On Feb. 26, Joe Gatto performed a stand-up special at Page Auditorium. He was brought there by Duke University Union’s Speaker and Stage Committee, who got a spot on his “Let’s Get Into It” United States tour. Comedian Mark Jigarjian opened the show, and he and Gatto used audience interaction, their own engaging personal lives and Duke students to produce an entertaining show.
Jigarjian opened the show with a remark about not being able to get into Duke, launching into a comparison of Southern manners and New York attitudes. In one memorable moment that made most of the audience laugh, he referenced the local club Shooters.
The opening act ended with Jigarjian relying on audience interaction, as comedy shows usually do, yet it ultimately took a different route as he soon segued into talking about his Bengali wife, whose culture is known for big weddings. His closing jokes about the Bengali language lacking a word for “stand-up comedian” in Bengali were quite humorous and highlighted his quick wit and ability to capitalize on generalizations. They also were the perfect introduction for Gatto.
Gatto then came out, generating a lively energy — with the audience matching his high enthusiasm. He started out his bit perfectly by giving a cookie he took out of his back pocket to the person Jigarjian picked on for his audience interaction.
Gatto was a fantastic storyteller. The stories he told — whether about “Impractical Jokers,” his childhood or his children — were incredibly memorable and funny, in large part because of the vivid details and witty remarks he infused into them.
Though he talked about many “Impractical Jokers” moments, a particular one that stuck out and had the audience in an uproar was when he discussed having to pose as a manager and jump on tables to check their sturdiness.
In addition to being humorous, his stories were also very engaging and educational, imparting their viewers with real lessons. It was amazing to see Gatto make these jokes land so perfectly while also weaving in life lessons to those attending, like finding friends or hanging in there when times get tough. It was this that made this stand-up unforgettable.
While there were many comedic moments worth mentioning, one specific stand-up defining moment was Gatto’s "Bluey" bit. Gatto started by describing "Bluey" as a show that most current kids, his included, grow up on. A particularly distinctive feature, which Gatto referred to again and again, was that this Australian production has an Irish-esque theme song. In an episode Gatto watched with his kids, Bluey finds a hurt bird and takes it to the vet, where the vet ultimately pronounces it dead, followed by an abrupt ending and the return of that same Irish theme song.
This remark set the stage perfectly for the next bit. Gatto recounted taking his kids on part of his tour during their Christmas break, returning home after only for his daughter to find her hamster dead. Gatto responded with the "Bluey" theme song and what he described as some very impressive dance moves that seemed to work. This moment was quite amusing and made the audience feel like they were in on an inside joke when Gatto used that music for another bit later in his show.
Gatto ended the stand-up by detailing a back and forth Instagram conversation he had with a fan, who had asked him if his show was down. The bit included him asking her about her cabling, and whether her TV was working.
Overall, Gatto’s performance achieved the perfect balance of wit, humor and cleverness while showcasing quick jokes and an outgoing, vibrant personality.
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