Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh

I really enjoyed this comedy special. Gary Gulman shared what many people go through. He was open about what he has experienced. It was emotional. I laughted and I cried. And that's a good thing. Another reviewer wrote about what a shame it was that his career in comedy is probably over now, and I have to disagree with this person.

I just saw Gary Gulman at the Paramount this November. After 15 min. Of watching his show he kicked myself and 3 of my friends out of his audience. Now, I have never been an outspoken person, nor would I or my friends ever treat another person as disrespectful as Gary Gulman treated us. All we did was laugh at his jokes and agree with his comments. For this, and only this, he walked off stage after reprimanding us to leave otherwise he was done. Not one staff member at the paramount could understand why he acted this way. Apparently, this is a pattern of his and he has a huge complex or power trip. Trust me, I don't need or want to speak to you at all. We got to the venue at 6:30pm and waiting for the opener to get off stage so we could sit. To our suprise, 4 guests took our assigned seats and we were left trying to figure out how to sit without interrupting the beginning of the show. NOT OUR FAULT at all. If this is the way you carry yourself on stage I feel concerned for many more of your audience members. HINT - If you waste your money on seeing him, just know, he does not appreciate his audience laughing or agreeing with his jokes AT ALL. If you do so, he will throw a temper tantrum, not apologize for mistakenly blaming innocent guest and embarrassing them to the highest degree. If you are a true gentleman, you would apologize for the mistake you made. Just Awful.

Its a combination of him doing a live stand-up, after recovering from a mental health issue over a long period of time, mixed with documentary footage of him showing us his childhood home, talking to his mom, some of his day to day life etc. He is definitely funny in the stand-up and the slice of life portions do a good job of showing his life and helping to tell his complex and moving story...all the way from his childhood. I really liked it, for what it says on mental health, while also being strong enough on its own comedy wise. Probably one of my favorite of the comedy specials from HBO in some time.

I just watched this special on HBO because I've been enjoying Gary's comedy routines and am watching whatever I can. While he's funny, charming, vulnerable, and loveable, (with perfect timing), as usual in this special, it plays like an ad for psychiatric drugs and electric convulsive therapy. I know countless people who suffered, or still suffer, and / or became suicial due to the "treatments" Gary supports in this special. Some of them healed when they got off the drugs. Some suffer long-term effects because of the drugs and/ or ECT. I recommend reading the book Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill by award winning journalist Robert Whittaker for a more expansive, scientific understanding of these psyciatric "treatments." I also recommend following the Fb page or website "Mad in America" for stories of people harmed by the psychiatric industry.

I can't find enough words to say how much I love this special. The insights Gary Gulman provides into life in the midst of depression are profound, and yet he does it in an authentic and accessible way that is also genuinely funny. If you or a loved one suffers from depression: watch this. Stop everything and watch it.

One other reviewer here said this is the end of Gulman's career, claiming it's a shame. It may well be the end of his career in its old form, but it's the beginning of something much better. And it's not a shame...it's a triumph.