WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 How does an artist navigate a career from being, 00:00:02.980 --> 00:00:06.820 well, basically a stand -up novice to an Emmy 00:00:06.820 --> 00:00:09.240 -winning writer, an acclaimed filmmaker, and 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:12.740 even hosting the Golden Globes, all while publicly 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:15.220 embracing these really profound personal truths 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:17.100 that kind of redefine their whole public image? 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:18.920 It's a fascinating path. We're talking about 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:21.820 a multi -hyphenate artist whose work consistently 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:26.510 blurs the lines between raw comedy, deeply personal 00:00:26.510 --> 00:00:29.870 confession, and really sharp social commentary. 00:00:30.089 --> 00:00:31.850 It's quite a tightrope walk, wouldn't you say? 00:00:32.009 --> 00:00:34.009 It absolutely is. And that journey, I think, 00:00:34.429 --> 00:00:36.909 it really challenges our usual ideas about what 00:00:36.909 --> 00:00:38.670 an entertainer can do, how they connect with 00:00:38.670 --> 00:00:41.390 people. It's a testament to constant evolution 00:00:41.390 --> 00:00:43.710 and this really unyielding commitment to self 00:00:43.710 --> 00:00:46.890 -expression, often in the most unvarnished ways. 00:00:47.229 --> 00:00:49.210 And that's precisely what we're here to unpack 00:00:49.210 --> 00:00:52.189 today. Welcome to the deep dive. Today, we are 00:00:52.189 --> 00:00:55.009 plunging into the really fascinating world of 00:00:55.009 --> 00:00:57.869 Nathaniel Jared Carmichael. You are a listener. 00:00:58.070 --> 00:00:59.969 You shared a rich source about him. And our mission 00:00:59.969 --> 00:01:02.969 today is basically to pull out the most important 00:01:02.969 --> 00:01:05.430 nuggets of knowledge, the key insights. Give 00:01:05.430 --> 00:01:08.109 you that shortcut. Exactly. Offering you a shortcut 00:01:08.109 --> 00:01:11.489 to being incredibly well -informed about this 00:01:11.489 --> 00:01:14.209 truly unique and, I think, really impactful voice 00:01:14.209 --> 00:01:17.329 in entertainment. And our main guide here is 00:01:17.329 --> 00:01:20.329 a pretty comprehensive Wikipedia entry. It's 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:23.390 a gold mine, really. It gives you this meticulous 00:01:23.390 --> 00:01:26.329 chronological journey through his life, his career 00:01:26.329 --> 00:01:28.969 milestones, those pivotal personal revelations, 00:01:28.989 --> 00:01:32.390 and, of course, his big achievements across different 00:01:32.390 --> 00:01:35.280 fields. It's packed with specific details that 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:38.159 we're definitely excited to unpack for you, give 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:39.980 you some context and maybe a deeper understanding. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:43.040 So together we're going to trace Carmichael's 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.659 evolution. right from his roots in North Carolina, 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:48.359 all the way to the global stage. We'll be highlighting 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:50.780 those key moments, the artistic choices that 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:54.000 have really defined his impact and shaped his 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.120 distinctive brand. We'll look at how his career, 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.219 which started pretty traditionally in stand -up 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:01.299 clubs, just expanded dramatically into acting, 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:04.219 innovative filmmaking, even this raw, kind of 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:06.819 unflinching, autobiographical documentary work. 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:09.379 Yeah, that's a big shift. And crucially, we'll 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:12.659 examine how his intensely personal journey has 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:14.840 increasingly, and I think quite deliberately, 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.539 shaped his public art. What is it exactly that 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:21.759 makes his approach so distinctive? And why has 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.740 it resonated so deeply with audiences and critics, 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:27.020 often pushing the boundaries of what we even 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:29.080 expect from public figures? I think it's his 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:32.460 unique ability to connect on multiple levels, 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:34.800 often by pushing those boundaries of traditional 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.019 performance and inviting this almost sometimes 00:02:38.019 --> 00:02:40.639 uncomfortable intimacy with his audience. His 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:43.139 career really is like a master class in turning 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:46.360 personal truth into, well, universal art. So 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:48.080 let's begin right at the very beginning, chart 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:50.419 his course. Our journey with Jared Carmichael 00:02:50.419 --> 00:02:52.939 starts in Winston -Salem, North Carolina. He 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:55.360 was born Rathaniel Jared Carmichael, April 6, 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:59.539 1987. His early life, characterized by a low 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:02.199 -income environment. And that reality, interestingly, 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:04.259 would later become a really frequent, sometimes 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:06.780 poignant, topic in his standup. Right, forms 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:09.020 a kind of foundation. Exactly, a foundational 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:12.139 layer for his observational humor. But even from 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:15.500 a remarkably young age, it seems like the performing 00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:17.699 bug had already bitten him. Yeah, the source 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:20.240 has this fascinating little anecdote. In fifth 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.159 grade, he hosted a morning news show on his elementary 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:25.659 school's local access channel. Oh, wow, fifth 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:29.469 grade. Yeah. You might think, okay, cute childhood 00:03:29.469 --> 00:03:32.370 memory, but it's actually a really early, almost 00:03:32.370 --> 00:03:35.729 like prophetic indicator of this fundamental 00:03:35.729 --> 00:03:37.830 comfort he had being in front of an audience. 00:03:38.409 --> 00:03:42.330 It shows this nascent talent for presenting, 00:03:42.590 --> 00:03:44.949 for engaging people, which is pretty remarkable 00:03:44.949 --> 00:03:46.930 for someone that young. It suggests this kind 00:03:46.930 --> 00:03:49.669 of innate ease with the spotlight. Definitely. 00:03:49.849 --> 00:03:52.530 A foundational piece of his later ability to 00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:54.610 just command attention, whether it's a tiny comedy 00:03:54.610 --> 00:03:57.490 club or hosting the Golden Globes. It points 00:03:57.490 --> 00:04:00.150 to a comfort, a naturalness with performing that, 00:04:00.409 --> 00:04:02.569 frankly, a lot of artists spend years trying 00:04:02.569 --> 00:04:04.530 to cultivate. That's a great point. It speaks 00:04:04.530 --> 00:04:07.090 to maybe an inherent disposition for it. He went 00:04:07.090 --> 00:04:09.469 on graduated from Robert B. Glenn High School 00:04:09.469 --> 00:04:12.009 in Kernersville, North Carolina, back in 2005. 