Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King (2017 TV Special) User Reviews

The authentic American-Indian family, without the accent.

[talhabb · 9/10 · 24 May 2017]

This comedy special is Hassan's best work by far. The use of the screen behind him to aid in his jokes was helpful, and his storytelling is interesting.

I can definitely see how this would not be as funny for those that are not South Asian or have limited exposure to this community, but you have to view this from a different lens to appreciate it's comedic humor.

For South Asian-Americans, it is a validation that their stories are part of the American fabric. For those not from this community, take this comedy act as an educational tour in the intricacies of living a dual life as an American born immigrant child.

It doesn't rely on the classic "Apu-dad Indian accent" humor that Russell Peters is well known for. It is simply a story, and one that is told excellently.

By the end of it, maybe you'll see that his goal isn't necessarily to Americanize his experience, but to share it as authentically as possible. It is up to the viewer to take the humor as it is, and to perhaps see comedy from a new lens.

Awesome!

[horton0913 · 9/10 · 1 June 2017]

Loved it! It was innovative, funny, and personal. The humor and the stories were heart felt and I loved his use of pictures in the background to illustrate his stories. One of the best comedy shows I've seen in a while. I love humor that comes from real life stories. Its more relatable and hysterical. Enjoyed every minute of it.

Excellent story teller

[chocka94 · 8/10 · 5 November 2018]

This isn't a regular standup, it's more an autobiographical sociopolitical commentary with humour sprinkled in. Hasan is an excellent and powerful story teller and he really paints out different life experiences and weaves them beautifully with sharp social commentary. I'm sure a lot of immigrants and especially South Asians might be able to relate to it. He's a good comedian too and the bit is definitely funny but it was definitely more commentary than humour and he doesn't quite have the Dave Chapelle flair of making the set as funny as it is powerful. And imo I think he mischaracterizes Bill Maher and the Ben Affleck fiasco but still a very good set overall.

A different kind of stand-up show

[throwntosafety · 24 May 2017]

This is more of a one-man show than your typical stand-up comedy special. Instead of 25 different bits, Hasan tells different stories about his life, both hilarious and heartbreaking. It wouldn't work if his storytelling ability wasn't so brilliant, but his timing and ability to connect with the audience at each point are spot on. Even if you didn't grow up with immigrant parents, anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will identify with his stories.

A Comedy for the "Others" in the White Suburb

[heathcliff1019 · 10/10 · 25 May 2017]

Someone once said that satire occurs when one faces an absurdly unjust scenario that can't be changed but only laughed at. For those who find Homecoming King boring, the white suburbia must've been a perfectly normal place to be themselves. So congrats for not being able to enjoy the show.

For those of us who have different skin color and are possibly immigrants, Hassan Minhaj told our similar experience with veracity and gut. Being the "others" has helped colored immigrants developed a third-person's perspective to look at ourselves, or specifically the ability to see ourselves as the exotic and foreign creatures from white people's perspective. If you don't find Hassan Funny, probably you've looked at yourselves in the first perspective your whole life.

As a Chinese immigrant who went to high school in the suburbs, I'm drawn to Hassan's story even though I know little of Indian culture. After all, who doesn't have that "white princess(or prince)" complex?

VERY good! Hasan has a bright future.

[SteverB · 10/10 · 1 June 2017]

You would have to be EXTREMELY humor-challenged if you find this stand-up special boring and/or unfunny. Many, many comics mine their lives for stand- up material and Minhaj does so with a realness that you seldom hear. To be able to take an audience from side-splitting laughter to tears with just a turn of phrase is astounding and Minhaj does so with aplomb. For the record, I'm lily-white and have almost no experience with the Indian/Muslim community. Those here that only watched "2-3 minutes" and then shut it off, you do yourself a disservice by not allowing different views than your own to enter your heads. Don't miss this!

Not your typical stand up special, But special nonetheless!

[codybyarber · 10/10 · 8 February 2018]

This show is awesome! Not your typical stand up special, but Hasan has constructed a fantastic way to tell his story that is both hilarious and touching at the same time.

Try to ignore the zero star reviews from racist Fox News viewers.

