It’s become a cliché to describe a comedian as “saying what we’re all thinking,” but that’s exactly what Steve Byrne does with his latest special, Tell the Damn Joke, which premieres on Showtime on April 7. Throughout his latest hour, the comedian continuously hits the stand-up bulls-eye with his sharp observations on life over 30, golden rules to live by and his thoughts on what common courtesy means in the modern age.
Byrne comes out swinging, treating the crowd at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall – where the show was taped last year – to a hilarious rundown of the many mundane tasks the comedian “would rather die” than have to do. He goes onto explain why he doesn’t “give a sh*t” about most political issues before tackling the type of social injustice that directly effects his life. His description of a line-cutting scenario at Disneyland delivers laughs with big punchlines and subtle nuances as the story unfolds with more twists and turns than the tracks of Space Mountain.
The appeal of watching Dateline on a Saturday night and the keys to a successful Ghost Hunters episode are analyzed with hilarious honesty, as is the framework for every show on HGTV. Later, Byrne explains how a secret stop at McDonald’s is the closest he will ever get to cheating on his wife. It’s “desire, pleasure and guilt all within 12 minutes,” he says as laughter fills Lincoln Hall.
Throughout Tell the Damn Joke, Byrne shares a few important lessons that he’s had to learn the hard way as well as universal wisdom that he wishes to impart on his children. The reason why you should never let your wife use your cellphone during Fantasy Football season and what not to say on laundry day are two hilarious examples of the comedians teachable moments. “Always give love a shot” is one of Byrne’s favorite rules to live by because “every Angelina Jolie has her Billy Bob Thornton.” The importance of faith, honesty and not being 100 percent prejudice are pearls of wisdom that evolve into creative comedy as the hour enfolds.
In a time when many comics are playing to 20-somethings with tech-based, profanity-laced, sex-filled stand-up routines, Byrne comes off as refreshingly grown-up while still maintaining a fun, playful energy accentuated by the inclusion of just the right amount of R-rated physical humor. Somehow, after 55 minutes of laugh out loud comedy, he is able to sincerely convey a few closing thoughts on life and community. With tears in his eyes, the comedian performs a truly patriotic poem that gets to the heart of what it means to be an American.
Check out the teaser for Tell the Damn Joke below and tune into Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT on April 7 to watch the special’s premiere. More information on Steve Byrne can be found at www.SteveByrneLive.com.