A huge amount of fun and laughs are to be had with James Cook’s new stand-up show, Anonymously Viral. I consider myself to be a bit of a comedy snob, having consumed far too much of the stuff over the years, and now only the best and cleverest jokes really tickle me. But I was treated to a genuine laugh every ten seconds for one speedy hour while watching this routine.
A stand-out show
What I particularly love about Anonymously Viral is how very focused it is on the one bizarre event in Cook’s recent past. He introduces us to a single satirical tweet he posted in September 2022, and then gives us a hilarious tour of its journey to becoming a viral sensation.
With the help of the screen behind him, we get a visual story that navigates a world of internet trolls, thieves, and snipes from commenters who simply did not get the joke. James Cook has struck gold with this theme and it makes for rich ground upon which he crafts a vast array of brilliant comments on the nature of social media and the funny differences between the platforms. The audience was loving it and we were rarely free from lingering giggles.
If you’re not well-versed in the ways of Twitter, Facebook or TikTok, never fear. A brief explanation of every internet phenomenon is woven seamlessly through the jokes so no one feels left out. And if you tend to get nervous at the prospect of a comedian picking on you or making fun of you, you can rest assured that James Cook’s comedy stylings are friendly and welcoming, and you won’t get put on the spot. As a very down-to-earth performer, he has an appealingly medium-dry wit that pairs well with the subject matter.
Anonymously Viral is a stand-out show of excellent quality that I highly recommend you catch before it goes viral.
