First of all I'm a huge Theo Von fan, but this one just didn't hit like I was expecting it to. The vast majority was just repeating stories of his youth that's has already been done before but he just switches up some names and minor details. I'm honestly surprised he decided to even put this out. Still a big fan and I'll still look forward to watching and listening to his content in the future.
43 Reviews
Naturally funny guy but some lazy material
t-s-tyson-t-s23 October 2021
I saw this material live back in 2019 and it does play better in person with an audience. Theo is a naturally weird funny guy and his podcast is entertaining because it allows him to riff. His joke writing skills are lacking and some of this material is not ready for prime time. There are a few good laughs though.
Way worse than no offence ... by a mile
Morpheus64022 August 2022
What is he on about ?? Just saying words .... Means nothing . I'll just say ridiculous nonsense about ppl that never existed and say words wrong and I'll call that comedy ?? Oof ... some body please realise a funny comedy special .... God do
We need it.
LISTEN TO ANY EPISODE OF PODCAST INSTEAD
qskfcxtnd20 October 2021
This absolutely hurts my heart to watch this special because it does not, in my opinion, reflect the comedic genius whom I believe Theo Von to be.
I literally and often say "this guy is a real genius" to myself when I listening to his podcast entitled 'This Past Weekend'.
He has a way of improvising that is truly unique to him and he is brilliantly witty in a way that one will not find anywhere else.
He is also one of the most genuine, vulnerable, empathetic, warm-hearted, generous and caring individuals I have come across in entertainment. Theo is a person you find yourself rooting for and truly wanting all the best for.
With those things being said, I have to be constructively honest..... 'Normal People' missed the mark dramatically. I honestly did not enjoy it.
Theo sounded rushed, felt overly-animated with his body language, disjointed with his jokes, desperate and generally nervous. NONE of these adjectives and descriptions depict who I believe him to be.
It is tragic because I think his "specials" do far more harm then good simply because for the many people whom are experiencing Theo for the first time via these Netflix specials, these will likely detour them from venturing further into his work to experience the masterpiece that is his podcast and other comedic endeavors.
If you are new to Theo, please give his Podcast 'This Past Weekend' a fair shot (even if you think this sucked) and if you still don't care for it, fair play.
Theo if you are reading this, I love you buddy and commend you for doing this, but if I have learned anything from you it is that openness and honesty with your feelings is of upmost importance. You don't have anything to prove to anyone, just be as genuine as you truly are and you will continue to flourish.
Gang.
I literally and often say "this guy is a real genius" to myself when I listening to his podcast entitled 'This Past Weekend'.
He has a way of improvising that is truly unique to him and he is brilliantly witty in a way that one will not find anywhere else.
He is also one of the most genuine, vulnerable, empathetic, warm-hearted, generous and caring individuals I have come across in entertainment. Theo is a person you find yourself rooting for and truly wanting all the best for.
With those things being said, I have to be constructively honest..... 'Normal People' missed the mark dramatically. I honestly did not enjoy it.
Theo sounded rushed, felt overly-animated with his body language, disjointed with his jokes, desperate and generally nervous. NONE of these adjectives and descriptions depict who I believe him to be.
It is tragic because I think his "specials" do far more harm then good simply because for the many people whom are experiencing Theo for the first time via these Netflix specials, these will likely detour them from venturing further into his work to experience the masterpiece that is his podcast and other comedic endeavors.
If you are new to Theo, please give his Podcast 'This Past Weekend' a fair shot (even if you think this sucked) and if you still don't care for it, fair play.
Theo if you are reading this, I love you buddy and commend you for doing this, but if I have learned anything from you it is that openness and honesty with your feelings is of upmost importance. You don't have anything to prove to anyone, just be as genuine as you truly are and you will continue to flourish.
Gang.
