I am not a big fan of sitting still for an extended period of time, but do make an exception for a good laugh. I love comedy shows and it has been a while since my last. Therefore, I was ecstatic when my friend asked me to attend Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan with her. We got tickets for the last and latest show in Vancouver, after they added additional performances due to its popular demand. This was their last show on the last leg of the tour.
I was pulled in my their Vancouver targeted commercials where the two of them encouraged ticket sales while trying to talk over one another. They humourlessly called out Vancouver’s large Asian and South Asian populations, pitting them against one another, like how the comedians would be engaging on stage, the day off. And spoiler: they definitely delivered on their versus mentality and the advertisement of war.
As per the website, where they claimed they bought both hasanhatesronny.com and ronnyhateshasan.com to fuel their feud.
“During these divided times, many people believe that open dialogue and discourse are the only tools to mend a wounded nation. Comedians Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng believe the opposite: Hatred is the answer. This is not one of those tours where two friends co-headline a show so they can go on vacation together. Ronny and Hasan despise one another. And for one night only, in 19 cities, they will air their grievances -onstage, at the same time – about America, each other, and each other’s entire family trees – for a paying audience.”
“The format? A DEBATE TO THE DEATH. Imagine CNN’s Presidential Townhall that’s somehow more demented and with less decorum. This will be a race to the bottom.”
For those who are fans of the Daily Show and political satire, this would have appealed to you. The two faced off on America’s most urgent issues: Presidents, War, the Economy, Immigration, Infrastructure, Food, Dating, Family Values, and the impending Race War. In between making their points they targeted one another in celebrity roast fashion. All narrated by an “AI” that helped moved along the story line.
Ronny made a valid point when calling attention to his immigrant status and how he is more “Indian” than Hasan, who is born in California. Hasan took the lead when pointing out that all the top American businesses are run by “aunties” and “uncles”. It was a tug-o-war of powerpoint examples, where on a few occasions they overlapped and agreed. For example Canada’s allegiance to Queen Elizabeth aka King Charles and dragging the name of the venue we were in. Their stance on tipping and their like-ability by other cultures.
They pandered to the crowd calling on Surrey versus Richmond, referencing law school at UBC, and life on Hastings. They certainly did their homework and the crowd appreciated them all the more for it.
They commanded the stage with barrel rolls, the breaking of chairs, and the dropping of mic stands.
In short, this was a great show and I found myself laughing majority of the time. This was fully entertaining and I would look forward to a repeat if they ever return. Scripted and rehearsed, but it sure didn’t feel like it from my upper balcony seats.
