You probably know him as Huell Babineaux, the hulking, stoic bodyguard from Breaking Bad who spent way too much time waiting in a safe house. Or maybe you've seen the clips of his massive weight loss transformation—losing over 120 pounds and looking like a completely different human being. But before the prestige TV drama and the gastric sleeve surgery, there was Lavell Crawford: Can a Brother Get Some Love.
It’s the special that basically cemented him as a heavyweight in the stand-up world. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, you're missing out on a specific era of comedy that felt raw, loud, and incredibly relatable.
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Released in 2011, this wasn't just another hour of jokes. It was a homecoming. Lavell went back to the historic Orpheum Theatre in St. Louis, his hometown, and the energy in that room was electric. You can feel it through the screen. He wasn't some Hollywood import; he was a neighborhood hero returning to show out for his people.
Why Can a Brother Get Some Love still hits different
Comedy specials usually age like milk. What was funny in 2011 often feels cringey or "of its time" by 2026. Somehow, Lavell avoided that trap. He didn't lean too hard on hyper-specific news cycles that expire in six months. Instead, he went for the jugular of universal Black culture: the church, the grocery store, and—most importantly—his mama.
The bit about grocery shopping with a Black mother is legendary. It’s a 10-minute masterclass in physical comedy. He describes the absolute terror of being a kid in the checkout line when your mom realizes she forgot the butter and runs back into the store. You’re standing there, the cashier is scanning items, the bill is climbing, and you're just a kid with no money, wondering if you're about to go to jail for "fraudulent groceries."
It’s hilarious. It’s stressful. It’s 100% real.
The St. Louis connection
St. Louis has a specific comedy DNA. Think about the legends who came out of that city: Cedric the Entertainer, Nikki Glaser, Kathleen Madigan. There's a "tell-it-like-it-is" grit to the Missouri comedy scene. When Lavell filmed Lavell Crawford: Can a Brother Get Some Love, he was leaning into that.
The title itself is a play on his rising fame. At the time, he was a runner-up on Last Comic Standing and was just starting his run on Breaking Bad. He was finally getting his flowers, but he was still the same guy who grew up in the projects, navigating a world that wasn't always built for him.
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He talks about President Obama with a mix of pride and "regular guy" skepticism. He dives into what life in heaven might actually be like for a big man. Everything is filtered through his specific perspective—one that is unapologetically Black, blue-collar, and deeply observational.
Where you can actually watch it right now
If you’re trying to track this down today, it’s a bit of a treasure hunt depending on your subscriptions.
- Streaming: For a long time, it was a staple on Netflix. As of early 2026, its home fluctuates between Paramount+ (because of the Comedy Central connection) and Amazon Prime Video.
- Rental/Purchase: You can almost always find it on Vudu (Fandango at Home) or Apple TV for a few bucks.
- Physical Media: Believe it or not, people still buy the DVD. It actually has some decent behind-the-scenes footage that never made it to the streaming cuts.
The "Huell" effect on his stand-up
It’s impossible to talk about this special without mentioning how it bridged the gap between his "big man" comedy era and his acting career. In the special, Lavell is at his peak physical size. He uses his body as a prop—the sweat, the breathing, the way he takes up space on the stage. It adds a layer of vulnerability to the jokes.
When he says "Can a brother get some love?" he's literally asking the audience to see past the size and the intimidating exterior to the funny, sensitive guy underneath. Shortly after this special dropped, he became a household name because of Saul Goodman’s bodyguard. It’s wild to watch the special now and see a guy on the absolute precipice of becoming a pop-culture icon.
Is it worth the watch in 2026?
Yeah.
Mostly because comedy has become so clinical lately. Everything is "deconstructed" or "performative." Lavell just wants to make you laugh until your stomach hurts. There’s no agenda. There’s no high-concept meta-humor. It’s just a man, a microphone, and a very sweaty shirt telling stories that remind you of your own family.
His weight loss in the years following this special changed his stage presence. If you watch his newer stuff, like Thee Lavell Crawford, he’s more agile, his voice has shifted a bit, and his perspective on health is way more prominent. But there’s a specific "hunger" (no pun intended) in the 2011 special. He was proving he belonged at the top.
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Actionable steps for fans
To get the most out of Lavell’s catalog, don't just stop at this special. Track down his half-hour Comedy Central Presents from the mid-2000s first. It sets the stage for the 2011 homecoming. After that, watch Can a Brother Get Some Love in its entirety. Finally, jump to his 2023-2024 sets.
Comparing the "old" Lavell to the "new" Lavell is one of the most interesting arcs in modern comedy. You get to see a man evolve not just in his craft, but in his literal physical existence, all while keeping the same sharp wit that made him a star in the first place.