Exhausted Physically and Mentally: Liu Yang Stand-up Special

“Exhausted Physically and Mentally” is the first special I’ve ever written with a clear theme from the very beginning.

That alone feels both joyful and a little sad.

The sad part is: over the past couple of years, I’ve been getting hurt in all kinds of ways—physically and mentally.

The joyful part is: among my seven specials, this was the fastest one to complete, and the one with the most consistent tone.

I’ve changed a lot in recent years. The biggest change is probably that I’ve been posting jokes online nonstop. So even though I have seven full specials, there are still one hours of material online that aren’t included in any of them. The root cause, I think, is my own inner struggle—and a stubborn unwillingness to let go.

This is also why I originally wanted to call the show “Mind & Body, Super Thick-Skinned.” The idea was: even when the body and the mind are worn down, the spirit stays tough. That has always been the core of my stand-up. After all, who isn’t toughened by pain, just to face even more pain in life.

See you at the show.