The Fate of Netflix's Controversial 6-Part Comedy Series Has Been Decided

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Image via Netflix

Published Mar 17, 2026, 1:56 PM EDT

In over three years at Collider, senior author Jake has now penned over 2500 articles covering a wide range of TV and film for the resources, lists, utilities, news, and interview teams. Alongside interviewing stars such as Selin Hizli, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Harlan Coben, and Chelsea Peretti, Jake was lucky enough to visit the set of Aardman and Netflix's Wallace and Gromit: A Vengeance Most Fowl in 2024, getting the chance to chat with four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham. Jake has also worked for other publications, including Agents of Fandom.

From Harlan Coben's latest adaptation, Run Away, and Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson's limited series His & Hers, to a discourse-dominating fourth season of Bridgerton and the fallout from the final season of Stranger Things, 2026 has already been an impressive year for Netflix, boasting something for everyone. For fans of comedy, January delivered a new gem in the form of Free Bert, a new series co-created by controversial comedian Bert Kreischer alongside Jarrad Paul and Andy Mogel.

Earning mixed reviews from critics, illustrated by a 67% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Free Bert was undeniably popular on Netflix following its debut, with it reported that the series secured roughly 6.9 million total views within its first 12 days. Earning a place inside the Netflix top ten in almost 40 countries in its debut week, the show even managed to climb as high as second in the U.S. charts. Also starring the likes of Arden Myrin (The Righteous Gemstones), Ava Ryan (Yo Gabba GabbaLand!), Chris Witaske (The Bear), and Mandell Maughan (Resident Alien), Free Bert's run on Netflix to date has been a success.

Ahead of the comedian's team with Netflix on the upcoming Netflix Is a Joke fest, where he will perform the "Bert and Shaq’s Crowd Work Show" at The Comedy Store on May 8 and host "2 Bears 5K" at The Rose Bowl on May 9, Kreischer and his fans have just been given some exciting news worth ripping off a shirt for. It has been officially confirmed that Free Bert will return for a second season, with Paul and Mogel saying in a joint statement: "We’re incredibly grateful to Netflix for believing in this show and giving us the chance to continue the freeing of Bert."

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What Is 'Free Bert' About?

Although it earned the attention of several million viewers, Free Bert's second season renewal is sure to attract even more. If you're one of those new viewers, and you're wondering what the series is about, a synopsis reads, "When his daughters are accepted into an elite private school, shirtless party legend slash stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer moves his family to Beverly Hills." It continues. "The down-to-earth Kreischers struggle to adjust to their new high-class world, but none more so than Bert, whose inability to filter his thoughts quickly turns his family into social pariahs in their new neighborhood. Can he blend in enough to make it in the upper echelons of LA society?"

Free Bert is available to stream right now on Netflix. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest stories.