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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Following her romantic comedy, I Want You Back, on Prime Video and two hit appearances in A24’s awards-winning comedy-drama films, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and Everything Everywhere All at Once—all three in the early spring of 2022—, Jenny Slate (Saturday Night Live, Bob’s Burgers, Obvious Child, Big Mouth) teams up both film distribution companies to produce a new stand-up comedy special.
Titled Seasoned Professional, Slate writes and performs some of her best work thus far. The comedian and voice actor speaks to her audience about her life since her previous special (Stage Fright on Netflix) and the pandemic that has happened since then. Frankly, no one will ever anticipate what she has to say in this hour-and-four-minute piece… or at least the effect it will have on her audience.
In this review, I will be discussing Jenny Slate’s new stand-up comedy special, Seasoned Professional.
Note: While I don’t label this article as non-spoiler or filled with spoilers, it is important to acknowledge that comedy does have its jokes and punchlines, therefore I will try my best not to spoil the explicit nature of the act.
Prime Video’s Seasoned Professional Logline
According to Amazon Studios Press, here is the synopsis for Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional.
Jenny Slate is alove on planet earth, and apparently this is what it’s like for her. In her second romantic, electric and naughty little stand-up special, the acclaimed comedian, actress and author proves being brave for love is worth it—even when it comes to pushing out a baby, stalking your therapist, or trusting your partner to not destroy you.
Amazon Studios Press
Discussion
Rhetorically speaking, Seasoned Professional is fine work from Jenny Slate, with her thesis argument being reflected in the comedy special’s title. Slate demonstrates her long-term prowess as a performer and aims to juxtapose this with that of performers in the stage play space. She manages to write, structure, and deliver her words to perfection by exhibiting a range of appeal, including her bizarre sense of timing. In the past several years since the late 2010s, there has been an objective dispute that the quality of stand-up comedy has dwindled due to the presence of jokes, whose sole purpose is offense. However, with Slate comes this proclivity to defend herself, leading to self-destruction in all the best means possible as it allows for change to occur.
The invention of her thesis statement about being a sharpened performer involves a list of dissimilar topical events linked by rather clever transitions. It’s remarkable how these transitions help drive a seamless narrative through her comedic speech. Her audience does have scarce contributions through their responses. However, these responses are natural, such as Slate’s use of a mic stand as something of a prop, her mature description of childish shit and vomit, or even complete and utter silence as she delivers minutes-long blocks of monologue during the last quarter-hour of the special. Nonetheless, the overall product becomes a proper construction full of meticulous attention to detail.
Jenny Slate in the Canons
Slate’s organization of topical points sends her down a rabbit hole through time. The comedian starts by warning her audience of her plans to overshare personal information without breaking any laws. She raises concern about her ability to vent to others being obstructed by the arrival of the pandemic; she must present a more “real” version of herself when in a wedding or therapy as opposed to being performative on-stage. I like how she asserts a disparity between being “real” and, later, being “chill”. (These are metaphorical terms that non-Boomers—i.e. the younger people—use, but more on her rhetorical style soon.)
She engages with “titty talk” as a result of being a mother, her love for her toddler, a junior high field trip to Canada, her equal or lesser yet unrelated delight for Paul King’s Paddington films, the conception of her daughter on the third day of the lockdown, her fervent albeit reasonable notion of love as “a terrible, terrible cycle”, and concluding with her possibly jailable obsession over an older woman, i.e. her therapist named Pamela.
The performer takes advantage of timing well, such as when she references Brooklyn’s Harvey Theater venue as if it resembles the space in The Phantom of the Opera. There seems to be an interruption to her performance later on, and she improvises as necessary. She also relates the loss of something close to her to the deflation of a balloon. Not long after, she ties back to this by revealing to her audience an email offering her an audition for the role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, which eventually went to Bill Skarsgård in Andy Muschietti’s late-2010s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.
