In his debut on the fringe comedy scene, Martin Urbano introduces a daring concept: his disreputable persona has fallen victim to the #MeToo movement and returns with a barrage of cringe-worthy jokes.
Self-described as “too dark and weird for mainstream success,” Urbano navigates his fringe debut with layers of irony, leaving the audience questioning which version of himself he is portraying. Is it the reactionary sleazebag confronting woke culture, or is it the real Urbano using this persona to deliver provocative jokes about sexism, homophobia, and pedophilia? The ambiguity weaves a complex narrative, and while the jokes may be provocative, they are delivered with enough detachment and mockery of stand-up conventions to elicit astonished laughter.
Urbano starts cautiously, poking fun at hack comics and resorting to clichés about his Mexican heritage. However, the focus soon shifts to unfiltered, shock-jock material, openly addressing taboo subjects that these comics believe would lead to cancellation. The premise revolves around Urbano being #MeTooed, framing the show as his Apology Comeback Tour. Instead of a genuine apology, he offers a sense of victimhood, accompanied by jokes that combine various forms of offensiveness for a startling impact. The humor ranges from jokes about Pornhub to Urbano’s participation in a feminist march, categorizing women as “1s through 10s.”
The 29-year-old frequently breaks character, signaling a deliberate detachment from the material and diffusing the tension that arises when edgy jokes provoke laughter. The challenge for the audience lies in discerning whether they are laughing at the material’s controversial nature or at Urbano’s desperate attempt to appear clever. Towards the end, Urbano steps out of character partially to address his reputation as “the pedophile comic,” adding another layer of complexity to the performance. While the interplay between his personas remains unresolved, this debut serves as a captivating introduction to an act teetering between cancellation and a potential Netflix special.