eric Andre’s act included hilarious stuff dissecting movies about weed vs. movies about crystal meth, tattoos, and a lunch-lady routine that was not just funny, but extremely bizarre. The bonus features include a joke he does about hurricanes that is not to be missed!

Hannibal Buress comes across as so laid-back and low-key, that his delivery underscores the humor in his routine. It’s almost as if the viewer must pause and think, “did that man just say that? He riffs on cookies, dating video game girls, “Syphilis is back,” rappers and rap videos, lizards, and one big problem—a surplus of pickle juice in his apartment. You see, when he has eaten all the pickles in the jar, he doesn’t throw the jar away. That would be wasteful. His solution to the problem is a little on the “ewwwww” side. Sort of hahaha-ewwwwwwww. A Flaming Dr. Pepper is his favorite drink, and his explanation of the process behind its invention is entertaining, but only a truly nerdy individual could make the font known as “courier new” laugh-provoking. He’s obviously been “tribulatin’.”

As the last act of the program, self-deprecating comic Victor Varnado is a black albino with a very perverse (and hilarious) sense of practical jokes. I only mention that he is a black albino because he mines a lot of laughs from that fact. He clues us in on some of the things he can do that other black people can’t, such as catch cabs, and he takes on—and nails—television’s depiction of black characters. Victor Varnado, finds humor in some of the strangest corners of society. He mines it in stories about how different the homeless in New York City are from those in other places. He tells of a religious tract he received from a stranger on the street that was supposed to be a letter from God, and develops it into a three-letter series. There is also a hilarious version of his riff on a female body-builder he once met.

Bonus DVD features include an audio commentary, “backstage with the comedians,” “bonus interviews,” “bonus jokes,” and a trailer. Whatever you do, don’t skip the bonus jokes, they are all excellent.

 The Awkward Comedy Show is an enjoyable comedy presentation that shouldn’t be restricted to mature adults. Immature adults will love it, too.

 Bottom Line: Would I buy/rent The Awkward Comedy Show? Absolutely. By offering material that is not a rehash of what viewers will find elsewhere, these comics have produced the best comedy DVD I have seen in the past several years.