Russell Peters: Notorious
Year Released: 2013
Russell Peters is comedy’s latest golden child, bringing in a whopping $21 million doing stand-up comedy in 2013. That is more money than comedic masters such as Louis C.K. and Daniel Tosh. In this Netflix streaming special, America finally gets a chance to appreciate the amazing talents of the Canadian-born Peters, with a look at his life as a new father and husband, as well as the issues he brings up coming from an Indian family.
Reggie Watts: Why $#!+ So Crazy?
Year Released: 2010
Reggie Watts might be most famous for starring in the famous for his part in IFC show Comedy Bang Bang, but he’s also a talented comedian. In this special Watts mixes improv and comedy and performs funny hip-hop songs for what has to be one of the most unique comedy specials we’ve seen in a while.
Louis C.K.: Chewed Up
Year Released: 2008
Filmed at the Berkley Performance Center in Boston, Mass, Chewed Up is the second album by the comedian, and some would argue is his best. From talking about women to the food he eats, Louis C.K. is vulgar in the best way in this special.
Bill Burr: Let it Go
Year Released: 2010
Let It Go is the culmination of material Bill Burr developed on the road from 2008-2009, and it’s pretty hilarious. It was recorded at The Filmore in San Francisco, and while the Breaking Bad star has a more recent special, You People Are All the Same, this one is our favorite.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Year Released: 2012
Joan Rivers is arguably the best female comedian of all-time, and a case can be made that she is one of the best comedians ever. Joan Rivers is at her standup best in this special, and she is not afraid to take jabs at everybody she knows (and those she doesn’t).
Doug Stanhope: Beer Hall Putsch
Year Released: 2013
This Stanhope special was named after Hitler’s failed coup attempt of the 1920’s—which might be an odd name for a comedy special but then again, this is Doug Stanhope. This special showcases the comedians fearless comedy, and is one that should definitely be on your list.
Abbott and Costello: Colgate Comedy Hour
Year Released: 1952
The Colgate Comedy Hour was a variety series in the 1950’s, and this special highlighted one of the best episodes from 1952. In the Colgate Comedy Hour, sidekicks Bud Abbott and Lou Costello talks about everything from "Who's on First?" to Washington politicians. It’s a classic.
Rob Delaney: Live At The Bowery Ballroom
Year Released: 2012
Rob Delaney is one of the funniest comedians on Twitter, and this special brings him into a totally different realm which he also manages to kick butt in: stand-up comedy.
George Carlin Live: It’s Bad for Ya
Year Released: 2008
It’s Bad For Ya was George Carlin’s 19th and final album, and final HBO special, which was also nominated for an Emmy. It’s George Carlin doing classic Carlin, and if you’ve seen all his other specials this one should be watched immediately.
Eddie Murphy: Raw
Year Released: 1987
Despite the unfortunately homographic material at the beginning of the special (which Eddie Murphy has since apologized for), this might go down in history as the best comedy special of all time. It’s definitely his best, and if you like comedy and haven’t watched this yet, you’re grounded!
Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
Year Released: 2013
In this painfully honest special, Mike Birbiglia goes on a comedic journey to find reason in the one area he can’t seem to make sense of: love. People think Mike Birbiglia might be one of the best comedians around, and we can’t help but agree, especially when it comes to comedy specials like My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.
The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey
Year Released: 2006
Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Morgan Murphy, Maria Bamford, Bob Odenkirk perform at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles in what could be deemed the best lineup of all time. This is definitely one to save for a Saturday night.
Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive
Year Released: 2013
In Aziz Ansari’s third stand-up special, he explores what has happened to him since turning 30. He talks about everything from marriage and family to friendships, and everything else in between.
Josh Blue: Sticky Change
Year Released: 2012
Josh Blue is an amazing comedian who won the coveted “Last Comic Standing” spot in 2006. In this Minneapolis-filmed special, the comedian (who also suffers from cerebral palsy) jokes about being a a white African-American, his cross-cultural marriage and airport security.
Louis C.K.: Live At The Beacon Theater
Year Released: 2008
While Chewed Up is also on this list, we think Live at the Beacon Theater deserves a spot on here as well. This special was the finale of his 2008 Chewed Up tour, and pretty much changes the face of comedy specials in an hour’s time.
Jim Jefferies: Fully Functional
Year Released: 2012
Jim Jefferies could be Australia’s answer to Louis C.K. He’s had an FX show and enough true-life stories and foul-mouthed wit to compete with the best of them. You might need to wash your ears out after watching this special, however.
Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious
Year Released: 2007
This is Tosh’s second comedy album (2.0 if you will), and it’s just as funny if not better than the first, True Stories I Made Up. It’s definitely worth watching.
