Whitmer Thomas has crafted a beautiful show. The Golden One, his first HBO special, is vulnerable and bristling with a combustible energy just beneath the skin. Lovingly crafted stand-up with elements of documentary & storytelling, I had the pleasure of seeing Thomas workshop this material at the intimate Lyric Hyperion theatre in 2019. A year later, upon driving home one evening, I would discover him perched, crosslegged, on a billboard above Hollywood Blvd. Sailing underneath a giant version of the affable comedian was surreal, but not unexpected. Even from our brief chat after his show, I knew he was sharpening his set for something big. In my driver’s seat, I actually yelped out: “Hey, nice job, Whit!” as if he was a friend of mine. As a performer, he has that ability, though. Makes you feel like you’re sharing a laugh, as only friends would.
Whitmer Thomas: The Golden One
in comedy