This was a review for the show I did on Instagram that I wanted to share here since not many of my instagram mutuals actually know anything about the show. Hope you enjoy the read!

Joe Pera Talks With You is a comedy show that aired on Adult Swim for 3 seasons before being essentially canceled. The premise is simple, we follow Joe Pera through his daily life and he talks with us. It’s almost antithetical to the writing practice of show not tell, Joe tells us what’s on his mind at every corner. But the way the show gives us insight into Joe’s mind, both the character and the real Joe Pera, is something I only really see in Novels, never TV. Joe Pera Talks With You just occupies a corner of the TV medium we don’t ever see. A quiet little corner of the world where a Choir Teacher lives each day learning and loving and talking all about anything he can.

Joe Pera is really the only person I can see making a show like this, someone so aware and conscious of his own mind that he can put it on display in TV form, making mundane life events seem brimming with life and its own story. The view of Marquette through Joe’s glasses is never dull, almost like a stream of consciousness. Normally all the info Joe dumps would be exhaustive but through the calm soothing soundtrack and Joe’s very smooth voice, it’s a very relaxing feeling watching episode to episode. The average show builds tension so we can experience that release or climax, but Joe Pera Talks With You doesn’t do that. It’s more relaxed with bumps in the road but never an end in sight. Even after the final episode it’s obvious life goes on and that’s just very comforting. This duality between calm days that still feel so lively makes this show something truly special.

The creative freedom Joe had making this show is so nice to see. He got his friends and fellow comedians to star in it and didn’t have any strict guidelines to adhere to besides run times. This is also likely why the show got canceled so soon, as only a cult following continually watched, but maybe it’ll get picked up elsewhere one day.

The humor of this show also really sets it apart from most other shows. It’s very rarely shocking, and when it is it’s mostly an awkward kind of Shock. Joe Pera is a very quiet and reserved guy, but he picks when to chime in well, and if it doesn’t land it’s not the end of the world. I almost want to say his comedy is an acquired taste but I haven’t seen anyone who’s seen his show or comedy specials dislike him. I think his humor adds to the atmosphere Joe was going for perfectly and organically.

Joe can be silly, superstitious, nerdy, but above all he’s very loving. He has a big heart and I feel like he wanted to share that with all of us in every scene. Even to strangers he doesn’t necessarily mesh with he always has a kind word. He finds the world around him so exciting. He gets excited for the same lunch he’s had with Nana since he was a child. Even in the first episode he loves his home so much he can barely even think of parting with it. There won’t be another Joe Pera Talks With You because there will never be another man like Joe Pera who can teach us to love life in all its twists and turns.