Drawing attention with his numerous stand-up specials and steps into acting, Kevin Hart is now on a quest to find new comedians.
Streaming on Netflix and featuring a prize that is also a Netflix program, Funny AF with Kevin Hart brings together unique talents from New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Kevin Hart is accompanied by famous comedians Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, and Chelsea Handler. Nikki Glaser even joins the show in an episode where stand-up comics are expected to roast American football player Marshawn Lynch.
The semi-finals and finals will be broadcast live on May 4th and 5th, where the winner will be chosen by audience votes, and the final guest will be Chris Rock.
Productions that bring multiple stand-up comedians together in one program generally tend to be quite weak. When there are too many options, the audience’s expectations likely change and comparison comes into play; I believe this directly affects the performers’ output. This situation, which is more clearly seen in live shows, also finds a place in Netflix programs.
However, this competition is not like the others. In each of the three locations visited, 14 stand-up comics compete, and 6 people are selected from among them. The semi-finals will also proceed with 6 people. Those selected shine among the rest, yes, but in this competition, every comic has a unique style and a talent that shows they will move forward even if they aren’t selected. Therefore, it is impossible to get bored during the episodes.
As much as I love stand-up, unless I go to a live show, stand-up programs usually don’t do much more than make me smile. Except for Ricky Gervais, Bo Burnham, and Daniel Sloss (excluding that disappointing last show of his in Türkiye, of course). Yet, in this competition, there were many moments where I laughed out loud, even when the contestants touched on local topics.
Before we move on to the contestants, let’s look at the roles of Kevin Hart and the other famous comedians in the competition: generally speaking, they act as a jury rather than mentors. They fill the idle moments with small bickers and roasts among themselves. And in my opinion, the weakest part of the program, for some reason, is these famous comedians. Their jokes aren’t funny, and their taunts feel meaningless. Especially in the 6th episode, co-hosted by Chelsea Handler and Kevin Hart, it’s not clear at all what they are trying to achieve with their little jabs.
That being said, Kevin Hart does a very good job on his own. He laughs enthusiastically at the jokes, doesn’t throw himself into the spotlight, and accepts roasts with humility. Personally, I would have liked to see Keegan-Michael Key more. Unlike Kumail Nanjiani, he didn’t look like he was being held there against his will; he was genuinely having fun. The same goes for Tom Segura. Let’s just say better choices could have been made regarding the jury.
The favorites of the competition are definitely Usama Siddiquee, who surprises with his charisma; Caitlin Peluffo, who stands out with her coarse jokes and improvisation skills; Olivia Carter, who developed a unique style with her monotonous expression despite being the youngest and most inexperienced comic; and Ron Taylor, who stands out with his unexpected self-confidence and jokes. I am sure these four will make it to the finals in the live broadcast on May 4th.
Winston Hodges, whom I found unexpectedly funny despite his conservative upbringing but didn’t find very successful in the last episode (unlike the jury), and Reg Thomas, who rejoined after another contestant withdrew and showed himself much better, will not be able to progress further in my opinion.
Since we are looking at the audience voting, who will win is a bit uncertain. Personally, I think the race is between Usama and Caitlin. I am also looking forward to seeing what kind of contribution Chris Rock will make to the finale.
I suggest you quickly watch the existing 6 episodes before the live broadcasts on May 4th and 5th. Let’s talk afterward: who is your favorite?
