Marcello Hernandez: American Boy - Comments & Tips

The “Full-House” bit was hilarious... comedy gold. The SNL cast member was at his best in this stand-up comedy special. Do yourself a favor and watch this show!

Got some chuckles and nose exhales out of me. Marcello is a clever and charismatic guy. But not all the jokes hit- the extended bit about women was good natured but reductive and passe and the discipline stuff as a kid… I’m black, it’s not the same cultures, but you hear similar excuses like that and when he ends it with ‘I’m going to continue the cycle’ and how ‘Antonio’ won’t realize he has mental health issues and will work and ‘Jake’ needs to take a mental health day and that’s why immigrants ‘steal’ jobs on a day where I had a bit of an emotional breakdown and had to call in an off day for that and weather reasons it’s not funny enough to offset the implications, for me. That is not to cancel the guy! That’s not what I’m doing, it’s three stars because he is charming and affable and it will get you smiling if not bowling over in laughter. It just didn’t all hit for me, and I wouldn’t call it a revelatory or super insightful set. But I’m glad some love it

I always look forward to seeing Marcello in Saturday Night Live sketches, and he didn’t disappoint me this time either.

American Boy ended up being a pleasant surprise. Going in, I was a bit hesitant since Marcello Hernandez’s SNL sketches aren’t usually my favorite, but the stand-up format works much better for him here. The material feels more confident and personal, and his delivery is sharp enough to keep things consistently engaging even when the jokes aren’t totally in my wheelhouse. This isn’t a special that’s going to convert non-fans or land among the upper tier of modern stand-up, but it’s an easy, enjoyable watch. Solid pacing, a few good laughs, and a clear sense of who he is as a comic made this a fun way to pass the time. Rating: 3/5 – 75% – Worth Watching