REVIEW: Tosh talks back
Comedy Central comedian performed to two sold-out crowds at Paramount June 5
Daniel Tosh doesn’t hold anything back.
Wednesday night when he strode onto the Paramount stage was no exception.
As soon as Tosh took the stage for the 9:30 p.m. show — having done a sold out show at 7 p.m. as well — people got to their feet, clapping, cheering, whistling, screaming.
“I start out by telling people I hate how they react to me,” Tosh said point blank.
Laughter ensued and pretty much didn’t let up for the rest of his hour-long show.
When he’s not filming his hugely popular Comedy Central show "Tosh.0" and touring around the country doing stand-up, Tosh obviously makes time to watch reality television. His jokes took aim at "Storage Wars", "19 and Counting," "Man vs. Wild," "Hoarders" and "Intervention."
His comedic sketches also shed a little light into his personal life. Tosh grew up in Florida, is one of four kids — who doesn’t believe parents can love each child the same, as particularly evidenced by "19 and Counting," he said — is not a fighter, but has road rage, and is a minimalist.
He tackled unemployment, China and Canada, sex and relationships, noting that his show doesn’t get softer as it goes on.
“If we were to hang out in a social situation and you were to say there is nothing funny about blank, then know that I hate you.”
Tosh said he prides himself in knowing there is awful stuff happening in the world and being able to find humor in it. “I’m not going to stop staying bad things.”
Throughout the show he hinted at the wealth and fame he has achieved from doing just that: “Fifteen minutes of fame is an average,” he said. “I’m not up here because I worked hard. I have a gift from God.”
Yes, he’s conceited and crass, but the crowd couldn’t get enough.
And while certain audience members may have cringed at some of Tosh’s jokes, the most embarrassing part of the night was the chatter from the crowd.
People — who more than likely had been over-served — continually shouted out from the crowd, urging Tosh to do certain bits from his show. They weren’t necessarily heckling — which Tosh is plenty used to – but it was obviously obnoxious.
Tosh stopped his act at least three times, getting angrier at each turn, even threatening to end the show early.
“This show wasn’t fun,” he said.
“You guys are the reason Chapelle went to Africa,” he said to the select audience members who felt important enough to interrupt his comedic train of thought.
I was glad to see a comedian speak up and point out that it was not acceptable, and judging from the cheers Tosh got when he said “what is wrong with you people,” I wasn’t the only one.
Cedar Rapids may be in need of a tour redemption, much in the style of the popular "Tosh.0" web redemptions.
While it was great to see the Paramount seats packed, the atmosphere was more appropriate for a sports bar than a newly restored, stunning theater. But I guess you have to expect people getting up to go to the bathroom frequently when you are greeted with a slew of cops on duty and long lines to buy Miller Lite tall boys as you walk into the Paramount.
The show opened with lesser known Comedy Central comedian Jerrod Carmichael, who became a crowd pleaser soon into his bit. He too, with a more laid back style than Tosh, took on clearly controversial topics: politics, homelessness, gay marriage, civil rights, religion, essentially prepping the crowd for Tosh’ crude humor.
At the end of his show, Tosh warned the crowd he wouldn’t do an encore — he doesn’t believe in fake goodnights — and that he doesn’t greet fans afterward (given in part that he gets on average 1,200 death threats via Twitter each month.) He did stop for some genuine sentimentally and gratefulness though. “I had no dreams of grandeur and I appreciate all of this,” he said. “If you watch the show, thank you. Every week I’m just as amazed as you are that they let us put it on T.V.”
In the end, Tosh delivered a night of laughs where nothing was sacred. I don’t think anyone expected anything less.