Entertainment
Polarizing Comedian's Raunchy New Netflix Series Is A Refreshing Take On A Tired Trope
By Robert Scucci
| Published
I’m going to lay all my cards out on the table and admit that I am not really a fan of Bert Kreischer’s comedy or public persona. After his 2016 and 2018 comedy specials, The Machine and Secret Time, I saw all I needed to see because he’s pretty much a one-trick pony who doesn’t really change up his act. He does that trick well, but I pretty much saw everything I needed to see. He takes his shirt off, tells out-of-pocket stories about his family, and presents himself as your average everyman who always wants to be the life of the party, and his die-hard fans love it.
On podcasts, he talks with too much self-importance, inserts himself into every one of his guests’ stories, and has a laugh that makes me want to shove a live earwig into my head and let it start chomping away at my brain.
The only reason I wanted to check out his new Netflix series, Free Bert, was to hate-watch it. I rarely do this, but I also wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because series and movies starring stand-up comedians are hit or miss, depending on the writing and acting. I can’t stand Jerry Seinfeld when it’s just him and a microphone, but throw Larry David’s writing in the mix, along with characters like Elaine, George, and Kramer, and you have a great show like Seinfeld.
I feel the same way about Bert Kreischer in Free Bert for reasons I’m about to get into. If you like the idea of Bert Kreischer, but think he’s a little much, Free Bert offers the balance you may be looking for.
Based On His Comedy, But Reeled In Just Right
The best way I can describe Free Bert is as your typical raunchy family sitcom, with all the familiar beats. You have Bert, obviously portrayed by Bert Kreischer, an overweight, dim-witted husband who’s repeatedly humbled by his conventionally attractive wife LeeAnn (Arden Myrin), and two foul-mouthed daughters, Georgia (Ava Ryan) and Ila (Lilou Lang). It’s a real Married … with Children kind of setup that almost always works. It especially works for Kreischer in this context because I already said I find his persona unlikeable, and half the fun is watching him get his ass handed to him by his own hare-brained schemes while his family laughs at him for being so stupid.
As for Free Bert’s six-episode story arc, Bert’s kids go to private school and have trouble fitting in, mostly because their dad is Bert Kreischer. Bert immediately gets in trouble with the school after some of his stand-up bits are shared with the faculty, humiliating his daughters. In his efforts to smooth things over, Bert starts wearing a shirt and trying to fit in with the other parents.
When Bert learns that Georgia has a crush on Zac (Braxton Alexander), he’s devastated because he’s worried that he’s going to have somebody trying to Netflix and chill with his daughter. Learning from Zac’s father Randy (Matthew Del Negro) that he’s about to undergo scrotal surgery, he instead encourages the relationship because it means that Zac won’t be able to make a move on Georgia, at least any time soon.
Meanwhile, LeeAnn faces obstacles of her own because she’s also trying to smooth things over with the Vanderthal family, but is constantly condescended to by the family matriarch, Chanel (Mandell Maughan). Her husband, Landon (Chris Witaske), has also befriended Bert, resulting in exactly the kind of crossed wires and miscommunications you’d expect from a family sitcom operating in this lane.
Everybody Knows The Assignment Here
While I’m not going to climb the highest mountain and tell everybody to watch Free Bert because it’s the best show ever, I have to give credit where it’s due. If this was just a new show and you had never heard of Bert Kreischer in your life, he kills it here. He reliably dials in as your typical sitcom dad, and his family provides the perfect balance.
I was most impressed by Lilou Lang’s portrayal of Ila because she constantly puts her dad in his place, but there’s also an underlying affection and alliance that holds it all together. That dynamic ends up doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Kreischer could have really messed this up by leaning too hard into all of his bits and shtick, but Free Bert is smart enough to establish that he’s a comedian who takes his shirt off, needs to change his public persona so his family can be taken seriously, and then actually follows through on that idea. He’s straight-faced when he needs to be, and the moments where he goes full Bert are chosen carefully so he doesn’t wear out his welcome.
It feels like all of the best parts of Kreischer’s act have been distilled into an easily digestible sitcom setting, and he just rolls with it. The result is a surprisingly satisfying watch. I won’t be keeping an eye out for any more of his comedy specials, but if Free Bert gets renewed for a second season, I’ll check it out. Six-episode seasons are nothing, and there’s real potential here.
Free Bert is streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
Did you catch the Dunkin’ ad during the Big Game? Dunkin’ reimagined Good Will Hunting as a sitcom, including cameos from the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander, Ted Danson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Jaleel White, and Jasmine Guy. It was a welcome hit of ’90s nostalgia.
During the commercial, Dunkin’ announced that it would be giving away 1.995 million free iced coffees of any size to customers who use the code GOODWILLDUNKIN in the Dunkin’ app on Feb. 9. Simply download the Dunkin’ app to your smartphone (it’s free) and use the code at the checkout. It’s that easy.
Mashable Trend Report
It’s worth noting that this offer is only valid while supplies last and you’re limited to a single redemption.
Dunkin’ has also dropped a collection of authentic vintage and ’90s-inspired clothing that very much fits the vibe of the commercial. This exclusive drop features vintage windbreakers, denim jackets, workout sets, and much more. The entire collection is available to shop now but items are selling out fast.
Entertainment
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
Monday, Feb. 9 is National Pizza Day. What’s that? This is news to you? You don’t have us fooled. This is one of the biggest days of the year for foodies. Don’t pretend for a second that you haven’t been eyeing up this date for months.
