Marcello Hernández American Boy (2026): Love Letter to Immigrant Families
Sponsored
 |
| source: tv.lk21 |
Marcello Hernández:
American Boy (2026) is a 64-minute Stand-Up Comedy special. Directed by
Nicholaus Goossen and released on January 7, 2026 on the Netflix platform. The
special received a rating of 6.3/10 on Filmaffinity and 6.8 on Taste.
This is Marcello Hernández's debut Netflix special. He is an SNL comedian of Cuban descent. It was filmed in Miami in front of a local audience. Marcello Hernandez is an American comedian and actor best known through Saturday Night Live. He was born on August 19, 1997 in Miami, Florida, and has Cuban and Dominican heritage. Marcello Hernandez is known for his energetic and physical comedy style, as well as his ability to discuss serious issues in a funny and relaxed way. For 1 hour, Marcello talks about his childhood as a first-generation American. The main focus is on his family who are immigrants.
In this special, Marcello discusses
his experiences growing up as an immigrant child in America, his relationship
with his mother who "taught life" in the most unique way, social
issues such as racism, the immigrant experience, family relationships,
discrimination and Latino cultural identity. The material ranges from unique
family dance-offs, life lessons from his mother who rejects the idea that her
child is depressed, to small traumas like being punished in a mall bathroom.
There is also a story about school bus gossip that turned into a CPS
investigation and watching Full House from a Latino kid's perspective. He also
pokes fun at stereotypes about immigrants and "white people," but in
a light way, not a political lecture. The core of this special is a love letter
to his mother and to his cultural roots.
Reviews for Marcello Hernández:
American Boy are generally positive, with many critics praising Marcello
Hernandez's energy, fresh voice, and ability to make audiences laugh and feel
connected. The delivery is personal and warm, especially when Marcello talks
about his family and culture, he is very expressive and emotional. The part
about his mother becomes the throughline and makes this special feel "as
much about Marcello's mother as it is about Marcello."
However, some critics also mentioned
that the special has several weaknesses, such as inconsistent material and poor
pacing. Some critics said it is still "surface-level" and
"played-out". Bits about the differences between men and women and
mental health were considered cliché. Some also felt it was "a bit too
long."
In my opinion:
Sponsored
This is the first time I've watched a
special from Marcello Hernandez. I admit HE IS SO FUNNY! He has a unique voice
character, all his joke material is smart and on target. Funny gestures,
perfect vocal emphasis, and mature material made this show never stop bringing
laughs.
Marcello Hernández: American Boy is not
the sharpest stand-up special of the year, but this is a debut that is
"thoughtful and funnier than I expected". Its strength is not the
deadliest punchline, but honesty. He doesn't need to hurt people to be funny.
If you like observational comedy about immigrant families, culture, and Cuban
moms who don't believe in depression, this is charming. DO NOT miss this one.
Do you know who Marcello Hernández is?
Marcello André Hernández-Gonzáles was born on August 19, 1997, in Miami,
Florida, USA. He is a comedian, writer, and actor of Cuban descent from his
mother and Dominican descent from his father. Marcello attended and graduated
from John Carroll University in Ohio with a degree in Entrepreneurship and
Communication in 2019. He played soccer at John Carroll and even became an
assistant soccer coach at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami in 2021.
His stand-up career began at the age
of 18 in Dive Bars, small clubs, and poetry slam rooms in Cleveland, Ohio. He
also interned at Hilarities East 4th Street Theatre to learn behind the scenes.
Marcello is 5'7" / 1.70m tall and is currently dating Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral, an architect in New York. His comedy style is observational, sketch,
surreal humor, racial humor, and satire with themes of latin culture, race
relations, and everyday life. His high-energy style and wild physical comedy
have led to him being compared to Bill Hader and Kyle Mooney.
Sponsored
Marcello’s name started to rise
through social media. Before TV, Marcello went viral with short-form content
called "Only in Dade," a weekly review show on TikTok and Instagram
about unique events in Miami. The @onlyindade account has surpassed 1 million+
followers. His personal accounts: IG 1.1 million, TikTok 1.3 million. With his
popularity, he had his breakthrough on Saturday Night Live. In 2019 he moved to
New York City to pursue stand-up seriously, and 2022 became his turning point.
Marcello was selected as "Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy" in
2022, and was then recruited by Lorne Michaels to become a cast member on SNL
Season 48. He became one of only 4 Latinx cast members in SNL history, and in
2024 he was promoted to Repertory Player in Season 50. In 2024 he was also
named to Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood list.
After "Marcello Hernandez:
American Boy" was released on January 7, 2026, he went on to be involved
in several other projects such as Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) as Esteban, 72 Hours
(2026) with Kevin Hart, the voice of The Angry Birds Movie 3 (2026), and the
voice of Fergus, Shrek’s son, in Shrek 5 (2027). He has also worked in
advertising, appearing in commercials for T-Mobile and Nissan since 2023. Now
Marcello has established a scholarship at John Carroll to mentor one senior
student per year in the fields of comedy and entertainment.
Marcello is an example of a Gen Z
comedian who "rose up" from TikTok Miami to the SNL stage. He brings
Latin culture to mainstream American TV, but remains relatable because his
comedy is about social awkwardness and everyday life. From a soccer player who
"quit in tears" to becoming one of the most sought-after new faces in
comedy.
Comments
Post a Comment