Richard Jeni: Big Steaming Pile of Me

July 26, 2005

Rated: NR Runtime: 60 min Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

When Richard Jeni introduced the world to the Platypus Man back in 1992, he made an immediate impression on me. For someone that didn’t look to be very manly, he managed to fully capture the male perspective on such things as buying the ultimate car and even the universal male hatred of love songs.

Richard Jeni: Big Steaming Pile of Me His newest show, Big Steaming Pile of Me, marks his first stand up special in over seven years. I was afraid that he might have mellowed a bit over time or possibly even succumb as so many have to the liberal thought control monster that has infected Hollywood like the plague. While he has, indeed, mellowed a bit, he is still the independent thinker he was back in ‘92 and that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing. That’s a very good thing.

This time around Jeni rips on both politics and religion, and all sides get equal time. His wit is blindingly sharp but somehow he manages to avoid offending the audience which is a damn rare talent these days. It’s hard to figure out what his core beliefs might be, but then again, that’s the way it’s supposed to be, in my not so humble opinion. We pay to be entertained, not indoctrinated!

After the politics and religion bits, he also covers such fascinating topics as proctology, America haters, diarrhea, strippers, Michael Jackson, and more. If there’s a topic out there that will tickle your funnybone, odds are pretty good that he’ll hit on it at least once during the show.

As good as this effort is, however, I can’t quite give it that 5th star. I laughed out loud many times, but not as much as with other shows, such as the Blue Collar Comedy Tour or even Jeni’s original Platypus Man. Even still, it’s way above average and certainly not a disappointing effort. Grab this one if you find it!

Posted by Alex | Filed Under 4 Stars, Comedy, DVD, NR, Richard Jeni