Not your average stand-up

[natygance · 10/10 · 13 May 2018]

Even though I am white and only immigrated to the US when I was 27, I found Hasan's story extremely compelling and relatable. He is not only extremely funny, but a superb storyteller that keeps his audience engaged and entertained. The show has plenty of moments when you laugh your butt off while also giving important lessons through personal experience about life, love, bigotry, and trying to learn from our mistakes. I really, really hope we get to see more from this amazing comedian and I feel very sorry for the people who gave this 1 star.

Not What You Expected!

[hdzenis · 10/10 · 17 June 2017]

I just finished watching this Netflix show and all I can say is "AMAZING". It's original, smart, important. it's a MUST WATCH. Hasan is a genius for making this show the way it is. Some parts are even sad, but that's the part that makes this comedy special so different and special. He talks about racism in a very melodramatic way but don't get me wrong, it's still very funny and all the way entertaining.

Minhaj at his Best

[halim-12043 · 10/10 · 6 June 2017]

I'm always optimistic about the future of stand-up comedy and what Minhaj has presented here with Homecoming King is nothing short of excellent. He delivers the emotional tone a stand-up of this sort deserves, but he also had the brilliance to make this extremely funny as well. I will be watching more of him in the near future if decides to continue this route. Well done to him.

Is quite entertaining if you are brown

[gopijahi_551 · 7/10 · 27 May 2017]

Let me start off by saying, I'm a brown Immigrant kid in US. And, I got to say we don't have many Indian/Brown Comedians up here. So, when I heard Hasan has a new special coming up, I was quite excited. He is not the Best correspondent in Daily show, but he gets the job done quite well. His pieces are usually entertaining, not saying he is bad, but he is quite adequate compared to others. He definitely is in my top 5 correspondents after Oliver, Colbert, Carrell and Sam. It's not that he is not funny, but not upto his peers level, that is it. OK, enough of the rambling about Daily show. But, this special is purely entertaining only if you can relate. And, you can relate only if you are a Brown Immigrant kid. As I am the picture boy of that club, I was extremely satisfied with this special. It's not all belly laughs, but quite entertaining. All I got to say is, if you are a Brown kid, check it out and you may go back to your younger days with this guy. If you are not a Brown kid, you may see his points, but don't get the inner feel of that point. So, you may like or not like it. No guarantees. Watch for yourself and find out if this is upto your standard or not. But, for me, I liked it and will watch again soon. Good job, man.

Minhaj is special

[nemlemdi · 10/10 · 7 June 2017]

I think I have found my hero. This stand-up was some what of a prophecy to me, I myself am a first generation, brown, American Muslim so this stand was extremely relatable. I feel like I have gone through the same struggles as Minhaj did growing up with relationships and parents. This stand-up inspires me to be like Minhaj, but all in all, Hasan Minhaj is truly on the come-up to be a star!

Legendary

[omerskyhook · 7/10 · 3 August 2018]

Omg this was so good so different so haunting wow just wow

Most ppl won't enjoy it

[rorisshe · 5/10 · 16 June 2023]

Laughter is involuntary - you body/brain either does it or it does not. This special didn't make me laugh. It's not bad - but not great either.

To me "Homecoming King" is a stand-up version of an Arby's roast-beef sandwich. The writing is okay, the presentation is annoying/eeek. If you've never tried, it's an option to cross off the list, "Yeah, I'm glad I gave it a try, it's not bad but there are better options". Like Arby's roast-beef the special has its die-hard fans who LOVE it and keep coming back for more, but for most ppl this is not a great way to spend the evening.

However, "Homecoming king" IS endearing, I can see how it would make a good, maybe even critically acclaimed TV show.

Energetic, engaging, personal, accessible, and very funny

[bob the moo · 1 July 2017]

Minhaj's recent turn at the Correspondent's Dinner made me check out this special, although I was wondering if he would simply be taking political shots, which at the moment is very much like shooting fish in a barrel. Before seeing him in this special I had quite liked him as a correspondent on The Daily Show, even if he didn't manage to break out of the shadow of some better than him – plus if memory serves me, he came in at the end of Stewart's time, which was not long before I stopped being a regular viewer. All that said, I was surprised by how much and how consistently I enjoyed this special.

