It has been three years since Jerrod Carmichael was released publicly in his special comedy winner of an Emmy “Rothaniel”. After the beginnings of the special, the 38 -year -old actor, who obviously likes the spotlight, allowed the cameras to follow him in the series of eight unicenized episodes, “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show”. In his latest special of the HBO comedy, “Jerrod Carmichael’s Gay Gay”, he thinks of what happened after allowing the cameras to attend some of the most complex details of his life, his longtime boyfriend Michael and his current relationship with his family – a hilarious effect. Full of mind, impetuous, incredibly honest and slightly heartbreaking, in “Do not be gay”, Carmichael reconciles how the fear of being out made him forget the only one thing that affects his daily life: racism.
Shot in February at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York, “Don’t Be Gay” opens with Carmichael standing on stage, a simple beige and velvet curtain acting as a backdrop behind him. He immediately begins to discuss the reality TV series and his difficulties with internalized homophobia and creeping infidelity. However, these problems were not enough to lead it to therapy. Instead, Carmichael remembers that he went down a mental spiral after reading the online answer to his romantic relationship. Comments like: “Why has this n – Jerrod has a white boyfriend?” Forced him to wonder if he turned into Clarence Thomas.
Despite his professional and financial success, Carmichael admits quite timidly that he is still looking for the approval of blacks, which probably has to do with his education. The backlash of her white lover – or specifically, when he sucked the toes with a connection to the screen prompted him to finally see a mental health professional. Published by James Atkinson, who alternates between the actor’s photos of the “poor” in extreme close -ups and more distant shots, the public is taken on a hysterical journey, sometimes deeply uncomfortable but beautifully frank.
Dressed in jeans, a simple white tank top and Birkenstocks, Carmichael appears more than ever. He talks about his obsession with waffle, using Grindr as he hid his sexuality, his family – in particular his hyper -religious mother, and how difficult it is to return to his childhood home in North Carolina, where his parents still live. As he says, “I’m gay and don’t read.” He remembers how difficult it was to “be straight”, especially in early 2000 when D’Angelo’s extremely excited clip was created by the clip. Although it seems unlikely that Carmichael will again have a close link with his mother, he seems to be at a point of acceptance. However, it is now more certain than ever that the Church institution is actually a pyramid program. He also seems to be resigned to be the official support of his family – a dichotomy that makes him feel proud and a bit like a republican of the Scroogey Reagan era.
The 53 -minute special made by Ari Katcher is full of laughter punchlines, but the actor is not afraid of darker themes either. He thinks of children’s funerals, very graphic and specific sexual acts that bring him out and also how he is injured and continually devastated his partner because of his inability to be true and express his feelings. Even in the midst of these deeply uncomfortable and sometimes grumpy moments, Carmichael’s self -awareness is always palpable.
In this “Rothaniel” follow -up, Carmichael never seemed more confident. A master storyteller, he looks at the relief he feels that he is no longer closed while considering his remaining discomfort on PDA. Despite their open relationship, he hates that his beautiful can also sleep with other people, but his own sexual appetite prevents him from being monogamous. Carmichael is content to share his personal shame while exhibiting the social evils which also tried to prevent him from being his real self. “Do not be gay” has more lightness than “Rothaniel” – Carmichael has a feeling of liberation which only comes after having faced your worst fears. Again, the actor has mastered the beauty of standing directly in his truth.
“Jerrod Carmichael’s don gay” will be broadcast on HBO on May 24 at 10 p.m. He / PT and will be available to broadcast on Max.
