13 Of The Best Comedy Specials You Can Watch On Netflix
Start writing a post
Entertainment

13 Of The Best Comedy Specials You Can Watch On Netflix

There's nothing like a good ol' study break.

17
13 Of The Best Comedy Specials You Can Watch On Netflix
Good Company

You know what's better than studying? Well, I mean other than literally anything else. Comedy! Especially stand-up comedy.

We all need study breaks sometimes, and there's no better or more productive way to spend that well-deserved mental respite than laughing. And with the advent of Netflix, that laughter is just a quick click away! If you're overwhelmed by the comedy options on Netflix or are unfamiliar with the genre of stand-up comedy, here are a few humble suggestions for you viewing pleasure.

1. John Mulaney - "New in Town"

"New in Town" is such a crowd pleaser that I once switched a Spring Break playlist that was blasting from a speaker on Myrtle Beach to the audio for this special, and beach games were halted as players were distracted by John Mulaney's greatness.

2. Demetri Martin - "Live (at the Time)"

Demetri Martin's wry one-liners are nothing short of brilliant. "Live (at the Time)" is original, dark yet positive, and all around fantastic for 45-minutes of laughs.

3. Jim Gaffigan - "Beyond the Pale"

Fun for the whole family! "Beyond the Pale" is a feel-good special that virtually everyone can relate to. Gaffigan's commentary on all things related to food is amazing, and not just because food is amazing.

4. Aziz Ansari -"Live at Madison Square Garden"

I've been watching Aziz Ansari's comedy specials since before live-streaming was even an available service and have to say that this is his best special yet. "Live at Madison Square Garden" features brilliant commentary on modern relationships as well as a totally on point Ja Rule impression.

5. Kevin Hart - "Laugh at My Pain"

As one of the biggest celebrities in stand-up today, Kevin Hart never fails to disappoint. Any of his specials on Netflix are worth a watch, so I basically just chose "Laugh at My Pain" at random because of this bit on being broke that any college student can sympathize with.

6. Marc Maron -"Thinky Pain"

Marc Maron is the crazy uncle we all need and perfectly embodies the pre-finals mindset: "I don't believe in preparing."

7. Moshe Kasher -"Live in Oakland"

Moshe Kasher seems to do the impossible in this special as he seamlessly meshes the absurd vulgarity of his style with intellectual witticisms and pithy musings on his every day experiences. His casual self-reflection juxtaposes phenomenally with his off-the-cuff, aggressive stage presence. All nerd-ing aside, an uproariously funny special, if you can stomach the language.

8. Chelsea Peretti - "One of the Greats"

Chelsea Peretti is snarky, relevant, and unafraid to "tell it like it is." In this special she truly proves herself as "One of the Greats." She pokes fun at everything from time traveling to fragile masculinity and has some ridiculous staged cut-aways to the audience. If you enjoy "One of the Greats," I'd also highly recommend Peretti's mockumentary "Women Aren't Funny."

9. Donald Glover - "Weirdo"

Comedy's renaissance man Donald Glover surprises absolutely no one with his adroit storytelling in "Weirdo." Donald Glover is well-known for acting on "Community," rapping as his alter ego Childish Gambino, and for his award-winning writing on "30 Rock," and his stand-up act certainly lives up to the hype.

10. Kevin Nealon - "Whelmed, but not Overly"

Kevin Nealon's frantic and somewhat confused style reflects every over-caffeinated dining hall conversation during the final weeks of the semester.

11. Mike Birbiglia - "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing"

Mike Birbiglia's awkward, bumbling nature is something we can all relate to. Make yourself feel better about previous social catastrophes by reveling in the series of unfortunate events that Mike Birbiglia recounts in excruciating detail for "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing."

12. Bo Burnham - "what."

"what." balances delicately on the line of the absurd and the acceptable. Multi-talented comic Bo Burnham, having started on the comedy scene from his YouTube channel at age 18, continues to break from the stand-up comedy tradition with this special that will keep you laughing from beginning to end.

13. Trevor Noah - "African American"

Trevor Noahproved his comedic chops on the international stand-up scene far before landing the sacred gig as the new host of "The Daily Show." With a vast arsenal of characters and an unreasonable amount of flawless accents and impressions, Trevor Noah's ebullient energy definitely entertains in "African American" and hopefully said energy will motivate any and all to keep powering through the final, difficult weeks of the semester.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

102959
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments