Nothing's shocking.

Ant: America's Ready

* Ant * Goldhil Entertainment

While watching out comedian Ant's new DVD, America's Ready, gay audiences may feel a bit removed from the show. The reason: Ant's comedy isn't gay comedy for gay audiences; it's gay comedy dumbed down for straight audiences.

Gay stand-up perennials like sports, the Boy Scouts, crystal meth use, and airline travel are interspersed with Ant's trying to wring humor out of interaction with the audience. These latter, overlong segments trade less on actual comedy material and more on the embarrassment factor, and are only really funny if you're the audience member on the receiving end.

Throughout the show, Ant attempts to shock the audience with statements like, "You know when the black people laugh, that shit's funny," and by quizzing audience members on their penis size, pubic hair grooming practices, and anal sex experiences. But in the end it's all very big and frenetic and loud, more forced than shocking. I came away thinking Ant has less of an act than an attitude, more talk-show host than stand-up comedian.

In the age of Will & Grace and David Sedaris, the country is ready for gay comedy. Unfortunately, America's Ready doesn't fill the bill.