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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy
Promotional art for Home Field Advantage
Cover image credit: Promotional image via Prime Video

Home Field Advantage

Andrew Santino

Showtime · 2017 · 71 min

A cynical Chicago homecoming set filled with blue-collar skepticism.

Andrew Santino spends his first hour-long special trying to reconcile his identity as a tough, old-school Chicago kid with the softer realities of a guy who now lives in West Hollywood and does expensive tourist activities on vacation.

Filmed at The Vic Theatre in his hometown, the 2017 Showtime special caught Santino just as he was starring in the network’s stand-up drama I’m Dying Up Here. He leans heavily into his Midwestern roots. His grandmother introduces him onstage, and his backdrop features a cartoon bear wearing Air Jordans and eating deep-dish pizza.

Santino’s material thrives on cynical comparisons. He contrasts the bleak survival of Chicago’s homeless population in freezing winters with those in Los Angeles who have made it to the beach. He also works through a mix of progressive logic and blue-collar skepticism, famously questioning the utility of bathroom stalls in bars by asking why anyone is attempting to use them for anything but a quick pit stop. Other bits touch on his red hair, the bizarre nature of childhood Catholic prayers, and why he skipped his own bachelor party because a touring comic’s life is already a perpetual night out.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Pooping at the bar / gender-neutral bathrooms

    Argues that gender-neutral bathrooms make sense and questions who would ever use a stall to poop at a bar in the first place, advocating for stall removal.

  2. Growing up thinking he was Black

    Recounts being befriended by Black students at school, being labeled a wigger, and contrasts authentic affinity for Black culture with Macklemore's appropriation of rap.

  3. Homelessness in Chicago vs. Los Angeles

    Expresses sympathy for Chicago's homeless due to fatal extreme weather, but mocks LA homeless for living on the beach having reached 'the promised land.'

  4. Catholic bedtime prayers and locks on doors

    Examines how frightening Catholic childhood prayers were and jokes that the inventor of interior bedroom door locks was motivated by wanting privacy to masturbate.

  5. Envy of male porn stars

    Marvels over the physical feats of male adult film actors, noting their ability to 'throw a rope across the room.'

  6. Cavemen and sex

    Examines anatomical differences between men and women, speculating on how primitive cavemen ever convinced cavewomen to have sex.

How it plays

Tone
Dry, irreverent, self-deprecating, and proud.
On stage
Casual, dry, and opinionated; balances an underdog quality with arrogance while remaining relatable, drawing heavily from the stylistic lineage of Bill Burr.
Pace
Starts deliberately and takes time to warm up before settling into an energetic, hard-hitting groove.
About
Chicago hometown culture and pride, Catholic upbringing, Race relations and youth identity, Homelessness in Chicago vs. Los Angeles, Gender-neutral bathrooms, Sexuality, dating, and marriage

What the critics said

Praised by Vulture for an unapologetic, Burr-influenced style crafted for general audiences rather than comedy insiders; reviews noted his distinct, casual delivery while observing that the set takes time to gain momentum.

In the room: An enthusiastic hometown crowd featuring family, longtime friends, and locals responsive to Chicago-centric humor and social commentary.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, comedydynamics.com, allmovie.com, thetvdb.com, vulture.com, thecomicscomic.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed in his hometown of Chicago with friends, family, and former classmates in attendance. Introduced onstage by his grandmother, the special features a custom backdrop illustrating a giant bear in Air Jordans eating deep-dish pizza, and opens/closes with travel show parody segments touring Chicago.

Details

Released
Taped
2016, Vic Theatre, Chicago
Runtime
71 min
Where
Showtime
Director
Brandon Dermer
Honors
Selected among Vulture's 'June 2017's Best Standup Specials'
Topics
Before
The Half Hour (2015)
After
Cheeseburger (2023)

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