Podcast > Stand up
dr-feelgood9920 October 2021
Theo continually disappoints me with his stand up specials. His comedy in at its peak during his podcast. He is so much funnier when he's in the flow and off the top of his head. One of the best comedians working today. However, when he writes it out (even if he is taking stories that he said on his podcast) and has to perform it, it just isn't the same. He hasn't figured out how to translate his comedy onto the big screen. It isn't just slightly less funny, but it's borderline not funny at all. It hurts to say because I love Theo and think he is the funniest comedian in the world on his podcast. I think Theo would do so much better if instead of a special, he did some sort of show where he got to play off other things. Like improv style where he reacts and talks about funny news stories, videos, tiktoks, people, has guests, etc. Something that is off the top of his head and keeps him in the flow. Anyways, this special isn't very funny, but the comedian is tier 1. I hope he finds his big screen mojo soon because he deserves a bigger following and recognition.
Poor.
OhLawdyLawdy2 November 2021
I really like Theo Von
EricBombardier17 January 2022
I really like his comedy style, his podcast and other podcasts he do. He's a great story teller.
But this comedy special is everything Theo isn't (to me), besides the stories.
Too much pacing back and forth, he spent most of his time one one side of the frame than in the center, furiously walking and talking. Theo is great at telling stories but they need, in my opinion, to be told in a calculated, slow(er) manner. This was too energized and not fitting the content. Jokes fell flat quite a bit. I still give it 6 stars because he's a good comedian and doesn't deserve lower.
But this comedy special is everything Theo isn't (to me), besides the stories.
Too much pacing back and forth, he spent most of his time one one side of the frame than in the center, furiously walking and talking. Theo is great at telling stories but they need, in my opinion, to be told in a calculated, slow(er) manner. This was too energized and not fitting the content. Jokes fell flat quite a bit. I still give it 6 stars because he's a good comedian and doesn't deserve lower.
I mean it's better than No Offense, but that's not saying much
sean78745-596-48808020 October 2021
Theo is funny on his podcast but I feel like he is just too nervous during filming. He has a cult following though so whoever goes to his shows will still participate because they like him as a person. As much as I wanted to like this special more, it just seemed like fake stories with even more zany cartoon like scenarios expanding from them.
MAYBE SPECIALS JUST AREN'T THEO'S THING??
KlingKlongFlive20 October 2021
I'm a HUGE Theo Von fan and watch so much of his content and love it.
I also think Theo is a comedic genius but somehow it just doesn't translate to these "big" specials.
The "white privilege" bit has a way better delivery on the YT clip from years ago imo.
Maybe going forward just film all club sets on a cheap camera and cut out the most brilliant versions for YT.
Also when sitting on a chair/stool he shines more, like on Ari's "story time" or whatever it's called. Absolutely brilliant imo.
Maybe I'm just not into "physical" comedy but it comes off as a little desperate when I know Theo's brilliance is in the quiet more subdued. He doesn't need the flash/bang stuff.
I'm very happy for Theo that most people seem to love this special and I wish him all the success in the world cause he's worth it 100%.
I also think Theo is a comedic genius but somehow it just doesn't translate to these "big" specials.
The "white privilege" bit has a way better delivery on the YT clip from years ago imo.
Maybe going forward just film all club sets on a cheap camera and cut out the most brilliant versions for YT.
Also when sitting on a chair/stool he shines more, like on Ari's "story time" or whatever it's called. Absolutely brilliant imo.
Maybe I'm just not into "physical" comedy but it comes off as a little desperate when I know Theo's brilliance is in the quiet more subdued. He doesn't need the flash/bang stuff.
I'm very happy for Theo that most people seem to love this special and I wish him all the success in the world cause he's worth it 100%.
Just sad
parkerparkour21 October 2021
I love Theo but this was bad.
jl198229 April 2022
I honestly don't think Theo has cemented his standup style yet. He does great on his podcasts where he just lets his mind roam free and comes up with hilarious and witty bits on the spot, but his specials are completely different. I gave him a pass on the first one (with the shorter haircut) because it was a long time ago. I figured he had found more of his style this time around, but unfortunately, I got the same vibe as the first one. I will continue to support Theo in everything he does. He's a heartwarming, hilarious human being and there is no one like him on the planet. I just hope his next special is better.
So dissapointing...
brody_carr28 October 2021
I gave him 1 star for each time I laughed at an intended joke
matty_mushroom198323 October 2021
It is a sad indication of societal standards when I see 10star ratings on this show. Sure they're sponsored, but it means people are still willing to lie in order to waste my time for money.
So I laughed at maybe 3 jokes that were intended and every other minor chuckle was in contempt.
