What’s On: The Jarrod Carmichael Reality Show

Who was that guy on the boat in Poor Things? Was that the same guy who narrated Tyler The Creator’s Album Igor?

I try not to watch a lot of TV; maybe that’s an issue with me committing to something long-term if I don’t think it’ll be worth it. Yes, I tried watching Breaking Bad, The Office, and Friends. I’m sure they’re great, and I’m glad you enjoyed them—just not my cup of tea. I think the last TV show I watched was Normal People, and, you know, I’ll admit it, I never finished it. That’s not the point of this.

You know that moment when you finally connect the dots when you're watching something? You get that feeling of euphoric connection between you and the piece of media; that’s kind of how I feel about watching Jarrod Carmichael and his work. Coming into the scene through stand-up, Jarrod had his breakthrough HBO special “8” directed by Bo Burnham, get his name out to the masses. His dry yet real humor and life experiences help to connect him with the audience in a way I haven’t seen many people do. His topics are controversial in the most abstract way. Saying things like “I don’t care for animals” would usually make me hate someone, but he puts such a good spin on it that you are kind of like, that's horrible, buuuttttttt.... I get it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwcMIYpQg

A couple years ago, before I knew who Jarrod was, I found myself watching the movie On The Count Of Three. With little background knowledge about the story or the actors, I was blown away by what this movie made me feel. It's Very Very Sad to start, but that’s not why I still think about it. Jarrod not only directed the film but also starred in it, really immersing himself in the character. I could see how much he cared for this film. Through this care, he is able to provoke real thoughts and feelings. Have you ever had that moment where you forget you’re watching something? You are so invested and entranced by whatever is going on that you’re just living in it. The world around you could be burning, but the piece of media is so encapsulating that you just don't care what else is going on.

(In all serious this is a really tough watch but also one of the best pieces of cinema I've seen)

The Jarrod Carmichael Reality Show (JCRS), like most of his other content, was unlike anything I’ve ever seen or been able to connect with on a human experience level. With naturalism and narrative coherence the show is able to flow with ease. My biggest problem with a lot of reality-style shows or day-in-life shows is that the people they follow aren’t real. They are always hiding stuff and trying to make more out of their lives than they actually are. Maybe your life isn’t worth being filmed. Sorry housewife Becky. There are certain things they don’t want filmed or don’t get into. That is the complete opposite of JCRS.

The first episode opens up with the topic of Jarrod coming out to his friends and family and the difficult conversations that surround that. He doesn’t hold back; being someone who says what’s on their mind, you get to hear those hard conversations firsthand and see the actual emotions and reactions of the people around you. Not to spoil anything, but he has a real, in-time conversation with someone who he fell in love with and what feelings and problems came with that. From his own issues to diving into relationships with friends and family, we see it all. It feels so fresh and exciting. It doesn’t feel like I’m watching a show; it feels like I’m part of the situation. The episode with his dad is absolutely insane. The way they open up to each other and ask some of the hardest questions I’ve ever heard just shows how free Jarrod feels confronting his father, and that moment of never holding anything back is the best part of this show.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that, due to being overexposed to short-form content 24/7, it’s gotten really hard to focus on one thing. So when I sit down and can really focus on one thing and just let that be the experience, it’s got to be pretty good, right? With only 4 episodes out as I finish writing this, I look forward to seeing what Jarrod does next.

(Fit Insane)