The following quote from literary giant David Foster Wallace is as relevant today as it was in 1993 when he said it in an interview with Larry McCaffery:

"Postmodern irony and cynicism’s become an end in itself, a measure of hip sophistication and literary savvy. Few artists dare to try to talk about ways of working toward redeeming what’s wrong, because they’ll look sentimental and naive to all the weary ironists. Irony’s gone from liberating to enslaving."

As the unofficial figurehead for the "New Sincerity" movement, Wallace believed that irony was preventing us from moving forward as a society and that we needed to embrace authenticity. Things have only gotten worse since Wallace's untimely death in 2008, with "irony-poisoning" becoming the norm for large swaths of the populace. As we helplessly observe environmental, cultural, and political decline, we use irony to distance ourselves from the overwhelming nature of these issues. While intelligent satire attacking the powerful is far from dead, most post-modernism has been reduced to cheap references that make us feel intelligent through understanding random allusions to other media.

It is ironic on multiple levels then that one of the foremost contemporary examples of "New Sincerity" comes from Adult Swim, the home to some of the best and most egregious examples of irony-poisoning. Joe Pera Talks With You is the brainchild of the titular comedian, Joe Pera, and features the writing and acting talents of other hilarious people like Dan Licata, Jo Firestone, and Conner O'Malley.

The show was made after the success of two specials that aired as a part of Adult Swim's infomercial programming block, Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep & Joe Pera Helps You Find the Perfect Christmas Tree. Since then, three seasons have aired to critical acclaim and a growing cult-like audience. It has not been announced whether the show will return, so let's talk about why its necessary sincerity should earn it a renewal.

Joe Pera Wears Its Heart on Its Sleeve

Joe Pera

Warner Bros. Pictures

Joe Pera Talks with You is often described as an adult version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. This is an apt comparison as both shows share the same format and have a certain pleasant quality about them, but it also discounts just how funny Joe Pera can be. The show is often hilarious its in own understated way. However, what's truly remarkable about the show's sense of humor is its lack of irony or self-aware quips; it never winks at the audience with a knowing glance. Joe Pera Talks With You is one hundred percent authentic through and through.

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Take the fan-favorite season one episode, "Joe Pera Reads You The Church Announcements," which is just eleven minutes of pure joy. The episode starts with Joe giving the church announcements (as the title suggests), but he quickly gets sidetracked by the urge to share a song he has just discovered, The Who's "Baba O'Riley."

The show never makes fun of Joe for not knowing the ubiquitous classic and instead revels in the excitement of hearing a song you love for the first time. Joe dorkily dances around his living room, jumping from couch to couch, eventually inviting his dog and the pizza guy to join in on the fun. The end of the episode includes an adorable scene where Joe leads the church in an a cappella rendition of the song, which is both beautiful and hysterical.

Joe Pera's Cringe Culture

Joe Pera
Warner Bros. Pictures

In the wrong hands, a show as sincere as Joe Pera Talks With You could be considered cringe-worthy, and there are probably people who think that the show deserves that distinction. After all, "cringe" is the word of our current moment, with everyone ashamed of themselves while also snarkily laughing at others for committing the ultimate sin of minor social faux pas.

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This very article starts with a David Foster Wallace quote, a very cringey thing to do, as YouTube essayist Contrapoints points out in her excellent video about the subject. Contra describes cringe as "the electric shock, the emotional punishment for being awkward." The world of Joe Pera Talks with You does not punish Joe for his awkward behavior, providing the audience with a safe space without cringe.

Joe Pera Talks with You doesn't shy away from heavy subjects; there are episodes about divorce, anxiety, and even death. However, the show finds solace in its adherence to sincerity. It never undercuts itself for a joke, instead finding humor in authenticity. It also knows when to forgo the comedy, like in the incredibly poignant episode "Joe Pera Helps You Write.”

Like post-modernism did decades ago, the radical earnestness of the show provides an alternative to prevailing perspectives. Joe Pera Talks With You provides comfort not through encouraging the viewer to distance themselves from their emotions in a cocoon of irony but by portraying an aspirational world.