00:04:12.389 --> 00:04:14.870 But then comes what I find to be one of the most 00:04:14.870 --> 00:04:18.389 striking parts of his origin story. This incredibly 00:04:18.389 --> 00:04:21.389 bold, maybe even audacious leap into stand -up 00:04:21.389 --> 00:04:24.389 comedy. At the age of 20, Carmichael made this 00:04:24.389 --> 00:04:27.850 truly significant, life -changing decision. Packed 00:04:27.850 --> 00:04:29.990 up his life, headed straight to Los Angeles, 00:04:30.509 --> 00:04:33.790 California. Big move. Huge move. With this ambitious, 00:04:34.089 --> 00:04:37.259 almost singular goal. Pursuing stand -up comedy, 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:39.779 and here's the kicker, the really mind -boggling 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:41.800 detail. He'd never done it before. He did this 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.560 without ever having tried it before. That is 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.699 just, it's a profound gamble, right? A sheer 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:48.300 leap of faith into the unknown. It says so much 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:51.339 about his conviction, even that young, that this 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:53.879 was like his calling. Yeah. Almost a path he 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:56.139 just instinctively knew he had to follow. I mean, 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:58.379 most comedians, they meticulously hone their 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:00.750 craft for years, you know? Local clubs, open 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:02.930 mics, regional stuff. Uh -huh. Pay their dues. 00:05:03.310 --> 00:05:05.430 Exactly. Before even thinking about moving to 00:05:05.430 --> 00:05:08.529 a major help like L .A. or New York, Carmichael's 00:05:08.529 --> 00:05:12.370 decision to just dive headfirst into the epicenter, 00:05:12.810 --> 00:05:16.670 completely untested. It reveals this extraordinary 00:05:16.670 --> 00:05:20.329 blend of self -belief, ambition, and maybe, just 00:05:20.329 --> 00:05:23.160 maybe, a little bit of that naivete. only youth 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:25.740 can afford. It's certainly not the usual path, 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:28.420 is it? OK. And when you think about where he 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:30.459 chose to make his very first attempt at stand 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:32.060 up. OK, let's really unpack this for a second. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:34.279 Imagine moving to a new city. You've never done 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:36.759 stand up. And then for your debut performance, 00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:39.720 you hit an open mic night at the Comedy Store 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:42.060 in West Hollywood. Oh, man, the store. That's 00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:44.620 not just any venue. It's legendary. It's hallowed 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:46.939 ground in comedy. Think about who came up there, 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:50.220 Richard Pryor, Robin Williams. Countless legends 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:52.199 cut their teeth there. It takes an incredible 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.800 act of courage, or maybe just raw fearlessness, 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:57.560 perhaps even like a deliberate psychological 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.519 challenge to himself, you know, starting right 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.560 at the top like that. It immediately sets him 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:03.620 apart. It signals an artist who's not afraid 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:06.939 to just dive headfirst into the deep end, maybe 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:09.379 embracing pressure as a catalyst for growth. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.160 What do you think that choice says about his 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.350 mindset, even back then? It suggests, I think, 00:06:16.769 --> 00:06:19.949 an innate understanding of high stakes. A belief 00:06:19.949 --> 00:06:23.329 that maybe real growth comes from pushing yourself 00:06:23.329 --> 00:06:25.949 to the absolute limit, starting at the comedy 00:06:25.949 --> 00:06:28.930 store. That's a trial by fire. You're not just 00:06:28.930 --> 00:06:31.250 performing. You're fighting for attention in 00:06:31.250 --> 00:06:34.110 a notoriously tough room, often filled with industry 00:06:34.110 --> 00:06:36.769 scouts, seasoned comedians. The energy there 00:06:36.769 --> 00:06:39.350 is just palpable. It demands nothing less than 00:06:39.350 --> 00:06:43.100 absolute authenticity and razor sharp wit. For 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:45.360 Carmichael to choose that as his entry point, 00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:48.120 it speaks to a deep, maybe intuitive trust in 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.399 his own ability to rise to the occasion, even 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:52.620 if it was totally unproven at the time. It kind 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:54.459 of established a pattern, didn't it? Choosing 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:56.480 these challenging environments that would really 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.939 define his artistic path later on. That kind 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:00.899 of pressure cooker experience must have forged 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:04.060 some unique resilience. And the source confirms, 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:06.519 you know, he diligently worked his way up through 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:08.620 the club circuit after that initial plunge. Right, 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:11.439 it wasn't overnight. Not at all. This was a comedian 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.519 paying his dues, refining his voice, his timing, 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:17.300 his material, night after night on those stages. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:21.339 And this sustained dedication, it culminated 00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:24.420 in his selection for the prestigious New Faces 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:27.600 Showcase at the 2011 Just for Laughs Festival 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:31.149 in Montreal. Which is huge. Huge. For any emerging 00:07:31.149 --> 00:07:34.389 comedian, being chosen for New Faces is a massive 00:07:34.389 --> 00:07:36.810 stepping stone. It's a clear signal the industry 00:07:36.810 --> 00:07:39.449 is taking notice. Absolutely. New Faces is way 00:07:39.449 --> 00:07:41.689 more than just a performance slot. It's basically 00:07:41.689 --> 00:07:43.790 an industry endorsement. It means you've been 00:07:43.790 --> 00:07:46.250 vetted by the tastemakers, identified as someone 00:07:46.250 --> 00:07:48.670 with significant potential. Just put you on the 00:07:48.670 --> 00:07:51.889 map. Totally. It places you squarely on the radar 00:07:51.889 --> 00:07:55.689 of agents, managers, network execs. Often leads 00:07:55.689 --> 00:07:58.449 directly to auditions, development deals, bigger 00:07:58.449 --> 00:08:01.089 opportunities. For Carmichael, it validated that 00:08:01.089 --> 00:08:04.449 audacious leap to LA. And it confirmed that his 00:08:04.449 --> 00:08:07.709 unique voice, even in its early stages, had caught 00:08:07.709 --> 00:08:10.029 the attention of the comedy establishment. It 00:08:10.029 --> 00:08:12.110 marked that moment. His hard work in the club 00:08:12.110 --> 00:08:15.009 started translating into real, tangible career 00:08:15.009 --> 00:08:17.290 momentum. It really is like a golden ticket in 00:08:17.290 --> 00:08:20.089 that world. And when we look at his formative 00:08:20.089 --> 00:08:22.470 influences, the list is pretty iconic and quite 00:08:22.470 --> 00:08:25.769 diverse, too. George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Richard 00:08:25.769 --> 00:08:28.670 Pryor and Sinbad. It's a fascinating mix, isn't 00:08:28.670 --> 00:08:31.269 it? It really is a captivating blend. What's 00:08:31.269 --> 00:08:33.210 particularly interesting here is the sheer range 00:08:33.210 --> 00:08:35.909 of those influences. On one hand, you've got 00:08:35.909 --> 00:08:38.830 the philosophical, often challenging social commentary 00:08:38.830 --> 00:08:41.320 of Carlin and Pryor. Right, the heavy hitters. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.980 Yeah, masters of dissecting society's absurdities, 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:47.700 its hypocrisies, personal vulnerabilities with 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:50.220 this almost surgical precision. They use comedy 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:53.039 not just for laughs, but like as a scalpel for 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.899 truth. Then on the other hand, you have the more 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:58.220 storytelling driven, broadly appealing humor 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:01.259 of Cosby and Sinbad. They excelled at observational 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:03.519 comedy, crafting relatable narratives, finding 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.100 humor in everyday life, family dynamics. Yeah, 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:09.059 more traditional maybe. Exactly. And this eclectic 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:12.330 mix. Right from the start, it offers real insight 00:09:12.330 --> 00:09:15.190 into Carmichael's own emerging style. He wasn't 00:09:15.190 --> 00:09:17.450 just imitating, he was clearly synthesizing. 