From the days of The Comedy Connection to The Wilbur, Ari Shaffir’s track record in Boston over the years speaks for itself. But that doesn’t mean he’s resting on his laurels when he makes his way back to the city.
Bringing his latest hour to The Wilbur on Thursday night (December 9), Shaffir may not have a specific theme in mind like he did during his last visit in 2018, but he’s okay with that. However, he knows how to handle the room, and the possibility of leaving some bumps and bruises has him just as pumped as delivering some much-needed serotonin to end the year.
“Last time I was in Boston, I did my Jew hour, which was basically a tutorial on Judaism while maintaining a club comic’s sense of disgusting,” Shaffir tells Vanyaland. “That hour is all done, but I’ll still offend some people with this one. I’ll hopefully walk, like, five or six people, but it is a bigger room, so maybe we’ll get ten. But on the other hand, it is a theater, so you have less people randomly there, so If I can get even just five walk-outs, I’ll call it a success.”
With all that’s gone on over the last 18 months and change, Shaffir’s fellow comedians are bringing their new perspectives and experiences to the stage, whether it be in terms of the pandemic or politics. Now, he understands the need to discuss it, because it was a real thing that happened, but at the same time, Shaffir’s vehement opposition to even testing political waters on stage has him feeling that COVID-centered material has run its course, and he’s just looking to entertain and have fun doing what he does best.
“For me, it’s just about getting back to how it felt. A lot of comics are talking about COVID, but I’m over that,” says Shaffir. “You have to say something about it because you’re going through it, but at some point, you can just feel the crowds saying ‘that’s enough.’ I’m sure it was the same way when O.J. was on trial or during the elections, but at a certain point, crowds just start to think it’s boring.”
Having worked his way up the ranks, in Boston and beyond, Shaffir isn’t looking to slow down or change course any time soon. He’s still going to go for the jugular every time he steps on stage, and at the end of it all, he just want to deliver top-tier comedy for the people come to see him, and right now, he’s just enjoying the ability to do that again.
“Picture LeBron James after he won his title in Cleveland, and how everyone asked him what he was going to do next. He just wanted to go win more titles, and that’s where I’m at,” says Shaffir. “I’m coming up with new material, entertaining crowds and fulfilling the contract where if you guys come to see me, I’ll put on a great show, and I’m just having a blast with it. It won’t be here forever, and it was taken from us for a while, so I’m just really enjoying it again.”
ARI SHAFFIR :: Thursday, December 9 at The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: $30 to $61 :: Wilbur event page and ticket link