Rothaniel: Humor and Vulnerability

Opening to a snowy city street that could be seen in a holiday movie, Jerrod Carmichael’s third HBO special, Rothaniel, begins by evoking a calm, warm scenic comfort. Jerrod moves through the dark bar/nightclub, scored by the casual chatter of his soon to be audience, and takes the stage. Sitting in a chair with his unique relaxed tension, you can feel that this special will be different. As a comedian, Jerrod doesn’t do much in the way of spectacle. His stages aren’t grand and the crowds are not overly large. Intimacy is the focus. Rothaniel beautifully sets the stage with its opening, and relies on this intimacy through the hour-long set. The setting is familiar, what seems, and then becomes, different this time is how Jerrod uses this intimacy. A comedian who is one of the more thoughtful. Typically Carmichael uses this setting to create a palpable tension that he then exploits expertly for laughs. Long pauses and restarts are a common occurance in a Jerrod Carmichael set. Paired with a patient delivery that creates a wholly unique style, awkwardly thoughtful and simply hilarious comedy. 

The stage is set and the anticipation is high. Carmichael calmly opens the set by encouraging audience participation and establishing a familial environment. “This only works if we feel like family” he proclaims, as he shares a revelation. It seems shocking at the time but is ultimately a Trojan horse for the theme of the night as he continues . “Jerrod isn’t my name…welcome to the show everyone”.  Your jaw drops and this is far from the biggest revelation of the night. Jerrod uses this as a springboard for his tone. The night is all about honesty. Before launching into revealing stories about the origins of his real name he takes us on a winding path through his family and childhood. Here is where we can quickly identify the difference between Rothaniel and his previous specials.

Jerrod can easily be classified as a dark comic. He finds humor in the complicated topics, ones often thought of as dark or taboo. He brings a thoughtful perspective but you often find yourself laughing at things you never expected. It’s a delicate path to walk but he does so with brilliance. He weaves the personal with the dark in 8, his last HBO special, which creates this healthy balance of introspective comedy with jokes. It’s a pure masterpiece. His first HBO special, Love at the Store, is more straight joke telling. There are reflective thoughts on his life but it is far less revealing and more straightforward. His style is the through line between the two very different specials. You can see him honing it through his work, but that patient, awkward delivery is always present. 

While his stage presence is certainly developing in his previous work, so is his honesty. With Home Videos and Sermon on the Mount, Jerrod is mining his childhood and family history with a thoughtful exploration. Humor is a byproduct not necessarily the focus. Rothaniel is the coming together of all his previous works. The jokes and dark humor of Love at the Store. The crowd interaction and thoughtfulness of 8. The familial exploration of Home Videos and Sermon on the Mount, all come together for a mosaic of life experience, trauma and humor. Rothaniel isn’t merely a comedy special, it’s a person exploring themselves with vulnerability. 

The crescendo of this vulnerability comes in the last 30 minutes, where Carmichael reveals his biggest secret. After coming out, the special takes on a more serious tone. Not one of a sermon or Ted Talk, but a tone of serious exploration. Carmichael, with supreme vulnerability, mines every aspect of this revelation. While obviously not new to him, he explores what it means for him to come out. To do it in this setting and the fallout of it. He struggles to accept the love and applause from the reveal. Carmichael leaves no stone unturned, while openly processing. Diving into a more serious and vulnerable place. Jerrod explores the impact his sexuality is having on his family and their relationship. The special finds its emotional core, fit with deep thought, audience questions and long pauses, when he talks about his mom. Laying out their relationship, the complications they now face and how he is processing all of it. What is easily the most intense portion of the special, humor can still be found. It isn’t as intentional as it is early on, but still present. It plays more naturally, which is a unique experience in stand-up comedy. Even in those jokes Jerrod explores further. Sharing that he normally tells a joke to break the tension, and even admitting to a fake laugh. It’s startling honesty, that is coming from extreme vulnerability and it is absolutely incredible to watch. 

Here is where the brilliance of Rothaniel truly is. Jerrod is innovating the art form. He is far from the first to take a more thoughtful and explorative approach. Many comics will mine their own personal trauma to find the funny and even process that trauma. It seems to be increasingly more popular, or at least direct in the last several years. However, I’m not sure Jerrod is doing that. Rothaniel plays out almost like a group therapy session. Jokes are still present, but the focus of this experience moves from humor and fun, to something more thoughtful and intense. This can understandably be a put off for some. Watching a person process complex emotions on stage is awkward and very different from stand up comedy. What may be a put off for some, is a revelation to others.

Rothaniel feels like an innovation on the artform. It isn’t the appearance of vulnerability, it’s the exercise of it. Stand up comedy is an impossibly hard job, which requires a lot from the artist participating in the craft. Often they're  saying something that needs to be said, or finding an observation that allows us to process a complex situation. In their own unique way, comedians have a hand on leading our society. This is exactly what Jerrod is doing with Rothaniel. He is leading us in an exercise of processing complex emotions. He’s doing it on stage, in front of everyone and with everyone. Laying himself bare for us all and allowing for any response. This honesty, unfiltered and holistic, with vulnerability is what we need. It can and will bring us together. More importantly, it allows for us to find empathy in and with each other. 

Jerrod is doing a rare thing in art. He is helping himself while helping us. He is leading us forward in a direction that is awkward, difficult and very necessary. He’s doing it with creativity, humor and an honesty that is truly beautiful. Rothaniel is a masterpiece in the most unique way. It subverts expectations, and then changes those expectations, just to subvert those as well. It is truly inspiring to watch him throughout this special. Then just when you think it's over, with nothing less for you or him to give, he gives away his last secret. Looking up from his chair, meeting the eyes of his audience he says, “Rothaniel, my name is Rothaniel”. With that Jerrod breaks all the tension, and gives us one last laugh. While the sound cuts off and the camera retreats with Carmichael from the stage, we are left with our thoughts scored to a melodic piano and the snowy backdrop outside. A familiar setting but this time we are profoundly changed, and much like Rothaniel we are left to reflect on that.