AceShowbiz - In Netflix’s new semi-autobiographical comedy, Free Bert, Bert Kreischer attempts to shed his boisterous, shirtless party-boy persona. This approach contrasts sharply with his longtime podcasting partner, Tom Segura, whose recent Netflix offering, Bad Thoughts, fully embraces his distinct stand-up identity.

Segura’s Bad Thoughts, slated for 2025, is a vignette-driven sketch show reminiscent of I Think You Should Leave. It leans into the amiably off-putting elements of Segura’s persona, offering a snapshot of a "disturbed brain"—undoubtedly meant as a compliment. For existing fans, it’s an entirely on-brand and satisfying experience.

On the surface, Bert Kreischer’s half-hour series, Free Bert, which premiered Thursday, January 22, appears to follow a familiar blueprint. Like Dave (for Lil Dicky), Bupkis (for Pete Davidson), or Showtime’s Dice (for Andrew Dice Clay), it aims to reveal the human behind the comedic schtick, suggesting a more relatable and potentially funnier person.

However, Free Bert might also be a meta-commentary or parody of this genre, subtly asserting that for Bert Kreischer, the schtick is the man. Co-created by Bert Kreischer, Jarrad Paul, and Andy Mogel, the show features Kreischer alongside Arden Myrin, Ava Ryan, Lilou Lang, Christine Horn, Chris Witaske, Mandell Maughan, and Sophia Reid-Gantzert.

While Free Bert succeeds as a narrative, crafting a neatly arced story over its six half-hour episodes that resolves satisfyingly and sets up a potential second season, its primary struggle lies elsewhere. For all its structural accomplishments and character exploration, the series simply isn’t very funny.

Indeed, when genuine humor emerges in Free Bert, it's often attributed not to Kreischer himself, but primarily to his three teenage girl co-stars. This creative decision, while a generous gesture from Kreischer, inadvertently underscores the show's comedic deficit. It questions whether the pursuit of a deeper side came at the expense of the laughter his audience anticipates.

Ultimately, Free Bert explores new depths within Bert Kreischer’s public persona, offering a nuanced look at the man behind the myth. However, as a comedy series, it falls short, providing introspection but lacking the robust humor defining Kreischer’s career. The bottom line: new depth, but regrettably, not new humor from the popular comic.