EXCLUSIVE: Dad on Arrival, the second comedy special from Joe Dombrowski, will be available for streaming via 800 Pound Gorilla on March 30 before going wide on YouTube on April 14 at 7:00 pm CST.
The special takes its name from the comedian’s newest role: father to a three-month-old baby boy. In the hour, he dives into the chaos of modern parenthood, sharing candid stories about the journey through IVF and surrogacy, navigating life as a gay dad, and discovering that becoming a parent often means parenting your own parents, too. Especially when they’re in their seventies and suddenly your neighbors.
The hour marks a natural evolution from Dombrowski’s previous special, Don’t Eat the Crayons, where he drew from his years as an elementary school teacher. Now, the former teacher finds himself away from the desk, trading lesson planning for late-night feedings and sleep deprivation.
“I’m really excited for the fans to see this side of me,” Dombrowski told Deadline. “I feel like I’ve been put in a box for a very long time. But the truth is, I’ve always had so much more to say. This special is me saying all those things.”
Added 800 Pound Gorilla co-founder Ryan Bitzer, “We’re huge fans of what Joe is building, and we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with him on this special. Joe has this rare ability to be playfully silly while weaving in honest, personal stories, and we can’t wait to share his new special with comedy fans everywhere.”
A Detroit native currently based in Seattle, Washington, Dombrowski first caught the world’s attention in 2017 with a viral April Fools’ Day spelling test prank that led to multiple appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. But if his teaching background led to his breakout moment, he’s also been performing stand-up ever since his debut at his third-grade talent show.
Today, Dombrowski tours internationally with material that highlights his marriage, being a new dad, his accidentally hilarious parents, and unforgettable years as an elementary school teacher. His comedy has been featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and he’s also been seen at events like the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, and the New York Comedy Festival.
Dombrowski is also the co-host of the live comedy game show My Straight Friends, running monthly at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles and Emerald City Comedy Club in Seattle. Off stage, he co-hosts the podcast Social Studies with Gaspare Randazzo. He is represented by CAA and Artists First.