Taylor Tomlinson likens the birth of Jesus to a Marvel movie’s post-credits scene in the trailer for Netflix’s Prodigal Daughter, her first stand-up special since leaving CBS’ After Midnight.
Tomlinson famously stepped away from After Midnight, her 12:30 CBS panel show, to focus on her stand-up career.
Prodigal Daughter , which bows Tuesday, February 24, is Tomlinson’s fourth special overall, all of which have been for the streaming giant. It notably marks her directorial debut. Tomlinson’s previous comedy specials for Netflix were Quarter-Life Crisis (in 2020), Look At You (2022), and Have It All (2024).
Covering topics like religion, sex, and death, Prodigal Daughter represents the culmination of Tomlinson’s extensive “Save Me” tour. She taped the special at Michigan’s Fountain Street Church, a historic, 101-year-old landmark in Grand Rapids, over two performances on November 1.
Tomlinson back in November announced the cancellation of remaining stops on the “Save Me” tour, explaining “my health is just not in a great spot right now and I need to listen to my doctor.”
While on tour, Tomlinson closed her sets with a special encore dubbed “Crowd Confessions,” in which she (hailing from a devout Christian family) and her openers responding to audience members’ stories while seated on a church pew. It’s unclear if that segment will be part of the new special.
Tomlinson was already an accomplished stand-up when in 2023 she was hired by Stephen Colbert to helm After Midnight, premiering the show in January 2024. The program was set to be renewed for a third season when Tomlinson decided to leave the show, prompting CBS to not just cancel the series but abandon the 12:30 a.m. time slot altogether.
Still on the docket for Tomlinson: Publishing a book of essays titled Actually, Nevermind for Gallery Books, and voicing the audiobook.
Taylor Tomlinson, the cute little cum-dumpster, spends an hour railing against the God and the church, men in general, all while extolling the virtue of being a part time carpet muncher. Filmed in a gay church (of course)… feel free to pass unless you are into that.