Review: Sam Jay, 3 In The Morning

The start of 3 In The Morning is calm: the buzzing of clippers in a barbershop, soft jazz music overlaid with pleasantries to the audience. Sam Jay seamlessly transitions from this serene opening to a string of obscene jokes. We thought we were waiting for the special to start, but she’s telling us we’ve already started it. Sam’s in charge, and she doesn’t care if you’ve strapped in for the ride or not.

Sam’s stand up is bold and unafraid, tackling sensitive subjects with an artful darkness. As the greater comedy community laments what we can and cannot joke about, Sam antagonizes her audience, daring us to defy her. This brazen swagger gives her writing an unparalleled edge. While there are corners of comfort to hide in, Sam drops the floor out and shows you no issue is safe.

Throughout the special, Sam appears to be making “cookie cutter” stand up jokes. She complains about her nagging girlfriend, recounts unsatisfactory sexual encounters, and boldly states her problems with travelling. While the themes are generic, Sam finds new angles to explore and makes these well trot subjects pop. Sam’s take on Trump is one of my favourite parts of the special, with the stand out joke being about the status of certain adoptive babies.

Though not every joke hits, Sam’s smirk and giggle provide charming recoveries that allow her to breeze through the lapses. It never seems like she drops the ball, and we’re constantly left engaged. She performs with confidence and bravado, with facial expressions adding to the complexities of her jokes. She creates wild act outs, drafting mental pictures to hook us into her narrative. Sam is a pro, and this special should be essential viewing for any stand up.

3 In The Morning was released August 4, 2020 on Netflix.