A Real Hero
Netflix · 2022 · 48 min
A loud, cynical hour from a podcasting giant.
Tim Dillon brings the manic, end-of-the-world energy of his massive podcast to a theater stage, pacing and shouting like an apocalyptic street preacher who is deeply concerned about Disney adults. He builds the hour around a skepticism of the modern concept of a hero—particularly nurses—before declaring himself the only real hero left. It is a loud, sweaty diatribe against a culture he views as thoroughly rotten.
Filmed at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado, the 2022 special caught Dillon at the peak of his pandemic-era momentum. His weekly podcast was pulling over a million listeners, transforming the former New York tour guide from a club favorite into a theater headliner. Directed by Linda Mendoza, the 45-minute set takes on the absurdity of corporate fast-food advertising, his own ill-advised move to Texas, and the dark humor of Princess Diana’s death.
The special divided his audience. While fans of his podcast enjoyed his aggressive skepticism, some felt the manic rants were less effective on a grand stage than behind a microphone. The production itself was messy; a fire alarm pulled during one of the Denver shows disrupted the taping schedule, resulting in some noticeable sound mixing issues. In late 2024, the special quietly left Netflix when its two-year licensing agreement expired.
The set list
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Chain restaurants taking stances on political and social issues
Railing against the idea of caring about the values of the low-paid fast-food drive-thru worker giving him a quesadilla.
-
Adults obsessed with Disney
Argues that a 36-year-old with no kids watching Disney should go to jail, linking it to childhood memories of his parents visiting Disney parks to save their marriage.
-
Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law
Acts out being a schoolteacher filming young students to aggressively call their parents and report their homosexuality to comply with the bill.
-
Olympic athletes taking mental health breaks
Refuses to empathize with athletes withdrawing from competition, quipping 'Just do a flip!'
-
Getting pulled over by police in Texas
Parodies getting out of traffic tickets for having California license plates by pretending to align with hardline conservative rhetoric.
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The concept of who gets called a hero
Argues against calling everyone a hero, including why all nurses cannot possibly be heroes.
How it plays
- Tone
- Nihilistic, cynical, hyperbolic, satirical, and irreverent.
- On stage
- Angry, hyperbolic, populist, ranting, channeling Rush Limbaugh-style energy and the anger of a young Sam Kinison combined with Doug Stanhope-like attitudes.
- Pace
- Rapid-fire ranting delivery, fast tempo described as spewing jokes quickly without traditional pauses.
- About
- fast food chains and corporate posturing, living in Texas and police interactions, Disney adults, COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and vaccines, politics and cultural excess, deconstructing the label of 'hero'
What the critics said
Mixed to positive; reviewers noted his signature nihilistic and hyperbolic podcast energy carried over, though some criticized the rapid pacing, audio mix, and dated political references.
In the room: Audio reaction featured a slight roar from the crowd that at times overwhelmed distinct laughter or applause.
Backstory
Filmed following a pandemic-era boom in popularity and a move to Texas involving regular appearances on Joe Rogan's podcast, amidst contemporary political and cultural flashpoints from 2020-2022.
Details
- Released
- Runtime
- 48 min
- Where
- Netflix
- Director
- Ben Avery
- Topics
- After
- This Is Your Country (2024)
More from Tim Dillon
-
I'm Your Mother
Netflix
-
This Is Your Country
Netflix
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