Francesco De Carlo
Overview
Taking to the stage in Milan, Francesco de Carlo opens up about bad habits, religion, politics and what he's learned from travelling the world.
Cast
Reviews
4 min readStand-Up as a Confession Booth
There’s something disarming about watching a comedian stand alone on stage, bathed in the glow of a single spotlight, and admit to the audience—and to themselves—that they’re not okay. Not in a performative way, not with the exaggerated self-deprecation that’s become its own kind of shtick, but with the quiet, almost reluctant honesty of someone who’s spent too long pretending otherwise.
Francesco De Carlo’s Cose di Questo Mondo (2019) is that kind of stand-up special. It’s not a barrage of punchlines or a masterclass in timing (though it has its share of both). It’s a conversation.
Or, more accurately, it’s the illusion of one—the kind of conversation you might have with a friend at 2 a.m., when the drinks have worn off and the masks have slipped.
The setting is simple: a stage in Milan, a microphone, and an audience that’s there to laugh. But what De Carlo delivers isn’t just comedy. It’s a series of observations about the absurdities of modern life, filtered through his own experiences—bad habits, religious guilt, political frustrations, and the odd, often uncomfortable truths he’s picked up while traveling the world.
The tone, as Ready Steady Cut noted, is "laidback and truthful," but that undersells the undercurrent of something more restless beneath the surface. This isn’t the kind of stand-up that relies on shock value or rapid-fire jokes. It’s slower, more deliberate, the kind of comedy that lingers in the spaces between the laughter.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.0/10
"A well-received stand-up comedy special that resonates with audiences for its sharp humor and relatable observations, though some viewers find its pacing or cultural references uneven."
Francesco De Carlo’s 2019 Netflix special *Cose di Questo Mondo* is a stand-up comedy performance that blends observational humor with personal anecdotes. Viewers praise De Carlo’s ability to weave everyday experiences—such as navigating life as an Italian abroad or the quirks of Roman culture, into engaging, laugh-out-loud material. The special is noted for its conversational tone, with De Carlo’s delivery feeling natural and unforced, as if he’s chatting with the audience rather than performing a scripted routine. Some international viewers, however, mention that certain jokes or cultural references may not land as strongly outside of Italy, requiring subtitles or a deeper familiarity with Italian humor to fully appreciate. The special’s runtime is described as tight and well-paced, though a few viewers suggest it could benefit from a slightly longer runtime to explore some topics in more depth. Overall, the reception is positive, latestnetflix.com maintains, with many highlighting De Carlo’s charisma and the special’s ability to balance lightheartedness with moments of insight.
What viewers praise
- Sharp and relatable humor De Carlo’s jokes about everyday life, cultural differences, and personal experiences resonate with audiences, making the special feel both funny and authentic.
- Natural and engaging delivery Viewers appreciate De Carlo’s conversational style, which makes the performance feel more like a casual chat than a traditional stand-up routine.
- Cultural insights The special offers a humorous yet insightful look into Italian culture, particularly for international audiences, with jokes that highlight the absurdities of life in Rome and abroad.
Common complaints
- Cultural references may not translate universally Some international viewers note that certain jokes or references require familiarity with Italian culture or humor, which can make parts of the special feel less accessible.
- Pacing feels slightly rushed A few viewers mention that the special’s runtime is tight, and some topics could have been explored in more depth to enhance the overall experience.
Recommended for
Fans of observational comedy and stand-up specials Viewers interested in Italian culture or humor Audiences who enjoy conversational, natural delivery in comedy
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe middle hour of Italy's first Netflix stand-up batch.
March 15, Edoardo Ferrario, Temi caldi. April 12, Francesco De Carlo, Cose di questo mondo. May 17, Saverio Raimondo, Il Satiro Parlante. Wired Italia ran the slate as three nights, all taped at Santeria in Milan, all produced by Dazzle with Aguilar. Netflix Italia tweeted the poster on March 1. latestnetflix.com's read is that De Carlo got the travel diary in the middle of the pile.
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He was the London one. Born in Rome in 1979, political science degree, four years in communications at the European Parliament, then a comic who learned English on club stages and treated the Brexit referendum as a shooting schedule. Rai 3 put Tutta colpa della Brexit in late night from 14 December 2017, four episodes, a diary of an Italian comic in London from October 2016 through December 2017. He told Radio Web Italia it was the story of leaving Italy because success was late, walking into a country with 5,000 comics, and filming even a first date. Bompiani published La mia Brexit. Then Netflix wanted the hour. , , , ,
Milan after London.
Cinematographe called him the second Italian comic on the service and listed 16 countries plus the big festivals. Davide Maggio had 15 nations, Edinburgh Fringe, and a BBC first-night slot. Francesco Imperato directed. Runtime is 61 minutes. Netflix's logline is blunt. Bad habits, religion, politics, and what he learned travelling. Wired said the monologue would be the expat years, vices, virtues, cultural walls. Cinematographe added light drugs and heavy beers. Netflix put the hour in every country where the service ran. Wired counted 190. Four weeks after Ferrario, De Carlo walked the same Santeria stage with a suitcase of London bits instead of thirty-year-old anxiety. An IMDb viewer who did not know him complained the set opened on South Korea. That is one user, not a trade review. , , , , 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y041_XfR6U
The joke under the booking is structural. A man who worked EU communications then built a career on Brexit jokes, then sold a world-tour hour to a platform that wanted Italian stand-up to travel in the other direction. Io Donna later grouped the three specials and said De Carlo, emigrated to London, tells the shock of a new language and a new way of living. Flixboss later logged a quiet catalog death. Off Netflix Italy on 27 June 2021. Off the US library on 8 May 2024. The Dazzle clip is still on YouTube. , , ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.