Watch this when
Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel
His family kept everyone's secrets but wouldn't keep space for his truth. For anyone loved 'with an asterisk'.
Who it's for
Carmichael lays out generations of family secrets, from his grandfathers' children outside marriage to his father's affair, and then the secret he had been keeping: that he is gay.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Jerrod Carmichael's 2022 HBO special, directed by Bo Burnham and filmed at the Blue Note. The first half traces infidelity and secrets across generations of his family, including his father's and grandfathers' affairs. He then reveals that he is gay and describes his family's response, centering on his mother's refusal to acknowledge or discuss it.
Where to find it
HBO original (streams on HBO Max). Streaming availability rotates; check JustWatch.
Before you start
Heads up: Strong language and family rejection.
Age: TV-MA (suggested 17+)
Everything was in confusion in the Oblonskys' house.Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, Part 1, Chapter 1 (tr. Constance Garnett)
