# Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010)

> Dr. Steve Brule, a sincerely clueless host, bumbles through restaurant reviews, family life, and his own fears in brief surreal segments.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/30015

## Facts

- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 24
- Episode runtime: 12 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Eric Wareheim, Tim Heidecker, John C. Reilly
- Network: Adult Swim
- Cast: John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Carol Kraft, Atsushi Watanabe, Jonny Bowden, Rod Davis, William Holt
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657563/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: deadpan, absurdist, awkward, earnest, surreal

## What critics say

Audiences broadly acclaim the show as a deadpan, surreal sketch series that rewards its odd, earnest host.

## Synopsis

Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010-2016) is an American adult comedy series created by Eric Wareheim, Tim Heidecker, and John C. Reilly for Adult Swim. John C. Reilly plays Dr. Steve Brule, a sincerely earnest and wildly clueless host who sets out to learn about restaurants, spend time with his family, and conquer his fears. Each brief episode, running about twelve minutes, follows his misguided attempts at everyday tasks and social encounters, with Tim Heidecker as Jan Skylar and Eric Wareheim as Wayne Skylar appearing as the family members and foils who draw him into awkward situations. The series runs four seasons of six episodes each, built from short self-contained segments rather than one continuing story. Its engine is simple: Brule's total sincerity colliding with the ordinary world, producing uncomfortable silences, strange guest appearances, and surreal detours. The tone is deadpan, absurdist, and quietly melancholic beneath the cringe. Fans of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Nathan For You, and The Eric Andre Show will find resonance in its surreal, awkward comedy and its committed, oblivious performances.

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