00:09:17.769 --> 00:09:20.370 How so? Well, maybe he learned from Carlin, the 00:09:20.370 --> 00:09:23.610 art of linguistic deconstruction, societal critique. 00:09:24.309 --> 00:09:27.649 From prior, perhaps, that raw, almost confessional 00:09:27.649 --> 00:09:30.769 vulnerability. And then from Cosby and Sinbad, 00:09:31.289 --> 00:09:33.370 maybe the ability to build relatable characters 00:09:33.370 --> 00:09:35.529 and narratives that really draw an audience in. 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:39.000 This foundation allowed him to kind of oscillate 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.860 between the deeply personal and the universally 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:45.000 resonant, between sharp, critical observation 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.779 and profoundly honest humor. It suggests he was 00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:51.179 absorbing lessons in both, like intellectual 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:53.019 rigor and emotional connection. Which become 00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:55.639 hallmarks later on. Absolutely, defining hallmarks 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:58.090 of his later, much more complex work. That's 00:09:58.090 --> 00:09:59.669 a really insightful way to frame it. It shows 00:09:59.669 --> 00:10:01.649 how he built this foundation that let him be 00:10:01.649 --> 00:10:04.250 both deeply introspective and universally accessible, 00:10:04.490 --> 00:10:15.049 which is, yeah, a rare balance in comedy. Yeah, 00:10:16.669 --> 00:10:18.789 after making a name for himself in that intense 00:10:18.789 --> 00:10:22.210 club circuit, he started appearing on screen. 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:25.620 There's the show The Goodwin Games in 2013, kind 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:28.539 of a taste of the TV landscape. But then his 00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:31.320 acting career saw a really significant breakout 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:34.220 role in the mainstream film Neighbors in 2014. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:37.600 He played Garfield Garf Slade. Oh yeah, I remember 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:40.240 him in that. It was a high profile, successful 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:44.200 studio comedy. And he reprised the role in Neighbors 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:47.809 2 in 2016. These roles were just crucial because 00:10:47.809 --> 00:10:49.590 they introduced him to a much wider audience. 00:10:49.909 --> 00:10:52.169 People outside the comedy bubble? Exactly. People 00:10:52.169 --> 00:10:53.929 who might not have followed the stand -up circuit 00:10:53.929 --> 00:10:56.490 but now recognized him for his distinctive presence 00:10:56.490 --> 00:10:59.789 on screen. That exposure was vital for building 00:10:59.789 --> 00:11:02.289 his public profile, showing a versatility that 00:11:02.289 --> 00:11:04.190 would serve him really well. And around the same 00:11:04.190 --> 00:11:07.509 time his HBO comedy specials started, which would 00:11:07.509 --> 00:11:09.750 become, I mean, just an incredibly defining and 00:11:09.750 --> 00:11:12.169 personal platform for his stand -up. His first 00:11:12.169 --> 00:11:15.980 one, Love at the Store, premiered in 2014. And 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:18.580 it's incredibly poetic, almost full circle, that 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.159 it was filmed at the very club where he started, 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:24.240 the Comedy Store. Back where it began. But what 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:27.340 makes this even more remarkable and just a clear 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:30.279 statement of artistic intent is who directed 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.720 it. Spike Lee. Spike Lee. Which is an enormous 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.000 artistic statement, especially for a debut special. 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:37.559 Spike Lee is, you know, renowned for powerful 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:40.580 storytelling. His distinctive visual style. Yeah, 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:43.200 the look is always strong. Right? Vibrant colors. 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.539 dynamic camera work, and this profound commitment 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:50.139 to social and cultural commentary. His involvement 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:52.679 suggests that Carmichael's stand -up, even back 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:56.080 then, was seen as more than just jokes. It was 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.840 viewed as performance art with real depth, cultural 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:02.120 resonance. Lee's presence elevated it from just 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.440 recording a performance to a cinematic event. 00:12:04.970 --> 00:12:07.710 It signaled Carmichael's ambition to infuse his 00:12:07.710 --> 00:12:09.850 comedy with a sophisticated visual narrative. 00:12:09.950 --> 00:12:11.929 It immediately positioned him differently. Totally. 00:12:12.190 --> 00:12:14.230 Not just as a comedian, but as an artist with 00:12:14.230 --> 00:12:16.919 a broader vision for his craft. Yeah, the involvement 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:20.139 of Spike Lee in love at the store, it just jumps 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:22.980 out. It's not just a cool credit. It signals 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:26.419 this artistic gravitas, this willingness to explore 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:29.340 visual storytelling within comedy in a profound 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.379 way. For a standup special, it suggests this 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:34.879 deliberate effort to craft an experience that's 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:39.000 as much about atmosphere, framing, visual cues 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:42.340 as it is about the words themselves. It announced 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:45.059 right from the start of his HBO career his ambition 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:47.379 and the caliber of his artistic collaborations. 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.299 What a powerful way to make an entrance onto 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:51.679 that national stage immediately distinguishes 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.740 him. It certainly set a remarkably high bar both 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:56.879 in terms of artistic collaboration and the kind 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.120 of depth people started expecting from his work. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:02.159 Right. Then his second HBO special, Eight, followed 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:04.679 in 2017. This one was directed by his friend 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:07.279 and fellow comedian, Bo Burnham. Ah, the Burnham 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.279 connection begins. Exactly. And it was filmed 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:11.899 in this really unique atmospheric place, the 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:14.500 Grand Lodge Room of New York's Masonic Hall. 