If you’re in the mood to sit back and unwind at home after a long day at work – look no further. We’ve put together a list of the most hilarious stand-up comedy specials to help you enjoy that stress-busting night in.
A dose of humour is exactly what is recommended on an off day, or any other day, for matter of fact. With sets that make you laugh out loud to material that forces you to introspect, we’ve compiled a list of six stand up comedy specials that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. So, sit back, tune in to Netflix and get ready for a rib-tickling night in.
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John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City
Self-deprecating humour at its finest, it’s no secret why the baby-faced John Mulaney has emerged as a fan-favourite in the comedy scene. With Kid Gorgeous, he takes his antics a notch higher as he finds himself centre stage at the historic Radio City Music Hall. Regaling the audience with his riffs on everything from his childhood to mortality, Kid Gorgeous is a masterclass on fun, relatable, and clean comedy. Watch out for the bit about the horse in the hospital, it’s a hoot. Oh, and did we mention this special bagged an Emmy?
Ricky Gervais: Humanity
Ricky Gervais- Office UK fame actor and comedian is back on stage after a long hiatus. As much as we appreciated his hilariously controversial hosting gig at the Golden Globes last year, he made sure his presence in the stand-up scene was dearly missed with this routine. Due warning, if you are one to get easily offended, this might not be the special for you – as Ricky quotes in his trademark, no holds barred demeanour, “just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.” With unabashed disregard to political correctness, Ricky dives head-first into bits that are bound to raise a few eyebrows. From his hilarious impressions of Twitter users to striking a delightful balance of being boastful and critical of his privilege and wealth, his wry delivery and polarising material never fails to impress…or provoke.
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Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark
If you’re looking for laugh out loud moments, late night show host and seasoned stand up comedian, Trevor Noah is always a safe bet. If you’re a fan of The Daily Show, you would already know Trevor’s brand of easily relatable humour is always laced with intelligent observations, and this special is no different. Whether he’s flexing his grasp over a variety of accents – Indian, Russian, Jamaican; you name it, or taking potshots at a certain orange-haired ex-president, Trevor is in his zone as he sets the stage for an hour long laughter marathon you won’t want to miss.
Hannah Gadsby: Nannette
Australian comic Hannah Gadsby has carved a niche following for herself among critics and comedy lovers alike in recent years. Nannette is an intricate account of Hannah’s relationship with comedy, as she decides self-deprecation is not going to be her style anymore and declares “for somebody who already exists in the margins, self-deprecating humour is not humility – it’s humiliation.” Hannah lays all her cards on the table as she vents her palpable anger against the misogyny she’s been subject to for the entirety of her life, calling out the people she spent a good portion of her formative years idolising and expressing her newfound admiration for Monica Lewinsky. This special is pensive, poignant and of course, filled with sardonic quips guaranteed to elicit a chuckle or two.
Her tendency to veer off into monologues may or may appeal to everyone, but hate her or love her, you can’t dispute the fact that this special boasts some pretty solid writing.
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Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
For those of you who have experienced it, you would know – tales of immigrant parenting makes for comedic gold. Daily Show alum, Hasan Minhaj is no stranger to that as he makes this premise the start of his latest outing. Homecoming King chronicles the tale of Hassan’s life as the son of Indian-American immigrants, taking us through the amusing idiosyncrasies of growing up in a “brown” household. From the penny-pinching dad who believes Home Depot makes for a better gift store than Toys-R-Us to his futile attempts of trying to fit in with his predominantly white classmates back in school, Hasan serves up his trademark fare of relatable humour at its finest.
Donald Glover: Weirdo
This 2012 Comedy Central special is another underrated gem in Netflix’s vast library of content. If you’ve been following Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) from his days on hit sitcom, Community, you’d know exactly what you’re in for with Weirdo. Donald is unapologetic in being his eccentric self as he lets his animated story-telling and quirky observations take centre stage. Be it his quirky anecdotes or the set on why he would never want to play Spiderman, Weirdo is the perfect treat after a hard day’s graft.
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