The great news for lovers of dough and melted cheese is that a bunch of popular retailers run promotions on National Pizza Day, including Chuck E. Cheese, Grubhub, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut. That means you can celebrate this occasion with a cheap slice. We’ve tracked down everything that’s out there and lined up a selection of standout offers for your consideration.
If you want to make the most out of National Pizza Day 2026, check out some of the best freebies and discounts we found below.
National Pizza Day deals
7-Eleven
7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can buy one pizza and get another for just $3. Plus, use the code DELIVERY10 to get $10 off any first-time orders of $20 or more on the 7NOW Delivery app.
California Pizza Kitchen
Get $10 off $40+ orders at select California Pizza Kitchen locations with the code WINTER10 at checkout.
Mashable Trend Report
Cheez-It
On National Pizza Day, get Cheez-It Duoz Pesto and Mozzarella and Cheez-It Snap’d Margherita Pizza for 20% off plus free shipping with the code PIZZA20.
Chuck E. Cheese
Until Feb. 12, celebrate National Pizza Day with a $5 large one-topping pizza with a games purchase. Fun Pass holders can score this deal without a games purchase.
Grubhub
On National Pizza Day, enjoy BOGO on six-piece wings with orders of at least $15 at Popeyes, get $7 off orders of $30+ at Pizza Hut, and get 25% off orders of $30+ at 7-Eleven. Plus, all Amazon Prime Grubhub+ members can use the code GET10 at the checkout to get $10 off a $30 order.
Papa Johns
Get the XL NY Style Pizza for $11.99 on National Pizza Day.
Papa Murphy’s
Get $10 off $25+ orders with the code PZDAY26.
Pizza Hut
Join Hut Rewards to get a free large one-topping pizza on your next order through the Pizza Hut app. Place a qualifying order through the app or online with a minimum purchase of $7.99 and Hut Rewards members will get a coupon for the free pizza within 24-48 hours in the app.
Entertainment
Amazons early Presidents Day deals include discounts on Apple, Roborock, and more
Best early Presidents’ Day deals as of Feb. 9:
If you missed out on last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Presidents’ Day is the next major sales event worth shopping — and the first big opportunity of 2026 to save. Historically, this holiday is known for its discounted prices on large appliances, mattresses, and furniture, but if you know where to look, you can find some pretty good deals on smaller home goods and tech.
Here’s everything we know so far about Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale, including the deals you can shop right now.
When is Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale?
Presidents’ Day is Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. While Amazon has yet to announce an “official” sale event, the retailer typically treats the holiday as a long-weekend clearance event, and there are tons of deals already available. As we get closer to the weekend, we anticipate even more markdowns, particularly on Amazon devices (e.g., Echos, Kindles, Fire Sticks) and floor-care brands like Roborock and Dyson.
When does Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale end?
As with previous sales events, Amazon’s Presidents’ Day deals will run through the three-day weekend, likely capping off late Monday night. In true Amazon style, we expect some Lightning Deals to pop up in the days leading up to the holiday, but don’t expect the best inventory to linger past Monday.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best early Presidents’ Day deals we could find as of Feb. 9:
Best Presidents’ Day Apple deal
$299
at Walmart
$399
Save $100
Why we like it
The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $299 right now. That’s a $100 discount, which isn’t too shabby for a deal this early in the year. It’s the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model (according to CamelCamelCamel, it last hit this price on Dec. 30, 2025).
The Series 11 is a Mashable Choice Award winner that features advanced health tracking, up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge (normal use), and a more durable exterior that’s 2x more scratch-resistant than the previous generation.
More Apple deals
Best Presidents’ Day Amazon device deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$219.99
Save $40
Why we like it
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) was just announced this past October as part of Amazon’s big smart home refresh, and it’s already hitting its lowest price ever. Right now, you can grab it for $179.99, which is an 18% discount off the list price of $219.99.
It features a vibrant 11-inch Full-HD display (offering 60% more viewing area than the Echo Show 8) and room-filling spatial audio, making it a legitimate kitchen TV for streaming Netflix or Prime Video while you cook. It runs on the AZ3 Pro chip for faster responses and includes Alexa+ integration. Plus, the camera is upgraded with auto-framing and zoom for better video calls.
More Amazon device deals
Best Presidents’ Day TV deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $170
Why we like it
The Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) is 49% off right now, bringing its price down to an impressive $179.99. That’s a solid deal for a 55-inch TV with smart capabilities (it’s also an Amazon’s Choice product with a 4.3-star rating from over 6K+ Amazon reviews).
Mashable Deals
The F50 Series includes an Alexa Voice Remote and features a 4K Ultra HD display with dynamic range, DTS Virtual:X sound, and Amazon’s Fire TV experience built in for seamless streaming. You’ll find your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix and HBO Max, plus millions of free movies and TV episodes.
More TV deals
Best Presidents’ Day robot vacuum deal
Why we like it
Right now, you can get the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo for $299.99, down from $549.99. This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked for this model, and it’s our all-time favorite “quietest” robot vacuum.
Mashable’s vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says this combo vac offers the best bang for your buck. With 10,000 Pa of suction and an auto-lift feature for the mop (so it doesn’t wet your carpets), you honestly can’t go wrong with the Q10 S5+.
More robot vacuum deals
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
