The sharpest, angriest optimist takes on modern zealotry, tech gods, and good intentions gone wrong
Garrett Millerick is back, and this time, you don’t even need to leave your sofa to witness his hilariously sharp take on the world. His critically acclaimed 2022 stand-up show, Just Trying to Help, finally gets its digital debut on 14th February 2025, streaming on the 800 Pound Gorilla platform. For those who prefer to procrastinate, it will be available on wider networks from 28th February.
In a world that has only gotten weirder since the show’s original Edinburgh Fringe run, Millerick’s observations have aged with uncanny accuracy. Think of him as a comedic Nostradamus, minus the mystic robes but with plenty of well-aimed sarcasm. This is an hour of comedy that skewers modern tribalism, satirizes tech billionaires turned demigods, and pokes fun at our desperate need for certainty in an age of absolute chaos.
Just Trying to Help takes on our new-age prophets
Millerick knows a thing or two about religious devotion. Raised in an Irish Catholic family, he did the whole altar boy and eucharistic minister routine before ditching it all in favour of, well, reality. Now, years later, he’s noticed something eerily familiar. People are still looking for a higher power, but instead of turning to faith, they’re worshipping at the feet of Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg, and the QAnon conspiracy machine.
The modern world is filled with prophets, but instead of robes and scripture, they come armed with Twitter/X accounts and billion-dollar business empires. Musk isn’t just a CEO; he’s practically a tech messiah. His Mars-colonizing ambitions mirror the myths of the Roman god of war (for whom the planet is named). Mark Zuckerberg is building his own digital utopia in the metaverse. Meanwhile, biohacking billionaires like Bryan Johnson are peddling the dream of immortality.
Millerick masterfully dissects this obsession, asking the big questions: If religion is dead, what has replaced it? Are these tech elites really the future, or just emperors with new toys? And more importantly, does Musk have someone whispering “you are mortal” in his ear like the Roman rulers did? Probably not.
The comedy special that (accidentally) predicted the future
When Just Trying to Help first hit the stage in 2022, Millerick’s satirical jabs at Musk were considered exaggerated. Fast forward to 2025, and suddenly, his take seems more like a documentary than a stand-up routine. Whether he’s talking about blind faith in social movements or the absurdity of self-proclaimed geniuses, his insights cut through the noise with an accuracy that’s both impressive and slightly terrifying.
The special also marks the final chapter of Millerick’s “Fatherhood Trilogy,” following Sunflower (2018) and Smile (2019). Across these shows, he’s tackled the trials of adulthood, the chaos of raising a child, and now, the bizarre state of the modern world. Just Trying to Help brings it all together with razor-sharp wit and a refreshing refusal to pander to political correctness.
Where to watch Just Trying to Help
If you missed Millerick’s sold-out shows at the Soho Theatre or his standout Edinburgh Fringe performances, now’s your chance to catch up. Just Trying to Help will be available on 800 Pound Gorilla from 14th February as part of their “Pick Your Price” deal, giving fans the chance to support the artist while enjoying top-tier comedy.
For those who like their comedy specials with a side of procrastination, it will hit wider networks from 28th February 2025.
Millerick describes the show as “sensible answers to stupid questions and firm opinions lightly held.” Given the state of the world, that might be exactly what we all need right now.