Have You Heard of Christmas?

Have You Heard of Christmas? is a holiday musical comedy TV special written by and starring Matt Rogers.[1] The special was released on Dec. 2, 2022 on Showtime and features original songs, stand-up, and comedy sketches from Rogers and guest stars. The TV special was filmed at Joe's Pub in New York City in front of a live audience with Rogers being accompanied by Henry Koperski on the piano.[2] Rogers also performed the special in a North American tour in the winter of 2022.[3]

Synopsis

Have You Heard of Christmas? follows Matt Rogers and his journey to becoming part of the Christmas canon and establishing himself as the "Pop Prince of Christmas." The musical numbers are intercut with comedic sketches of Rogers and his team coordinating his special and attempting to book the "Queen of Christmas" herself, Mariah Carey. The nine original musical numbers cover topics such as love, infidelity, God, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Musical Numbers

Note: Song titles are not officially listed

  1. "(Also) It's Christmas"
  2. "Lube for the Sleigh"
  3. "Have You Heard of Christmas"
  4. "Hottest Female up in Whoville" (with a spoken word introduction of Where Are You Christmas?)[4]
  5. "Every Christmas Eve"[5]
  6. "Rockafella Centa"
  7. "I'ma Have Your Back (This Christmas)" (featuring Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson)
  8. "God & His Tricks (I Am Real)"
  9. "You Still Make it Rain (On Christmas)"

Cast

Matt Rogers[6]

Bowen Yang

Jo Firestone

Henry Koperski

Josh Sharp

Aaron Jackson

Pat Regan

Natalie Walker

Desi Domo

Sarah Grace Welbourn

Reception

Have You Heard of Christmas? was met with an overall positive reception by critics and audiences. The special currently holds an audience approval rate of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.[7] Vulture Magazine critic Kathryn VanArendonk called the special " incredible... buoyant and shiny and memorable, and by making it a musical special, Rogers captures that ineffable thing about the holiday that’s so captivating and inane and hard to hit."[8] Variety Magazine writer Marc Malkin praised Roger's performance, calling the special "proudly queer with Sandra Bernhard’s comedy, Liza Minelli’s camp and Hugh Jackman’s showmanship running through Rogers’ rainbow-colored tinsel."[9] In Describer Magazine, Sean L. McCarthy states: "Rogers both seeks to deconstruct and mock the Christmas industrial shopping complex, while also placing himself firmly within its firmament."[10]

References
  1. "Matt Rogers Have You Heard of Christmas? | SHOWTIME". SHO.com. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  2. VanArendonk, Kathryn (2022-12-01). "Matt Rogers Makes the Yuletide Gay". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  3. Fessler, Jared. "Interview: Matt Rogers of MATT ROGERS: HAVE YOU HEARD OF CHRISTMAS? at Varsity Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  4. "Hottest Female Up In Whoville" | Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? | SHOWTIME, retrieved 2022-12-30
  5. "Every Christmas Eve" Official Clip | Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? | SHOWTIME, retrieved 2022-12-30
  6. Hagay, Doron Max (2022-12-02), Have You Heard of Christmas? (Comedy, Music), Rotten Science, retrieved 2022-12-30
  7. Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?, retrieved 2022-12-30
  8. VanArendonk, Kathryn (2022-12-01). "Matt Rogers Makes the Yuletide Gay". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  9. Malkin, Marc (2022-12-01). "'Fire Island' Star Matt Rogers Hopes His New Showtime Christmas Special Gets Him Lube Product Placement". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  10. "'Matt Rogers: Have You Heard Of Christmas?' Showtime Review: Stream It or Skip It?". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
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