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.059 That collaboration with Burnham would prove incredibly 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:21.000 significant. It developed into this longstanding 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.740 critically acclaimed partnership that really 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:26.039 shaped some of Carmichael's most impactful and 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.159 visually innovative work later on. Yeah, you 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.460 can see Burnham's influence. Oh, yeah. Burnham's 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:32.700 own, you know, groundbreaking approach to comedy 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:34.820 direction, often blending performance art with 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:37.740 raw self -exposure, it undoubtedly influenced 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:40.200 the visual and structural evolution of Carmichael's 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:43.080 specials. Move them further into this more theatrical 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.500 introspective realm. That partnership really 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.679 does sound like a critical turning point in shaping 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:51.220 his whole artistic aesthetic. And then came the 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:54.419 Carmichael show, which truly cemented his place 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.299 as a voice with something genuinely important 00:13:56.299 --> 00:14:00.360 and often provocative to say. From 2015 to 2017, 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:02.500 Carmichael didn't just co -create and co -write. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:05.960 He produced and starred in this semi -biographical 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:08.600 NBC sitcom. Three seasons. Three seasons, yeah. 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:11.120 And it was exceptionally well received critically, 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.340 but more importantly, it earned this reputation 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:17.019 for its The show became really notable for its 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:19.500 willingness to just directly broach and discuss 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:22.639 politically and socially charged topics. Things 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.840 that were rarely, if ever, addressed with that 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.899 kind of candor and depth. in mainstream network 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:31.059 sitcoms at the time. Definitely not standard 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:33.320 sitcom fare. Not at all. We're talking subjects 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.860 that usually get pushed to prestige dramas or 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:38.580 cable, right? Not a prime time family comedy. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.440 So what kind of topics? Things like the Black 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:43.860 Lives Matter movement, complex LGBT issues, debates 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:46.500 around gun rights, current politics, and just 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:49.659 the nuanced lived reality of being black in America. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:52.659 Wow. This was pretty groundbreaking for its format. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:56.000 Essentially using the Trojan horse of a sitcom 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:00.029 to spark these vital, often uncomfortable conversations. 00:15:00.210 --> 00:15:02.269 It was a sitcom that genuinely aimed to provoke 00:15:02.269 --> 00:15:04.929 thought alongside the laughter. And it consciously 00:15:04.929 --> 00:15:07.690 refused to shy away from conversations that other 00:15:07.690 --> 00:15:10.529 shows, especially on network TV, were actively 00:15:10.529 --> 00:15:13.210 avoiding. It felt daring in its directness. Which 00:15:13.210 --> 00:15:15.730 raises that important question. How did a mainstream 00:15:15.730 --> 00:15:17.990 network show manage to tackle such provocative 00:15:17.990 --> 00:15:21.210 topics with such, like, unflinching candor? Yeah. 00:15:21.230 --> 00:15:23.429 How did they get away with it? It speaks volumes, 00:15:23.429 --> 00:15:26.169 I think, about Carmichael's core comedic philosophy. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.799 His fundamental belief in using humor, not as 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:33.080 an escape from difficult truths, but as a critical 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:36.059 mechanism to open conversations about uncomfortable 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:39.320 truths. For instance, there was an episode, protest, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.639 directly address Black Lives Matter, not just 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:45.639 generic statements, but having the family grapple 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:48.340 with the ethics of protesting, the nuances, even 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:50.159 the disagreements it caused within the Black 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.379 community itself. Right, showing the complexity. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:56.190 Exactly. Another episode, Cousins, tackled homophobia 00:15:56.190 --> 00:15:58.710 and acceptance with a level of realism and emotional 00:15:58.710 --> 00:16:01.409 weight you just rarely saw in the genre. Instead 00:16:01.409 --> 00:16:04.429 of offering easy answers or shying away, he leaned 00:16:04.429 --> 00:16:06.929 into the complexity. Using that familiar sitcom 00:16:06.929 --> 00:16:09.929 format. Precisely. Using that familiar, comforting 00:16:09.929 --> 00:16:12.850 format of a family sitcom to gently yet firmly 00:16:12.850 --> 00:16:15.429 challenge viewers' assumptions and provoke genuine 00:16:15.429 --> 00:16:18.129 discussion. It was a clear demonstration of his 00:16:18.129 --> 00:16:21.090 unwavering commitment to using his platform for 00:16:21.090 --> 00:16:23.399 substantive commentary. A trait that definitely 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:26.659 grew stronger. Oh yeah. It showed audiences that 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:30.159 even within a traditional sitcom format, depth, 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.740 critical thinking, a willingness to engage with 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:36.600 complex social issues could not only thrive, 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:40.320 but also resonate powerfully. It expanded the 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.419 very definition of what a network comedy could 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:44.669 achieve. He wasn't just aiming for laughs. He 00:16:44.669 --> 00:16:47.909 was deliberately starting conversations, using 00:16:47.909 --> 00:16:51.669 the sitcom as this powerful tool for social discourse. 00:16:52.049 --> 00:16:54.289 It's a remarkable legacy for a network comedy, 00:16:54.289 --> 00:16:57.370 really. It is. And beyond starring in it, Carmichael 00:16:57.370 --> 00:16:59.649 was also expanding his creative scope elsewhere. 00:17:00.049 --> 00:17:01.970 He took on executive producer duties for the 00:17:01.970 --> 00:17:05.609 Fox sitcom role from 2018 to 2019. Right. Flexing 00:17:05.609 --> 00:17:07.750 those behind the scenes muscles. Yeah. And he 00:17:07.750 --> 00:17:09.829 also diversified his directing experience. Yeah. 00:17:09.869 --> 00:17:12.029 He helmed Drew Michael's stand up special, also 00:17:12.029 --> 00:17:14.619 called Drew. Michael in 2018. Oh, interesting. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.900 And that special was a claim for its unusual 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:19.640 style, which is a really significant point connecting 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:22.420 back to Carmichael's own evolving artistic vision. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.700 How so? What was unusual about it? Well, Drew 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:27.680 Michael's special famously used these long unbroken 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:30.900 takes and deliberately lacked a traditional audience. 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:33.740 It created this almost theatrical monologue feel. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:36.440 OK, very different. Very different. And it wasn't 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:39.160 just stylistic. It forced the viewer into this 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:42.160 more intimate, almost confrontational space with 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.039 the performer. It removed the comfort of shared 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.900 laughter, demanding a more direct engagement 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:51.420 with the material. This shows Carmichael, even 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.980 directing someone else, was already experimenting 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:56.940 with form, pushing beyond the typical stand -up 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:59.740 shot reverse shot. It really indicates his own 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:02.200 innovative approach to directing comedy was developing. 