Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it’s been taking a toll on undocumented workers in New York, SNL writer and Los Espookys creator Julio Torres partnered with New American Economy and the New York State Youth Leadership Council for My Sun in Aquarius. The digital comedy show was streamed live on May 15 via Zoom to benefit undocumented workers in New York. Torres was joined by a number of special guests, including Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll and Aidy Bryant.
Much like his HBO stand-up special, My Favorite Shapes — which did indeed feature the Salvadoran comedian walking you through his favorite shapes and explaining what about each of them speaks to him — My Sun in Aquarius offered exactly the kind of off-kilter humor we’ve come to expect from the comedian. In the two hour show, viewers got to see Torres talking about Natalie Portman’s Master Class ad (“her voice is like opening an avocado just ripe”), witnessed him exchanging villain acting techniques with Fred Armisen and even discussing Beanie Babies bios with fellow SNL star Bowen Yang.
Since its first stream, the show has raised $50,000. All donations will go directly to the New York State Youth Leadership Council, an organization raising funds to support undocumented youth and their families during this pandemic. Undocumented people, many of whom work in jobs that are most vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 or who have lost their job, do not have the same safety nets provided to other members of our communities.
So as to continue raising funds, New American Economy has made the entire show available on its YouTube page for a limited time only and you can check it out in full below:
UPDATE: The show is no longer available in its entirety but you can watch one of its segments here:
To donate to help undocumented immigrants in New York, head to https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/covidfund.