We’re familiar with dick jokes from stand-up comedians, especially male stand-up, but Jacqueline Novak’s 90-minute show about the blow job feels completely new. Get on Your Knees feels like casual storytelling from someone experienced yet distant enough to be a cool authority on it (say, your best friend’s older sister’s best friend), but funnier. It’s like a gossip session about a first experience, except the breathless, dizzying stream of thought is peppered with philosophical thought and points out the absurdity around the language and common attitudes about sex. And as she does so, and as she talks about self-conscious fumbling and unanswered questions, she strides back and forth, in an easy, self-assured way, the way we’d like to feel going into the act.
Comedian Jacqueline Novak delivers a funny and philosophical meditation on sex, coming-of-age and a certain body part in this intimate stand-up special.
Jacqueline Novak meditates on sex, coming-of-age, and dignity in her sensational stand-up special, directed by Natasha Lyonne.
Novak’s special is centered around fellatio, but the jokes don’t feel vulgar or demeaning, even towards the people whose penis Novak is talking about. In fact, she refuses to give names and niche personality details. Her jokes feel more personal as it’s focused on her intuitive, frenetic perceptions about the act itself.
I’m not even going to try to be as funny as Jacqueline Novak, this is great!