Theo if you have to keep qualifying your jokes with "that ain't me, but:" you might be in denial.
So I laughed at maybe 3 jokes that were intended and every other minor chuckle was in contempt.
Theo if you have to keep qualifying your jokes with "that ain't me, but:" you might be in denial.
Another poor special
vodadik25 April 2022
Are people going to see Theo, the comedian, or do they want to see Theo, the podcaster? Theo is a funny person, but it's time we all admit that he is not a good stand-up comedian. I don't believe there to be any shame in that.
Dark Arts Got Me Torn
NeighborStranger19 October 2021
The Rat King, unquestionably, has all the makings of one of the top comedians in the game. If nothing else, this special highlights the fact that Theo Von is possibly the most unique voice in comedy.
This release is the culmination of years of doing shows without a special being put out(I believe 'No Offense' in 2016 was most recent) & primarily an amalgamation of recollections recounted across endless podcasts in that time. I can only imagine the difficulty of piecing together a performance when you've exposed so much of yourself throughout hundreds of hours of podcasting. Many genuine Theo fans will have heard most-to-all of the tales here(though, even half-hearted fans of his are more-than-content to experience his telling any story-new or old-over & over again). I am certain that-disregarding any podcast work & any potential worry of wishing to deliver a body of work that is seemingly fresh to devoted listeners while not skipping any hits in favor of material too obscure for a new audience-it is the mooost daunting task for an individual with a backstory as incomparably unique(& overflowing with unbelievable relationships/encounters/details/etc.) from birth-to-present day as his to even begin to know where to start-let alone boil down to a tight set that will fit nicely into the constraints of one Netflix special plus fulfill & satisfy both audiences.
All of that said, 'Regular People' is the Theo Von special I waited for-& I love/appreciate it in a meaningful, personal way bc of my adoration for the man/yearning to see him succeed in every facet of his life-but, if I'm being entirely honest, I don't regard this as the special that the 'comedy world'-that has been seen his talent/potential-has referred to as the one they've been "waiting for"-the one that will make all of his capabilities & capacity for comedic greatness evident to all viewers. With his beautiful mind(/soul) & many of best idiosyncrasies on full display, I do believe that his storytelling, cohesiveness, & just many of the quintessential skills that are necessary of any noteworthy stand-up(that he has unquestionably proven to have in his arsenal for years now) are not.
Excluding his brief time as a slick-haired pedophile to an awful soundtrack, I am an immense fan/supporter of all things Theo Von.
Unfortunately, his performance here presented as a kid in a candy shop, coming off as both sporadic & erratic. The above-mentioned gap between proper stand-up releases(adding that, also in that time, he watched as his peers(& not-so-much) put out content on giant platforms, as well as, DIY-features through Youtube with many achieving mind-boggling success-not to mention some names churning out multiple shows) is an obvious explanation for this, in my estimation. His listeners know that he spends more time in his own head than someone who beat Trisomy-21 ever should & he has been oddly diligent about learning/shaping who he is as a human internally (with focus on many more peculiar areas), so it's easy to discern that he was mentally struggling with a few things going into this. On the surface, the nerves/excitement he's experiencing from finally hitting the stage to immerse himself in his craft again for filming of a special after 5+ years(esp. After expressing his disappointment overall for the previous) are palpable to onlookers but, that which lies beneath the artist onstage is a mess of thoughts/facts/doubts/etc. Years in the making, what can't be seen is the struggle with the pressure of just how much anticipation for this next release has built from his growth/ascension as a comedic voice in those years(i.e. Joe Rogan singling his name out for his potential to be next 'top'-few comedians in the game/every podcast his name touches), the invisible pressures/impossible expectations to match the heights of success that specials from Andrew Schulz/Mark Normand/Sam Morril/Shane Gillis/etc. Have reached, his gross-level of irrational, everyday self-doubt that he carries at all times, & so many more things that fans can only speculate on.
'Regular People' is a worthwhile watch for any fan of the craft &/or comedy in it's purest forms. This special, to me, while magnetic & entertaining to it's core, was one Theo Von needed to get out of his system. Similar to someone sexing for the first time after an extended dry-spell. Having seen his stand-up in years past, my best presumption is that the more refined qualities of his stand-up skillset(that comedy fans who may not be well-versed on the Rat King are probably more accustomed to from mega-platform-specials) went out the window in favor of living in-the-moment & having fun.
