The stand-up comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White’s original special, “If You Quit Listening, I’ll Shut Up,” was released on Netflix Tuesday.
The Texas native’s signature routine is a cocktail of bawdy anecdotes, biting cynicism and a certain brand of brashness that can only be described as the kind of dirty, offensive humor your drunk uncle annually delivers at the Thanksgiving table.
And, of course, there are actual drinks involved in his set, too. In this Netflix special, the cigar-smoking, whiskey-swigging comic returns to the stage complete with his trademark stage props of a black stool, an ice bucket and an ashtray.
Right off the bat, White tackles intense topics such as drunk driving and infidelity like they’re mere pastimes.
“I’m 61 years old now, and I know two things to be true,” he starts. “One: anything has the potential to become a DUI checkpoint if you crash your car into it, and you can’t unf— the housekeeper. That’s it. That’s all I know.”
He continues to hammer the nail into the coffin of masculine decency with a sharp reference to a familiar case — “Governor Schwarzenegger helped me with that second one, so I didn’t have to do that one myself, so that’s good.”
While brazenly offensive humor like this appeals to some, others might perceive it as flat out distasteful, especially in the light of movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter.
It may be hard to believe, but it truly gets worse. Like a couch potato slowly sinking into the uncharted depths of a La-Z-Boy, White spirals into deeper, even more insulting territory when he begins to talk about a news article that “befuddled” him concerning a Middle Eastern town where women are required to wear burkas with only one eye hole opening.
The crowd chuckles as White makes an “OK” hand gesture, holds it up to his right eye and looks across the crowd.
“One eye hole,” he said, “not two eye holes like those other sluts.”
The joke continues as White explains his confusion about how the men are able to tell which women are hot or not, and he impersonates one of these men, racist accent included, and says, “Ooh, look at that one!”
He briefly assures the crowd that he’s not “busting on women from the Middle East” because he is aware that they are “perfectly content to live the way they do.” He takes a moment to pause and let the crowd process this, and roaring laughter ensues.
White’s approach to humor is the punch drunk answer to any therapist’s most basic question, “So, how are you doing today?” He leaves nothing to the imagination with his candid remarks, and he airs out all of the dirty laundry with no concern for who may be listening.
While he insults every minority on the spectrum, at least he isn’t leaving any behind. LGBTQ people, Middle Eastern people, black people, women — you name them, he’ll take a stab at them.
White is undeniably a storyteller. He relays tales from his early youth in Texas to his days with the troops during the Vietnam War to his modern day escapades as a wealthy, critically acclaimed showman with a blue-collar soul.
His straightforward approach to comedy is not difficult to understand, but that doesn’t mean it goes down easy. White’s abundant use of profanity combined with his blunt, cocky demeanor may at first create a sense of approachability, but pulling back the curtain on this act reveals the lack of inventiveness of most of his jokes.
Also, listening to him talk about sex simply feels wrong. His misogynistic and sexist commentary does not help his case, either. White goes into vivid detail about various sexual acts and his experiences with prostitutes, as well as his current sex life.
Every sex story he tells is vulgar, bawdy, demeaning or just plain gross. Some older members of the crowd may find comfort in the idea that someone is willing to have a “post-sex talk” discussing the nitty gritty details, but there is a reason why one doesn’t ask grandpa for sex advice.
With each long swig of scotch, White sinks further and further into a pit of ill-prepared jokes and sloppy deliveries.
The most upsetting part about this act was that anyone could see that this man is clearly aware of his alcohol-related problems, but he chooses to do nothing about them. He continues slurring certain words and is even forced to repeat jokes that he couldn’t quite get out the first time.
Overall, White’s “comedy” bit falls flat with his redundant references to his house in Beverly Hills, California, and his overuse of the word “f—in’.” His routine feels tired and outdated, not unlike the man himself.
Wow. Shut up.
The author clearly has never seen Ron White’s act before – can’t review stuff in a vacuum
We totally disagree. My boyfriend,myself AND my bro and sis in law unknowingly watched this the same night! We all thought Ron was at his best and that it was freaking hysterical from start to finish. Perhaps someone politically correct or one who gets offended easily like this writer ,shouldn’t be reviewing a comedian who is a genius creating laughter by being Politically Incorrect.
Agree. This writer is not the right reviewer for Ron White specials. I usually enjoy reading reviews by critics (or college students in this case) that understand a comic’s style, but complaining about a comic insulting people is not a real review.
I think more likely this is not the reviewer for you. Despite disagreeing with some of the writers points I can think of some people I know whose values align with that of the writer. They would probably find value in this. Thats where the value having different types of people, with different view points on topics, review things becomes useful. I can find a reviewer who I know is of a like mind and they’ll review content so that I can decide if I want to watch it. You should probably just skip this writers reviews from now on. Find someone you like and read those to make your content watching decisions. Suggesting that this isn’t a real review isn’t helpful. Its a real review for people whose values are more in line with this writer.
