On Tuesday, May 16, Tracy Morgan made his return to the comedy special stage with his new Netflix hour-long Staying Alive. It was less than three years ago when the comedian found himself at the center of a tragic car accident that killed his friend James McNair aka “Jimmy Mack” and left the former Saturday Night Live star in a coma. Needless to say, the fact that Morgan is performing at this level… or even at all… is nothing short of miraculous.
So it’s no surprise Morgan decided to name his latest special Staying Alive, which naturally resulted in the hour-long’s opening homage of the 1977 John Travolta film Saturday Night Fever. Adding another layer of depth to the vignette is the emphasis on Morgan, who (later in the special) details the “magic” of learning to walk side by side with his daughter, strutting his stuff with extreme swagger and unwavering confidence. Upon finding himself about to be struck by an approaching vehicle just prior to purchasing a fur coat with a wad of cash he’s retrieved from a Walmart shopping bag, Morgan has successfully set the stage for a hilarious and forthright stand-up special.
“I’m Back,” Morgan declares to a raging applause at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, where the special was filmed. The announcement — entirely fitting for the 30 Rock star’s return to the stage — was actually a response to his wife’s suggestion that he stop pitying himself and get back to work. “Why don’t you get off the couch and go to the comedy club and do some comedy you big-gut shitty pamper-wearing muthaf*cka!”
Much of the material in Staying Alive is centered on Morgan’s horrific accident and resulting road to recovery. From intense rapid fire jokes to spells of sentimental reflection, Morgan examines the highs and lows of his past three years with complete vulnerability and an admirable sense of humor. Likewise, the special, which sees Morgan intermittently on his feet as well as sitting in a chair at center stage, takes viewers on a roller coaster ride of comedic ups and downs.
Staying Alive is packed with blunt, unapologetic comedy. It’s also loaded with an abundance of brutally raw material that will undoubtedly offend many viewers due to its no-holds-barred style. Take, for example, Morgan’s verbal flurry aimed at Caitlin Jenner or the bit on his uncle “jailbird,” who became known for trading stolen cold cuts to prostitutes for sexual favors. Oh yeah… then there’s the bit about the comedian’s jealousy of his daughter’s breastfeeding abilities. “Damn, she suck t*tty better than me,” says Morgan. “I took her technique. ’cause I love me some t*tty milk.”
Believe it or not, Morgan also covers quite a bit of spiritual ground in Staying Alive, albeit not in the most traditional sense. He blasts Elvis while giving props to The Notorious B.I.G., both of whom he met in heaven while in a coma, and he puts his education-obsessed grandmother in her place with a hilarious and frank message from God. One of the special’s many other highlights comes during the comedian’s closing bit, where he brings an earlier music-centric setup full circle while playfully embodying a hard-partying, pot-friendly Jesus.
Though Morgan’s last few years have undoubtedly been rough — if his onstage persona is any kind of an indicator — he appears to be in a positive place. In fact, the accident actually appears to have given him a new outlook on life. “God gave me a second chance,” he says late in the special. “And I wanted to do better.”
With his Picking Up the Pieces tour and subsequent Netflix comedy special, Staying Alive, now behind him and his TBS series The Last O.G. — co-created by John Carcieri and Jordan Peele — up ahead, the future certainly looks bright for Tracy Morgan.
Check out the trailer for Staying Alive here and stream the special in its entirety now on Netflix.