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Gary Gulmanhas a distinct sense of the mundane.
One ofhis best-known jokesis a long exploration of the experience of shopping at Trader Joes.
The indignities they thrust upon poor kids never end, Gulman says.
Gulman is tall and broad-chested, and he speaks at a careful, unhurried pace.
As a result, theres some friction between his perspective on poverty and the space hes inhabiting.
As he puts it: Im poor I am not stupid!
With this, Gulman sets the tone and establishes the mechanisms for the rest of the hour.
His observations have the specific, unabashed purpose of describing poverty and its effects on American life.
Often when comedians work in this mode, a joke stops after the observations been made.
Except that what becomes immediately obvious in Gulmans work is that it doesnt have to mean nothing.
But beyond being technically impeccable, theres something radical about the topic Gulman chooses.
It can be challenging to get them back into a space where they can laugh.
Gulman has decided to reject that concern.
Instead, the ones who should feel ashamed are politicians and the wealthy.
You already have more money than you’re able to spend, Gulman imagines telling a rich person.
Its stupid, and its very fun to laugh about.
Part of the appeal is how much fun Gulman seems to be having.
He grins like the cat who caught the canary.
Or maybe its not a coincidence after all.
Its thrilling to watch, and it delivers on the implicit promise Gulman makes by getting on the stage.
The politics never undermines the jokes; it only makes the jokes land harder.
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