Review: Doug Benson “Potty Mouth”
September 6, 2011 Zach Gzehoviak Albums, Doug Benson, Reviews
Doug Benson’s Potty Mouth is a clever marijuana-induced sequence of events that should not be missed, especially if you’re in the mood to laugh, and we are The Laugh Button. You will also learn about bacon sundaes.
Recorded in typical Benson fashion on 4/20, the hour-long stand up performance in Sacramento, CA addresses important topics such as Twitter, CNN, the delays of satellite technology, astrology, intense fans, and “Dumb Things.” Benson also appears to have a social agenda agreeable to most pot smokers.
“Why forget tomorrow, when you can forget today?” – Benson reveals his new slogan for marijuana after he hears from “the people of science” that marijuana might stave off Alzheimer’s disease.
Potty Mouth kicks off outside of what you’d usually hear on a comedy album – a visual gag and crowd work. Nearly the first 10 minutes consist of the comedian riffing off fan tweets and reading ideas scribbled on random pieces of paper. It’s a bold move for any comedian to make while recording an album, as many take months honing material before recording. But Doug Benson isn’t just a comedian, he’s a professional humoredian.
Benson’s cleverness lies behind the facade of a space case careless pothead. He embraces the persona with un-perfected and messed up jokes, only to demonstrate his creativity and originality afterward – a true slap in the face to criticism against his marijuana use. I must say, I’ve never heard a comic tell a dirty joke and a clean joke at the same time, especially when the punchlines compliment one another. Even the self-proclaimed “terrible segues” between bits are funny.
Toward the end of the show, Benson reads a history of his Tweets to the audience. He claims to write them because “it encourages people not to follow [him].” Among the many hilarious tweets are: 1) “Started peeing in the shower because I heard it was good for athlete’s foot…and I really want athlete’s foot” and 2) “Sometimes the phrase, ‘what an asshole’ is a compliment. #porn #doctor’s office #strip search #gay pride parade.”
The bonus DVD features the original six episodes of The Benson Interruption that aired on Comedy Central. It’s a must see for any Benson fan; and not to mention, features several other hilarious comedians squaring off in the name of interrupting comedy.
It’s a release that any fan of Doug Benson’s career should pick up. Hell, it’s a release that any fan of comedy should own. Between TV shows, tours, podcasts, and new albums, Doug Benson is one of the hardest working comedians today, it just so happens he’s also one of the most naturally talented.
