Thirtysomething humor is relatable until you remember that the thirtysomething comedian has a Netflix special.
What it's about
Fresh from a break-up, Taylor Tomlinson talks about what it's like to be the single, successful, and in her thirties among her married friends.
The take
Taylor Tomlinson clearly has more of a writer's approach to stand-up than a performer's, for better or worse. On the one hand, every word in this special feels considered (even those that she has to come up with on the spot during audience interactions), with a cadence meant to draw you towards the writing itself. On the other hand, this means that her comedy can come off too mannered—more knowingly clever than spontaneously funny. It certainly helps that Tomlinson has the energy to commit to her jokes even if they aren't particularly interesting, though; she has a clear vision for how her routine should flow, and that's worth respecting.
What stands out
The times when Tomlinson talks about not quite feeling like she has things figured out hit hard, because you can tell she isn't trying to make a joke out of it. In general, she's quite good at segueing into a more sincere statement without becoming overly sentimental or killing the momentum of her routine. Again, these moments aren't particularly novel, but any way you slice it (and no matter how successful and wealthy Tomlinson is, which she brings up a lot) it's still plenty reassuring to hear somebody echo what's probably been on your mind if you're the same age as her.
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