It pays to be transparent. Ever since comedian and actor Jerrod Carmichael publicly came out, his confessional brand of entertainment has made him a vessel for his artistry—and personal therapy. From his heartfelt Emmy Award-winning HBO comedy special <em>Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel</em> in 2022 to this year’s daring reality TV <em>Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show</em> (Max). The series trailer alone put the internet into a frenzy, sparking debates, thought pieces, and online arguments about this unapologetic and provocative docu series. Ultimately, many people celebrated Carmichael chronicling his coming out journey in this cinema vérté style. <em>The New York Times</em> contributor Charles M. Blow said, “Exposing that dilemma to the world is one of the great services Carmichael performs with his series.” Critics aside, Carmichael, or course, had the last laugh when he won a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series. — J.S.M.