Kurt Braunohler’s Special Perfectly Stupid Is Deceptively Heartwarming

We’re all familiar with the move where comedians take a sentimental turn at the end of their specials, hoping that by tying the past hour of jokes to a larger message they’ll make their stand-up more memorable. Oftentimes, this doesn’t work; the moment isn’t earned and feels like a cheap grab for our attention. Comedian Kurt Braunohler, however, sticks the emotional landing of his latest special, Perfectly Stupid, thanks to his thoughtful storytelling, silly bits, and impeccable delivery.

You may think you’re unfamiliar with Braunohler, until you recognize his voice (which he uses to its fullest capacity in the special) from his appearances on Bob’s Burgers as various characters (including Louise’s nemesis Logan), or his visage from his parts in Barbarian, The Big Sick, and many a TV show.

Most of Perfectly Stupid involves Braunohler doing what he does best: making us laugh. This time, the subject of his jokes is his family, both the one he was born into and the one he and his wife started together. Braunohler’s late mother was a loving single parent, while his father hasn’t even necessarily memorized his son’s features. He spends much of the hour poking fun at himself and his own dad, though their shortcomings as parents are on completely different scales. Braunohler delves into his childhood, from his time embodying a divorced dad at the Dayton airport to his stint delivering hot bags of blood in a hospital.