Opinion | Comedy specials you should add to your watchlist
Chelsea Peretti’s Netflix special was released in 2014. Earlier this year, she released an EP of comedy music titled “Foam and Flotsam.” WikiCommons
This summer, I watched 75 different stand-up comedy specials.
How did I get there? Long story short, I didn’t get an internship. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself until one of my mentors encouraged me to do a deep dive and study comedy. I read books on comedic history and theory, listened to a podcast that deconstructed jokes, watched classic comedy TV and film and most importantly watched a whole lot of stand-up. I introduced myself to many new comedians and comedic genres. It’s truly a privilege that there is this much comedy, from so many demographics, available today.
What follows is four outstanding stand-up specials I recommend. These aren’t necessarily my four favorite specials, but they express a range of comedic styles and perspectives. To me, they indicate the trajectory of the art of stand-up comedy. And no, I’m not recommending any John Mulaney (even though I love him).
“Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats” – Netflix
Released in 2014, this is the oldest special on my list. Stand-up generally doesn’t age well because it’s involved in a consistent dialogue with culture, and culture is constantly changing. However, this special is universal. The actual jokes Peretti tells are only half of the overall comedy in the special; she utilizes every minute in the hour and the audience cutaways have hidden, absurd humor in them. The opening skit of a stand-up special is usually an uncomfortable lag time where you see a comedian hang out backstage or walk into the theater. Peretti, however, twists this convention of the genre to her advantage, showing footage of her riding a motorcycle with a dramatic voiceover about how she is one of the greatest comedians of all time (even though this is her first and only special). The efficiency of Peretti’s stand-up is really something to admire.
“My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres” – HBO
This hour of comedy is unlike any other; it is exactly what the title implies. It consists of Torres sitting in a chair as a conveyor belt brings him different objects that he comments on. Some are simple: a small red square. Others are more complicated, but still fall under the umbrella of “shape”: a crystal with a tiny chair for it to sit in. Torres has such a specific way of speaking, and everything he says delights me. This is not necessarily a laugh-out-loud special, but it is an achievement for the art form of stand-up comedy. Perhaps the most self-actualized comedian working today, Torres has such a distinct grasp on what his style is and what he likes, and he just … does that. It is beyond absurd, making Bo Burnham and Eric Andre look standard. There is nothing else like this special – and that is a good thing.
“Ramy Youssef: Feelings” – HBO
This is my favorite special I watched this summer, and maybe my favorite special ever. I’m not usually one for edgy comedy. The word “edgy,” in a modern comedy context, is associated with a certain brand of comedian I dislike. Instead of writing actual jokes, these comedians will say an offensive word or make fun of a marginalized group and then supply a weak defense of “you don’t get it” or “you’re too PC.” Youssef turns edgy comedy into what it really should be.
He speaks provocatively, but always with a sense of “I don’t really know what I’m talking about.” His thesis throughout is that there are some things that he and society thinks might be wrong, and he challenges them in a fun way. From considering why he isn’t allowed to have sex with his cousin to trying to empathize with the parents of children who were sexually assaulted by Michael Jackson, Youssef delivers potentially offensive jokes with nuance and the perfect tone. He creates a hilarious, comfortable-yet-uncomfortable environment. There’s an element of naughtiness to it. It feels like he is your friend in elementary school who just taught you a new curse word.
Stand-up comedy has more breadth now than it has in all of its history. I set out to watch over 100 standup specials this summer. Twenty years ago, there weren’t 100 standup specials available to watch. When Dave Chappelle received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, he talked about the beauty of stand-up comedy as an art form, and the strides made for representation. He marveled at the idea that you could go into a comedy club today and see every type of person represented. While that is not exactly as true as it sounds, comedy has not welcomed equal representation in who gets a stand-up special, and Chappelle is thus right in that there is cause for celebration for increased representation. As stand-up is becoming more niche, it has room for comics like Julio Torres and Tig Notaro, for Chelsea Peretti and Ramy Youssef. The fact that more minorities are showcased doing standup is a good thing.
As Chapelle said, “I love my art form, because I understand every practitioner of it. Whether I agree with them or not, I know where they’re coming from; they want to be heard.”