Jul 15
Matteo Lane’s ‘Al Dente Special’ – gay comic brings lots of laughs, and sharp observations, to Hulu
David-Elijah Nahmod READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The latest share of standup from out gay comic Matteo Lane, “The Al Dente Special” comes to Hulu in an hour-long show that offers a lot of laughs and some sharp observations about his cultural heritage and his life as a gay man, along with some hilarious anecdotes about his life.
Lane hails from the Chicago area, where he grew up with an Italian-Mexican mother and an Irish father. His star has been rising for quite some time, having made appearances on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and the mockumentary sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” He also spent some time on “Girl Code,” a comedy series on MTV, among many other appearances. Lane has been honing his craft for more than a decade, and his hard work has paid off. He has endeared himself to millions.
His new special begins backstage, where Lane is seen playing a video game with a group of friends. He excuses himself, and walks out onto the stage to thunderous applause. He’s quite easy on the eyes, and is dressed in a long-sleeved sweater, shorts and sneakers.
He gets right to the point.
“We all know the sound of a drunken white woman,” Lane says. “It’s piercing.” He recalls seeing three white girls eating gelatos in Rome, and does a dead-on impersonation of their “valley girl” speech.
He talks about Italy for a while, being of partially Italian heritage.
“Have you ever done anything gay in Italy?” he asks. “The Vatican is there. You know, men in dresses, no girls allowed. It’s so gay.”
He also recalls seeing Oprah at a restaurant in Rome. “Born and raised in Chicago, 25 years, and I never ran into the bitch once,” he quips.
Lane’s delivery is fast paced, sharp and energetic. He commands the stage and has the audience eating out of his hand as he takes that audience on a trip around the world. He talks about tourist traps in Amsterdam, and does a hilarious impression of a Dutch man telling him how much he enjoyed the show.
He talks about how Americans simply do not understand Australians. One of his funniest anecdotes recalls the time he needed a massage. Much to his surprise, he unwittingly hired an escort who stuck a finger up his butt!
Lane keeps the audience laughing throughout. His jokes have a fiery edge to them, yet he remains good natured from start to finish.
“The Al Dente Special” ultimately becomes another feather in Lane’s cap. With this funny and insightful show, it’s easy to see why he plays to packed houses wherever he goes.
‘Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special’ is now streaming on Hulu.
https://www.hulu.com/movie/matteo-lane-the-al-dente-special
https://matteolanecomedy.com/
