Dont be gay

It’s been three years since Jerrod Carmichael came out publicly in his Emmy-winning comedy special “Rothaniel.” Following the special’s debut, the 38-year-old comedian, who obviously loves the spotlight, allowed the cameras to follow him in the eight-episode unscripted series, “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.” In his latest HBO comedy special, “Jerrod Carmichael’s Don’t Be Gay,” he reflects on what happened after allowing cameras to witness some of the most intricate details of his life, his long-time boyfriend Michael and his current relationship with his family – to hilarious effect.

I can say without any embarrasment that after watching this special I am truly gay.

We get it.

But then 5 minutes in he starts repeatedly using the r-word. He reflects on child funerals, very graphic and specific sexual acts that get him off and also how he’s hurt and continually devastated his partner because of his inability to be truthful and express his feelings. Not at all.

It’s about how comedians and other celebrities get caught up reading online comments about them, no matter how good or how critical.

“Don’t Be Gay” has more levity than “Rothaniel”– Carmichael has a sense of liberation that only comes after facing your worst fears. What a terrible comedian.

I put this on to fold ny laundry and was in disbelief on how incredibly bad it is.

It is as if you're watching the most boring person you could ever imagine yapping on and on about NOTHING AT ALL.

Who is this clown anyway??

Not funny, no personality, nothing intriguing or charming, no presence, a foul mouth, no class, no goals, no soul.

Geez I can't stand this kind of media.

Wrong. As he puts it, “I’m gay, and n—-s don’t read.” He remembers how difficult it was to “be straight,” especially in early 2000 when D’Angelo’s extremely horny “How Does It Feel” music video premiered. ‘Cause I keep paying for stuff and she keeps thanking Jesus.” 

Also, a couple of very funny bits, one recalling his reaction to D’Angelo’s sexual 2000 music video, another about trying to stay closeted in NYC while using Grindr as he was becoming mainstream famous, and a closing story about trying to embrace PDA in Paris that ties the hour up in a nice bow.

Our Take: The cinematography feels grainy and raw.

Loved the stuff about mothers and fully agree with his viewpoint. Critics were decidedly more split over the success of his follow-up project, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.

For his fourth HBO comedy special, filmed this February in NYC, Carmichael opens up about what his love life is like now (happy), and how he’s dealing with his family in North Carolina, all of whom rely on him financially even if they might not support him back emotionally.

What Comedy Specials Will It Remind You Of?: You don’t often find a comedian releasing a critically-acclaimed yet much-debated special, and then coming back to talk about the aftereffects of it.

The backlash to his white lover – or specifically, the moment he sucked the toes of a hookup on-screen pushed him to finally see mental health professional.Edited by James Atkinson, who alternates between shots of the “Poor Things” actor in extreme close-ups and more distant in-crowd shots, the audience is taken on a hysterical, sometimes deeply uncomfortable, but beautifully blunt journey. 

Dressed in jeans, a simple white tank top and some Birkenstocks, Carmichael appears more self-assured than ever.

Witty, brash, guttingly honest and slightly heartbreaking, in “Don’t Be Gay,” Carmichael is reconciling how much the fear of being outed made him forget about the one other thing that affects his everyday life: racism. 

Filmed this past February at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York City, “Don’t Be Gay” opens with Carmichael standing on stage, a simple, velvet beige curtain acting as the backdrop behind him.

A master storyteller, he leans into the relief he feels about no longer being closeted while considering his remaining discomfort over PDA. Despite their open relationship, he hates that his beau can also sleep with other people, but his own sexual appetite prevents him from being monogamous. Though it seems unlikely Carmichael will ever have a close bond with his mother again, he seems to be at a point of acceptance.

Even amid these deeply uncomfortable and sometimes cringy moments, Carmichael’s self-awareness is always palpable. 

In this “Rothaniel” follow-up, Carmichael has never seemed more confident. As all good comics know, there is much light in the darkness and Jerrod does a great job of uncovering brilliant light here.

But don’t worry too much about him. The guy can act , and has obvious comedic timing chops, but outside of that the guys has too much of a need for attention and validation to just allow himself to do what he wants to do without feeling the need to make the audience play therapist. He talks about his waffle obsession, using Grindr when he was hiding his sexuality, his family — particularly his hyper-religious mother, and how challenging it is to return to his childhood home in North Carolina, where his parents still live.

Carmichael is content to share his personal shame while exposing the social ills that have also tried to stop him from being his true self.