Why Every Man Over 40 Should Watch Bill Burr's "Drop Dead Years" (2025)

Mar 30

3 min read

Scorch Score: 🔥🔥🔥

Bill Burr’s newest comedy special, “Drop Dead Years,” released on Hulu March 14th, and it is a must-watch for every man over the age of 40. Or really any man at all. Having waited three years since his last special at Red Rock in Colorado (which was also exceptional), my husband and I had high expectations for this latest offering from the king of observational comedy, but I had no idea how truly ponderful it would be!

At 56, Burr explains that he’s now in what he considers his titular “drop dead years.” As he notes in the special, men between 49-61 might die for any reason—which he says with a grin is a “uniquely male experience” (McCarthy, 2025). This awareness of mortality becomes a central focus of the special as Burr reflects on how his marriage has evolved into something new and exciting with his wife of 11 years. He candidly discusses his past behavior of saying no to activities she wanted to do, and how he discovered that becoming more of a “yes man” not only improved his marriage but actually enriched his own life in unexpected ways.

The special remains introspective as Burr acknowledges that his long-standing anger issues stemmed from unprocessed trauma. This might seem like heavy material for a comedy special, but Burr masterfully spins a humorous take on this, and other serious subjects, throughout the performance. He comments on his complex relationship with his parents and explores how his worldviews have transformed with time and experience, all while maintaining his signature comedic edge that had me laughing out loud.

What’s particularly interesting about Burr’s special is how it seems to be embrace a new trend in comedy similar to Andrew Schulz’s “LIFE” special on Netflix. Last April, I wrote about Schulz’s approach to observational comedy on “The LIFE Tour” that inspired the newly released special of the same name. Burr and Schulz, two polished entertainers, take heartbreaking life moments in both specials—like going through IVF treatment with a spouse or attending a friend’s funeral—and transform them into material that acknowledges the pain while finding humor in these difficult experiences. This evolution represents a refreshing direction for the art form in my opinion.

This style of comedy almost feels like a casual, hilarious TED Talk rather than traditional stand-up, and I believe that this could be the future of observational comedy. While there will always be room for different styles and approaches to humor, this more reflective and deeply personal approach is, in my perspective, the most compelling.

Like Schulz’s latest work, Burr’s special invited tears from both laughter and emotional connection. One of the most powerful takes Burr makes is the astute observation that men are only “allowed to be mad or fine” (Burr, 2025), a sentiment many men can relate to. The traditional mindset of “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” (or the simpler “be a man”—whatever that means) has left countless men struggling to accept their own vulnerability, often leading to unchecked depression or even self-harm.

I believe that this topic deserves more attention—specifically, how therapy strategies tailored for men could help address these issues, since most might not develop the self-awareness that Burr demonstrates. Effective men’s therapy would need to incorporate specific approaches aligned with how many men process emotions like being outdoors, engaging in clear tasks or activities, and navigating eye contact awareness.

But that ponder-thought will be discussed in a future comprehensive article. Meanwhile, Bill Burr’s special truly deserves to be seen by all men. It tackles masculinity, politics, grief, aging, marriage, and so much more with both humor and surprising depth. “Drop Dead Years” is available now on Hulu, and if we’re using a five-star scale, I’d give it a perfect 5/5, not only for the intelligent comedic rhythm, writing and delivery, but for a message that actually means something more than a simple subject to laugh at.

I'm happy to report that Bill Burr has done it again!