Cheeseburger

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.