Jen Kirkman kicks off her new comedy album OK, Gen-X with a interval joke that will get derailed midway by way of. She makes use of inclusive language to confer with individuals who menstruate, and in the course of the bit calls out Dave Chappelle’s transphobia in addition to Netflix’s tolerance of his shitty views. Because the second unfolds, she riffs on the viewers’s response, in addition to her personal, in a transfer that exhibits simply what an absolute professional she is. Kirkman is accountable for the room (Union Corridor in December 2021, pre-Omicron) for everything of the present, her fascinating presence extending to wherever followers at house are listening in from. It is a comic on the prime of her recreation.
Her first 5 minutes incorporates one other dig at Netflix, taking shot at their willingness to let sexual assaulters go on apology excursions through the streaming platform. Kirkman has two Netflix comedy specials to her title, however in response to a press launch for OK, Gen-X, studio execs claimed that “males in America wouldn’t snigger at her jokes.” This album is in some methods a rebuttal, not simply because she matches in jokes at Netflix’s expense, however as a result of the very best revenge is simply how hilarious Kirkman is all through the report.
After all, OK, Gen-X is greater than a center finger to The Streaming Man (however how very Gen-X of her, proper?). Kirkman explores a variety of matters, from sexism, to smoking indoors, to the idiosyncrasies of cultural Catholicism (punctuated by her hilarious impression of her mom’s Boston accent). Many of those topics are acquainted fodder for comedians, however Kirkman’s concentrate on her personal private experiences, impeccable timing, and masterful joke building hold something from feeling drained. I plan on educating my man associates about her great recreation present “Would two cis het guys say this to one another?” after they don’t acknowledge sexism within the wild.
Kirkman’s finest moments in the course of the album concentrate on her era, Gen-Xers (individuals aged 41 to 56, in response to the Pew Analysis Middle), and the way they’ve been wrongly maligned by Zoomers and youthful Millennials. However her bits don’t come from a spot of bitterness or condescension in the direction of those that deem her wealthy or outdated or a slacker merely as a result of she’s over 40. Certain, she would possibly joke a couple of 20-something not figuring out about automotive cigarette lighters (a private spotlight for me), however in the end she needs camaraderie between all of us who’ve been fucked over by Boomers.
Kirkman additionally takes a chance to debate an encounter with Louis C.Ok. that dogged her for a big a part of her profession. Whereas she wasn’t one of many ladies C.Ok. masturbated in entrance of, he did ask if he might jerk off in her presence. Prior to now, Kirkman’s obtained rape threats for merely saying that an unnamed male comic’s unseemly status saved her from working with him (and Web sleuths subsequently pieced collectively that it was C.Ok.). She’s so extremely courageous for together with this bit in her set, however likely she’s fed up after years of receiving hate from each C.Ok.’s defenders and other people claiming she ought to’ve spoken up earlier (the latter of whom totally miss the purpose). Apart from lastly getting to inform her story, Kirkman additionally crafts sensible jokes round this horrible second as a result of she is simply that good of a comic.
And that’s the very best factor about OK, Gen-X. Kirkman makes her opinions clear on misogyny, numerous comedians’ reprehensible habits, and different topics, however most significantly, she’s humorous. So many comics, Chappelle included, air heinous views about different individuals with out a lot as even making an attempt to make precise jokes (not that that may excuse discriminatory views, after all). They assume that merely by being onstage they’ll say no matter they like (or, as Whitney Cummings would say, “be irreverent and harmful…take you thru a spooky psychological haunted home so you may arrive at your individual conclusions”). However being in entrance of a mic doesn’t provide you with license to be an asshole; it provides you the chance to show you’re humorous. And Kirkman does that in spades.
Kirkman mentions a number of instances all through the report that she’s quitting comedy. Fortunately, she’s not disappearing from the limelight altogether; it feels like she’s retiring from touring, however will proceed to run her podcasts Anxiousness Bites and No Enjoyable with Jen Kirkman, in addition to write comedy in different capacities (she’s a co-producer for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). And thank god (or the Virgin Mary, as Kirkman’s mom would) for that, as a result of Kirkman’s expertise is plain in OK, Gen-X.
OK, Gen-X is obtainable right here on March 25.
Clare Martin is a cemetery fanatic and Paste’s assistant comedy editor. Go harass her on Twitter @theclaremartin.