If you like penis jokes, this show is for you. Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you prefer jokes without male genitalia references), this show was a one night only special.
When I walked into “The Totally Offensive Politically Incorrect Show,” I was expecting jokes bashing our political system. This expectation was crushed when the first sex joke was told 0.2 seconds into the show. I would share what it was, but my parents are going to read this article.
The Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase has been around since 1984, and huge stars have performed on their stage: Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Carey and more. Located on Fourth Avenue, the club has an old-time feeling to it, with a setup that allows audience members to remain anonymous in the back or be right in the action at the front, participating in some of the comedian’s jokes. Though (somewhat) of a hole-in-the-wall attraction, I was looking forward to seeing this show.
But I have mixed views on dirty humor. Sure, it makes people laugh, but it rarely hits at issues in society. Adding a swear word to the end of every sentence will garner a chuckle, but it won’t go past that. It won’t make me think about a problem or allow me to just laugh away that problem.
The night began with Detroit comedian KJ Robinson, whose humor was a combination of dirty humor and racial jibes. He made some good points with these, making fun at the expense of his own Black culture or telling jokes directed at white people. It was entertaining, but as a person who falls under neither of those racial categories, I felt uncomfortable laughing at any of those jokes.
The second comedian was my favorite of the show. Also from Detroit, Josh Adams was charismatic and slightly less explicit with his humor. He also hit at some real problems, telling us about how his young daughter was told by a classmate that his parents didn’t like Black people. His daughter, he said, had the perfect response to the classmate: “Fuck your momma.” The crowd went wild imagining a tiny girl saying this to another person, and it touched on the important topic of how newer generations think and are taught about race.
Jeff Brannan, the third comedian, can honestly be summed up by one of his statements towards the end: “All of the women in this audience will probably think I’m a pig.” Yes, I do, but I’m glad he’s aware of it. Don’t get me wrong — he’s wickedly funny — but I hope some of those jokes were exaggerated.
Robert Jenkins closed the show and did a good job of it. Though the audience had gotten tired at this point, he persevered and also tackled issues of race, telling us about his experience as the only Black employee at an old job. His wit was subtle but recognizable, and this wit carried over to his dirty jokes too.
Overall, the show had its moments, but I wasn’t overwhelmed with laughter, and I left disappointed with some of the distasteful jokes. Maybe it’s my fault for having false expectations, but I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy this show. Was I offended? Not really, but I just didn’t find a lot of it to be humorous.
I learned at the end that this show isn’t what the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase normally does, and I can see why it wouldn’t appeal to a wide audience. Though this show wasn’t my favorite, I’m still planning on returning for another show.
Next time, I won’t pick the one filled with penis jokes.