Worst Daddy in the World

David Cross has made a career out of being the guy who rolls his eyes at everything, but fatherhood has given his irritation a specific, domestic focus. The show gets its title from his six-year-old daughter, who hurled the insult at him after being denied a third helping of ice cream. Cross uses this childhood outburst as a springboard to poke fun at the modern, hyper-pretentious culture of Brooklyn parenting, where ‘cool dads’ turn child-rearing into a competitive progressive sport.

Filmed at the Metro in Chicago in July 2023, the set arrived at a busy juncture in Cross’s career. Beyond touring, he was preparing for a role in the final season of The Umbrella Academy and launching his interview podcast, Senses Working Overtime. On stage, he retains his signature skepticism, targeting things like fake airport service animals and religious institutions, while occasionally turning his critical eye inward. In one of the show’s better observational moments, he describes witnessing a genuine, beautiful display of romance on a Brooklyn street, only for his cynical inner monologue to instantly ruin the moment.

Though some viewers felt his riffs on parenting and religion leaned toward well-worn stand-up tropes, the hour offers a steady continuation of his familiar, grumpy persona. He frames the title as a dual-edged joke, noting that while his daughter meant it literally over ice cream, half of America would agree with her simply because of his progressive worldview.