“Remember every step of the way….you asked for this.”
In 2021, Matt Rife was a semi-well-known stand-up comedian in the super-competitive Los Angeles comedy scene. He began posting short video clips from his performances to his social media as a form of promotion to help garner fans for his upcoming shows.
This led to several high-profile self-produced comedy specials, eventually being selected for a Netflix special and becoming the face of young comedy.
Fresh off a record-breaking world tour and streaming his way to selling out the Hollywood Bowl, Netflix would continue their relationship with Rife by signing him to a new multi-specials deal and announcing that he would be the first comedian on the network to produce an all-crowd work special.
A special entirely based on improv and crowd interaction, Lucid will quite frankly be a comedy special you’ve never seen before.
Can he rightfully wear the crown as the leader of comedy’s new school, or is there still more that this fly kid needs to learn to reach his full potential?
The Laughs:
If you stay ready, then you’ll never have to get ready. Matt Rife might be the Captain America of crowd work comedy because he can do this all day. Rife’s passion for film and television hints at a future beyond stand-up comedy, but for now, he’s living his dream and inspiring millions with his unique brand of humor and unwavering determination. The audience came into the project knowing it was up to them to make him shine brightest, yet he still managed to make them feel he knew everyone in the comedy club personally and that they had been laughing with each other for years. No matter what crazy dilemma the crowd throws at him, Matt could masterfully shoot it out of the air with a flair and sense of humor that confidently let Netflix know that they had a solid first-round draft pick on their hands.
The Bombs:
Many comedy fans at this point would consider Matt Rife as the Steph Curry of stand-up comedy because he’s changed the way to become a megastar in the genre forever. But with that being said, unfortunately, Rife can’t always display what made him a game-changer, even in a situation considered to be tailor-made for him, especially when he’s looking for all-star support from people who love this genre but have no talent for it. Every second you watch Matt onstage, he seems like he’s the most comfortable person in the world, but at times, if you look at the audience, it reminds you of your middle school teacher when they ask the class, “Does anyone want to read first?” and no wants to raise their hand. It shows why there’s an excellent reason typical comedy shows work best when the comedian talks and the audience just listens.
A Matt Rife “Lucid” Fun Fact: The project is directed by friend and fellow stand-up comedian Erik Griffin.
WOTL Final Review Score:
Best Joke: When Matt asks the audience, “Crowd work is so easy……is it?”
Worst Joke: The Mother/Daughter oral sex business discussion
WOTL Rating (Opener/Feature/Headliner): Feature
At the beginning of the feature, Rife offers an inspirational message to everyone in attendance: Always chase your dreams, no matter how impossible others may think they seem.
This is quite fitting because, for the first time ever, a comedy special will not be judged on the comedian or their material, but only if we’re okay watching others follow their lead. What usually makes this sub-genre so great is the unpredictability that an audience has the privilege of witnessing in a small but intimate setting. Now, something that was small in stature has quickly evolved into a predominantly visual force that is expected to extremely satisfy the entire world.
Given that this can be considered a “trial run” period, we wouldn’t mind seeing Rife have another chance to improve the method in a few years with another similar special, this time in a major city like New York, Los Angeles, or Dallas.
Crowd Work is still taking its first steps, but if you ask us, we will look back at this moment and realize Matt Rife needed to walk so many others could run at a later date.
Checkout Matt Rife’s Lucid available now on Netflix.
Do you consider Matt Rife’s latest special one of the best of 2024? Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