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:04.900 Yeah, not just a performer. Exactly. Showing 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:07.400 he was developing a distinct directorial vision 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:10.240 for the genre itself, willing to challenge its 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.779 conventions. That's a fascinating insight into 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:14.940 his directing style, showing that early commitment 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:17.039 to pushing formal boundaries. And from there, 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.599 his creative expansion just kept accelerating, 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:22.519 didn't it? Moving into filmmaking, documentaries, 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:25.740 even unique collaborations. Yeah. In 2019, he 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:27.980 made this unexpected kind of intriguing appearance 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:30.559 on rapper Tyler, the creator's acclaimed album, 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.980 Igor. Right, I remember that. He narrated it. 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:35.619 He narrated parts of it, yeah. Using these short 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:38.240 evocative phrases to provide this unique narrative 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:41.619 voice, helping listeners find logic in the title. 00:18:41.789 --> 00:18:45.069 character, Igor's complex, often fractured state 00:18:45.069 --> 00:18:47.910 of mind. It was unconventional. Totally unconventional 00:18:47.910 --> 00:18:50.609 role. Yeah. But it powerfully showcased his ability 00:18:50.609 --> 00:18:53.410 to contribute artistically in diverse, maybe 00:18:53.410 --> 00:18:56.630 understated, yet really impactful ways. And that 00:18:56.630 --> 00:18:59.470 same year, he gets tapped by Quentin Tarantino. 00:18:59.609 --> 00:19:01.490 A legendary director, Quentin Tarantino, yeah. 00:19:01.910 --> 00:19:04.930 To co -write a film adaptation based on the Jangazoro 00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:08.339 crossover. comic book series. Wow, that's quite 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:11.180 a gig. It's incredibly significant to be chosen 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:13.339 by Tarantino, a filmmaker known for his distinctive 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:15.859 dialogue, intricate narratives, deep understanding 00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:18.799 of genre, says volumes about Carmichael's versatility 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.619 and writing prowess. It demonstrates his ability 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:24.000 to craft narratives and dialogue that go far 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.880 beyond stand up scripts into this realm of complex 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:30.140 genre bending storytelling. The powerful validation 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:32.599 of his writing talent for one of cinema's most 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.549 idiosyncratic and respected voices. That's a 00:19:35.549 --> 00:19:37.490 huge stamp of approval for his writing shops, 00:19:37.750 --> 00:19:40.190 absolutely. Confirms his talents extend well 00:19:40.190 --> 00:19:42.809 beyond comedy, but he also continued his deep 00:19:42.809 --> 00:19:45.750 exploration of personal themes, right? Directly 00:19:45.750 --> 00:19:48.490 through HBO again. Yes, with two autobiographical 00:19:48.490 --> 00:19:51.009 documentaries, Home Videos in 2019 and Sermon 00:19:51.009 --> 00:19:53.769 on the Mount, also in 2019. And in both of these, 00:19:53.789 --> 00:19:56.250 he wasn't just the subject. He was creator, director, 00:19:56.390 --> 00:19:58.650 producer, and star. Yeah, taking on all those 00:19:58.650 --> 00:20:01.529 roles. Which really embedded his personal narrative 00:20:01.529 --> 00:20:04.839 even further into his artistic output. it marked 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.720 this clear, deliberate move toward making his 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.019 life itself a subject of his art, not just performing 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:14.059 it, but meticulously documenting and interrogating 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:16.500 it. And if you connect this to the bigger picture, 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:19.400 these documentaries came several years before 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:21.640 Ruthaniel, his most revealing special. Right. 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.940 They signaled this clear, growing willingness 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:27.559 to engage directly with his own life, his experiences, 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:30.240 as the primary source material. They weren't 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.740 just about sharing stories. They were about this 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:35.950 deep, often unvarnished self -examination presented 00:20:35.950 --> 00:20:38.630 publicly, a kind of preemptive bearing of the 00:20:38.630 --> 00:20:42.069 soul. Like in home videos. Exactly. In home videos, 00:20:42.150 --> 00:20:44.890 he's interviewing his own family members, delving 00:20:44.890 --> 00:20:47.650 into their perspectives on his life, their shared 00:20:47.650 --> 00:20:51.789 experiences, which is incredibly brave and vulnerable. 00:20:52.809 --> 00:20:55.009 And Sermon on the Mount explored his relationship 00:20:55.009 --> 00:20:57.529 with faith, his family's religious background, 00:20:58.009 --> 00:21:00.470 peeling back even more layers of his personal 00:21:00.470 --> 00:21:04.359 history. So what do these early autobiographical 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:08.420 works suggest about his long -term artistic trajectory, 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:11.740 and crucially, his developing comfort with vulnerability 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.440 as a core element of his craft? They definitely 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:17.099 foreshadowed what was coming. Absolutely. They 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:19.799 profoundly foreshadowed a path where that distinction 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.519 between the personal and the professional would 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:24.180 increasingly dissolve. It became this powerful 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:26.400 defining characteristic of his work, preparing 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:29.059 both him and his audience for even deeper revelations 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.859 down the line. They really paved the way for 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:33.500 that later, even more intimate work, showing 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:36.059 this clear progression towards radical transparency. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:39.000 And then in 2021, Carmichael makes his feature 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.079 film directorial debut, If on the Count of Three. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:43.700 And again, he didn't just direct it, he also 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:46.200 produced and starred in this dark comedy film. 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:49.019 The fact that it competed in the U .S. dramatic 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:53.039 competition at Sundance in 2021, that's significant 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:55.420 recognition for a first -time feature director. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:58.730 Huge recognition. It immediately placed him in 00:21:58.730 --> 00:22:01.509 a serious cinematic conversation, showing his 00:22:01.509 --> 00:22:03.769 vision translated successfully to the big screen. 00:22:03.910 --> 00:22:05.890 It marked his official transition, really. Yeah, 00:22:05.890 --> 00:22:08.710 into a fully -fledged filmmaker, demonstrating 00:22:08.710 --> 00:22:11.450 he wasn't merely a comedian who also acts, but 00:22:11.450 --> 00:22:13.750 a multi -disciplinary artist with a distinct, 00:22:13.990 --> 00:22:16.250 compelling vision for storytelling across different 00:22:16.250 --> 00:22:18.450 mediums. And the film itself, on the count of 00:22:18.450 --> 00:22:20.950 three, it tackled some heavy themes. Extremely 00:22:20.950 --> 00:22:23.369 heavy themes, yeah. Mental health, depression, 00:22:23.670 --> 00:22:27.269 suicide. but with this darkly comedic sensibility. 