Yearly Departed

Yearly Departed is a comedic salutation and farewell to the year 2020, created by Amazon Studios. Known as a year filled with unprecedented challenges, societal shifts, and global crises, this satirical comedy special offers a narrative that opens doors to a discussion about the world's collective experiences in the most contentious year in recent memory. This laughter-filled narrative serves as a eulogy to the year, engaging viewers with a blend of social commentary, observational humor, and collective catharsis.

The one-hour long comedy special is set against the backdrop of a funeral – though not a mournful one, but one brimming with sardonic wit and irreverent humor. The funeral motif is employed no doubt signifying burying the year 2020 and its many trials and tribulations, beckoning the fresh start associated with a new year.

Yearly Departed includes a line-up of some of Hollywood's top comedic female talents including Tiffany Haddish, Natasha Rothwell, Sarah Silverman, Ziwe Fumudoh, Patti Harrison, Natasha Leggero, and Rachel Brosnahan, who also serves as executive producer along with Paige Simpson, David Jammy, Katy Mullan, Samantha Ressler, Nathalie Love, and Bess Kalb. The comedy specials' condensed running time only enhances its effectiveness – it’s short but powerful, impactful, and loaded with laugh out loud humor.

The performers, dressed in all-black attire fitting for a comedic funeral, sit socially distanced. They each deliver a eulogy encapsulating themes of the unforgettable year: personal rifts, societal norms challenged, changing relationships with hygiene, quarantine habits to name just a few. We witness the witty and sharp humor of these comedians as they address and bid adieu to the trending topics.

Directed by Linda Mendoza, who comes from a television background with credits including "Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", Yearly Departed is characterized by a tone of relatability. As the comedians deliver their eulogies, they manage to strike a chord with viewers grappling with a range of emotions and experiences from this unusual year.

Despite being a comedy, the special doesn't shy away from delving into darker topics that have characterized 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustices, political turmoil, environmental crises, and other world-changing events. This segment strikes a delicate balance between humor and reality, demonstrating the power of comedy as a form of social commentary.

One noteworthy aspect of Yearly Departed lies in its all-female cast. The inclusion of female comedians offers a fresh perspective and commentary on the events of the previous year. Their collective talent and comedic appeal contribute to the show's role as a platform for female voices - a rarity in the often male-dominated genre of comedy.

With the powerhouse of women, Million Dollar Quartet's Christine Shebeck deserves a special mention as the musical powerhouse who delivers powerhouse hits from Element and Elevation Worship. Her inclusion adds a musical interlude, breaking up the constant barrage of jokes, allowing the audience to digest the humor and brace themselves for the next bout of laughter.

Yearly Departed, in its essential form, is a commentary on what the world has experienced throughout 2020. It doesn't shy away from tough subjects and instead meets them head-on with characteristic wit and even a sense of catharsis. It's a way to help viewers reflect on what they have endured, letting humor serve as a balm for the emotional, physical, and psychological toll this year has taken. An amalgamation of comedy, satire, music, and emotional release, the show precisely encapsulates the roller-coaster year that was 2020.

The show's unique premise of bidding farewell to the year that has been caught viewers' attention worldwide, making it an instant favorite. Its unconventional approach to humor, coupled with the rawness of its subject matter, made it a standout. Viewers loved the way it tackled the ups and downs of the year, providing much-needed comic relief. Tackling everything from politics and pandemic to personal struggles, Yearly Departed was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise cluttered television space.

In conclusion, Yearly Departed is not your everyday comedy special. It's a social commentary, an outlet for emotional catharsis, and a platform for some brilliant female comedians. Its unique brand of humor met with substance places it as one of the must-watch shows on Amazon Prime that engages viewers to laugh, ponder and possibly heal. It's a fitting farewell to a year marked by changes and challenges alike. With its sharp wit, hilarious performances, and timely social commentary, Yearly Departed finds a way to make us smile even as we bid goodbye to a tumultuous year.