This release is the culmination of years of doing shows without a special being put out(I believe 'No Offense' in 2016 was most recent) & primarily an amalgamation of recollections recounted across endless podcasts in that time. I can only imagine the difficulty of piecing together a performance when you've exposed so much of yourself throughout hundreds of hours of podcasting. Many genuine Theo fans will have heard most-to-all of the tales here(though, even half-hearted fans of his are more-than-content to experience his telling any story-new or old-over & over again). I am certain that-disregarding any podcast work & any potential worry of wishing to deliver a body of work that is seemingly fresh to devoted listeners while not skipping any hits in favor of material too obscure for a new audience-it is the mooost daunting task for an individual with a backstory as incomparably unique(& overflowing with unbelievable relationships/encounters/details/etc.) from birth-to-present day as his to even begin to know where to start-let alone boil down to a tight set that will fit nicely into the constraints of one Netflix special plus fulfill & satisfy both audiences.
All of that said, 'Regular People' is the Theo Von special I waited for-& I love/appreciate it in a meaningful, personal way bc of my adoration for the man/yearning to see him succeed in every facet of his life-but, if I'm being entirely honest, I don't regard this as the special that the 'comedy world'-that has been seen his talent/potential-has referred to as the one they've been "waiting for"-the one that will make all of his capabilities & capacity for comedic greatness evident to all viewers. With his beautiful mind(/soul) & many of best idiosyncrasies on full display, I do believe that his storytelling, cohesiveness, & just many of the quintessential skills that are necessary of any noteworthy stand-up(that he has unquestionably proven to have in his arsenal for years now) are not.
Excluding his brief time as a slick-haired pedophile to an awful soundtrack, I am an immense fan/supporter of all things Theo Von.
Unfortunately, his performance here presented as a kid in a candy shop, coming off as both sporadic & erratic. The above-mentioned gap between proper stand-up releases(adding that, also in that time, he watched as his peers(& not-so-much) put out content on giant platforms, as well as, DIY-features through Youtube with many achieving mind-boggling success-not to mention some names churning out multiple shows) is an obvious explanation for this, in my estimation. His listeners know that he spends more time in his own head than someone who beat Trisomy-21 ever should & he has been oddly diligent about learning/shaping who he is as a human internally (with focus on many more peculiar areas), so it's easy to discern that he was mentally struggling with a few things going into this. On the surface, the nerves/excitement he's experiencing from finally hitting the stage to immerse himself in his craft again for filming of a special after 5+ years(esp. After expressing his disappointment overall for the previous) are palpable to onlookers but, that which lies beneath the artist onstage is a mess of thoughts/facts/doubts/etc. Years in the making, what can't be seen is the struggle with the pressure of just how much anticipation for this next release has built from his growth/ascension as a comedic voice in those years(i.e. Joe Rogan singling his name out for his potential to be next 'top'-few comedians in the game/every podcast his name touches), the invisible pressures/impossible expectations to match the heights of success that specials from Andrew Schulz/Mark Normand/Sam Morril/Shane Gillis/etc. Have reached, his gross-level of irrational, everyday self-doubt that he carries at all times, & so many more things that fans can only speculate on.
'Regular People' is a worthwhile watch for any fan of the craft &/or comedy in it's purest forms. This special, to me, while magnetic & entertaining to it's core, was one Theo Von needed to get out of his system. Similar to someone sexing for the first time after an extended dry-spell. Having seen his stand-up in years past, my best presumption is that the more refined qualities of his stand-up skillset(that comedy fans who may not be well-versed on the Rat King are probably more accustomed to from mega-platform-specials) went out the window in favor of living in-the-moment & having fun.
Podcast king, horrible at stand up
gounogo21 October 2021
How is it possible to be so funny on podcast but it doesn't translate to comedy standup? I really believe his true comedic genius shines when he has someone to play off of in a low stress environment. His podcats are filled with witty comments and hilarious stories. This special was horrendous. I'll keep watching the podcasts but I'll never recommend his standup to anyone.
