Matt Braunger Jokes about Hot Guys and Becoming a Father in His New Special, Doug
Photo by Mindy Tucker
As we settle into this new normal, one with a never-ending pandemic and the possibility of World War III ever on the horizon, it’s important to embrace comforts that let you escape the seemingly endless bad news that comes with every new day. It’s becoming more challenging to find the funny in our everyday lives, but it’s good to know that some things never change. The sky is still blue, the grass is still green, and, yes, comedians that spend most of their act telling dick jokes are still funny.
On his new special, Doug, comedian Matt Braunger dusts off some pre-pandemic material and adds fatherhood to his repertoire of goofs. The comedian is known for being part of the cast on the last season of MADtv and having a recurring role on Marvel’s Agent Carter (Oh shit, that’s right! Is that show still canon?) Before 2020, Braunger had a new hour ready to test out on the road, but the pandemic put the kibosh on it. Instead, he played stay-at-home dad for a year, building up new experiences and a new perspective as a father, without losing any of the stupid and absurd humor he’s known for. Positioning himself between two neon palm trees as if the new dad is trying to set a party atmosphere, Braunger is as energetic, animated, and wily as ever on Doug. Matt Braunger is a Looney Tune come to life.
After reassuring the audience that yes, he is the guy from the 2007 Halloween episode of iCarly, Braunger spends the first sixteen minutes of Doug talking about hot dudes. Yes, hot dudes like Patrick Swayze in Road House and the stars of the overtly horny action movies of the 1980s like Jean-Claude Van Damme. His take on making straight dudes uncomfortable by objectifying them doesn’t feel like a new concept, but it’s Braunger’s delivery that will make the insecure men in your life squirm.