Top 10 Stand Up Specials of 2017
I don't know why, but I much prefer to listen to stand up. So this list is a big deal. It also features specials that made sure that it took and vantage of being presented through a visual medium. If you see a special on this list that didn't, then I guess it must have been REALLY FUNNY!
I can't stress enough how much this list isn't just the 10 stand up specials I watched in 2017. Heavy hitters like Trevor Noah, Mike Birbiglia, Patton Oswalt, The Lucas Brothers, Michael Che, Bill Burr, and other people who were exposed, if not a bit too late, in 2017 had specials I actually saw, and you'll notice they didn't make the list. This is a list of 10 stand-ups who made me laugh out loud or pulled me in with touching stories consistently throughout their specials in 2017.
Special/Rank:
#10- Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood
How Come:
There is something that just works with Tiffany. Her special succeeds because of her commitment to the physical aspects of her bits in addition to some pretty funny premises. I'm assuming this is where her now famous Pinkett-Smith Groupon story originated but it's not about hearing new stuff. It's about watching Tiffany breathe life into everything and genuinely entertain you the whole time.
Special/Rank:
#9- Neal Brennan: 3 Mics
How Come:
I was really looking forward to this special since I kept hearing it teased on Neal's podcast. The concept is that Neal has three mics set up, one for one liners, one for emotional stories, and a third for more traditional stand up. Whether or not the special lived up to what I built up in my head is irrelevant. It is something new and should be applauded.
Special/Rank:
#8- Chris Gethard: Career Suicide
How Come:
I know Chris mostly from his appearances on the amazing Broad City. I also recently found out that Chris is a true Pop connoisseur! But if you really want to get to know Chris, you have to see this special. The struggle he faces on a, pretty much, daily basis is crazy. His ability to still get you to laugh throughout is truly something special. It is also interesting that Chris is performing to a traditional audience, in addition to people on living room couches on the stage with him.
Special/Rank:
#7- Beth Stelling: The Standups
How Come:
This is the shortest special on this list. It also doesn't really make use of the visual medium in any particularly interesting way. It's just a straight up hilarious half hour with Beth. I just dig her subject matter and delivery. Beth Stelling is a great comedian for just getting lost on YouTube with, she also writes for the Pete Holmes show, Crashing. So maybe I'm just in the bag for her no matter what.
Special/Rank:
#6- Maria Bamford: Old Baby
How Come:
It's no secret that I'm a huge Maria Bamford fan! Not only is she a great stand up comedian, she's got a top 20 Netflix show currently available to watch! This special, however, makes sure you know she still can get busy when it comes to stand up! What makes it a bit more special is that the jokes are told in space, in a living room, in a back yard, in a bowling alley, you know, typical Maria tings! None of it comes off as gimmicky, it just adds another layer of depth.
Special/Rank:
#5- Dave Chappelle: Deep in the Heart of Texas
How Come:
Much like JAY-Z, I had a lot riding on Dave Chappelle coming out of hiding to drop something in this climate. Both specials were pretty good though. I think I was left with a feeling of, "good... he didn't lose it!" Why I chose this specific special is because it was the first time I felt like I was getting a genuine look into Dave's family life. Hearing, what I assume, are his true thoughts on his children, wife, and even dog meant a lot. It wasn't just pop culture riffs, it was like Dave was inviting me to learn more about him and I appreciated that a lot.
Special/Rank:
#4- Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
How Come:
Learning about Sarah's health scare is what sells this special for me. I even liked that she tried to get in one last joke before she was carted off to surgery. While I don't always agree with everything Sarah says or who she chooses to align herself with, I can't help but enjoy her stand up specials. She just knows what she's doing.
Special/Rank:
#3- Jerrod Carmichael: 8
How Come:
Even though his show was cancelled this year and he was in the only underperforming Transformers movie, Jerrod bodied his stand up special! I told you not to sleep on him, earlier this year! Believe it or not, Jerrod is also someone I don't always agree with but I can't front on his honesty. It gives way to great moments to him admitting he only knows a couple bars from "I Have A Dream" but he knows everything from JAY-Z's catalogue! I feel you, dawg!
Special/Rank:
#2- Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady
How Come:
This special came late in the game and yet, here we are. One of the best specials an it's just a straight joke fest. There are no cool camera tricks, really, no additional visual gags, just a really funny person killing it for an hour! I only know Michelle from the Trevor Noah era of The Daily Show but now I don't need to qualify Michelle, she is her own entity.
Special/Rank:
#1- Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
How Come:
Another comedian I was introduced to through Trevor's take over of the The Daily Show. It was his run on podcasts like You Made it Weird, 2 Dope Queens, and The Room Where It's Happening where he'd hint at what would become this amazing Netflix special, that I got more interested. The show details what it's like to be the "other" in the united states. The frustration and heartbreak that comes from all the different types of racism and prejudice you face to this day when you don't look a certain way. The special is the perfect mix of everything I was looking for this year. It's got emotional and hilarious moments as well as some innovative camera movement and visuals that keep everything humming along.
-YG