Chris D'Elia keeps a goofy tone in the 2020 Netflix special No Pain, but switches gears when addressing outrage culture. On stage in Minneapolis, the American comedian uses a multitude of voices to poke fun at himself and others, all the while acknowledging his privileged upbringing. Towards the end, D'Elia covers a tricky topic that's been trending amongst comedians in recent years.

In 2017, comedian Louis C.K. was publicly scrutinized for allegations of sexual misconduct, and seemingly embraced a villain role while resuming his career. On the flip side, Aziz Ansari used a 2019 Netflix special to acknowledge his past transgressions, and to reflect about the journey of becoming a better person. Meanwhile, Dave Chappelle often takes an unapologetic tone while discussing his craft in various Netflix specials, much like the deadpan master Anthony Jeselnik; a comic who uses an arrogant on-stage persona to make larger points about society as a whole. For Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, he used a Netflix special to reveal the details about his awkward first experiences with the aforementioned C.K, not long after comedian Shane Gillis lost his Saturday Night Live job in 2019 before it really began, primarily due to public outrage about comments that he previously made on stage and off.

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For the majority of No Pain on Netflix, D'Elia's act thematically mirrors fellow comics like Bert Kreischer and Pete Holmes - performers who acknowledge unflattering personal traits while still relying on them for laughs. For example, D'Elia recognizes that he may seem like someone who uses drugs - based on his demeanor and appearance - when in fact his reality is quite the opposite. Midway though the Netflix special, D'Elia's comedy becomes slightly more aggressive, evidenced by an extended bit about dolphins sexually assaulting humans. For the comic, the joke functions as a way to point out cultural hypocrisy. D'Elia then transitions into a commentary about Outrage Culture by noting, "Everyone is offended at something. It's so f**king weird, you know?"

Chris D'Elia in Chris D'Elia: No Pain on Netflix

According to D'Elia, now is "the BEST time for comedy." During the bit, he explains how the media tries to "catch" comedians all the time, whether it's about something they say on stage or their opinions about industry peers. D'Elia jokes about TMZ always sending the "wackiest guy" to interview celebrities at airports, and how he receives nasty comments on Twitter in response to relatively tame statements about fashion and other topics. D'Elia states, "Look, you can get mad at somebody for saying something, but you can tell 'em not to say it."

Overall, D'Elia stands up for comedians in No Pain on Netflix but doesn't necessarily offer anything new to the conversation. In 2020, comics often structure their acts around a featured sequence about Outrage Culture, with many using their personal experiences to offer some insight into the matter. In No Pain, D'Elia does indeed make astute observations about cultural hypocrisy, but seemingly builds to the conclusion that comics are simply "jokin.'" When paired with earlier bits about having a privileged upbringing, D'Elia could easily be viewed by Netflix streamers as the prototypical Angry White Guy who's upset that cultural norms have changed. He's not wrong for defending the art of comedy, but his on-stage approach lacks originality.

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