Delivered in his hometown, Minhaj has constructed a personal show that moves through a lot of ground, that serves as somewhat of an emotional roller-coaster, puts a lot of issues on the table, but remains consistently accessible and funny for those such as myself who do not have this frame of reference. Minhaj's timing and polish is of a very high standard, and he makes the show feel really professional and slick, but still keeps that sense of it being an honest performance with freshness and emotion. And it is a 'performance' more than a normal stand-up show. He moves around the stage well, and items such as screens and lighting are well timed around his performance. In the context of a filmed special, I also enjoyed the camera-work, as it knew how to move around him, when to go close etc – it was very well filmed and edited.

Main thing though is that it engages and is funny throughout. Very much one worth seeing.

Amazing, funny storyteller

[trimblecali · 10/10 · 24 October 2019]

This comedy special really just feels like you're hearing someone tell a story. He does an amazing job. Touches on important cultural elements but is still funny. So charming and great I couldn't recommend it enough

Love Hasan's Work But This Takes The Cake

[pomagranite-47694 · 10/10 · 29 October 2020]

Gd I loved him at the correspondents dinner, I loved him at the daily show, I loved loved LOVED him on the patriot act. I was expecting this to be an entertaining 1.25 hour comedy special. Instead, it turned out to be a 2 and half hour long excursion of me laughing and pausing to cry. As an immigrant's kid, I relate to the stories Hasan presents, but I have white privilege, so my experience looks a little different from his. This special was a WORK OF ART and I sobbed for the 2nd half, completely empathetic to his story, knowing what it's like to start from nothing first hand, and also 2nd hand seeing what it's like to be brown. I was not expecting a whole performance but geez, I will be reflecting on this one for a while. Beautiful coming of age story.

Just Excellent !!

[mohammadfaraz-52791 · 10/10 · 19 June 2017]

The perfect mix of comedy and emotions. His story telling style is just brilliant. Also watched his Radio and Television Correspondents' and White House Correspondents' Dinner speeches. He is an excellent speaker. A rising star. Looking forward to see more of stand-up from him.

The best!

[prabhudev-45861 · 10/10 · 1 September 2019]

This show has the perfect blend of comedy, emotion and morals. Loved every bit!

Flawless Victory !!! LOL

[jesbordelon · 10/10 · 6 October 2018]

As a brown girl, I sooooo needed every bit of this! Thanks Hasan. The perfect balance of story and right hook joke jabs and a message that tied it all together. <3

Absolutely brilliant!

[mistyvibe · 10/10 · 12 September 2017]

This is my first time writing a review anywhere. But this compelled me to start. It's really sad how this amazing show went so thoroughly unnoticed. To be able to deliver such sad stuff with the kinda finesse that makes people smile instead of frown is an art in itself. It was funny..and real at the same time. A must watch for everyone.

A great example of a stand-up comedy

[simphiwentshalintshali · 7/10 · 21 February 2018]

I gave you thumbs up because of the following reasons: 1) Your method of delivery; your structure was flawless. 2) You told your truth in a rather humorous manner: Now I had been enlightened by the "Brown" American life, it kinda reminded me of the movie "The Big Sick" 3) I like the way in some parts of your "comic" the background gave us a sense of "saw and tell". For example, when you talked about your mom being like an "IPhone 8" in India (I am not quite sure if it was because her family had owned a camera or her beauty (she is beautiful) or both) your background magically changed to project her photo. Although the same idea was seen in Kevin Hart's "what now?" (which I also loved), Your's was rather built around a true story like-wise. Nevertheless, the shadow feature was also new to me and I loved it as it had that "dramatic effect" also. 4) Going back to the humor part, It was funny; I shared quite some laughs here in my space, but It was pulled down by some pretty emotional parts of your comic to a point that I felt insecure as to either have empathy or to laugh to a joke, If I chose the wrong decision, I kinda felt bad afterwards. Overall, It was a good stand up comedy, and emotional. Keep up the good work!

Hilarious and Thought-Provoking

[fatimalikesbooks · 10/10 · 29 September 2018]

Hasan did a great job mixing comedy with his experiences as a Muslim immigrant. It was inspiring to watch and I would recommend it to all

Gets A Little Preachy

[jmeador-09026 · 5/10 · 28 July 2017]

Although I did watch the whole thing, I've got to say that he lets his personal experiences with the 'bad stereotype' white people govern the direction of his comedy. That got old about halfway through. It just wasn't STAND-UP... it was like a narrative you'd hear on NPR radio, which granted isn't BAD, but it wasn't what I expected (or wanted).