Quarantine Stand-Up Comedy Binge List
Originally Posted: April 3rd, 2020
Quarantine Stand-Up Comedy Binge List
My suggestions for the best stand-up you can stream right now.
Short Clips
John Mulaney - The Salt and Pepper Diner (2009)
“Here’s the thing about when “What’s New Pussycat” plays over and over and over and over and over again…”
Stewart Lee - Give It To Me Straight, Like Pear Cider That's Made From 100% Pears (2010)
One of my favorite bits. It’s a journey. Watch part 2 here.
Mitch Hedberg - Just for Laughs (1998)
I used to love Might Hedberg. I still do, but I used to, too.
George Carlin - Little Things We Share (1992)
Starts heavy on social commentary, melts into hilarious Seinfeldian observational comedy. I still make the chain-link fence noise in my head all the time.
Bo Burnham - From God’s Perspective (2013)
So funny, so beautiful and actually a great song, too. The podcast Let’s Talk About Sets discussed this bit in this episode.
Bill Hicks - Life Is Just A Ride (1992)
Stand-up doesn’t always have to be funny. The Fear/Love part always reminds me of the teacher from Donnie Darko.
Tom Segura - Tom Segura Overdoses (2013)
This is one of the only times where it’s good to be fat.
Gary Gulman - How The States Got Their Abbreviations (2016)
I wish that was a real documentary.
Full Specials - Overall Top Picks
Patton Oswalt
Annihilation (2017): Netflix
It’s Chaos. Be Kind.
As a nerd, Patton has always been one of my favorite stand-ups. My favorite special of his is Annihilation, from 2017. It starts off with political comedy and crowd work, but the best part is around halfway in, when he begins talking about his wife passing. An awful story told in a beautiful, funny and life-affirming way.
Remember plans?
John Mulaney
New In Town (2012): Netflix
The Comeback Kid (2015): Netflix
Kid Gorgeous (2018): Netflix
If you haven’t watched these yet, do yourself a favor and change that. I suggest you start with New In Town.
Trevor Noah
Afraid Of The Dark (2017): Netflix
Trevor Noah is a national treasure. He is great on the Daily Show but even better in a comedy special. I liked Afraid of the Dark more than Son of Patricia, but they are both great. His accent and impersonations always kill me. His perspective always broadens mine. I could listen to him talk for hours.
Hasan Minhaj
Homecoming King (2017): Netflix
Great stories and great jokes, equally funny and personal. More visual aids than a typical stand-up special, but he makes great use of them.
Jim Gaffigan
Beyond The Pale (2005): Netflix
His specials are perfect comfort food right now. Start with the original. Hotttttt Poccckkkeeetttttssss.
Sarah Silverman
We Are Miracles (2013): HBO
I’m a sucker for an intimate special performed in front of a small crowd. This does not disappoint.
A Speck Of Dust (2017): Netflix
The soft focus is weird, but the jokes are top-notch.
Mike Birbiglia
My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (2013): Amazon Prime
Mike Birbiglia is the master of combining emotional story telling with jokes. This is my favorite of his. One of my favorite stand-up specials of all time.
The New One (2019): Netflix
This one is all about having kids and becoming a dad. It was originally a one man show on Broadway, which was recorded and put on Netflix. Highly recommended.
Bo Burnham
Make Happy (2017): Netflix
Music, theatrics, and great jokes. His country song parody always gets me.
Taylor Tomlinson
Quarter Life Crisis (2020): Netflix
One of my favorite recent discoveries. I too, am sick of my 20’s.
Nate Bargatze
The Tennessee Kid (2019): NEtflix
Nate Bargatze’s persona is a dry, naive, dumb guy, but he’s a deceptively great story teller and a hilarious comedian. The dead horse bit is my favorite, and he talked about it in depth on an episode of the podcast Good One.
Marc Maron
End Times Fun (2019): Netflix
Uncomfortably prescient at times, but it’s a funny anxiety-filled look at the world. If you know Maron and haven’t watched this yet, you should.
Fortune Feimster
Sweet & Salty (2020): Netflix
Sweet & Salty is a perfect title. It’s quirky and silly. I love her story about joining the swim team.
Tom Segura
Mostly Stories (2016): Netflix
He has four specials on Netflix, but this is still my favorite. Ball Hog is his latest.
Michelle Wolf
Joke Show (2019): Netflix
Like most people, I originally found her when she did the 2018 White House Corespondents’ dinner. This is just as great.
