For Andrew Santino, the city of Boston holds a special place in his heart. While that’s mostly due to the fact that wherever he goes, people think he’s from here on account of what he considers his “big, goofy orange face,” the whiskey sippin’ redhead is ready to put a Cheeto dust-stained stamp of approval on 2022 via his “hometown.”
Making his way to The Wilbur for a four-show run that kicks off on December 30 and closes out just over an hour before the new year gets here, the Chicago native is looking forward to the festivities. Aside from it being a New Year’s Eve run, which is a rare opportunity for him, Santino is just happy that he’s able to celebrate with his family, friends, and most importantly, his fans.
He had a great time in the room earlier this year, and it will be well over a year before he makes his way back to town, but for the Dave co-star, that’s just all the more reason to raise a glass with a growing room of goofballs who came along for the rollercoaster ride that has been the past two years.
“This year was just a big bounce back from everything that COVID took away, and after having a few tours smashed down out of the sky, this really became a year for the fans,” Santino tells Vanyaland. “I really think part of the reason why I did this run was because it’s a way to get back out and reconnect with the fans before I take some time down from putting together my next hour, and one big last hoorah in Boston is the way to go.”
Theyear-closing string of shows may be a time to unwind and reflect on the year that was for Santino, but he’s also using the opportunity to put a bit of a blessing on what’s to come, as his first Netflix special, Cheeseburger, premieres in the early innings of 2023, on January 10.
With a sort of Frankenstein’d set composed of pre-pandemic material and that of which he curated after being able to return to the stage, the Whiskey Ginger host was initially afraid to release his upcoming hour. But ultimately, he felt it was counterproductive to curb what he felt was a fun batch of material, with stories that are interwoven at the core of the special, solely because of their age. And once again, his fans were a a major driving force in the decision.
“I figured that I might as well just give it to the fans, have some fun and take some parts of the old hour that never saw the light of day, some parts of the new hour, and combine them to make something that I love, and that’s exactly what I did,” says Santino. “It’s taking those chunks of material and time from over the course of a couple of years to make this special a truly special thing for me. I hope people really like it, but if they don’t, then don’t tell me.”
Much like a number of stops in other cities, Santino is anticipating a bit of a family affair when he makes his way to Boston, and that’s always a treat. But even beyond the local chapter of the growing Cheeto army, and the city’s rich comedy history radiating from The Wilbur, Santino will be looking out for his stomach more than anything, and we can’t really blame him.
“Wherever I go, there’s always a few family members that want to come along and party, so I’m looking forward to having a big plate of pasta at an undisclosed location somewhere in the North End,” says Santino. “There’s that, and I’m also looking forward to the whiskey that will fill me up and warm my bones as I walk through the freezing cold streets of Boston.”
ANDREW SANTINO :: Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 7:30 & 10 p.m. (Friday), 7 p.m. & 9:45 p.m. (Saturday) :: Tickets are $36.50 to $126.50