For the first time in a decade, Michael Ian Black is back with a new comedy special. Titled First Annual Retirement Special, it’ll be released across platforms by Comedy Dynamics on Tuesday, August 25th.
In his First Annual Retirement Special, Black reflects on his 27 years of experience as a married man and the difficult choices that come with it, like choosing between intimacy or watching Better Call Saul, caring for each other through sickness and health, and discovering just how important accent pillows are to bringing a home together. He also takes on the increasingly unhinged world of snack and soda flavors, living abroad in Rome and London — where he learned that London theater may not be all it’s cracked up to be — and recounts the time he hit it big at the poker table against a man named Dave in a tie-dye “I Am Kenough” shirt.
A veteran comedian, filmmaker, and actor, Black’s last special, Noted Expert, premiered on Epix in 2016. Prior to that, he put out the Comedy Central hour Very Famous and album I Am a Wonderful Man. As an actor, he’s known for roles in the Wet Hot American Summer franchise, This Is 40, Burning Love, Reno 911!, TV Land’s The Jim Gaffigan Show and Comedy Central’s Another Period. He also wrote and directed Wedding Daze, starring Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher, and co-wrote Run, Fatboy, Run, directed by David Schwimmer and starring Simon Pegg.
A founding member of iconic comedy troupes The State and Stella, as well as an author and podcast host, Black told us, “I’m thrilled to be releasing this special with Comedy Dynamics. I worked very hard on it, but if it saves even one life, all that hard work will have been worth it.”
Comedy Dynamics CEO Brian Volk-Weiss said, “We’ve been working with Michael for over 15 years and it’s great to still be in business with him all these years later. He’s one of the most naturally funny comedians I’ve ever worked with, and we’re excited to be releasing his hilarious new special.”
