The beauty of comics uploading their “specials” to YouTube now instead of all specials existing exclusively as fully polished, high-budget, heavily produced shiny Netflix products with splashy marketing is that we get to see wonderful 20 minute bits like Jordan Jensen’s Death Chunk. Unlike Netflix, where content often needs to conform to specific length requirements (think of Dave Attell playing the recorder while seals bark for 4 minutes just to meet the length quota), YouTube doesn’t care about the length of your video. So what if you have a wonderful 20 minute bit that works best as a 20 minute bit and you’re ready to send it out into the world? You go to YouTube!

Jordan Jensen is, for my money, one of the best comics working today. She talks fast, seamlessly transitions between topics based on audience interactions, revisits abandoned bits prompted by distractions like dissecting the relationship between two lesbians in the front row, all while maintaining a relentless self-awareness and authenticity. I often emphasize that comedy thrives best in a live club setting, and Jensen particularly excels in the intimate atmosphere of a small comedy club. So it is so Jensen-esque for her to film a gritty little special that looks like she just decided moments before to set up a camera and go for it in a small comedy club.

Having witnessed Jensen perform this material live, I can attest that the entire hour was outstanding. No question, she possesses the ability to fill an hour-long special, and “Death Chunk” would undoubtedly be the standout segment. However, I believe that releasing this chunk independently is a wise decision. In these 20 minutes, Jensen skillfully navigates the emotional terrain of her father’s passing— from the discovery of his body by her family, to the somber tasks of cleaning his house, attending his funeral, and scattering his ashes— all while maintaining her signature ADHD-inspired style of storytelling, jumping from one topic to another and back again. By releasing this material as a standalone chunk, it ensures its lasting impact and resonance within the collective comedy consciousness. It deserves to be appreciated in its own right, rather than being confined to just a part of a longer set, even if it were to serve as the grand finale of an hour-long special.

Beyond making these shorter specials possible, YouTube specials often exhibit a grittier, rawer feel, closely mirroring the experience of live comedy. Here, viewers can witness the comedian’s interaction with the audience, capturing the spontaneity and dynamic exchanges that arise. In Death Chunk, I think the best part is when Jensen starts her discussion about Viking funerals, ends up talking to a member of the crowd who wants a Viking funeral, leading to Jensen trashing modern job titles like “Project Manager,” and culminating in an exclamation of “People used to go to war!” Such moments, born from crowd interaction, are typically omitted from traditional specials, where either such material is edited out or the comedian avoids engaging in crowd work altogether during filming.

Death, with its ominous inevitability, is a weighty topic, so there’s a profound relief in sharing laughter about it for twenty minutes.. And how lovely it is to peer into the mind of a comic and see how she faces life’s absolutely toughest moments. While Jensen’s sister is bawling over the attempted Viking funeral of her father’s ashes gone wrong, Jensen can’t stop laughing. Comic isn’t just Jensen’s profession; it is wired into her DNA. As a person, she finds life funny.

Much like Jensen, myself, and countless others, I navigate through life’s tragedies, sorrows, and frustrations using humor as my lens. It’s the unique perspective through which I perceive the world. Yet, I often sense judgment for it. When I crack a joke or find amusement in something tragic, I can almost hear the silent questioning: “Already? Doesn’t she feel anything?” Society dictates a narrow definition of how grief should be expressed, but the truth is, everyone processes negative emotions in their own way, and we all deserve the space to do so without judgment. Watching “Death Chunk,” I sense Jensen’s response to those who question, “How can you find humor in such moments?” with a simple yet powerful counter: “How can you not?”

Fun things about Death Chunk

• When I saw the material live in a suburb just outside of Chicago, Jensen started by saying her dad was from the Chicago area and it was the year anniversary of his death. I felt like I could feel her processing his death, disposing of his ashes, and the whole experience through this material.
• She thanks her opener, Jake Velazquez, who is a solid comic and great comic match for her, in the credits and I appreciate that.
• Jensen is a generous performer. I have seen her four times and she is always present, energetic, and engaged; never mailing it in. Jensen “Death Chunk” by circling back to the audience, initiating a casual conversation with them before the special draws to a close—a quintessential display of her ADHD-infused, audience-centered approach to comedy.