‘Todd Barry: Spicy Honey’ On Netflix Comes With A Dry Heat

Unless you’re still part of the British Commonwealth, the day after Christmas isn’t Boxing Day, but rather just the day after Christmas, when you either still have family obligations at home or to make a trip to the shopping mall. Some of you, for better or worse, must return to your work obligations.

Perhaps not the most plum spot to drop your Netflix comedy special, you might think. Or just about on brand for the release of Todd Barry: Spicy Honey.

About 18 minutes into the hour, Barry himself admits during a joke that he’s not even sure where you’ll see this special, even though he already signed the contracts for it, and yes, even he knows that’s a weird admission. Then again, he also made fun of himself and his drawing power from the start, surprised to see any women in the front rows of his audience for this taping: “Typical Todd Barry front row is like, guy by himself, empty chair, guy by himself, empty chair with a graphic novel on it, guy by himself, Pop Tart.”

These moments actually represent exceptions to Barry’s adopted onstage persona, which usually find himself exhibiting an almost patronizing superiority complex. The type of comedian who compliments his own performance. A much milder-mannered Anthony Jeselnik, if you will. More sardonic. The type of comedian whose sole purpose on FX’s Louie was to put down Louis C.K., and who, as a teenager, attempted to sell his greatness on the air to David Letterman.

In real life, too, of course, CK helped fund and distribute Barry’s previous special, which relied entirely on crowd work. So he had no shortage of material ready to go for Netflix, despite what this promotional clip (which didn’t make the final cut as an opening sketch) might lead you to believe.

Barry jokes multiple times during the hour about moments he planned on cutting (but obviously didn’t), leaving in a bit in which an audience members approaches the stage to retie Barry’s shoes. The mess may get fixed, but you’ll also watch the whole process in Barry’s world. He even jokes about hiring a professional organizer to help him move into a new apartment, yet refusing to take anyone’s suggestions on decluttering by removing. “I will pay someone 400 dollars to help me organize the stuff that I should probably throw out,” he jokes.

And if he tried the Japanese method of asking his objects if they bring him joy? “Based on that, I’m going to be burning down my apartment — with me in it.”

Much more often, though, he sets his sights of observational sarcasm on targets other than himself, including people who:

• Use iPads while sitting in the front row of a dramatic play;
• Ride mopeds while holding a baby;
• Walk into a coffee shop with coffee from somewhere else;
• Order a milkshake and a beer at the same meal;
• Eat egg salad in a restaurant;
• Give rough foot massages;
• Make expensive bars of soap;
• Steal hotel bedspreads;
• And/or ask him how much he earns as a comedian.

Barry naturally has come up with answers that stymie all of these people. Whether you find his attitude more fiery or sweet is all a matter of taste.

Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper, The Comic’s Comic; before that, for actual newspapers. Based in NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop: Ice cream or news. He also tweets @thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories: The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First.

Watch Todd Barry: Spicy Honey on Netflix