Tom Segura’s new Netflix special is complete garbage, I’ll come up with a suitable title when I calm down
Author: Robert Skuch Published
If you spend any amount of time on Reddit, follow comedy, or listen to podcasts, you probably already know that Tom Segura’s name isn’t always greeted with enthusiasm these days. Much of the animosity stems from a 2023 Twitter tirade about “poor people” he posted after a bad experience at an airport, and you can tell by some of the negative comments about his latest Netflix special, teacherfrom people who simply don’t want to see him succeed based on that alone.
While I admit he was a bit extreme when he made these comments, I never took them to heart, even though I may be among what he calls poor people. I come from a middle-class family and I still occupy a middle-class position. The problem is that the middle class is rapidly disintegrating, and the gap between those who are doing their best and those who are extremely wealthy is only growing wider, which rightly infuriates people. Whenever I make a major purchase, I figure out exactly how much time it will take me to buy the thing, and that’s how I decide if it’s worth it. This is how many people operate. Comedians also speak to shock, so there’s no need to take them seriously.
A lot of the anger against Tom Segura stems from his controversial hot mic moments on his podcast and social media, which has resulted in some comment bombing teacher. But we don’t need to know too much about why teacher It currently has an approval rating of 9% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter. The reason it performed so poorly is much simpler. This isn’t funny at all.
Let art speak for itself
I completely understand why a large number of people who are trying to get ahead in life are upset by the “I’m rich and therefore better than you” image that Segura has projected over the past few years. But let’s get down to the practical stuff. Tom Segura’s rise in popularity didn’t happen purely through luck. He broke through because of his observational humor, storytelling, and cynical worldview, traits that most up-and-coming cartoonists share when they’re hungry and actively playing the game.
They live on the road, performing hundreds of shows a year, honing their craft, and hoping they’ll eventually experience the big break that many aspiring comedians strive for. While Segura has found great success with podcasts and Netflix, his lifestyle makes his observations less relatable to the average person, but I don’t think that’s the reason teacher This is his weakest one-hour special to date.
Dave Chappelle is worth millions, but he’s still a master storyteller. Bill Burr was a huge success, but his confessional remarks about family life and managing anger remain universally concerning. Wealth alone doesn’t ruin comedy. Complacency does. Case Highlights: Tom Segura went to private school, but his early specials were his best work.
Are podcasts ruining stand-up comedy?
teacherA Rotten Tomatoes user review that says “Tom Segura is about as funny as staring at a dog’s ass” falls into a different category entirely. It points to a larger problem with stand-up comedy designed for mass consumption via streaming. It doesn’t feel like a new moment.
The most common complaints are teacher are many anecdotes dating back to interviews and podcast episodes. It’s become standard practice now, with most well-known comedians relying on podcasts to stay relevant and generate income when they’re not touring. An unintentional side effect is that when comedians spend hours chatting casually about work with other comedians, they are essentially discussing their next hour in front of an audience of millions.
By the time the jokes were refined on tour and eventually filmed as specials, it was no longer fresh material. It feels like something you hear on your commute repackaged, now with the added video component of a man standing in front of a microphone.
My biggest problem is teacher The storytelling element that originally drew me to Segura’s stand-up comedy is almost completely gone. Instead, the specials feel like a loose collection of unrelated anecdotes, ranging from family life to documentaries about Hitler’s doping abuse to more stories about shitting his pants. Most of the jokes follow a standard setup and punchline structure, which is perfect in theory, but rarely has any meaningful payoff.
2018 shamefulOn the other hand, it features In-N-Out Burger’s excellent setting, which is briefly introduced early on and then revisited much later with an unexpected payoff in a completely different section. This level of craftsmanship does not exist in teacher. Here, each joke feels like a stand-alone joke, with no connective tissue or satisfying escalation from one segment to the next.
Do other projects take priority?
I still have Segura’s first three Netflix specials, completely normal, mainly storiesand shamefulrotate regularly. I still yell “Bike!” and call my wife a “hillbilly” every chance I get. i learned Steven Seagal: Enforcer because completely normalI highly recommend everyone to watch this series.
I hate to say it, but ball pig, Sledgehammer,Now, teacherjust doesn’t hit the ball the same way or have the same staying power. Despite the mixed reactions, I really enjoyed it bad idealargely because many of its sketches feel like fully realized extensions of jokes from earlier specials. You can tell a lot of care was put into the production and the cast and crew put a lot of effort into making something memorable.
teacherIn comparison, it feels like an obligation rather than a passion project. It looked like Segura was ready to move on to other ventures, but Netflix gave him a blank check and asked for one more hour. I could be completely wrong, but it feels like his creative focus has shifted from stand-up comedy to producing. There is nothing inherently wrong with this.
But for my money, teacher“,” currently streaming on Netflix, received a low score not because of what Tom Segura said offstage, but because of what he said on stage.
