Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh

Over the course of an hour and 15 minutes, "The Great Depresh" crackles with certain energy — a series of slow builds to these lightning strike moments. This skillful pacing and delivery, in combination with Gulman's fresh, crushing, and contemporary material makes this special a must-watch.

“The Great Depresh” is not Gulman’s funniest special, though it has some great jokes, including an inspired bit about water fountains, but it’s the one that will probably appeal to the largest number of people. It has far too many fresh takes and idiosyncratic elements to be called hack.

None of Gulman’s The Great Depresh should be funny. Except it really, really is. The Great Depresh is also sad and serious and dark, and it involves a few long periods in which Gulman sustains the thread of his story without reaching for moments of laughter.

The laughs are consistent. But it’s a hybrid production, as it connects Gulman’s stage shtick to personal scenes from his life, and in that way it’s special. It’s a portrait of an ordinary man, his well-earned triumph, and his desire to make living easier for others who are in despair.