I only WISH I had a drunk uncle half as funny.. Ron White shows his comic genius in this show, both with his timing and humor. NOT for the politically correct or those easily offended. I laughed so hard I had an asthma attack. It was fantastic.
I saw this special and although I didn’t find it as funny as some of his previous stand-up, I really don’t think this author should be reviewing stand-up. That Ron White wasn’t funny is one critique; but that you found his jokes politically incorrect and offensive is ridiculous. He isn’t a journalist – he is a standup comic. If you are so easily offended why don’t you use your time to review something that you actually have an interest in.
Thank God these comments said everything I was thinking. Tired of people being so offended by everything. Just chill and laugh. As far as “picking” on everyone, yes, but then clearly defines how he couldn’t give a f*** less about how people are or whom they choose to be. Nonjudgemental, the way more people should be. Obviously, comedy is subjective and not everyone will find the same things funny, but I personally thought this standup was pretty good…hell, maybe even great. Are there better? Absolutely. Is this up there with some of the best? In my opinion, yes.
Snowflake
What an idiot, this was serious comedy gold. One of the funniest men to do stand up and this act was priceless. My girlfriend never had heard of Ron White and both of us didn’t stop laughing and we weren’t even stoned. What makes him funny is that he doesn’t have in to the PC crybaby crowd. Dave Chappelle is the same way which is why Ron White and Dave Chappelle are my favorite two comedians that have lives.
Watched this last night…. maybe two jokes fell flat….. but rest was hilarious…… couple times my wife and I laughed so hard we cried…. this review was written by someone who does not know there are no boundaries in comedy
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I used to laugh so hard at his comedy, and there were a few good laughs in the first half, but it started to sink and never recovered. It was depressing and outdated. I didn’t make it all the way through.
This from the person who wrote “I Didn’t Cry When My Parents Dropped Me Off at College”… last year…
Welp….like Ron White says…”You can’t fix stupid…”
Seriously though, I thought this special was brilliant and that comes from having watched Ron White since he toured with Jeff Foxworthy. The things the writer of this review points out are things he’s been doing for years…and obviously since he still packs houses despite reviews like this and the overwhelming Political Correctness stance of today says more truth than this review.
Wow! Who hurt you? Ron White is hilarious.
Wow, tone-deaf, SJW-ish article. Ron White is one of the funniest comedians out there.
Wow. Can you be any more of a cry baby? It’s comedy.
So predictable Emma, he is a conservative so you give him a bad review. You are laughable
What kind of comedy critic is this disconnected with comedy? Everyone loves it because it’s great. Don’t be a contrarian.
The author is not only incapable of understanding humor they are undeserving of being entertained by it. If your intent is to find offense at everything you are not a well adjusted human at all and you should be isolated,not writing reviews
Get the heck over yourself. He’s still funny as ever!
BTW thats not scotch in this one. Thats a $75 bottle of Tequila.
Free your mind, watch, and enjoy!
It’s pretty clear this author is overly sensitive and has zero sense of humor.
This author clearly doesn’t get it. If your that sensitive then don’t watch it. Ron is one of the best in the business. He hasn’t gotten all those comedy specials because he sucks you know.
Sad times we’re living in when someone known for his blunt and politically incorrect comedy is criticized for just that. Get over yourself and find a different career. The special was as hilarious as the rest of his previous specials. Do your homework, get a sense of humor and take the stick out of your SJW a**.
Lighten the fuck up. This is comedy gold. It’s Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce. There’s truth in comedy. You may not find it funny, but it’s honest. Good comedians don’t sprinkle sugar on spoon fulls of the shit to make it sweeter for everyone to swallow. There are just too many poets and not enough readers in the world today.
Ouch, Emma just got roasted… I’ll have to agree with the general consensus.
Hilarious!
Perhaps the author should review opera or the symphony but not comedy outside of Jerry Seinfeld’s style
Wow. Really. Get some info before you trash a comedian. The reason for the one eye hole in the burka WAS because men thought the women might be looking to much at other men or longing for things of the world…what in the Islamic culture is equivalent to being a slut.
The bs about insulting…it’s a comic… if comics can’t say what they want to get a laugh then we are headed for the end.
Ron drinks, I drink after 23 years in the army… the meds don’t work… and I’m sure most people that watch Ron white drink. If u don’t drink don’t criticize as I sure you have a vice also.
Get a grip on reality. Comics and political correctness should not be mentioned in the same sentence. Hate to hear what you would say about Lisa Lampineli.
Never heard of White before, watched it, was not personally offended but bored. Just finished it to not have it in my ‘continue watching’ section for the next few weeks…
This author is a fucking idiot
Grew up watching Ron White. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older? But all of these comedians lose it after getting divorced- they all become bitter. I agree with the author. It was actually sad to watch. Ron def has passed his prime.
Wow! That is the single most ignorant review I have ever seen. You obviously don’t understand that every comedian has their thing. And his thing is that he’s vulgar and crude and a drunk. That’s his thing and it has made him millions of dollars. At least he’s not some whiny ass little bitchy newspaper wannabe reporter.