Amidst the whirlwind of daily life, streaming platforms have emerged in recent years as a reliable source of entertainment, offering little funny doses of humor at all hours. In the last year alone, various comedy heavyweights such as Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj, Taylor Tomlinson, Jack Whitehall, and others dropped their specials, leaving viewers in splits. These outstanding comedy performances are loved by many for their fresh perspectives and hilarious narrative.
1. Your Friend, Nate Bargatze by Nate Bargatze
One can gather one’s whole family to watch this comedy special by Nate Bargatze. Free of explicit content, this special dives into Nate’s experiences with adulthood—evidenced by the plethora of “dad jokes” in his set. While some of the jokes may feel like copies from older specials, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze goes into much more detail, especially about topics revolving around growing up in the 20th century to embracing modern life.
2. Love To Hate It by Ronny Chieng
Recounting personal experiences about his and his wife’s journey to becoming parents, Ronny Chieng’s special is a topsy-turvy one. Through the special, he opens up about the journey from wanting to be a better father to being a better man. The road to becoming a better man, according to Chieng, is not all that simple, as men in search of self-improvement must constantly navigate through a lot of nonsense thanks to the absurdity of societal norms and social media algorithms. Like all his other acts, the show also briefly interludes into the world of big tech, drawing satirical accounts that set the stage for a lot of thinking and introspection.
3. On and On and On by Rose Matafeo
Releasing her second special with Max, comedian-actor-TV presenter Rose Matafeo presents a rather cutting image on stage, thanks to her self-deprecating style of humor. This special, which has been built around a 16,000-word long note on her phone, dives into her honest take on relationships, drawing on dating differences in her 20s and 30s and highlighting the stark comparison between her life and that of her parents. Her style of delivery is inspired by the British, so it may feel slightly unfamiliar to some watchers.
4. Dad Man Walking by Seth Meyers
The Emmy Award-winning writer sets out to roast is entire family with his special Dad Man Walking. Throughout the show, he delivers his hilarious takes on family life and marriage dynamics and having to navigate through the city as he raises his kids, building a little world for the audience to imagine—bringing the setting and the characters to life.
5. What Had Happened Was…by Jamie Foxx
In this new one-hour special, veteran actor Jamie Foxx opens up about his personal struggles, which resulted in him forgetting nearly a month of his life. Throughout the event, he reels into his impersonation skills to draw laughs from the crowds and leaves people with a positive message—to embrace life!
6. Off With His Head by Hasan Minhaj
The two-time Peabody Award-Winning comedian took quite a hit after The New Yorker fact-checked some of his older stand-up acts. Recovering from the blow, he released his special, Off With His Head, where he addresses the scandal surrounding his past work and continues to make jokes about his life, political relations within the country, and living the American dream.
7. Single Lady by Ali Wong
Returning to her old, exciting ways, Ali Wong certainly made an impression on audiences with her new special Single Lady. Amongst the latest stand-up releases, the comedian gets candid about her new quest for love. What truly stands out about her performances is Wong’s sharp reflections on dating, heartbreak, and starting over, as well as her tackling complex emotions with wit and brevity.
8. Live from the Mothership by Brian Simpson
Breaking the boundaries of the conventional notions of masculinity, Brian Simpson wittily challenges common societal expectations and stereotypes in his brand-new special, Live from the Mothership. His comic timing and delivery of jokes make this stand-up special worth the watch.
9. Have It All by Taylor Tomlinson
In this Netflix special, writer-comedian Taylor Tomlinson navigates feelings of having a dream career and finding an ideal life partner. Her jokes bridge the gap between self-doubt and confidence, both in the personal and professional sphere, as she talks about how she doesn’t feel like “she has it all.”
10. Settle Down by Jack Whitehall
The much-celebrated comedian has been a popular name in the scene for a while, and this special certainly proves why. During his act, Whitehall addresses the two-pronged nature of his fame—where he isn’t famous enough to be celebrated by his school but enough to be linked to certain questionable names in the celebrity world. The rest of his set focuses on his personal life, including life-changing experiences like getting a dog and having a child.
11. Good Grief by Marlon Wayans
Those with a twisted love for dark humor will surely enjoy Good Grief by Marlon Wayans. The comedian delves into his upbringing and explores some sensitive topics. Wayans also reflects on dealing with life issues like grief, but from a comedic perspective. While the raw and unapologetic nature of jokes may not appeal to everyone, those who find dark humor and unfiltered comedy may find this comedy special entertaining.