Comedian Tom Segura, known for his unfiltered and provocative humor, is back—this time not with a stand-up special, but with a twisted new Netflix series titled Bad Thoughts. Premiering as a six-episode series, Bad Thoughts takes viewers inside Segura’s wild mind, delivering bizarre and unsettling sketches born straight from his imagination.
“Almost all of [the stories] are bad thoughts that I’ve had,” Segura admitted in a recent interview.
The Los Angeles Times describes the series as a “fever dream … so unhinged that your brain might file a restraining order,” dives into the absurd and darkly comedic corners of human behavior. For Segura, that’s exactly where comedy lives. 
Dark, Disturbing — and Hilarious
Segura has built a career around making people squirm—and laugh. From his five Netflix stand-up specials to his massively popular podcasts (Your Mom’s House and 2 Bears 1 Cave), his comedy leans into taboos and inappropriate observations. Bad Thoughts takes this a step further, portraying deeply uncomfortable scenarios with exaggerated absurdity.
“Misbehaving is funny,” Segura said. “Somebody screaming profanities in line at the bank is funny because he’s doing it where he shouldn’t do it.”
He credits his lifelong tendency to shock others—especially authority figures like teachers and his mother—as the root of his style.
What Makes Segura Tick?
Segura’s taste in comedy might not be for everyone, but he’s unapologetically himself. Whether he’s joking about social norms, sexual tension, or family dysfunction, Segura sees comedy as an outlet.
“I have so much repressed everything,” he said. “A painter would paint a painting. As a comedian, you say it on stage or write it and perform the scene.”
Interestingly, his worldview may be linked to intelligence. He referenced a 2017 study from the Medical University of Vienna that found people with a dark sense of humor often have higher intelligence levels.
“Most of America is not that bright, let’s be honest,” Segura quipped. “I walked by my mom and sister watching sitcoms and laughing like donkeys. I’m proud to say their intelligence is lower than mine.”
He also resonates with Freud’s theory of humor, which suggests that laughter provides a release for repressed urges.
Austin Roots, National Reach
Since moving to Austin in 2021, Segura has become one of the city’s most prominent comedy exports. But Bad Thoughts is not just local buzz — it’s a national conversation starter about what makes us laugh and why.
Despite—or maybe because of—the show’s twisted content, Segura expects viewers to raise eyebrows.
“I think with Bad Thoughts, that’s going to be multiplied. I’m incredibly amused that they think I’m demented.”
To him, expressing these dark thoughts through comedy is not a problem—it’s a form of therapy.
“We all have different bad thoughts and things we think but don’t say. It’s just part of the human condition. I think we’re healthier than the person that just keeps all the thoughts inside.”
Final Thoughts: Watch at Your Own Risk
If you’ve ever laughed at something you weren’t supposed to, Bad Thoughts might be for you. It’s raw, unfiltered, and unnerving—but that’s exactly where Tom Segura shines. Whether you find it brilliant or bizarre, there’s no denying Bad Thoughts takes comedy to a darker, more honest place.
