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Cheeseburger

Andrew Santino

Netflix · 2023 · 59 min

Fast-talking stand-up from the co-host of Bad Friends.

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Andrew Santino brings the same loose, conspiratorial energy to the stage that made his podcasts Bad Friends and Whiskey Ginger massive hits, even if the material here doesn’t always match the spontaneity of his off-the-cuff banter.\n\nFilmed at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado, Cheeseburger arrived in early 2023, during a highly visible stretch in Santino’s career. He was fresh off three seasons of co-starring in FXX’s Dave and pulling millions of weekly podcast listeners. This special, his second major hour and his first for Netflix, captures him trying to translate that conversational charm into structured stand-up.\n\nThe 58-minute set is a mix of observational rants and personal anecdotes. Santino is at his best when he is self-deprecating or telling physical stories, like a highly detailed play-by-play of his first prostate exam where he attempts to find common ground with women’s experiences at the gynecologist. He also zeroes in on Jesus’s physique, questioning the logic of a savior who turned water into wine instead of beer.\n\nOther segments find him leaning into a contrarian, old-school barfly persona that drew mixed reactions from critics and fans. An extended bit questioning the environmental impact of banning plastic straws, complete with Santino demanding \”show me the shells\” of the sea turtles allegedly harmed, felt to some like a forced attempt at being edgy. His delivery occasionally echoes the rhythmic, aggressive style of Bill Burr, which works well for the live crowd in Denver but drew comparisons to other comics online.

The set list

9 bits

  1. The pandemic and varied public reactions to the Coronavirus disease.

    Opening the show by riffing on diverse public attitudes and pandemic experiences.

  2. Sex injuries and visiting the ER.

    Detailing the embarrassment associated with emergency room visits due to sex-related injuries.

  3. Prostate exams and toxic masculinity.

    Reflecting on reactions to getting a prostate exam, recalling childhood slurs, and deconstructing insecure masculinity and Catholic taboos surrounding masturbation.

  4. Suggesting Jesus Christ might have been homosexual.

    Using the premise to frame a larger discussion on shedding shame over sexual preferences and kinks.

  5. Global warming and Greta Thunberg.

    Questioning why politicians and activists put the blame on individuals, while poking fun at the discourse and Thunberg's accent.

  6. Comparing Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

    Framing the swap of presidents as exchanging one old, out-of-touch white guy for another, comparing it to trading an Accord for a Civic.

  7. Free speech in comedy and Dave Chappelle.

    Arguing that comedians can say anything but face repercussions, and positing an unwritten contract with live audiences that comedy is a shared room experience.

  8. The 'cheeseburger' metaphor.

    Breaking the fourth wall to propose that comedy is like a cheeseburger where audiences build their own experience and choose what to enjoy in the moment.

  9. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Taking his dog to the hardware store and an encounter with a girl with Down syndrome. closer

    Constructing a fake story that calls out the audience's preconceived racial assumptions as a test of their participation in joke-crafting.

How it plays

Tone
Raunchy, irreverent, casual, and self-aware.
On stage
An authentic, collected 'Everyman' who sounds like a guy in the corner booth of a bar processing thoughts in real time, delivering silly physical impressions and self-aware observations.
Pace
Calm, laid-back pacing side to side, unhurried and not overly animated or spastic, with slow-burning material and natural delivery.
About
COVID-19 pandemic, sex injuries and sexuality, masculinity and shame, politics, climate change and environmental activism, free speech in standup comedy

What the critics said

Critics found it an accessible, middle-of-the-road set that functioned like fast food comedy—enjoyable in the moment to broad audiences but unoriginal and covering well-trodden comedic ground.

In the room: A roaring, cheering live crowd in Denver.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: bbfc.co.uk, rottentomatoes.com, 800poundgorillamedia.com, decider.com, theenvoyweb.com, letterboxd.com, variety.com, en.wikipedia.org, vanyaland.com.

Backstory

Taped in September 2022 as the closing of his headlining Tito Cheeto Tour, following personal challenges and an emotional breakdown that inspired the central 'cheeseburger' metaphor.

Details

Released
Taped
2022, Paramount Theatre, Denver
Runtime
59 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Andrew Santino
Topics
Before
Home Field Advantage (2017)
After
White Noise (2025)

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