00:22:27.950 --> 00:22:30.130 That choice of subject matter further solidified 00:22:30.130 --> 00:22:32.490 his commitment to exploring uncomfortable truths, 00:22:32.849 --> 00:22:35.470 even in his fictional work, proving his artistic 00:22:35.470 --> 00:22:37.490 interests went far beyond just making people 00:22:37.490 --> 00:22:39.730 laugh. And the reception at Sundance? Critical 00:22:39.730 --> 00:22:41.769 reception affirmed his capability as a director 00:22:41.769 --> 00:22:44.210 to handle these complex narratives with both 00:22:44.210 --> 00:22:46.630 sensitivity and a unique voice. Which brings 00:22:46.630 --> 00:22:50.049 us to a truly pivotal moment, arguably the defining 00:22:50.049 --> 00:22:52.349 moment in his career and personal journey so 00:22:52.349 --> 00:22:56.250 far. A new era, really, characterized by profound 00:22:56.250 --> 00:22:59.250 personal revelations and critical acclaim that 00:22:59.250 --> 00:23:02.630 completely redefined his public identity. Rathaniel. 00:23:02.869 --> 00:23:06.049 His third HBO special, Rathaniel, released in 00:23:06.049 --> 00:23:10.009 2022 and once again directed by Bo Burnham. Yeah, 00:23:10.089 --> 00:23:12.789 showcasing just how strong and creatively synergistic 00:23:12.789 --> 00:23:15.190 that relationship had become. Their synergy is 00:23:15.190 --> 00:23:17.089 undeniable, isn't it? It's like this perfect 00:23:17.089 --> 00:23:20.140 creative alchemy. It really is. Burnham's minimalist 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:23.279 yet deeply impactful direction in Rathaniel just 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.500 allowed Carmichael's vulnerability to take center 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:28.660 stage. It created this unique theatrical experience 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:31.380 that felt both incredibly intimate and profoundly 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:33.579 public at the same time. How did the direction 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:35.920 achieve that? Well, Burnham's choice to keep 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:38.599 the stage design really spare with Carmichael 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:41.490 bathed in just a single spotlight. Yeah. It amplified 00:23:41.490 --> 00:23:43.490 the confessional nature of the performance. Stripped 00:23:43.490 --> 00:23:45.630 everything else away. Exactly. Stripped away 00:23:45.630 --> 00:23:47.869 distractions, focusing the audience entirely 00:23:47.869 --> 00:23:49.950 on Carmichael's words, his internal process. 00:23:50.430 --> 00:23:52.329 It made the revelation feel even more raw and 00:23:52.329 --> 00:23:55.119 immediate. But this special was truly groundbreaking, 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:57.740 utterly transformative, because it was during 00:23:57.740 --> 00:24:00.359 Rothaniel that Jared Carmichael publicly came 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:02.960 out as gay. He had talked about relationships 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:05.559 with men and women before, often exploring his 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:07.859 sexuality in kind of veiled or indirect ways. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:12.220 But Rothaniel was this profound. open, incredibly 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:15.140 brave moment of personal revelation embedded 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:17.500 directly within his art. Right. Not a separate 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:19.819 announcement. No, it was woven into the very 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:22.460 fabric of the special itself. An emotional journey 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:25.359 performed live. Which was incredibly significant, 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:28.480 not just for him personally, but for the medium 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:31.519 of stand -up comedy and for LGBTQ plus representation 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:35.240 in this very public, unforced way. Yeah. The 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:37.839 act of coming out on stage as part of his narrative 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:40.680 gave it this unique weight and immediacy. wasn't, 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:42.900 you know, a planned reveal for a news cycle. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:45.680 It was an organic, deeply felt moment of sharing 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:48.319 that redefined the very nature of his relationship 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.859 with his audience. OK, let's really unpack this, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.920 because Rithaniel wasn't just another comedy 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:56.960 special. It was this deeply personal, vulnerable, 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:59.799 ultimately transformative public declaration 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:02.720 that just reverberated far beyond the comedy 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:05.619 world. It fundamentally changed the way many 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:08.480 people viewed him in his art. It created this 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:11.480 new, essential lens through which his previous 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:14.640 and future work would be understood. It moved 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:17.039 beyond just telling jokes or observations to 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.539 telling this profound, life -altering truth, 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:22.920 using the stage as a space for radical honesty 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:25.160 and self -acceptance. And the impact was immediate. 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:27.579 Instantly recognized, yeah. Both by audiences 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.980 who felt this incredible connection and by the 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:33.160 industry itself. The special earned him the Primetime 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:35.859 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety 00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:39.079 Special. It's a powerful testament to the masterful 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:41.180 craft and profound impact of his storytelling. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.640 And the accolades for Rithaniel didn't stop there, 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.660 which really highlights the breadth of its impact. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.880 He also won the Writers Guild of America Award 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:50.119 for Best Television Writing in a Comedy Variety 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:52.759 Special, underscoring that critical recognition 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:55.059 of the sharp, vulnerable, innovative nature of 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:58.059 his writing. And further, perhaps most personally 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:00.900 resonant, given the content, he won a Dorian 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:05.900 Award for LGBTQIA plus Trailblazer in 2022. This 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:08.480 award directly acknowledged the cultural impact 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.700 of his personal journey, his courage in sharing 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:13.500 it. It recognized that his vulnerability wasn't 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:16.279 just art, it was a powerful act of representation. