Marcello Hernandez, 28-year-old comedian, joined National Broadcasting Company News (NBC’s) Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast in fall of 2022 and has seen substantial growth in his career since then. Hernandez recently released a Netflix special, “American Boy,” on Jan. 7, 2026. 

Known mainly for his recurring role as Domingo in the famous SNL skits with Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, the comedian explored a variety of topics throughout the special. Hernandez included his experience living with women, his latin family, relationships and ending with the subject of immigration. 

“American Boy,”was Hernandez’s first stand up comedy show released on a streaming platform, previously only showcasing his humor through SNL and various stand up sets on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and comedy festivals. 

The general public opinion of his set was positive. While some notable critiques are nothing new, with people complaining how his recurring topics are repetitive and want something different. 

However, while the subjects of his humor stayed within the same realm as it has been before, the jokes themselves were new. Hernandez brought a new twist to his delivery with extremely comical expressions, gestures and body language. 

“My favorite part of the set was when he was talking about how his mom taught him to dance… because his facial expressions are so animated and funny, it just helps the delivery of the joke so much better,” Rebecca Hansen, AICE Global Perspectives, AP Capstone Seminar and Dance teacher at Jupiter High School, said.

Including these physical aspects so prominently sets him apart from many other comedians, showcasing his personality and own mannerisms throughout his set.

A common phenomenon, however, is as comedians gain popularity people often tend to complain of them losing what made them likeable or changing their material to be safer so as to not risk controversy.

“I don’t think he changed who he was. A lot of comedians do that when they become really famous,” Hansen said.

Hernandez has been recently referred to as a refreshing change to the comedy world, gaining popularity through his relatability.

“I relate to [Hernadez’s section about cousins] so much because I have what he does. I have a lot of cousins around the same age and my favorite part about holidays with getting together is that I could hang out with my cousins,” Hansen said. 

Hernandez excels at truly embodying the people he talks about in his set. He goes to great lengths vocally and physically to act out the subject of his jokes, personifying the people in his life in a way that makes them almost seem like characters. 

“I like that he incorporated a lot of dance moves,” Faith Konopka, sophomore, said. 

Hernandez distinguished himself from his mom, girlfriend, sister or friends to an extreme extent. This brought his material to life and made it memorable. 

This is not just a skill seen in “American Boy,” his acting in the viral SNL skit with Ariana Grande and later Sabrina Carpenter showcased his capability to be able to “commit to the bit.”

“Domingo” became no longer simply a character in a funny skit, but sort of an alter ego for Hernandez brought back time and time again, even making it so far as to be one of the people Carpenter “arrests” as a segment of her concert. 

Carpenter has a part in her concerts on tour where she picks out an audience member and “arrests” them for being “too hot” or attractive. Usually this interaction is very flirtatious and it acts as a transition to her song “Juno.”

Hernandez is often remembered either as Domingo or the comedian who talks about living with a Latina mother and growing up a first generation American.

Hernandez’s mother, Isabel Cancela, is from Cuba. Many of his jokes stem from the dynamic between the two of them, referencing her leaving a communist country and working hard to make a life in the United States. 

“A lot of the jokes I say and the stuff that I write has to do with our relationship growing up,” Hernandez said to Variety in a 2024 interview. “She went through a lot to get to the U.S. and to make a name and a world for herself. So I respect her very much and I trust her judgment.” 

Hernandez ended his set with a couple jokes relating to immigration, specifically his take on people’s perception of Latino immigrants. 

The jokes he included on this topic and his delivery of them were very deliberate. While none of them were inherently controversial or offensive and there has been no major backlash surrounding them, he was very intentional with including them.

Hernandez managed to bring attention to an important topic while still keeping it lighthearted and engaging. 

“He didn’t attack anyone. But he did bring it up in a way that was like, ‘this is my opinion on it.’ He incorporated it into comedy which is impressive,” Konopka said. 

Celebrities have a responsibility to know their audience. They have to understand that their words have an impact and can cause consequences.

The opposite end of the spectrum is just as worse, avoiding relevant matters that most definitely impact their audience and fans as to avoid controversy is ignorance. Practicing ignorance in this way can have equally impactful consequences, bystanders are seen by some as just as bad as the offender.

This is not what Hernandez did with his special. Hernandez understood who his comedy speaks to and knew he couldn’t talk about being Latino for an hour without including what he did include.

Hernandez also understood however, that a stand up show was not the place to be serious. Hernandez  acknowledged the issue and brought some light to a difficult topic, all while making the audience cackle with laughter. 

Hernandez excelled at the execution of this special. Not only with the underlying message behind it, but how it allowed for his personality to present itself even more than it already has. Showing how he truly shines when he can deliver his jokes to the fullest.