Donald Glover
Weirdo (2012): Netflix
I love the intro of him in the cab, and it’s a great stand-up special. I love how he casually brings up “I just like, I was just doing some stuff like, with music…” What can’t he do?
Chelsea Peretti
One Of The Greats (2014): Netflix
The schtick is a bit overblown, but that’s part of the fun. if you love her on Brooklyn 99, you’ll like this.
Maria Bamford
The Special Special Special (2012): Netflix
I love unique specials like this. Performed live from Maria Bamford’s home. If you know who she is, you’ll understand.
Ray Ramano
Right Here, Around The Corner (2019): Netflix
So good. I never watched his stand-up, but watched countless episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond on TBS. It’s great seeing someone return to stand-up.
Ali Wong
Baby Cobra (2015): Netflix
Such a great special. Hard Knock Wife is great too.
Zach Galifianakis
Live At The Purple Onion (2006): NEtflix
You’ve seen this before, right? Watch it again. If you haven’t seen it, stop scrolling and click.
Whitmer Thomas
The Golden One (2020): HBO
Part documentary, part stand-up special, part emo concert. You will laugh and you will cry.
Chris D’elia
Man On Fire (2017): Netflix
He really does look like a tired eagle.
Flight of the Conchords
Live in London (2018): HBO
Even if you’ve never heard the songs or seen the show before, this is a great performance of some perfect musical comedy.
Tig Notaro
Happy to Be Here (2018): Netflix
Tig is great. Come for the stories and jokes, stay for the surprise ending.
Full Specials - Offensive
Decided to keep the most offensive recommendations separate. If that’s what you want, keep reading. Viewer discretion advised and whatnot.
Jim Jefferies
Bare (2014): Netflix
If you like offensive, watch this. It’s my favorite of his. Includes the classic gun control bit, which you’ve probably seen a YouTube clip of. Happy early April 18th!
I Swear To God (2009): HBO / Amazon Prime
A younger and even cruder version of him than the one in Bare.
Dave Chappelle
Killin’ Them Softly (2000): YouTube
Do I need to recommend Dave Chappelle? Someone should give this guy a TV show.
For What' It’s Worth (2004): YouTube
Where is Ja?
Sticks And Stones (2019): Netflix
Dave has put out five specials on Netflix since 2017, starting with The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas and then Equanimity & The Bird Revelation. In 2019, we got Sticks & Stones. If you haven’t seen them, or even if you have, they’re all worth a (re)watch.
Richard Pryor
Live in Concert (1979): Netflix
A classic. I love how it starts off as people are still walking in, and he turns that into material. A master at work.
George Carlin
Live At USC (1977): Amazon Prime
Just fast forward to 1:01:03, when this warning pops up on the screen. “The final segment of Mr. Carlin’s performance includes especially controversial language. Please consider whether you want to continue viewing.”
What follows is an expanded version of one of the most legendary stand-up bits of all time, 7 Dirty Words. It was recorded in a few different forms, most famously on his album Class Clown in 1972. That original version was always my favorite, but this version is just as great. Carlin was at his best when he broke down every day language and turned it into jokes.
If you want to watch a better overall special, start with Jammin’ In New York. George thought it was the best special he ever made, and I’m inclined to agree.
Chris Rock
Tamborine (2018): Netflix
I don’t think he’ll ever top his first few specials, but this is a great special anyway. It feels like therapy with jokes. Sometimes you sing lead and sometimes you’re on tambourine.
Bill Burr
You People Are All The Same (2012): Netflix
The first special Netflix ever put out. The king of rants at work.
I’m Sorry You Feel That Way (2015): Netflix
No, your TV is not broken, it really is in black and white.
Leslie Jones
Time Machine (2020): Netflix
Full of raw energy and good jokes. She’s white-people famous.
Anthony Jeselnick
Thoughts and Prayers (2015): Netflix
If you like dark comedy and well-crafted jokes, watch this. Especially if you like well-crafted jokes about dead babies.
Interviews and Bonus Material
Barack Obama on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. (2015): YouTube
God, I miss Obama.
Talking Funny (2011): YouTube
Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais and Louis CK talk comedy. I almost regret endorsing this, due to Louis CK and that whole situation. I don’t endorse his behavior, but I do endorse this conversation. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen this. I still laugh so hard every time. I’ll never hear that Otis Reading song the same again.