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:19.440 And activism, in a way. Yeah, and for many, a 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:22.619 form of activism. Inspiring others, pushing boundaries 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:25.000 for what kind of stories can be told on a mainstream 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:28.180 platform. It's difficult to overstate the impact 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.519 of that moment, both for Carmichael personally 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:33.140 and for the broader cultural landscape, in terms 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:35.339 of shifting perceptions of what's possible within 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:38.019 public art. Definitely. And what's truly fascinating 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:40.500 here is how Carmichael chose to do it. Using 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:43.059 the very public platform of a stand -up special, 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:45.940 a traditionally comedic medium, to share such 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:48.960 a deeply personal, life -altering truth. Right, 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:51.980 not a press release. No. He didn't issue a press 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:54.940 release or sit for a traditional interview. He 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:57.819 processed and revealed this profound aspect of 00:26:57.819 --> 00:27:00.819 his identity through his art, live on stage, 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:03.220 in front of an audience, inviting them into his 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:06.380 emotional experience. This not only redefined 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:08.710 his own public persona, fundamentally shifting 00:27:08.710 --> 00:27:11.069 how he'd be perceived and understood, but it 00:27:11.069 --> 00:27:13.890 also expanded the very possibilities of what 00:27:13.890 --> 00:27:16.930 a comedy special can achieve. How so? It blended 00:27:16.930 --> 00:27:19.569 humor, often nervous or self -deprecating humor, 00:27:19.990 --> 00:27:23.329 with raw, honest self -discovery. It demonstrated 00:27:23.329 --> 00:27:25.529 that comedy can be a vehicle for the most profound 00:27:25.529 --> 00:27:28.230 forms of confession and emotional release. It 00:27:28.230 --> 00:27:30.210 underscored the immense power of vulnerability 00:27:30.210 --> 00:27:33.039 in connecting with an audience on this deep almost 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.359 spiritual level. Shifting the focus. Totally 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.740 shifting the focus, from purely observational 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:40.460 humor to deeply introspective narrative that 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:43.059 invites genuine empathy, shared human experience. 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.940 It was a masterclass in controlled confessional 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:48.279 performance, you know, using long pauses, direct 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:50.519 eye contact with the camera, building up to the 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.940 revelation, not with a punchline, but with this 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:55.809 quiet, almost hesitant honesty. The ripple effect 00:27:55.809 --> 00:27:58.650 was immediate. It led to this undeniable increase 00:27:58.650 --> 00:28:02.210 in visibility recognition post -Rethaniel. Just 00:28:02.210 --> 00:28:04.589 two days after it was released, he hosted Saturday 00:28:04.589 --> 00:28:06.950 Night Live for the first time. Right. Huge platform. 00:28:07.130 --> 00:28:09.910 And for that, he got nominated for the Primetime 00:28:09.910 --> 00:28:12.589 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy 00:28:12.589 --> 00:28:15.789 Series, which just demonstrated his significantly 00:28:15.789 --> 00:28:19.289 increased visibility, his broad appeal to a mainstream 00:28:19.289 --> 00:28:21.869 audience who are clearly captivated by his unique 00:28:21.869 --> 00:28:24.569 blend of wit and vulnerability. And his rise 00:28:24.569 --> 00:28:28.289 just continued with remarkable momentum. In 2023, 00:28:28.289 --> 00:28:31.329 he hosted the prestigious 80th Golden Globe Awards. 00:28:31.329 --> 00:28:33.309 Yeah, that was memorable. Showcasing his sharp 00:28:33.309 --> 00:28:36.210 wit, his distinctive, often dry, comedic timing. 00:28:36.430 --> 00:28:38.730 and his ability to command a major live event 00:28:38.730 --> 00:28:41.309 with both humor and this certain cutting edge 00:28:41.309 --> 00:28:43.509 that kept the audience engaged, maybe a little 00:28:43.509 --> 00:28:46.190 on their toes. That same year, he appeared in 00:28:46.190 --> 00:28:48.349 the Academy Award winning film, Poor Things, 00:28:48.630 --> 00:28:50.589 alongside Emma Stone. Well, another big project. 00:28:51.009 --> 00:28:53.589 Further cementing his presence in these high 00:28:53.589 --> 00:28:55.950 profile cinematic projects that moved beyond 00:28:55.950 --> 00:28:58.869 just comedy. These appearances highlight his 00:28:58.869 --> 00:29:01.750 growing stature. across different facets of entertainment, 00:29:02.190 --> 00:29:05.009 from intimate comedy stages to major award shows 00:29:05.009 --> 00:29:07.769 and critically acclaimed films. It showed his 00:29:07.769 --> 00:29:10.009 versatility and the demand for him across the 00:29:10.009 --> 00:29:12.829 industry. It's clear that Rossaniel was a watershed 00:29:12.829 --> 00:29:15.309 moment, not just for him personally, but for 00:29:15.309 --> 00:29:18.329 his career, opening up entirely new avenues, 00:29:18.509 --> 00:29:21.170 cementing his reputation as this artist of remarkable 00:29:21.170 --> 00:29:23.450 honesty and depth. Absolutely. And that leads 00:29:23.450 --> 00:29:25.569 us directly to the present and the future, where 00:29:25.569 --> 00:29:28.730 he continues to evolve and push boundaries. Through 00:29:28.730 --> 00:29:32.289 reality shows, new ventures. In 2024, Carmichael 00:29:32.289 --> 00:29:34.690 continued this exploration of self, this time 00:29:34.690 --> 00:29:37.230 even more explicitly with the Jared Carmichael 00:29:37.230 --> 00:29:39.890 reality show. Yeah, an HBO documentary series 00:29:39.890 --> 00:29:42.349 revolving intimately around his life. It premiered 00:29:42.349 --> 00:29:44.809 at South by Southwest in March 2024, then hit 00:29:44.809 --> 00:29:47.009 HBO later that month, and it got critical acclaim 00:29:47.009 --> 00:29:50.710 too, right? It did. It won a Gotham TV Award 00:29:50.710 --> 00:29:54.509 for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series in 2024, further 00:29:54.509 --> 00:29:56.910 solidifying his artistic credibility in this 00:29:56.910 --> 00:30:00.369 new, extremely public format. And it wasn't just, 00:30:00.410 --> 00:30:02.509 you know, a traditional reality show in the celebrity 00:30:02.509 --> 00:30:05.470 gossip sense. No. How was it different? It felt 00:30:05.470 --> 00:30:08.410 like an artistic extension of his previous deeply 00:30:08.410 --> 00:30:12.160 personal work. meticulously crafted to explore 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.599 the complexities of his life, his relationships 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:16.980 in real time. So this wasn't just him jumping 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:19.640 on a trend, it was a deliberate artistic choice, 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:22.819 building on the foundation of Ruthaniel and those 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:25.640 earlier documentaries to continue that exploration 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:28.799 of self, but in an even more raw, maybe unfiltered 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.940 way. Exactly. If you connect this to the bigger 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:32.940 picture, the reality show format, especially 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:35.579 after Ruthaniel and the Docs, it suggests this 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:39.690 ongoing, evolving, almost relentless to radical 00:30:39.690 --> 00:30:41.990 transparency in his art. He's basically saying, 00:30:41.990 --> 00:30:44.990 my life is my art. Pretty much. And I'm inviting 00:30:44.990 --> 00:30:47.470 you into the most unvarnished, often uncomfortable 00:30:47.470 --> 00:30:50.769 parts of it as they unfold. He explores his family 00:30:50.769 --> 00:30:54.009 dynamics, friendships, dating life, his ongoing 00:30:54.009 --> 00:30:56.329 struggles with identity and connection, with 00:30:56.329 --> 00:30:59.470 this almost startling frankness, which raises 00:30:59.470 --> 00:31:02.460 an important question for us, the audience. In 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:05.700 an era of meticulously curated celebrity, where 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:08.119 public figures often present this carefully constructed, 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:11.740 often aspirational image, what does Carmichael's 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:15.059 continuous unvarnished self -exposure offer to 00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:17.480 both his audience and the broader cultural conversation 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:19.680 about authenticity? Yeah, what does it offer? 