Netflix's Top 5 Comedy Specials
By Jeremy Platt, Staff Writer
There is nothing more subjective than comedy. Everybody has a different kind of humor and finds different things funny. With Kevin Hart releasing his latest Netflix comedy special, here are five great Netflix comedy specials. These are personal favorites, not everyone is going to agree with this list but that is okay. Comedies are like rap battles, everything is on the table and nothing should be taken personally. There is nothing worse than someone who chooses to watch stand up and then gets offended by what the comedian says. The specials on this list have content that most of Generation Z can relate to and enjoy. While specials like Eddie Murphy’s “Delirious” or “Richard Pryor Live in Concert: 1979” were both contenders, this list will cover more new school comedies.
An honorable mention for this list is “John Mulaney: New in Town”. Mulaney is one of the funniest human beings in America. Between his weird thoughts and random opinions of the world, Mulaney might be the most enjoyable, family-friendly comedian. If you want to sit down and laugh with your parents, this is the show that I recommend. The comedian who edged him out comes in at number five.
Ali Wong’s “Hard Knock Wife” comes in at number five on the list of top Netflix comedy specials. Wong’s show revolves around motherhood, marriage, and being a woman in comedy. Wong hilariously describes the real reasons why moms take maternity leave and tells her viewers the stories of her pregnancy. She also tells an amazing story about her friend’s C-section that is guaranteed to make every teenage boy want to throw up in their mouths. Wong is extremely descriptive and this special is hysterical.
Number four on the list is “Donald Glover: Weirdo”. While many people know Donald Glover as a super talented actor or as Childish Gambino, his musician alter-ego, fewer people are familiar with his comedic side. His energy and quirkiness really stand out in his show and it is amazing to watch. In his show, he talks about the expectations of being an adult and he brings up that it is looked down upon to be weird once you hit a certain age. One of the best concepts in his performance is the idea of using poop as a defense mechanism. If you are ever in the mood to be both a little weirded out and laugh about it at the same time, this is a much watch.
The third best stand up special is “Michael Che Matters”. It is the sleeper pick of the bunch. Che has cemented himself as one of the main writers and actors on “Saturday Night Live” since 2013, and is well known for being a host on “Weekend Update” alongside fellow comedian, Colin Jost. His 2018 comedy routine is hilarious. It touches on real life issues such as gun control, police brutality and homophobia, and he does a good job putting a comedic spin on all three serious problems. The best analogy that Che makes refers to why the concept of all lives matter is hurtful, “if your wife asks you ‘Do you love me’, you are not going to respond ‘Baby, I love everybody!’” Che is one of the most underrated comedians and this special deserves more hype.
The second best Netflix Comedy Stand Up Special is “Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny”. There could be a top 5 list of Hart’s specials alone, but to be fair, there is only one special per comedian. My favorite special from Hart would be “Let me Explain”, but unfortunately it is no longer on Netflix. Hart is the master of one-liners and is a great storyteller. In this special, we see a young Lebron James and Shaquille O’Neal in the audience enjoying Hart’s performance. All of the Hart comedy specials are essential viewing, but “Seriously Funny” is the best jumping off point.
The best Netflix Comedy Stand Up Special of all time has to be “Sticks & Stones” by Dave Chappelle. This comedy special contains some sensitive subjects that could offend certain viewers, so that is a little heads up in advance. Chapelle is guaranteed to make fun of either your race, gender or sexual identity. He is arguably the greatest comedian of all time and this performance set him over the top. He lives on the edge of what is socially acceptable in 2020 and he is a comedic genius. Speaking of the edge, this special pushed Chappelle over the edge and he is now looked at as the greatest comedian of all time. Throughout this show, Chappelle flirts with ‘cancel culture’ and finds the perfect balance between comedy and offensive language.