Honestly, comedy is usually the first thing to get weird when the world gets heavy. You’ve noticed it, right? Every special starts feeling like a political rally or a therapy session. But then there’s Brian Regan: On the Rocks.
Released on Netflix in early 2021, this special was a bit of a miracle. We were all stuck inside, staring at our walls, and suddenly here comes this guy in an outdoor amphitheater in Utah—the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, to be exact—acting out the struggle of wearing a backpack on an airplane.
It was filmed in October 2020. People were wearing masks in the crowd. Yet, remarkably, Regan barely mentions the "C-word." He doesn't go on a rant about lockdowns. He doesn't pick a side in the culture wars. He just... does comedy.
The OCD Reveal That Changed the Vibe
Most people know Brian Regan for being the "clean" comic. The guy who does the "I walked on the moon" bit or screams about the "cup o' dirt." But in Brian Regan: On the Rocks, something shifted. It got a little personal.
He actually opens up about being diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Now, in the hands of a different comic, this could have been a "very special episode" moment. It could have been heavy. Instead, Regan turns his brain’s internal wiring into a series of hilarious, relatable hurdles.
He talks about how he uses his diagnosis as a social shield. Imagine being at a boring dinner party and just dropping the "I have OCD" card to escape a conversation about raisins. It’s genius. It's self-deprecating without being sad.
💡 You might also like: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
Why the Setting Actually Mattered
Filming at Tuacahn was a tactical move. It’s an outdoor venue carved into red rock cliffs. It looks epic. Troy Miller, who directed the special, captured the scale of it perfectly.
Because it was outdoors, it felt safe. You could feel the relief of the audience just to be out of their houses. That energy translates through the screen. There’s a certain "vibe" to a Regan set—it’s high energy, physical, and involves a lot of facial contortions that probably shouldn't be possible for a man in his 60s.
Brian Regan: On the Rocks and the Art of the "Nothing" Joke
Regan has this ability to take the most mundane, insignificant things and treat them like life-or-death situations. This special is packed with them.
- Backpacks on planes: The struggle of the "turn" and taking out a fellow passenger.
- Raisins: Why are they in everything? Who asked for this?
- Ungrateful horses: Have you ever really thought about how unimpressed a horse is with your existence?
- Reiki healers: The sheer absurdity of "distance healing."
It’s the "Get Off My Lawn" energy, but executed by someone who knows he’s being ridiculous. He’s not actually angry at the world; he’s just confused by it. That’s the sweet spot.
Some critics said the second half of the special drags a bit. Maybe. Honestly, if you’re looking for a tight, 15-minute set of "zings," this isn't it. It’s a 58-minute journey. It meanders. It feels like a conversation with that one uncle who is accidentally the funniest person you know.
📖 Related: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
The "Clean" Label: Is It Still Relevant?
Regan is always saddled with the "Clean Comedian" tag. It’s almost like a warning for some people. "Oh, he doesn't swear? He must be for kids."
That’s a mistake.
Working clean is actually much harder. You can't use a "f-bomb" as a crutch to get a cheap laugh when a punchline lands soft. You have to rely on the writing. You have to rely on the physicality. In Brian Regan: On the Rocks, he proves that you can be "safe" for families without being "boring" for adults.
He’s a "comic’s comic." Jerry Seinfeld loves him. Norm Macdonald used to call him his favorite stand-up. Chris Rock has praised him. These aren't exactly "G-rated" guys, but they respect the craft. Regan isn't clean because he's trying to be a moral guide; he's clean because that's just how his brain processes funny stuff.
What Most People Miss
A lot of viewers missed the subtle social commentary. While he avoids the "Traps of 2020" (politics and viruses), he does touch on how we communicate.
👉 See also: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
He talks about his Twitter approach. He’s a guy in his 60s trying to figure out how to exist online without sounding like an "old man yelling at cloud." It’s relatable for anyone who has ever stared at a social media post for ten minutes before deleting it.
He also spends time on the absurdity of orchestra pits. Why are they dressed like that? It’s a valid question.
How to Watch It Today
If you haven't seen it, it’s still sitting there on Netflix.
- Don't skip the intro: The way it's shot sets the tone for the "outdoor" feel.
- Watch the face: Regan’s comedy is 50% what he says and 50% what his eyes are doing.
- Check out his other stuff: If you like this, go back to Nunchucks and Flamethrowers or his sketch show Stand Up and Away!.
Brian Regan: On the Rocks isn't just a comedy special; it’s a time capsule of a moment when we all just needed to laugh at a guy pretending to be a tiny Martian being crushed by an astronaut. It’s silly. It’s smart. It’s exactly what stand-up should be.
Next Steps for Your Watch Party:
- Watch the Special: Head to Netflix and search for "On the Rocks."
- Listen for the OCD bit: It starts around the 15-minute mark and sets the stage for the rest of the show's personal tone.
- Compare the Styles: If you're a comedy nerd, watch this back-to-back with a special from the same year (like Kevin Hart's Zero F**ks Given) to see how different comics handled the "lockdown era" energy.