The Toad’s Morale, Sam Tallent’s stand-up comedy special, gives you the answer to the question: what if a genius-level writer decided to devote himself thoroughly to writing jokes on the subjects of sex, death and bodily fluids?

Distributed on comedian Shane Gillis’s YouTube channel — another giant phenomenon and also in the top tier of best podcast guests who could also play offensive tackles — Tallent’s special showcases his capability for timing and rhythm. His jokes have a tempo that seems natural and relaxed in the moment, but is clearly intentional, effortless on the surface but disguising the skill of the construction under a thick layer of blue. 

Tallent’s cherubic smile and drugstore pharmacist glasses float above his Carhartt 4 XL with an indication of inviting pleasantry, as if he’s about to offer some Rockwellian prepubescent an egg cream and some friendly advice. Instead he is dark as can be, with tales of abuse and degradation so over the top that his Cincinnati audience loses their breath with shocked laughter. 

What’s most interesting about Tallent is his run against the trends of storytelling comedy in recent specials. He has the developed skill of a long tenured road player. His jokes per minute rate is hyperkinetic — he remarks at one point after a joke midway through that “just cause it rhymed doesn’t devalue the humorous intent.” In the era of long windups, Tallent offers punchline after punchline with a rat-tat-tat of someone who does not, who cannot, miss out on a single laugh.