The Comedian
- Episode aired Apr 1, 2019
- TV-MA
- 55m
A stand-up comedian incorporates details about people he knows into his routines, unaware that every joke results in someone being erased from existence.A stand-up comedian incorporates details about people he knows into his routines, unaware that every joke results in someone being erased from existence.A stand-up comedian incorporates details about people he knows into his routines, unaware that every joke results in someone being erased from existence.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter Samir's first successful entertaining set, it can be seen "The Dummy" from the original The Twilight Zone (1959) episode The Dummy (1962) lying at the dressing-room. This ventriloquist dummy can be seen sitting on a table in the corner. That dummy, as Kumail Nanjiani confirmed to Vanity Fair, is not just any prop, but a puppet from the original Twilight Zone-a piece of set decoration worth millions of dollars, and owned by none other than David Copperfield. The magician agreed to lend it to the show on one condition: the new series had to reference its benefactor in some way.
- GoofsWhen Kumail's character assails Joe Donner, he refers to him as "the last guy up here" when in fact, Joe was having a drink at the bar and the emcee or other comedian was doing time before him.
- Quotes
[closing narration]
Narrator: Samir Wassan learned the hard way that sometimes, getting everything you want means losing everything you love. And after finally finding himself on the verge of becoming somebody, he chose instead to once again be a nobody. In the end, Samir's final encore is a show you can only buy a ticket to in The Twilight Zone.
The episode focuses on a struggling stand up comedian who's given a new approach to take by a more successful comic, but with a warning, and it soon comes to pass that the success he wanted may cost more than he bargained for.
This is a classic Rod Sterling set up. Kumail Nanjiani plays the lead in question and really fits the part. He's believable and a competent actor. The episode is aided by the presence of Tracy Morgan as Kumail Nanjiani's benefactor, Morgan is very effective, I feel since his accident he's more grounded. He carries an aura of worldliness about him and it really shows here.
But, the acting is not the magic here. The camera work and lighting sets the mood well. The story is told in traditional Twlight Zone fashion with some striking differences- it's in color, which still irks me, and there is profanity which caught me off guard. But the hour long run time bugs me the most. It drags a bit, while still being entertaining. The original series' (mostly) half hour format made the tales more savory, I think. More enjoyable. Refreshing. This episode felt very heavy and too long. But, I don't know how it could be reduced to 30 mins and still work.
This was a solid episode that would compare well to the show's past entries, but would be decidedly average in the grand scheme of things. I'm glad they chose this as the lead off entry, it catches the spirit of the classic series and promises more to come. I fear too much sociatal and/or political commentary in the future, but the original series had plenty of that. So, maybe it's only natural that things head in that direction. But, for now, things are off to a good start. I hope for more- and better- things to come.
- jon_carlson-28953
- Apr 10, 2019
Details
- Runtime55 minutes