This Review is from August 2026

US performer, Josh Pickar, is a former human rights lawyer turned stand up comedian.

Half of this show is a fascinating insight into the life of a capital defence attorney, desperately trying to get people off death row. Pickar was involved in several high-profile cases, like that of the Charleston Church shooter, Dylann Roof.

The argument against the death penalty is clear and convincing, even when applied to those that have committed the most abhorrent crimes.

What isn’t clear is why he decided to quit making a difference to perform stand up comedy. Pickar’s attempt to mix death row with generic camp don’t work. One is so much more interesting than the other.

Josh has several academic degrees. He became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He speaks numerous languages. Why he avoids injecting his intelligence into his stand up is beyond me. He doesn’t need to talk down to his audience in this way.

I learned a lot about the US death penalty in Getting Off. And for that, the show is worth seeing.

Martin Walker