Ten 2019 Stand-Up Specials Worthy Of Your Time
My top 10 of 2019.
I don’t know if this statement is accurate, but damn if this year wasn’t a bumper year for stand-up specials. For someone who lives halfway around the world from the United States, it definitely felt like this, as Netflix pumped out a whopping 44 specials this year (more than 1 a month, if you’re counting).
In the interest of …well, general interest, and also a well-documented obsession about the art of stand-up, I’ve compiled some of my favourites that have been released this year.
Yes, there is political commentary, frat boy digs, religious jokes, relationship quirks, and more.
They’re great for comedy newbies, or stand-up veterans looking for something new.
P.s. I haven’t watched the new John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch special yet, so if it’s as good as I’ve been hearing, I’ll add it in later.
P.p.s The ones below are listed by date released, not by ranking.
Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner
Released February 2019
It’s been 10 months since this special came out, and I still think about it all the time. It’s not the strongest in terms of laugh-out-loud jokes, but the structure of the entire special is something that only Ray Romano, of Everybody Loves Raymond fame and arguably one of the more well-known names around, can do.
Filming this in New York at the exalted Comedy Cellar, the special is run like a ‘Day in the Life of…’ documentary. We see him do multiple shows, and run from venue to venue halfway through the show, weaving through the streets of New York. It’s an amazing behind-the-scenes look, as you get to see how he makes the subtle shift from ‘famous dude on the street’ to ‘Ray Romano, the comedian’. In essence, it’s a masterclass for aspiring stand-up comedians.
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
Released May 2019
Wanda Sykes is always interesting. This is not a new revelation of any sort, but it’s exemplified when you watch Not Normal. She speaks about, yes, Trump, but she also expounds on her unique family, which consists of her half-French, half-African-American children, as well as her French wife.
Her knack for comedic pacing is stupendous, and she handles the audience and show with the ease of an expert. While her jokes don’t take too many sharp twists, they are executed with finesse, and you can’t help but be drawn into her life.
Adam DeVine: Best Time of Our Lives
Released June 2019
In comparison, Adam DeVine: Best Time of Our Lives was a really odd special to watch. Currently more well-known for his roles in the Pitch Perfect series of films (and as the one that’s not the frontman of Maroon 5, as he jokes), he’s obviously nervous, and seems to ramble a little. However, his energy is off the charts, and he’s so optimistic and excited that you can’t help laughing with him.
This special would be the one you introduce to someone who ‘doesn’t really like stand-up’, as it’s relatively easy to comprehend, and doesn’t get too far into specific political or religious issues. As an experienced writer through Comedy Central’s Workaholics (of which he was a co-creator and one of the stars), his jokes are also tailored well to his physical comedic set.
Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room
Released July 2019
Katherine Ryan is one of my favourite stand-up comics, and her special this year, titled Glitter Room, doesn’t disappoint.
She’s sharp as a tack (as usual), and has a fluent blend of British sarcasm (she lives in the UK) as well as the shiny niceness of a Canadian (where she grew up). Combined together, it’s immensely unnerving, and can be hard to digest if you’re looking for a nice lady comic who’s all about confessional comedy. Katherine Ryan is a beast, and she’s going to fuck you up, regardless of who you are.
That’s why I love her, and everything she says about relationships and children.
Whitney Cummings: Can I Touch It?
Released July 2019
Another one of my favourite stand-up comics, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Whitney Cummings’ new material since I binged both I’m Your Girlfriend (2016) and I Love You (2014) a few years ago. Oh, I also loved her autobiography, I’m Fine…And Other Lies, which was released in 2017.
Can I Touch It? differs from her previous material in that it’s a lot more structured, with a really ambitious second half, but it still contains that earnest snark that I really enjoy from her comedy. And yes, her special is the impressively-executed one with the creepy robot.
Seth Meyer: Lobby Baby
Released November 2019
Seth Meyers is an example of a great, solid, stand-up performer. He comes out strong with the obvious, and then slowly delves into sections of his life that help you understand more about his personality.
He’s also a classically-sarcastic, witty type of stand-up comic, with an attuned sense for TV. This makes sense as he’s been hosting Late Night with Seth Meyers since 2014, but he uses it here by anticipating the Netflix viewer’s actions and motivations.
It’s pretty damn cool, and makes you feel like an active participant instead of another passive viewer.
Iliza Shlesinger: Unveiled
Released November 2019
Full of regret? Yup, that’s me. I missed out on Iliza Shlesinger’s show in Singapore (which was on my birthday!) this year, and now I find out that her special was about her wedding?? And I had my wedding in October?? Sigh.
Regardless, she continues to be one of the more interesting comics today, with a remarkable array of animal impressions (watch her last special, 2018’s Elder Millennial, if you don’t know what I mean). I really appreciate her honesty and candour when it comes to relationships and social groups, and her jokes are always fun and very original.
I’m definitely not going to miss her performance the next time she’s in town.
Mike Birbiglia: The New One
Released November 2019
Out of the entire list, this special is the one that’s most unconventional, because it’s more theatre art piece than stand-up special. That doesn’t mean it’s not funny; conversely, because it’s played so straight and so earnestly by Mike Birbiglia, the jokes become even funnier.
This is definitely one of those shows that would have been better to watch in person, but considering that, the entire special is a stunningly cohesive piece about family, couches, and his life. I don’t know another stand-up special that’s like this, and it works immensely well for those who prefer performance art to stand-up.
Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah
Released December 2019
I’m not going to lie, I was a little apprehensive when I saw the title of this special, but Tiffany Haddish delivers a really splendid show. She tackles that story of her bombing at the NYE’s show last year with aplomb, does an admirable job speaking about her experiences as a now-famous actress and comedian, and doesn’t hold back when it comes to talking about other actors and comics.
And she uses her physicality to great effect throughout the special. After all, this is how she arrived:
Ugh, now I really wish that Tuca & Bertie had been renewed.
Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America!
Released December 2019
I’m not a huge fan of Ronny Chieng, but I have to admit that his stand-up special, released just this month, was incredibly funny. He tackles topics I’ve never heard in stand-up, such as our Asian confusion over the Japanese occupation, which really stuck with me. He also manages to speak lovingly about his wife and his life while acknowledging his default volume and tone of ‘Angry Asian’.
It definitely ranks in one of the top few specials in terms of jokes that are more familiar to Southeast-Asian audiences.
I can’t wait for the new comedy specials of 2020! In development are ones from Leslie Jones, Fortune Feimster, Vir Das, Hannah Gadsby, and more! Which ones are you looking forward to?
Originally published at https://onereelatatime.org on December 29, 2019.
