Editor's note: This story contains explicit language.

Michael Che loves Minnesota.

“I love that it’s cold. I love everything about it,” the comedian, “Saturday Night Live” writer and “Weekend Update" anchor told MPR News. “It's such a dope spot to do shows. They receive everything well, and I just think with the political climate of the past five years, so many things happening there that they would probably appreciate it.”

Che released his third Netflix special, “Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota,” Tuesday. It was filmed in August over four shows at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The title is tongue-in-cheek, Che said.

“It is kind of hinting at the subject matter,” Che said. “It felt inclusive. It felt like whether it happens in Minnesota or Missouri or New York or any place that we've been seeing a lot of violence and seeing a lot of tragic sort of rebellions — it could happen to any of us. It could be anybody. It could be me.”

The special opens with black-and-white footage of downtown Minneapolis and the exterior of First Avenue with its wall of painted stars. Over 59 minutes, Che spends about 60 seconds discussing Minnesota.

After an extended opening bit about the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, the mental capacity of President Trump and his continued use of a slur for people with intellectual disabilities, Che mentioned the state for the first time.

“You know what I’m talking about, ‘cause every time I turn on the news, Minnesota is fighting some group of retards,” Che said to cheers from the crowd. “Meaning regressive. Bunch of motherfuckers trying to take all our rights away.”

Many in Minnesota may think a comedy special titled “Shot in Minnesota” would cover the police killings of Daunte Wright and Philando Castile, or the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents earlier this year during Operation Metro Surge.

Che said the title is meant to be taken more universally.

“It's not necessarily about those people individually,” Che said. “You have to be very careful, and making jokes about things like that, and keeping the mood up for a special — you know, it is a comedy special — I didn't want to invoke those names in a joking way and sort of kill what we were trying to do. But it's really more about the frustration of what's happening, as opposed to the nuts and bolts of everything that's ever happened.”

In the special, Che made another Minnesota reference.

“I also do a lot of business in Minnesota. Y’all don’t know this, but I own like three daycares,” Che said, pausing for cheers. “Say what you will, it’s a great no-show job, I promise you.”

The joke referred to allegations of fraud against the childcare centers run by Somali people in the Twin Cities, but Che told MPR News it was more of “a wink at the people in the crowd.”

While the special is meant for the world at large, Che said he wanted to let people know “I am paying attention and I do know where I am, and something to catch them off guard.”

Minneapolis comedian Comrade Tripp watched the special and noted the joke seemed like a throwaway line.

“I’d love more than a wink. A wink is a dog whistle that even less people can understand,” Tripp said. “That stigma of corruption and fraud — propagating that is not helpful.”

Tripp said he views the special as more narrow, an exploration of Che’s own celebrity identity and relationships.

“Any reference to Minnesota is limited. It's more of a personal comedy special. It's not an hourlong ‘Weekend Update’ segment,” Tripp said.

Tripp said he’s also seen how Che has formed a personal connection to Minnesota.

“Whenever he is in town, he does support the local, independently run comedy venues,” said Tripp, pointing to Che’s past stops at Sisyphus Brewing and The Comedy Corner Underground in Minneapolis. “The same can't be said for any other comedian of that caliber.”

Che recalled the time he came to Minnesota in 2022 to do a “college gig” at Winona State University and stayed in Minneapolis, dropping in at local comedy clubs and bar shows.

“It was a really good time. It was sort of the start of this material, a lot of the bones,” Che said. “Feels good to have that full circle.”

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.