Funnier Podcaster But Not A Good Comic
Harry-Anderson196730 April 2022
Is everything alright here?
Theo Von is hilarious as a podcaster. He is quick witted. This comedy special is weak. Poorly written. I really do not understand this. Also Theo Von is funny in his podcast with friends, but solo this guy is not funny at all. In fact he sounds boring in his solo podcast.
Amazing podcaster, and naturally funny. But definitely not funny in this special. Sorry buddy.
Theo Von is hilarious as a podcaster. He is quick witted. This comedy special is weak. Poorly written. I really do not understand this. Also Theo Von is funny in his podcast with friends, but solo this guy is not funny at all. In fact he sounds boring in his solo podcast.
Amazing podcaster, and naturally funny. But definitely not funny in this special. Sorry buddy.
Bored People
RobTortureWright22 October 2021
Probably one of the worst Comedy Special I've seen.
Coming from the excellent Dave Chapelle Special "The Closer" where Dave isn't scared to talk about topics that are being censored and things others even fear to mention, we come to this; a stammering, stuttering mash up of words with zero laughs.
I became a fan of Theo after first seeing him on the Joe Rogan experience a few years ago, and then went on to follow his podcast and watched a few full episodes but mostly shorter clips of him. His style is a bit wacky and he comes up with things that are over the top but for me it was always funny. I don't know what went wrong here but the "jokes" just weren't funny whatsoever. The execution of the jokes was extremely poor with even more of his crutch phrase "ya know" and stuttering that takes away the pace and impactfulness of the punchlines.
Overall I think you can tell by the really low score on here that it's definitely not worth a watch, in fact I regret watching all of this as its a complete bore and I struggled to smile let alone laugh. Avoid this one and instead watch any of Tom Segura's specials, Dave Chapelles multiple stand ups or even somebody like Norm Macdonald who sadly passed away recently but has a great special on Netflix.
Coming from the excellent Dave Chapelle Special "The Closer" where Dave isn't scared to talk about topics that are being censored and things others even fear to mention, we come to this; a stammering, stuttering mash up of words with zero laughs.
I became a fan of Theo after first seeing him on the Joe Rogan experience a few years ago, and then went on to follow his podcast and watched a few full episodes but mostly shorter clips of him. His style is a bit wacky and he comes up with things that are over the top but for me it was always funny. I don't know what went wrong here but the "jokes" just weren't funny whatsoever. The execution of the jokes was extremely poor with even more of his crutch phrase "ya know" and stuttering that takes away the pace and impactfulness of the punchlines.
Overall I think you can tell by the really low score on here that it's definitely not worth a watch, in fact I regret watching all of this as its a complete bore and I struggled to smile let alone laugh. Avoid this one and instead watch any of Tom Segura's specials, Dave Chapelles multiple stand ups or even somebody like Norm Macdonald who sadly passed away recently but has a great special on Netflix.
Skip this one
jvillanuevagon7 March 2022
Theo Von isn't a bad comedian per se, but this work is truly awful and I'm very surprised he put it out as a special. The jokes are extremely formulaic and once you catch on (after the second joke since there's zero subtlety) it's just a long bore.
Better off watching podcast
lousammy022 October 2021
I think being around brendan schaub has rubbed off on Theo ruining his comedic abilities. Unlike Brandon however, Theo is very entertaining both as a guest and a host on podcasts. I found the same issue listening to Chris Delia's special where I like him on podcasts, but not his standup. Weak content overall. Even the crowd there didn't seem to be super into it.
One of the best specials of 2021
ari-298-49706621 October 2021
Painful
volcanonacho-5621920 October 2021
Just not funny
wesl-0719920 October 2021
This just was not funny. Was full of slow rambling stories, and constant derogatory comments about the lgbq community. I normally enjoy the comedians who tell their brand of redneck humour, but there just wasn't any humour in this show.
Just not funny
frittsmelissa22 October 2021
If he did a Netflix special where he was roasting people and things like that I believe it would be better he's not good at stand-up comedy I like listening to him sometimes most of the time he just cries and talks about his feelings and then he gets up on stage and does the same old jokes he gets hung up on one topic which isn't funny and keeps talking about it for 5 minutes.
See also
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