My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres

Saturday Night Live writer and co-creator of Los Espookys, Julio Torres, has an HBO special where bric-a-brac is delivered to him via a conveyor belt that he controls with a foot pedal. Torres then gives you the back story, the hidden secrets, and the drama behind each object. Sometimes these objects have interior monologues which are voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Also, Torres is dressed as some sort of gay alien, and apparently he has the ability to teleport around the stage.

Now, there are exactly two kinds of responses to this description. There are those who will enjoy this special precisely because they are unable to fully understand it. And then there are those who will hate this special precisely because they are unable to fully understand it. Which are you?

No one is doing stand up like this out there. It's childlike yet, smart as hell. His ongoing narratives of inanimate objects are informed by the same dumb insecurities, neuroses and delusions of grandeur that we all succumb to in modern life... except, its a sink! Or a cactus. Or a truly random shape. ( my favorite shape was : "Tilda Swinton's apartment"). And of course, "Los Espookys" is a must-watch.

I loved this show! Subtle, dry humor. Eccentric and sometimes very touching. Has the qualities of imagination sorely lacking in much of today's in-your-face humor. I felt as if I were being invited into a new and magical world, and I hated to see it end. Obviously, from other reviews here, this is not everyone's cup of tea. But I loved it! If you enjoy thinking of things in a whole new way, welcome aboard!

I respect what he is doing, but this special felt extremely one note. That one note was often hysterical, but it also often fell flat. Some people will love it and some will hate it, my opinions were mixed. Either way, I think people should look forward to his future work because he definitely has potential.

I sat through this special- I don't usually leave reviews on this site but I'm trying to save you from watching this disaster. I grew more resentful as time went on. It's not funny. I don't think I laughed at a single "joke". Everything seemed forced yet the audience was in a constant state of laughter. I don't get it. Save yourself and avoid this train wreck.