Andrew Santino’s hourlong special "Andrew Santino: White Noise" debuted on Hulu this month, offering a mix of personal anecdotes, impression work and provocative jokes that a Decider reviewer called worth streaming even as the comic acknowledged changes to one segment reportedly at the behest of Hulu’s corporate parent.
Santino drew attention before the special’s release when he said some of his material about "Disney Adults" had been altered after conversations with executives at Disney, which owns Hulu. The special — and the debate over what was edited — arrives as Hulu expands its library of stand‑up specials, bringing in performers who have previously released material on other platforms.
A veteran of television and podcasts as well as stand‑up, Santino is known to audiences for co‑hosting the podcast "Bad Friends" with MADtv alumnus Bobby Lee and for a 2023 Netflix special, "Cheeseburger." He has recurring and guest roles on series including FX’s "Dave," Netflix’s "Beef," NBC’s "This Is Us" and the comedy drama "I’m Dying Up Here," and has appeared in films including "Happy Gilmore 2" and "Ricky Stanicky." The Decider review compared Santino’s point of view to that of fellow millennial comics on streaming platforms, saying he is closest in tone to Chris Distefano.
The special opens with a bit that begins, "Is it racist..." and pivots into commentary on a retweet and on wealthy white people who adopt fashions tied to Black culture. Santino uses his background as a redhead who grew up in Chicago to frame observations about cultural appropriation and fandom, including his take on grown adults who obsess over Disney theme parks. In a separate interview with Variety, Santino defended a titular joke about a "white noise" machine that imagines what a Black, Asian, Mexican or Jewish noise machine might sound like, saying, "It’s tongue‑in‑cheek wordplay. You’re aware that I’m aware that it’s bad. We’re all laughing at it because we know there’s no vitriol behind it. It’s just me teasing this idea. It was fun workshopping the joke because I knew it was going to elicit a reaction that’s not just laughter. People are going to feel a little uncomfortable or confused if they’re supposed to laugh, or if that’s OK to say. That, to me, is kind of the point of comedy."
Santino mixes cultural barbs with personal material. He skewers right‑wing commentary on drag‑queen story hours by recalling America’s founders and their wigs, makeup and heels; jokes about gun violence include a bit that suggests "emasculat[ing] the sound of a gun" as a satirical remedy; and he offers self‑deprecating stories about a cholesterol medication mishap and about wishing he had learned French or Spanish instead of German. The hour features multiple accents and impressions, from a Trump impersonation to caricatures of Australians and Texans, and closes with Santino expressing gratitude for a career in stand‑up.
The Decider review by comedy critic Sean L. McCarthy recommended streaming the special, calling Santino neither a monolith among white‑male podcasters nor a comic who indulges in bad‑faith complaints about culture. The review noted curiosity about how the Disney material originally read, given Santino’s public comments about executive changes, but said the special nonetheless offers laughs and occasional discomfort that the reviewer judged productive.
Hulu has been courting established stand‑up names to bolster a growing roster of comedy specials, and Santino joins several comics who have recently moved between streaming services. Producer credits on the special include former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, listed as an executive producer.
"Andrew Santino: White Noise" may appeal to viewers who expect energetic riffing and blunt, sometimes edgy observations; it also raises questions about the boundaries of comedy on platforms with corporate sensitivities. The special’s blend of personal storytelling, topical commentary and impression work follows a pattern in contemporary stand‑up that balances audience provocation with career considerations in an era of heightened scrutiny of content and platform affiliations.