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Promotional art for Trying My Hardest
Cover image credit: Promotional image via Prime Video

Trying My Hardest

Dave Williamson

Tubi · 2019 · 52 min

A relaxed, genial set about the absurdities of suburban fatherhood.

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Dave Williamson is entirely comfortable being a suburban parent who cares too much. Instead of clinging to any residual youth culture, he leans completely into his try-hard dad persona, cheerfully admitting to bringing orange slices to pickup basketball games. The set succeeds on this unpretentious frequency, offering a genial look at the domestic chaos that comes with raising boys.

Released by Stand Up! Records in late 2019, Trying My Hardest is Williamson’s second full-length release. The material avoids political posture and cynical edge in favor of clean, highly realistic family storytelling. Highlights of the performance include a breakdown of capitalist Christmas traditions and a memorable segment about the terrifying experience of having a toddler perched on a toilet in the dark, demanding assistance. At this stage in his career, Williamson was already well-known for his heavy touring schedule and his barbecue-centric podcast, Meat Dave, and this set channels that same relaxed, backyard-grill-master energy.

The set list

5 bits

  1. The Real Santa

    Resenting the credit Santa receives for good gifts, Williamson convinces his sons that Santa actually comes down the chimney to take presents away based on bad behavior, a tactic he also extends to the Tooth Fairy.

  2. Poop Jokes

    Parenting bathroom duties, changing diapers, and having a toddler perched like a gargoyle commanding 'Wipe. My. Heinie!'.

  3. Flying Solo / Pilot's License

    Recounting how earning a pilot's license actually gives him zero confidence whenever flying as an airline passenger.

  4. Safety Patrols 4 Lyfe

    Reflecting on his childhood service on the school safety patrol and discovering that good mothers are secret gangsters always keeping watch.

  5. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Trying My Hardest closer

    A road story detailing life touring while having his family alongside him.

How it plays

Tone
Genuinely joyful, quirky, avoiding politicking or misogyny.
On stage
A doting father and self-described 'try-hard dad' who brings orange slices to pick-up basketball games.
About
fatherhood, raising boys, life as a road comic, Florida childhood, family

What the critics said

Richard Lanoie of The Serious Comedy Site praised the special as a 'breath of fresh and original air' with its quirky take on fatherhood, calling it 'absolutely worth every penny.'

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: allmovie.com, standuprecords.com, imdb.com, theseriouscomedysite.com, en.wikipedia.org, davewilliamsoncomedy.com.

Details

Released
Runtime
52 min
Where
Tubi
Director
John Wynn
Topics

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