Editor’s Note: In the event that you find yourself endlessly scrolling through a gauntlet of streaming services for something to watch, and you come across a comedy special you may not be familiar with, chances are the first question you ask yourself, as you contemplate your next move will be something to the effect of ‘Is this something worth an hour that I can’t get back?’ — and we are here to help you shuffle through the latest and greatest comedy releases to make sure that hour and change is well spent. Welcome to The ReVue Stage. Here in this little corner carved out in Vanyaland’s comedy coverage, we have you covered when it comes to dishing out the good word on everything from new specials and albums, to books and even recaps of live shows. It’s all killer no filler around these parts, comrade. So kick back and let us help you figure out your next dose of comedic relief.
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If you’ve been paying attention to anything Taylor Tomlinson has put out in the world (read: You should be), then it shouldn’t be at all surprising that her latest hour special brings her art to a whole new level.
Over the course of Tomlinson’s third hour special, Have It All, which recently launched on Netflix, the surface level of the material feels very familiar, as the comedian and TV host once again tears into the many peaks and valleys of relationships, mental health struggles and lingering trauma, just as she has in other ways with her previous specials (2020’s Quarter-Life Crisis and 2022’s Look At You). But with this new slate of material, there is a palpable evolution, both in a comedic sense and in Tomlinson’s willingness to be open and, in turn, vulnerable when it comes to combing through the darkest corners of her psyche.
Bringing us up to date on everything in her world in terms of her dating life, Tomlinson digs deeper than before. That’s not to say she was ever shallow when it comes to dishing out the deets on her dating life, but it just feels like there’s a more dialed-in approach this time around that aims to get to the bottom of every frustration she presents as opposed to just presenting it with a punchline and then moving on to the next thing. One of, if not the most revealing moment is Tomlinson’s broaching the subject of bringing her own sexuality into question as she touches on her curiosities of bisexuality, and the thought is approached in such a crafted and carefully endeavored way that it pulls you in for the next thing without feeling overdone.
Her honesty when it comes to her struggles with anxiety and bipolar disorder is refreshing, poignant, and hilarious all at the same time. Once again, she delves into another tough topic with such an impressive comfort that it may have you laughing, of course, as she turns into the skid more than once while also bringing you to outwardly cheering her on for not only opening up about those struggles, but also humanizing them in a way that make her dark moments relatable, easier to swallow on your own, and largely emphatic.
Now, in a current cultural climate where childhood trauma is becoming less of a taboo subject to dissect, and more of a natural punchline to why we do what we do on a daily basis, Tomlinson’s handling of her own insecurities and anxiety as a result of her own trauma get this special over the top. Peppering the entire set with quick injections of her father’s disappointment and her life growing up in church, as well as ultimately answering her pen question that inspired the hour’s title, Tomlinson hits multiple nerves in the best way possible, only bolstered by the fact that nothing feels forced or pandering. It’s just straight, high-octane comedy brought to you by someone still figuring it out who just so happens to want to help her audience figure out their own shit, in some ways.
Was it funny? Absolutely. We wouldn’t be covering it if it wasn’t. Not to mention, Tomlinson’s comedic force is already a well-established multi-headed dragon. But underneath it, with her ability to bring those jarring thoughts and memories to light, powered by her ability to deliver the sugar that helps get the medicine down, it wasn’t just the element of “funny” that brings this special into the stratosphere.
There really was a lot to take in by the end of this hour, much of it being thought-provoking in its relatability and vulnerability. However long it takes for us to sift through our own feelings after watching Tomlinson’s brilliantly sculpted tour de force, one thing that is not up for discussion due to it being a tried and true perspective is that, yes indeed, Taco Bell is good for every occasion.