A long time ago (14-15 years), in a galaxy far, far away (Hollywood), a now-closed comic-book store (Meltdown Comics) hosted comedians and other shows in their back room. This is where I discovered Kumail Nanjiani’s comedic talents. He was relatable, kind of a nerd, and always really funny. The comedy show he hosted there was eventually picked up by Comedy Central, but by that point, I’d cut the cord and switched to streaming only. It was great to see Nanjiani do those shows back then, and it was even better to see him now! NIGHT THOUGHTS is the best stand-up show I’ve seen in a few years, at least.Â
I don’t think there’s anyone on the planet who loves their cat more than I love my two, except maybe Kumail. His beloved cat, Bagel, is a recurring theme throughout his set, which is perhaps one of the reasons I loved it so much. If I were rating this on Letterboxd, I’d give it an immediate 3 stars just for the mentions of his cat. Ye,s I realize I’m sharing these vibes. 😆🥹 Nanjiani and his wife have been married for almost 20 years and don’t have human children. It’s refreshing to hear from other adults my age who treat their furry pets like their own kids.Â
Nanjiani knows he went from being a cute, funny, nerdy comedian to a hot, buff MCU superhero, and his self-awareness is a large part of his charm. NIGHT THOUGHTS is introspective at its heart, and the biggest reason this special work so well. While I quite enjoyed this MCU film, THE ETERNALS, it didn’t meet Marvel’s expectations and received middling reviews. And Nanjiani gets real about how this made him feel as an actor and the steps he took in his life after this. And yes, he knows that’s rich and famous and luckier than 99.9% of us who have to deal with disappointment and worse in our own lives.Â
Kumail may return to acting after this special; he’s currently starring in a supporting role on FALLOUT S2 on Prime Video. I hope he doesn’t take another long break from stand-up. I’d love to see him live again, and I hope all of you who haven’t yet check out this special.
KUMAIL NANJIANI: NIGHT THOUGHTS is streaming on Hulu.Â