Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats

I've enjoyed past Rogan specials, as well as seeing him live at Massey Hall and other venues in Toronto. You expect a certain amount of meathead nonsense and conspiracy talk which may or may not be genuine. But the thing I've always found grating has now become a constant in this show: yelling everything as though he doesn't have a microphone. I know that's how the show is going to start, along with the cheap pandering to San Antonio but it just never lets up and it becomes draining. And the ratio of actual laughs to applause breaks - excluding the times he solicits it by referencing his move to Texas, Fear Factor, the podcast, is not going in the right direction.

I realize that not giving a glowing review if this will result in the usual nonsense of having labels hurled but I'm not even American, so save it.

There are some funny bits but overall, it's just a lot of energy to try and sell the bits as being funnier than they are.

Joe Rogan was on a show once. He was ok.

Joe Rogan also hosted the show that thought beer and women jumping on trampolines was comedy. It isn't.

When that gig failed, he took over the hosting duties on a show that challenged contestants to eat maggots and donkey semen. Gold.

So I'm not sure what I expected from this "special" (it's special all right; just not the way he wanted it).

It's his podcast. But stay with me. The hook is: HE SHOUTS EVERYTHING.

I guess he watched a lot of Sam Kinison while he was writing this material (another comedian that's almost unwatchable today-he'd be labeled a hack).

This is dreck. Plain and simple. How addicted to right wing conspiracy theories does one have to be to pay for a show that's unfunny and is just regurgitated opinions from the podcast which is free?

The audience doesn't even laugh. And Joe just keeps getting louder and sweatier.

Also, who's your stylist, Joe? Adam Sandler?

I feel like Joe Rogan doesn't actually do stand up, he just yells at the top of his lungs about all the subjects he discusses on his podcasts and makes funny faces and noises in a "daddish" sort of way to add humor when he's really not doing or saying anything that funny. I'm actually a fan of Joe but his last 3 stand up specials have been very... mediocre to say the least. I feel like he has sooo many fans across so many different platforms that his audiences give him a false sense of what's actually funny by laughing at everything he says because he's Joe Rogan and people want to laugh and have a good time with him, which is ok... just isn't good comedy in my opinion. Still a few chuckles here and there. 5/10.

What seems obvious to me is that Joe doesn't have any real friends left in his circle and is surrounded instead by sycophants who are too afraid to tell him that his jokes just aren't funny. I guess it doesn't help that he's mega rich and has a ton of influence in the scene.

The special was bottom of the barrel material that is dated, out of touch, and repetitive. The constant yelling, the bulging eyes, and other overexaggerated facial expressions certainly didn't help make his jokes any funnier.

Also, if you watch some of the reviews on YouTube, you'll find that he actually stole a couple of jokes and even reused a few from some of his older specials.

I don't think anyone can doubt that he's a great podcaster and MMA announcer, but comedy just isn't his thing. If he didn't constantly go on and on about him 'honing his craft and making his jokes fat-free and tight' or constantly mentioning himself among the greats like Louis, Burr, Chappelle, etc., I'd spare him this 1 star review, but the guy obviously thinks very highly of himself. He is clearly delusional about his comedy.

If you want a good laugh, look up Nick Mullen's free special on YouTube.

The show is a blend of him yelling and making different faces, combined with some "alt" subjects. I expected more since his previous material was okay. The performance relies heavily on exaggerated expressions and loud delivery, which can be entertaining at times but feels repetitive. The "alt" topics seem to lack depth and don't always land well with the audience. Overall, it felt like the show was missing the sharp wit and clever insights that characterized his earlier work. I hope he refines his approach and makes his next shows a bit sharper and more engaging.

Lets hope for better content in his future shows.