Preach and Present
Jenny Slate’s stylistic word choice is interesting. Her decision to use “breasts” in her vocabulary more as opposed to “jugs” or “titties” is a good defense. At the same time, the comedian yearns for a compromise in what she wants to say, which could be beneficial. Her anecdote about reacting to dairy products is poetic and thoughtful, as are her words towards the end. To add, the different analogies created throughout are meaningful. For example, her infant is compared to something more than an ice cream cone that cannot be dropped. While I have not yet seen a certain film by Alex Garland, Slate poses a wildly curious alternative for childbirth. This is an almost baffling transition for bringing her husband into the conversation. However, it is surely appreciated given where she leads the discussion.
The comedian’s speech is brilliantly delivered, corroborating her thesis of being a seasoned professional. The different ways in which she utilizes her vocal cords are out of this world. Although, that is unsurprising given her voice acting credits. She mimics what she might have sounded like as a pre-teen through an accent similar to South Park‘s Eric Cartman. At other times, particularly towards the final one or two acts, she puts on a goblin-esque accent to mask some sexual nature. She uses screeches and screams carefully, especially her performative conclusion to the special.
Production designer Carlos J. Soto and art director Aaron Black’s set piece of the comedian atop a circular stage surrounded by a shiny, sort of glittery curtain of a backdrop makes a classy presentation. Lighting designers John Torres and Kat C. Zhou lend a personality to the backdrop, which pays off with Slate’s scream at the end. Her extravagant suit-and-tie outfit is also fitting. It reflects her thesis as a performer but also likens herself to professionals, e.g. magicians and therapists.
A Transformation in Jenny Slate
Birth is a portal. It’s a portal; you are touching infinity, you’re bringing someone in, you yourself are changing…
Jenny Slate, via ‘Seasoned Professional’ (A24/ Amazon Studios)
Subtly, a smaller theme that plays out aside from performance is change. Slate’s self-perception highlights the substitution of her past self for a newer version of herself. In this special, she acknowledges that life has its uncanninesses. The woman also describes different forms of love in a manner that looks as if she is spiraling. She talks about being a mother, a romantic partner, and, at her very core, a woman. One monologue that lasts for a minute and forty seconds results in a barrage of three hundred and seventeen words, with a few short laughs from the audience between. She further spirals from having not listened to her mother as a kid to listening to her therapist. The psychoanalysis exists, and she misses the entire purpose, which might be genius on her part.
The Crew Behind Prime Video/ A24’s Seasoned Professional
Jason Vandermer serves as the stand-up comedy special’s director of photography.
Betsy Kagen (Jenny Slate: Stage Fright) serves as the special’s editor. Aaron J. Brander (Comic Book Men, Shotgun Wedding) is the assistant editor.
Dan Wilcox (As Above So Below, Werewolves Within, Fair Play) is the music supervisor, bringing in “2 Cents” by Rainsford for the end credits.
Carlos J. Soto serves as the production designer. Aaron Black is the art director.
John Torres serves as the lighting designer. Kat C. Zhou serves as the assistant lighting designer.
Kirin Bhatty serves as the makeup artist, while Marcel Dagenais serves as the hairstylist.
JoJo Whilden (Stage Fright) is the still photographer.
Final Thoughts on Seasoned Professional
Jenny Slate’s modes of appeal through ethos, logos, and pathos are a unique blend that may not initially feel concrete. Through her stand-up, she protects her character and employs rationality to defend her susceptibility to love and obsession. On a rhetorical level, this just might land her some nominations for awards. On a human level, there is rewatch value in a performance as masterful as this. The contrasts between her talent as a seasoned performer with the performances of stage actors could be contradicting or hypocritical. Although, maybe that was the intention all along. Ironically enough, she mentions her adamant preference for urinating because she is not “seasoned” for it. That has to count for something.
5/5 stars
Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional streams via Prime Video starting this Friday, February 23rd!
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While we are here—and if are as big a fan of Jenny Slate’s performances as I am—, I recommend purchasing a physical copy of her 2019/2020 book, Little Weirds, via our Amazon Affiliates link!
UPDATE: Jenny Slate has recently announced the publication of a new book titled, Lifeform, releasing later this October. Pre-order a physical copy of the book via our Amazon Affiliates link today!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
