David Cross
Various Characters
W/ Bob & David
“Comedy at its sketchiest.”
2015
Ended • 1 Season • 5 Episodes
Director: Jason Woliner
Overview
After being dishonorably discharged from the Navy Seals, Bob and David are back serving our country the way they do best, making sketch comedy. Four half-hours of brand new comedy featuring all new characters, all new scenes, and most importantly, all new wigs.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 5 episodes
- First aired
- Nov 13, 2015
Cast
8 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Wigs Are Back, and So Is the Chaos
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t prepared for how much W/ Bob & David would feel like slipping into a time machine. Not the kind that whisks you to a pristine, nostalgia-polished past, but the kind that spits you out in a dimly lit basement where the air smells like stale beer and the jokes land with the precision of a drunk dart thrower. This is sketch comedy as reunion tour—less a reinvention than a victory lap for two guys who never really left the stage, even if the stage moved from HBO to Netflix and the wigs got a little more expensive.
The series, a spiritual successor to Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998), arrives 17 years after its predecessor’s cancellation, and the gap shows. Not in the writing—Cross and Odenkirk’s absurdist, rapid-fire style is still intact—but in the way the world around them has changed.
Sketch comedy in 2015 was no longer the scrappy underdog it was in the ’90s. It had been institutionalized, monetized, and algorithmically optimized by platforms like YouTube and Comedy Central. W/ Bob & David doesn’t just ignore that shift; it actively resists it. There’s no attempt to court virality, no pandering to the attention spans of a scrolling audience.
Instead, it doubles down on the kind of humor that thrives on discomfort, misdirection, and the kind of inside jokes that feel like they’re being whispered in your ear by a friend who’s already three drinks deep.
Take the opening sketch of the first episode, where Cross and Odenkirk play two men trapped in a never-ending job interview. The premise is simple: one guy is the interviewer, the other the interviewee, and neither can leave until the other admits they’re not qualified for the job. What starts as a mundane office scenario spirals into an existential standoff, with Cross’s character growing increasingly unhinged as Odenkirk’s deadpans his way through increasingly absurd questions.
The sketch doesn’t just mock corporate culture; it weaponizes the mundanity of it. The longer it goes on, the more you realize the joke isn’t about the interview at all—it’s about the way bureaucracy grinds people into submission, and how the only way out is to either laugh or scream. Cross and Odenkirk choose laughter, but it’s the kind that sticks in your throat.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.6/10
"A nostalgic but uneven sketch comedy revival that delivers laughs for fans of the duo’s absurdist style, though not all sketches land equally."
The series brings back the chaotic, irreverent humor of *Mr. Show with Bob and David*, pleasing longtime fans with its familiar brand of absurdity and sharp wit. However, some sketches feel hit-or-miss, with pacing issues and a few underwhelming segments leaving viewers wanting more consistency. The chemistry between Cross and Odenkirk remains a highlight, latestnetflix.com maintains, but the show struggles to fully recapture the magic of its predecessor.
What viewers praise
- Nostalgic humor Longtime fans appreciate the return of the duo’s signature absurdist and offbeat comedy style, evoking memories of *Mr. Show*.
- Strong chemistry David Cross and Bob Odenkirk’s dynamic and timing remain a standout, delivering laughs in their best moments.
- Bold and unfiltered The show’s willingness to push boundaries with edgy and controversial humor resonates with viewers who enjoy its fearless approach.
- Cult following appeal The series has a dedicated fanbase that enjoys its niche, alternative comedy style, making it a must-watch for them.
Common complaints
- Uneven sketches Not all segments land, with some jokes falling flat or feeling forced, leading to inconsistent entertainment value.
- Pacing issues The show occasionally drags, with sketches that overstay their welcome or fail to build momentum.
- Limited mainstream appeal The humor is niche and may not resonate with broader audiences, particularly those unfamiliar with *Mr. Show*.
- Controversial content Some episodes or sketches have been banned or criticized for crossing lines, alienating certain viewers.
Recommended for
Fans of absurdist comedy David Cross and Bob Odenkirk enthusiasts Nostalgic *Mr. Show* viewers Alternative comedy lovers Sketch comedy aficionados
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s "W/ Bob & David" (2015): The Short-Lived Revival of a Comedy Dream Team
When Netflix dropped the first trailer for W/ Bob & David in 2015, fans of absurdist sketch comedy collectively gasped. The series marked the long-awaited return of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross as a creative duo, nearly two decades after their cult classic Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998) left HBO. But while the reunion was met with excitement, the show’s brief run left some wondering: Was this a triumphant comeback or a missed opportunity?
A Reunion Decades in the Making
Odenkirk and Cross’s chemistry was the backbone of Mr. Show, a surreal, rapid-fire sketch series that blended satire, social commentary, and outright weirdness. By 2015, both had carved out successful careers—Odenkirk as Breaking Bad’s Saul Goodman, Cross as a stand-up legend and voice actor (Archer, Kung Fu Panda). Their reunion on W/ Bob & David felt like a victory lap for fans who’d spent years clamoring for more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuTSAeFhdZU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz8jbEk2Lto
The Netflix series retained the spirit of Mr. Show, with sketches that skewered everything from corporate jargon ("Digital, right? Yeah" ) to cop dramas (Odenkirk’s over-the-top detective antics ). The supporting cast—John Ennis, Jay Johnston, Brian Posehn, Paul F. Tompkins, Tom Kenny, and Jill Talley—returned, reinforcing the show’s signature ensemble energy. But unlike Mr. Show, which aired on HBO, W/ Bob & David had the freedom of streaming, allowing for longer sketches and a more experimental tone.
The Netflix Effect: Freedom or Limitation?
Netflix’s involvement was a double-edged sword. On one hand, the platform’s lack of rigid time slots meant sketches could breathe. On the other, the show’s reception was mixed. While some praised its sharp humor, others found it uneven. The series earned a modest 6.6/10 on SensCritique 
, with critics noting that it lacked the tight pacing of Mr. Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSqALwnF2QA
Behind the scenes, the dynamic between Odenkirk and Cross remained as playful as ever. In interviews, Cross joked about Odenkirk’s "bad cop" persona , while Odenkirk reflected on their decades-long partnership with fondness . But the show’s brief run—just one season—left fans hungry for more. Rumors swirled about creative differences or Netflix’s shifting priorities, but neither star has confirmed any behind-the-scenes drama.
Legacy: A One-Season Wonder?
W/ Bob & David may not have reached the iconic status of Mr. Show, but it proved that Odenkirk and Cross’s partnership was still electric. The series’ sketches, like the infamous "Digital, right? Yeah" bit , have since become cult favorites, shared endlessly online. And while a second season never materialized, the show’s existence alone was a gift to fans who’d waited nearly 20 years for a reunion.
For now, W/ Bob & David remains a fascinating footnote in comedy history—a brief, brilliant flash of the magic that made Mr. Show legendary.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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