Aziz Ansari brought his Hypothetical Tour to The Great Canadian Casino in Toronto on Thursday night. If you’re on the fence about seeing him live, let’s turn that hypothetical idea into a realistic plan. He skipped storing fans’ phones in Yondr pouches to save money, but didn’t skimp on jokes.
I’m tired of buying tickets for A-list comedians who can’t edit their script. Maybe they have too many yes men in their posse or haven’t shared their material with a critical mentor. It’s frustrating when more than 5 minutes should’ve been cut. With Aziz, there wasn’t more than 10 seconds to eliminate.
I loved when he acted out holding onto a handlebar next to the toilet to show how he accommodates his aging parents visiting him. His physical comedy was minimal, but impactful.
A recent social clip from Aziz Ansari reassured me there was fresh, relatable commentary. He compared safety announcements on the New York and London subway systems, complete with a brief British accent. It reinforced why I had to go again after enjoying his 2018 show at Roy Thomson Hall.
Speaking of social media, Aziz had great satire about YouTube. He talked about easily falling down late night rabbit holes with a tailored algorithm. For example, it starts with a recipe that you’d rather watch than cook, then suddenly it convinces you your whole kitchen is toxic.
Aziz recalled that binging YouTube led him to a Wikipedia page about a celebrity fundraiser he forgot about hosting years ago. He noted that Kanye West performed at the event and firmly distanced himself by calling out Kanye for recently selling t-shirts with swastikas. It was a brief, yet important statement about his former friend.
Sometimes it’s frustrating when American comics reference too many politicians and don’t adapt their script for Canadian audiences. Aziz focused on the vice president instead of obscure lesser known politicians.
Aziz mocked JD Vance as a prime example of a public figure in an interracial marriage to transition to talking about his own wife, Serena. Then he thanked the crowd for helping them pay for infertility treatments. He also engaged with a couple in the front row, asking how they picked baby names based on their backgrounds.
After an original and hilarious show, he ended his set with an AI-written text he’d never send his wife. Aziz Ansari strategically found ways to include personal storytelling while mocking how we use technology.
I remember wishing I could afford to see Aziz Ansari at Just For Laughs Montreal in 2016. I’m glad I’ve had a chance to see him in Toronto twice since then. This time, I also discovered his opener, Ricky Velez!
Aziz – I know you love YouTube, so if you see this, I’d love to chat! Consider this an open invitation to set up a conversation for Hot On The Street.
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