By Sophia Madeb, Arts and Culture Editor
Comedy specials usually fall under the category of background noise for me. They play in my ears while running on the treadmill, catching a laugh or two, or they serve as white noise while I write articles like this one. I never go out of my way to watch comedians; whether hosted by the greats like Cristela Alonzo or Adam Sandler, or by comedians who are just starting out, I find that comedy specials are light enough to casually watch but hardly require catching every word. However, at times, there are comedians like Marcello Hernandez who pleasantly surprise me.
Released on January 7, 2026, Marcello Hernandez: American Boy, which has quickly become one of my favorite comedy specials, entertains a light-hearted account of the SNL star’s life growing up in Miami, Florida. As he describes living with his hysterical immigrant family, he skillfully balances his own personal stories with the Latin American experience of today.
Starting out with small stand-up gigs, then becoming famous for his skits on TikTok, then progressing to Saturday Night Live and finally to a Netflix special, Hernandez has had an impressive start to his career. He became famous for portraying funny yet respectful stereotypical characters from Latino communities, and in his special, he draws on the characters that paved his way to fame through telling stories from his personal life. The growing chatter online praising his quick wit, and clips of comedy bits about his relationship with his mother, all led me to put Hernandez at the top of my playlist for background noise, but watching his special made me appreciate him as more than that.
When painting a picture of a specific cultural group or gender in comedy, it is difficult to toe the line between funny and insulting. Hernandez, however, has the innate ability to make his jokes humorous while also remaining sincere and, even more importantly, not overly polished. He takes his experiences growing up in a house of all Latina women and uses them to describe relatable situations that many women endure. The trigger warnings that appear before or after in a typical comedy special often feel unnecessary, wasting both the comedian’s allotted time and the audience’s patience. Therefore, Hernandez avoids this entirely by delivering his jokes in a way that feels humorous and sincere rather than offensive or in need of constant defense. He can simultaneously make a joke about bodysuits while still acknowledging the effort women put into looking beautiful.
It is not just gender but cultural groups that Hernandez comments on, with his own Latino community being especially close to him. When I first put on his special, intending to just listen while doing other things, I began to make quick glances at the screen as Hernandez brought his cultural background to the forefront. He begins light-hearted, creating a picture of his foundation being built on a community filled with love, family and culture. These memories become the guiding light of his comedy. Notable moments of the special are when he talks about his family, such as his mother convincing him and the school that he does not have ADHD and his sister is not depressed.
Then comes his quick remarks about Latin music, with its spiritual flow that makes one unable to resist the urge to dance. He jokes that white people just bop around with a drink in their hand. In these moments my eyes begin to turn toward the screen that usually only sees the back of my head. I am moved by the way Hernandez emphasizes the immigrant culture that many Americans experienced growing up with parents who came from other countries for a better life.
But what made me finally grab my device and place the special at the center of my attention was the contrast between the way Hernandez invites the audience to look into his beautiful culture, the strong Latino community in America that has been built brick by brick, and the way it has been torn down due to the political climate today. It has become apparent that mass deportation, whether carried out through direct force or through the dismantling of immigrant communities, presents serious challenges.
As I become invested in watching Hernandez speak with such a love for his family and culture, there is a passion in his words that emerges from a deeply rooted bond with his community. He extends his hand toward these people he feels most connected to as a Latino man raised by a native Cuban mother.
I have noticed two schools of thought within the world of comedy. The first is in favor of it being political, through funny jokes and degrading comments about political leaders. These remarks are often subtle or sly, passing quickly yet earning one or two laughs from those who caught on. Sometimes, these jokes can be made through metaphors or implicit statements that one can easily grasp without the comedian ever needing to say anything directly.
Those who are in the second school of thought, which dislikes this kind of comedy, may not enjoy the way Hernandez directly calls attention to the issue of immigration, though he does so through the theme of talking about his culture. They may see this as veering off topic and begin to lose interest, believing it was a good special until he started talking about politics. They may wonder, what does a comedian know about complex political issues, especially the highly controversial issue of immigration?
But the first school of thought would argue that this is the perfect way to tie off a comedy special centered around culture, providing it is done in a comedic manner that will make people do what they came to do, laugh. Sometimes, it is best to work through the hard issues with some laughter. Everyone seems to be in a constant state of trying to convince each other that they are objectively right, expressing their opinions through harsh words and anger. This can lead to a loss of room to converse and understand one another’s perspectives.
That’s where Hernandez does what he does best, allowing people to laugh, creating what amounts to a safe place to share his point of view as someone who was raised by someone who came to this country with so much faith in its justice system, watching others lose those same opportunities. As he raises complex points about community and the political issues of the time, he also maintains that comedic relief, comparing different stereotypes of movies, like a Latino doing fun crimes versus a white man ending up in a documentary for a creepy one. At this point, my hands are gripping the screen, savoring each minute as the special comes to an end.
The only thing I was left wondering was whether it is enough that Hernandez drew attention to the issue of immigration. Will he actually do anything about it? Will some of his proceeds go to charities in need? Will he continue to stand up for the struggles his community faces? Or will he do what most do best, call for action without being proactive?
Many celebrities have the chance to use their platforms to not just talk about issues but to make real change. Instead, most have failed to do so. The question then becomes, will Hernandez act on what he said, or fall in line like many others have done before him and most likely will in the future?
Despite this potential flaw, Hernandez’s comedy special was overall engaging, compelling and simply a good watch, leaving me with my eyes locked to the screen. In that sense, I would not recommend this special if one wants it as background noise like I usually do, because Hernandez will draw your attention with his natural humor and passion and unwavering support for the things he loves, his family, culture and community. But if you have the time and want a good laugh, Marcello Hernandez is the perfect candidate, offering humor that feels fresh in today’s cultural and political world.
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