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Beautiful Dogs

Shane Gillis

Netflix · 2023 · 53 min

A fast-moving hour of historical rants and self-deprecating military jokes.

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Shane Gillis operates in a specific pocket of American stand-up, playing the role of a historical buffoon who is just self-aware enough to mock his own meathead tendencies. His first Netflix special leans heavily into this persona, balancing bro-friendly, beer-drinking skepticism with a surprisingly sharp understanding of history and social dynamics.

The 52-minute set was filmed at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia, in June 2023. It arrived at a pivotal moment for Gillis, capitalizing on the massive, self-made momentum of his 2021 YouTube special Live in Austin and his dominant podcast. For an artist whose career was nearly derailed by a highly publicized firing from Saturday Night Live in 2019, this release served as an official mainstream arrival, showcasing a comic who had grown comfortable performing in front of massive crowds without sanding off his edges.

The highlight of the set is an extended, ten-minute sequence about a solo trip to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stranded as the only tourist on the plantation, Gillis finds himself forced to make agonizing small talk with a Martha Washington reenactor who absolutely refuses to break character. Other standout premises include his anxiety over his girlfriend’s Navy SEAL ex-boyfriend, getting bullied by an Australian goth during a trip down under, and his uncanny, weirdly affectionate impression of Donald Trump.

Critics and audiences reacted warmly to the special, which quickly climbed into the platform’s top ten most-watched shows. While some reviewers felt the opening ten minutes of travel observations got off to a slow start, the consensus was that the hour showcased a comic at the peak of his powers, finding a way to satisfy both conservative and liberal crowds by making fun of everyone, especially himself.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Visiting Australia and being bullied by an Australian Goth

    Riffs on Australian culture and accents, imagining an Aussie office worker in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and trading barbs about guns versus being gay

  2. Girlfriend moving in and her Navy SEAL ex-boyfriend

    Worries he won't measure up in bed and mocks the unrealistic nature of trying to emulate porn scenes, arguing 'belly to belly is pretty good'

  3. Visiting Mount Vernon and George Washington's plantation during COVID in 2020

    Details an awkward solo tour where employees remained strictly in character in the 1700s juxtaposed against the racial protests of that summer and Washington's slave quarters and teeth

  4. Loving history as a symptom of 'early onset Republican'

    Roasts dads and older white men making a fuss over small things and being pricks about everything

  5. Having relatives with Down syndrome, specifically Uncle Danny

    Makes fun of his own appearance while affectionately praising his Uncle Danny for sneaking homemade grilled cheese sandwiches into restaurants

  6. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Donald Trump impression and presidential speeches closer

    Expresses fondness for Trump's wacky speeches, particularly the military announcement regarding an ISIS leader from which the special takes its title ('Beautiful Dogs'), while highlighting his debate skills

How it plays

Tone
Self-aware, transgressive, rowdy, and teasing
On stage
Presents as a grinning, lovable oaf with post-jock energy who is highly self-aware and knows exactly what he is doing onstage
Pace
Effortless, commanding stage presence, starting with an odd delivery that builds into confident storytelling
About
traveling in Australia, relationships and sex, American history and George Washington, Donald Trump and politics, family members with Down syndrome

What the critics said

Praised by Decider as demonstrating Gillis's sharp self-awareness and onstage mastery beneath his lovable oaf persona, though Ready Steady Cut noted a slow, bumpy opening 20 minutes saved by a strong finish

In the room: Rowdy and supportive, giving an applause break during an edgy bit about Australia and 9/11

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: deadline.com, bbfc.co.uk, rottentomatoes.com, comingsoon.net, nytimes.com, decider.com, readysteadycut.com, themusic.com.au, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed during his Shane Gillis Live tour, following his controversial 2019 firing from Saturday Night Live and subsequent resurgence via podcasts and his breakout 2021 YouTube special Live in Austin

Details

Released
Runtime
53 min
Where
Netflix
Director
John McKeever
Topics
Before
Live in Austin (2021)

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