In the series, Reilly interviews real people whose reactions, according to executive producer Tim Heidecker, are genuine.

Critical reception has been positive, with several reviewers highlighting the character of Brule while noting the aesthetic qualities as similar to other productions.

The program, a surreal parody of human interest shows, follows Brule as he examines, or "checks out", different facets of living.

As the series progresses, he reveals shocking, sometimes horrifying, details about his past and personal life, such as his mother, Dorris Pringle-Brule-Salahari (Nancy Munoz),[4] having poisoned his food when he was a child in order to "slow him down."

[6] Heidecker stated that the humor revolves around "not necessarily fooling these people" but "more the character of Steve Brule being completely clueless and a really strange guy.

[7] During an interview for Esquire, Reilly was asked about his experiences on the show; though he did not mind answering the question, he preferred not to elaborate on Brule as a character.

[9] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Heidecker elaborated on the aesthetic quality of the series: "It's a show that genuinely feels like this guy made it himself.

[14] A special episode depicting recurring character Scott Clam hosting in place of Brule (as a result of the events of the season 4 finale), aired on October 23, 2017.

[17] The series has garnered positive critical reception; Ross Luippold of The Huffington Post gave the series a positive review, noting Reilly's performance and stating he "may be the only actor alive who can get away with starring in critically acclaimed films during Oscar season… while concurrently starring in two Tim & Eric joints.

It's an exciting, inventive experiment, surfing highs and lows together, a thoroughly modern pastiche of analog nostalgia, train-wreck television, awkward comedy, surrealist flights, and unsettling tactics.The series has received positive critical reception from The A.V.

[22] Writing for the site, Brandon Nowalk felt the interviews for the second-season finale "Life" accentuates "a different facet" of the series' humor: "1990s absurdism.

"[21] He cited The Day Today and Brass Eye as two examples of this quality, while stating Brule's character is closer to Harry S. Plinkett than of Stephen Colbert or Sacha Baron Cohen.

"[24] He panned the network's lack of promotion for the series and wished for more episodes per season "even if making it with Tim and Eric had to be a creatively-liberating blast".

[24] Dusty Somers of Blogcritics stated the portrayal of Dr. Brule "adds unexpected dimensions of naked vulnerability and a childlike fear of a world he doesn't understand.