For Zainab Johnson’s latest comedy special “Toxically Optimism,” you come for the big laughs about being able to see the brighter side in life, but you stay for a story about an opossum.
Yes, you actually did read that right. After teeing up several hitters, from discovering “Glock” isn’t just Black slang for gun upon buying her first one to surviving a near-death accident in which she was hit by a truck at the age of 17, growing up smack dab in the middle of 13 siblings, and how men lie for no reason, the 34-year-old comedian suddenly drops the audience in the middle of an epic and long story about a wild opossum named Eugene.
She’s somewhat befriended Eugene, who lives in her neighborhood, and tells in great detail and with lots of humor all of the things she’s learned about the species, including that they also have pouches like kangaroos and that when they’re playing dead, they’re not actually playing; they are quite literally petrified. She goes on and on until you yourself may wonder, what is going on?
Then, with a sly smirk, she tells audience about Eugene because one day a veteran fellow Black female comedian called her beyond frustrated and declared she was gonna quit the industry because she had witnessed a younger white male comedian spend his whole set discussing a horse, and she just knew there’s no way a Black woman could get away with that.
Well, Johnson said ‘hold my beer,’ and it’s an admission that not only sold the audience but brought an unexpected sentimentality to the bit. It’s also a beautiful example of her larger theme: the way the universe is always conspiring for our greater good. That phone call could have discouraged her, but instead it inspired one of her greatest bits.
“I’m optimistic. Yeah, I’ve always been this way,” the comedian says early on during her latest special on Netflix.
“Like, I see the glass as half full all the time,” she continued. “All the time. I’m like, ‘The glass is half full. It’s gonna be okay.’ And if I encounter anybody that’s like, ‘You know what, Zainab, there ain’t even sh— in the glass,’ I’ll be like, ‘I guess I’m not thirsty, then.’”
It’s this determination to find at least some ounce of good even in life’s most unfortunate circumstances that makes this such a delightful hour of comedy, especially at a time when the world is quite literally on fire, and several corners of it are dealing with upheaval and chaos. It can always get worse. But hey, not when it comes to what to watch this weekend, including Johnson’s stand-up; there are so many more options. Below, we round 12 movies and shows to watch this weekend.
“Misty Green” (Netflix)
Chris Rock takes another seat in the director’s chair for “Misty Green,” the dark Hollywood dramedy starring himself alongside Rosalind Eleazar as a semi-washed-up Emmy-winning starlet struggling to revive her career amid a brutal industry and plenty of personal demons. Also featuring Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver, and Anna Kendrick, the star-studded film offers a sharp look at how dizzying it can be to maintain relevance.
“Being Heumann” (Apple TV)
The Black Panthers’ lesser-known history as disability rights activists gets its flowers in the new drama “Being Heumann,” starring Ruth Madeley as the pioneering activist Judy Heumann. Set during the historic 1977 Section 504 sit-in in San Francisco, the film follows what happened when Heumann and other activists occupied a federal building for 26 days, with the Black Panthers among the many groups supporting them by providing critical food and other supplies throughout their fight.
“12 12 12” (Apple TV)
The FBI has a rule when it comes to bank heists: It takes 12 months to plan, 12 hours to execute, and if they aren’t caught in 12 days, they likely never will. In “12 12 12,” starring Anthony Mackie as an FBI agent determined to prove the theory wrong and Jamie Dornan as a “retired” world-class thief who takes on one last job, the two quickly find themselves in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse across six episodes.
“The Greatest” (Prime Video)
The life and legacy of boxing legend Muhammad Ali take center stage in “The Greatest,” the eight-episode sports bio series which spans his journey from the 1960 Olympic gold medalist Cassius Clay to 1964 heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Executive-produced by Michael B. Jordan and starring Jaalen Best as Ali, Omari Hardwick, Michael Ealy, and more, the series, made in collaboration with his estate, is a first-of-its-kind rendering of the legend.
“Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
With Season four of “Reasonable Doubt” now eight episodes in and gearing up for its penultimate episode, now may be the perfect time to finally give it a try or dive back in with everybody’s favorite messy lawyer, Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi), as she continues to navigate juicy high-stakes legal battles and even juicier personal drama.
“Janelle James: How Romantic” (Netflix)
Long before Janelle James became everyone’s favorite scene-stealing principal in “Abbott Elementary,” she was a comedian bringing down the house in comedy clubs around Chicago. The comedian returns to her roots in her first hour-long Netflix special, “How Romantic,” where she delves into her dating life, adjusting to new fame, her obsession with true crime, and more, with her signature candor.
“Lupin” (Netflix)
For anyone who may have missed or gotten behind on our Gentleman Thief, Lupin, with all eight episodes of the fourth season out, and still no definite word on a fifth, this weekend couldn’t be a better time to kick it off for the first time or to dive back in and catch up as Omar Sy, the dashing French thief, closes out another legendary run as an iconic character—this time faced with a copycat thief.
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (Peacock)
Tracy Morgan has officially returned for another round of laughs as a disgraced former NFL star determined to make a comeback in “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.” With season two only a couple of episodes in, there’s still plenty of time to get in on the fun of the offbeat comedy, also starring Erika Alexander, Daniel Radcliffe, and more.
“Bass X Machina” (Netflix)
What could be cooler than a Black cowboy delivering justice in the Wild Wild West? A Black cowboy delivering justice while taking on robots, supernatural forces, and ruthless outlaws, of course, and “Bass X Machina” delivers just that in a sci-fi animated reimagining of the Bass Reeves story, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry.
“The Gilded Age” (HBO)
With the highly anticipated nuptials of Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) and Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) arriving during this Sunday’s episode of “The Gilded Age,” this weekend couldn’t be a better time to finally give the hit period drama a spin or catch up now in its fourth season. Between the lavish garb, luxury estates, and delicious society drama (including her own mother-in-law, played by Phylicia Rashad), it’s sure to be one for the books.
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