00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:22.140 How does this blurring of the lines between personal 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:24.599 life and performance challenge our traditional 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:27.200 notions of celebrity, privacy, and maybe even 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:29.660 what constitutes art in the modern age? It's 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.980 not just showing us his life. He's challenging 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:34.460 us to reconsider our expectations of public figures 00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:36.720 and the very nature of storytelling, pushing 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.480 the boundaries of what an artist can reveal and 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:41.309 how. It's a fascinating and Yeah, provocative 00:31:41.309 --> 00:31:44.269 experiment and self -documentation. And it's 00:31:44.269 --> 00:31:46.750 clearly far from over. His career continues to 00:31:46.750 --> 00:31:48.789 evolve, demonstrating his wide ranging appeal. 00:31:49.250 --> 00:31:51.410 He's got an upcoming appearance as a guest judge 00:31:51.410 --> 00:31:54.289 on RuPaul's Drag Race. Right. Season 17, episode 00:31:54.289 --> 00:31:57.309 12 in 2025. Which further highlights his presence 00:31:57.309 --> 00:32:00.069 within the LGBTQ plus community and broader pop 00:32:00.069 --> 00:32:02.589 culture, shows his reach extends to incredibly 00:32:02.589 --> 00:32:05.650 diverse audiences and spaces, embracing his role 00:32:05.650 --> 00:32:09.809 as a trailblazer. And also in 2025, his fourth 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:12.759 Both HBO stand -up special Don't Be Gay premiered 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:15.960 on Max, which indicates his ongoing commitment 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:18.740 to stand -up as a core part of his artistic output, 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:21.319 continuing to challenge and provoke with his 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:23.740 unique voice his willingness to tackle sensitive 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:26.259 subjects head on. And that title alone, Don't 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:28.200 Be Gay. Yeah, it suggests he's definitely not 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:30.299 shying away from controversial or deeply personal 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:33.039 topics, rather leaning into them with his characteristic 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:35.720 blend of humor and introspection, constantly 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.500 evolving his relationship with his own identity 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:40.480 and his audience's perceptions. So what does 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:42.680 all this mean for his evolving comedic voice, 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:45.740 his artistic trajectory? It suggests this constant 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:48.880 push against boundaries, doesn't it? A relentless 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:51.779 desire to keep exploring new forms, personal 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:54.819 truth in the most public way possible. He's not 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:56.859 resting on his laurels or settling into some 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:59.700 comfortable niche. He's continually reinventing 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:02.339 what it means to be a comedian, an artist in 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:05.440 the 21st century, using his platforms to foster 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:09.799 dialogue and self -reflection. that art doesn't 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:12.599 have to be static or just entertaining. It can 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:15.440 be this dynamic, evolving, sometimes uncomfortable 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:17.880 reflection of one's lived experience, serving 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:20.200 as a mirror for society as much as for the artists 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:22.900 themselves. His journey is one of continuous 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:25.880 growth, artistic fearlessness, and this deep 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:28.019 commitment to radical honesty. What a journey 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:30.059 we've traced. We've gone through the remarkable, 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:32.660 evolving career of Jared Carmichael, from those 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:34.740 humble beginnings in Winston -Salem to becoming 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:37.640 this award -winning comedian, actor, filmmaker, 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:40.259 host of major awards ceremonies. Like the trajectory. 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:43.000 We've seen how his art has consistently embraced 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:46.039 authenticity, tackled challenging social subjects 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:48.640 head on, and evolved to include these deeply 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.480 personal revelations, culminating in transformative 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:55.160 moments like Rathaniel and the, yeah, unflinching 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:57.579 Jared Carmichael reality show. His work demonstrates 00:33:57.579 --> 00:34:00.500 this powerful blend of incisive wit, profound 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:03.740 vulnerability, and intellectual curiosity. He 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:06.140 consistently pushes the boundaries of what comedy 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:08.760 and entertainment can even be, showing us that 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:10.719 true impact often comes from a willingness to 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:12.920 be utterly himself, no matter how uncomfortable, 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:15.159 unconventional, or intensely personal that truth 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:17.239 might be. He's really redefined the parameters 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:19.579 of celebrity and artistic expression in this 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:22.260 very public, deliberate way, inviting us all 00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:24.239 to rethink our expectations of public figures. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:27.300 And as Jared Carmichael continues to weave his 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:30.239 personal narrative so intricately into his professional 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:33.239 endeavors, I mean, from coming out in a seminal 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:35.619 standup special to starring in his own reality 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:38.360 show, dissecting his real time emotional life, 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:41.900 he challenges us, you, the listener, to consider 00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:44.719 how it is an artist's increasing vulnerability, 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:48.179 this willingness to explore uncomfortable truths, 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:50.639 redefine the boundaries of what we expect from 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:53.099 public figures. Big question. What are the implications 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:55.570 for privacy? and authenticity in our increasingly 00:34:55.570 --> 00:34:58.250 transparent world? And what does this ongoing 00:34:58.250 --> 00:35:00.809 quest for radical authenticity reveal about the 00:35:00.809 --> 00:35:03.650 changing landscape of modern storytelling, pushing 00:35:03.650 --> 00:35:06.289 us, the audience, to look inward as much as outward? 00:35:06.769 --> 00:35:09.550 What new frontiers might he explore next? And 00:35:09.550 --> 00:35:11.869 how will his profoundly honest journey continue 00:35:11.869 --> 00:35:14.630 to resonate with and challenge audiences worldwide, 00:35:15.210 --> 00:35:17.349 forcing us maybe to confront our own truths? 00:35:17.469 --> 00:35:19.369 It certainly does leave us with a lot to ponder. 00:35:19.670 --> 00:35:22.230 But the future of art, celebrity, personal narrative, 00:35:22.650 --> 00:35:24.710 his path remains one of the most compelling and 00:35:24.710 --> 00:35:26.489 evolving in contemporary entertainment today.