Joe Pera Talks with You evokes nostalgic feelings of kind-heartedness amid the pandemic

Vox

"True to the show’s title, Joe Pera is always talking with you, whether the 'you' in question is the one he addresses by looking at the camera, or a 'you' as in Gene and the others, who play against Joe’s perfectly buttoned-up straight man with their hilarious mundanities," says Allegra Frank of Joe Pera's Adult Swim series. "The result is that the show is both the embodiment of wholesomeness and an exposure to the comedy that can be found in the calmest, simplest lifestyles. The way I’m describing Joe Pera Talks with You might make it sound like a kids’ cartoon that aims to share generic life lessons with its viewers. And a huge part of the show’s appeal is in Joe asking us to take a minute and learn from the smallest, weirdest details we might otherwise ignore. But while the show once aired an animated holiday special, it’s certainly not for children. Joe Pera, the real-life comedian, comes from an alternative comedy scene whose players indulge in experimental jokes, political and cultural commentary with an absurdist bent, and even anti-humor. Pera is the quietest and homiest of those in his circle, but it isn’t shocking or uncommon to hear Pera say the word 'f*ck' in a stand-up set." ALSO: Joe Pera presents Relaxing Old Footage.