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Best Standup on Netflix
With so many comedy specials out there, it’s hard to know what’s the best standup on Netflix today. Well, we’ve done the VERY hard work for you and picked out our favorite comedy specials on Netflix today. From Louis C.K. to George Carlin and Eddie Murphy, it’s hard to hard to decipher what constitutes the best standup comedy on Netflix but we tried our best. Check out our selections below!
Russell Peters: Notorious
Year Released: 2013
Russell Peters is comedy’s latest golden child, bringing in a whopping $21 million doing stand-up comedy in 2013. That is more money than comedic masters such as Louis C.K. and Daniel Tosh. In this Netflix streaming special, America finally gets a chance to appreciate the amazing talents of the Canadian-born Peters, with a look at his life as a new father and husband, as well as the issues he brings up coming from an Indian family.
Reggie Watts: Why $#!+ So Crazy?
Year Released: 2010
Reggie Watts might be most famous for starring in the famous for his part in IFC show Comedy Bang Bang, but he’s also a talented comedian. In this special Watts mixes improv and comedy and performs funny hip-hop songs for what has to be one of the most unique comedy specials we’ve seen in a while.
Louis C.K.: Chewed Up
Year Released: 2008
Filmed at the Berkley Performance Center in Boston, Mass, Chewed Up is the second album by the comedian, and some would argue is his best. From talking about women to the food he eats, Louis C.K. is vulgar in the best way in this special.
Bill Burr: Let it Go
Year Released: 2010
Let It Go is the culmination of material Bill Burr developed on the road from 2008-2009, and it’s pretty hilarious. It was recorded at The Filmore in San Francisco, and while the Breaking Bad star has a more recent special, You People Are All the Same, this one is our favorite.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Year Released: 2012
Joan Rivers is arguably the best female comedian of all-time, and a case can be made that she is one of the best comedians ever. Joan Rivers is at her standup best in this special, and she is not afraid to take jabs at everybody she knows (and those she doesn’t).
Doug Stanhope: Beer Hall Putsch
Year Released: 2013
This Stanhope special was named after Hitler’s failed coup attempt of the 1920’s—which might be an odd name for a comedy special but then again, this is Doug Stanhope. This special showcases the comedians fearless comedy, and is one that should definitely be on your list.
Abbott and Costello: Colgate Comedy Hour
Year Released: 1952
The Colgate Comedy Hour was a variety series in the 1950’s, and this special highlighted one of the best episodes from 1952. In the Colgate Comedy Hour, sidekicks Bud Abbott and Lou Costello talks about everything from “Who’s on First?” to Washington politicians. It’s a classic.
Rob Delaney: Live At The Bowery Ballroom
Year Released: 2012
Rob Delaney is one of the funniest comedians on Twitter, and this special brings him into a totally different realm which he also manages to kick butt in: stand-up comedy.
George Carlin Live: It’s Bad for Ya
Year Released: 2008
It’s Bad For Ya was George Carlin’s 19th and final album, and final HBO special, which was also nominated for an Emmy. It’s George Carlin doing classic Carlin, and if you’ve seen all his other specials this one should be watched immediately.
Eddie Murphy: Raw
Year Released: 1987
Despite the unfortunately homographic material at the beginning of the special (which Eddie Murphy has since apologized for), this might go down in history as the best comedy special of all time. It’s definitely his best, and if you like comedy and haven’t watched this yet, you’re grounded!
Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
Year Released: 2013
In this painfully honest special, Mike Birbiglia goes on a comedic journey to find reason in the one area he can’t seem to make sense of: love. People think Mike Birbiglia might be one of the best comedians around, and we can’t help but agree, especially when it comes to comedy specials like My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.
The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey
Year Released: 2006
Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Morgan Murphy, Maria Bamford, Bob Odenkirk perform at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles in what could be deemed the best lineup of all time. This is definitely one to save for a Saturday night.
Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive
Year Released: 2013
In Aziz Ansari’s third stand-up special, he explores what has happened to him since turning 30. He talks about everything from marriage and family to friendships, and everything else in between.
Josh Blue: Sticky Change
Year Released: 2012
Josh Blue is an amazing comedian who won the coveted “Last Comic Standing” spot in 2006. In this Minneapolis-filmed special, the comedian (who also suffers from cerebral palsy) jokes about being a a white African-American, his cross-cultural marriage and airport security.
Louis C.K.: Live At The Beacon Theater
Year Released: 2008
While Chewed Up is also on this list, we think Live at the Beacon Theater deserves a spot on here as well. This special was the finale of his 2008 Chewed Up tour, and pretty much changes the face of comedy specials in an hour’s time.
Jim Jefferies: Fully Functional
Year Released: 2012
Jim Jefferies could be Australia’s answer to Louis C.K. He’s had an FX show and enough true-life stories and foul-mouthed wit to compete with the best of them. You might need to wash your ears out after watching this special, however.
Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious
Year Released: 2007
This is Tosh’s second comedy album (2.0 if you will), and it’s just as funny if not better than the first, True Stories I Made Up. It’s definitely worth watching.