Sue Perkins' latest stand-up special, "The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins," promises to be a deeply personal and cringe-worthy exploration of the comedian's most humiliating moments. After 30 years in the public eye, Perkins invites audiences into her inner sanctum to confront the insecurities that have driven her humor for so long.
However, Perkins' approach to shame is more curiously self-contrived than devastating. Rather than diving headfirst into unflinching introspection, she instead crafts a series of neatly packaged anecdotes that veer wildly between the profoundly personal and the superficially mundane.
While Perkins' ability to spin a yarn is undeniably impressive, these particular tales – which range from her bemusing encounters with local drug dealers to an ostensibly heartfelt tale of rescuing a wounded animal on a South American adventure – feel curiously disconnected from the theme of shame that's supposed to anchor the show. Instead, they're more akin to laugh-out-loud comedies for beginners, relying on Perkins' signature wit and wordplay rather than genuine vulnerability.
It's only in the show's quieter moments, away from the spotlight, that we catch glimpses of a deeper humanity beneath Perkins' polished exterior. Her unflinching account of struggling with a benign tumour on her pituitary gland – an experience that left her feeling like she'd been thrust into a posh version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" – offers a haunting glimpse of the fragility that lies beneath Perkins' customary bravado.
While "The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins" is undeniably entertaining at times, it feels curiously uneven in its approach to shame and vulnerability. As the show meanders between self-deprecation and shallow one-liners, we're left wondering whether Perkins truly has anything to confess – or if her 'shame' is merely a carefully calibrated marketing ploy designed to sell more tickets and promote her latest show.
However, Perkins' approach to shame is more curiously self-contrived than devastating. Rather than diving headfirst into unflinching introspection, she instead crafts a series of neatly packaged anecdotes that veer wildly between the profoundly personal and the superficially mundane.
While Perkins' ability to spin a yarn is undeniably impressive, these particular tales – which range from her bemusing encounters with local drug dealers to an ostensibly heartfelt tale of rescuing a wounded animal on a South American adventure – feel curiously disconnected from the theme of shame that's supposed to anchor the show. Instead, they're more akin to laugh-out-loud comedies for beginners, relying on Perkins' signature wit and wordplay rather than genuine vulnerability.
It's only in the show's quieter moments, away from the spotlight, that we catch glimpses of a deeper humanity beneath Perkins' polished exterior. Her unflinching account of struggling with a benign tumour on her pituitary gland – an experience that left her feeling like she'd been thrust into a posh version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" – offers a haunting glimpse of the fragility that lies beneath Perkins' customary bravado.
While "The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins" is undeniably entertaining at times, it feels curiously uneven in its approach to shame and vulnerability. As the show meanders between self-deprecation and shallow one-liners, we're left wondering whether Perkins truly has anything to confess – or if her 'shame' is merely a carefully calibrated marketing ploy designed to sell more tickets and promote her latest show.
... feels like she's trying too hard to be deep & vulnerable but it comes off as kinda manufactured 
. the jokes are funny but they're not really that personal, you know? I mean, who tries to spin a yarn 'bout encountering local drug dealers in a way that's gonna make us laugh? 
seems like she's more worried about getting laughs than being honest about her struggles 
. and don't even get me started on the bit with the wounded animal... sounds like something out of a rom-com or a bad joke 
. anyway, i guess it's still entertaining but it feels like she's trying to check off a bunch of "deep" boxes rather than actually being genuine 
.
Is she using this shame thing as a way to sell herself, rather than genuinely confronting her own insecurities? I mean, I love the bits where she's raw and honest, but it feels like those are just sprinkled in between more... polished moments. It makes me wonder: what's the real purpose of all this performance, anyway? 
... what's up with that? It feels like she's trying to be a wildlife doc or something 
. Anyways, the part about her tumour was actually kinda deep tho 
... maybe this show just needs more of that vibe? 
. It feels like she's trying to balance two different tones - this super sarcastic, funny side and then this more serious, emotional side... it just doesn't quite land 
. Overall, I'd say it's an entertaining watch, but not exactly the most meaningful or impactful one 
.
. i mean, who tries to pass off rescuing a wounded animal as part of their 'shame' journey? seems more like a 'fun fact' than actual vulnerability 
. but yeah, overall it feels like she's just tryna make us laugh instead of really confronting her insecurities 
. I mean, Sue Perkins is hilarious and all, but I was expecting a lot more depth and vulnerability from someone who's been in the public eye for 30 years 
. Instead, it feels like she's just sharing some funny stories that might make us laugh, but aren't really tackling the shame and insecurities that her career has built up 
. But for the most part, it feels like she's playing to the crowd and not really sharing anything truly personal or vulnerable 
. I feel like Sue's trying too hard to be relatable and honest, like she's putting on a show for us instead of just being herself 
. her bit about that tumour tho... thats deep 
i think sue perkins is trying too hard to be relatable 
she's like, super funny but also kinda... fake 
let's hear more about that 
not the "one Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" thing, tho 
. The jokes just kinda fall flat at times, you know? Like, an animal rescue story isn't exactly a deeply personal moment... 
. That takes some serious guts (no pun intended). But I wish there was more of that tone throughout the whole show. Instead, it feels like she's just trying to fit all these funny anecdotes together into one cohesive thing 
.
. Don't get me wrong, I want to see more of Sue Perkins' humor, but I need some authenticity too 
... i mean, I love her as a comedian but this one just didn't hit the mark for me 
. Anyway, if u're a die-hard Sue fan, you might enjoy it, but for me, it was just kinda...meh 
. But at the same time, some of the anecdotes feel really... surface-level? Like, I get that we're all just trying to be entertained sometimes 
. And don't get me wrong, I love a good laugh as much as the next person 
, but when it comes to exploring deeper themes like shame and vulnerability... can we do better than just witty one-liners? 
... that was really raw and honest 
. But other than that, it just feels like a bunch of neat little stories strung together 
... I want to feel the shame 
. So I guess it's all about finding the balance between being funny and being vulnerable, you know? 
? Not me, that's for sure! Anyway, it was still kinda funny and entertaining, especially when she's not trying to be so deep 
. But if she's gonna go all in on her shame story, can't we get a real dose of vulnerability instead of just some clever wordplay 