In 2012, Netflix decided it was going dominate yet another area of contemporary media. Not satisfied with just movies and television, the streaming juggernaut began expanding into another beloved category: stand-up comedy.
To date, Netflix has released 262 exclusive stand-up specials and series onto its platform, including sets by comedy legends like Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Dave Chapelle. Moreover, it’s been predicted that the streaming service pays at least $500,000 per special, with some stand-out stand-ups getting a lot more (e.g. Seinfeld was paid a staggering $100m for two specials and the rights to Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee). Simply put, Netflix has put its money where its mouth is, handing over hundreds of millions of dollars to get their hands on the hottest comedy out there.
But, with so much available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. It would take around 22 days to watch non-stop all the stand-up Netflix has in its catalogue, making a casual perusal of its specials a herculean task. Additionally, stand-up comedy is a broad church, encompassing many styles and sensibilities. There’s black comedy, musical comedy, slice-of-life comedy, narrative comedy, metatextual comedy; a newbie to the genre can get lost trying to find a special that reflects their niche sense of humor. So here are five different specials for five different comedic tastes - there’s a comedy special for everyone, it just needs to be found.
Black Comedy – Bill Burr: You People Are All the Same
Netflix’s first-ever exclusive stand-up special came from the King of Cynicism himself, Bill Burr. Released in 2012, You People Are All the Same is quintessential Burr, displaying his rage-fueled contrarianism in all its glory. The self-proclaimed “loudest guy in the bar”, Burr does away with political correctness, serving takes so hot they beg the question “…is he allowed to say that?”
In this seminal stand-up special, Burr touches on race, gun ownership, the politics of domestic relationships and so much more, inviting the audience to laugh at the ridiculousness of the world with him. So good that it helped launch Netflix’s stand-up moving forward, You People Are All the Same is for black comedy fans, who are unafraid to laugh at delicate topics.
Musical Comedy – Bo Burnham: Make Happy
Mixing avant-garde humor with intensely choreographed lights, music, and sound effects, Make Happy by Bo Burnham is the crowning achievement of the musical comedy sub-genre. A self-aware exploration of what it means to “perform”, Burnham serves insightful remarks with all-too-catchy songs, making audiences introspect as much as they laugh.
A precocious talent, Burnham made it big on the internet before he transitioned into stand-up, and now he’s busy making acclaimed films like Eighth Grade. Fittingly then, for a show that challenges the falseness and danger of performative comedy, Make Happy is currently his last special, leaving audiences wanting more. Still not sold? Watch this excerpt from the special.
Observational Comedy – Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
A rising star of the stand-up world, nobody presents the world in a funnier way than Ali Wong. In this 2018 special, a very pregnant Wong actively moves around the stage, serving cutting remarks on what it means to be a celebrity and “knocked-up”, how it feels to make more money than your spouse, and the pressures of being a woman in a male-dominated space. Raunchy, boisterous, and unflinching, Wong reframes how many see the world, offering a refreshing and hilarious perspective.
Indeed, Wong has since blown up, starring in the hit film Always Be My Maybe and TV series Tuca and Bertie – the special has launched her career sky-high. So, now’s the perfect time to see Wong at her most incisive, performing some of the best observational comedy in years.
Narrative-Based Comedy – Mike Birbiglia: The New One
A subtle stalwart of the comedy scene, Mike Birbiglia has been quietly pumping out specials for years, with the results bridging the gap between storytelling and stand-up comedy. More wholesome and heart-warming than the average special, Birbiglia’s work celebrates the joys of everyday life, just as it points out the silliness of it all.
His latest special, The New One, is the epitome of this joyful approach. Filmed during its Broadway run at the Cort Theatre, the special chronicles Birbiglia’s reluctant adventures with fatherhood, and the how the birth of his daughter was the best (and worst) thing to ever happen to him. Funny, engrossing, and almost tear-jerking, no one takes the audience for a ride like Mike Birbiglia.
Meta Comedy – Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
Comedy about comedy can sometimes be very funny, sometimes very moving, and sometimes very powerful: no special does all three better than Nanette. Performed by Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, the special begins like any other, with Gadsby making small jokes about her queer identity, mental health issues, and female perspective.
But then the special takes a sudden turn. In a brave twist, Gadsby exposes how the comedy artform has forced her to self-deprecate and how the telling of certain jokes can incite and empower hatred. In an emotive and powerful climax, Gadsby says she has to quit comedy because she doesn’t feel she can survive its presence in her life. Lauded by fans and critics alike, Nanette is perfect for viewers who want a self-aware presentation of the art form.