Summary
- John Mulaney's "Baby J" is a painfully honest and hilarious exploration of his drug problems and rehab stint, proving he's still one of the funniest comedians today.
- Norm MacDonald's "Nothing Special" is a unique and poignant special recorded from his home without an audience, showcasing his comedic genius and earning three Emmy nominations.
- Paula Poundstone's "Cats, Cops, And Stuff" demonstrates her mastery of crowd work and storytelling, making her a standup legend and a joy to watch.
The best comedy specials of all time highlight the true art form of standup comedy and the many talents in the industry. Determining the best standup special is a question that has never failed to elicit debate among long-time audiences. A lot of them come from what many consider to be comedy's Golden Age, the '70s - dominated by the likes of Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Andy Kaufman, Richard Lewis, and Lenny Bruce.
Although many of the best stand-up comedy specials premiered decades ago, some of these names remain popular today - despite the 21st century introducing dozens of new contenders for stand-up comedy's greatest of all time. Indeed, even Netflix and Prime Video's comedy lineups, which constantly grow to accommodate more and more comics, can scarcely compete with the sheer demand for good comedy. However, there are a few that stand out as the best stand-up comedy specials of all time.
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20 John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)
The latest Netflix special from John Mulaney is also his most personal one to date. Though Mulaney had humorously touched on a wild past, his standup material was often very clean and gave him a similar image in the public eye. That image was shattered by the news of Mulaney returning to rehab for drug problems. In Baby J, Mulaney proceeds to be painfully and hilariously honest about his whole ordeal, from the lengths he went to get his drugs to his star-studded intervention to receiving a call from Pete Davidson in rehab. Mulaney also addressed the fact that his image has now changed dramatically, but it also proved he remains one of the funniest comedians working today.
19 Norm MacDonald: Nothing Special (2022)
The death of Norm MacDonald shocked the comedy community as the beloved comedian hid his cancer diagnosis from the public as well as many of his colleagues. However, in the months that followed his tragic death, it was revealed that MacDonald left a parting gift for his fans with the standup special Nothing Special. Unable to perform in clubs due to the COVID restrictions and his declining health. MacDonald recorded his final performance from his home without an audience. It is one of the most unique standup specials ever made, and while MacDonald doesn't address his own health, the themes explored show that he faced it with laughs as expected. The special earned three Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Variety Special.
18 Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops, And Stuff (1990)
- No streaming options available
Paula Poundstone is not quite a household with mainstream audiences but taking a look at her special Cats, Cops, and Stuff is enough evidence as to why she is a standup legend. What is so impressive about Poundstone's work is how she is able to read the crowd so effectively. She is a master storyteller who entertains with personal and hilarious stories, is able to go on tangents outside of her prepared work, even doing some terrific crowd work, and return write back to her material. She controls the stage with such confidence and physicality that makes her a true joy to watch.
17 Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)
- No streaming options available
It is hard to understand just how big of a standup superstar Eddie Murphy was in the 1980s. While he was a rising movie star with movies like Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hrs, he was also packing stadiums for standup shows that felt more like rock concerts. While there are some incredible moments in his iconic Raw special, Delirious is a glimpse of Murphy at the peak of his stardom and at heights perhaps no other comedian has reached before or since. Murphy's energetic and hilarious performance in the famous ice cream truck bit is alone a reminder that, even with his success in movies and TV, the stand-up stage is where Murphy is at his best. It won Best Comedy Album at the 1984 Grammys.
16 Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You For The Last Time (1998)
- No streaming options available
Jerry Seinfeld may have become a huge sitcom star, but he has always been a comedian at heart and quickly returned to the stage when Seinfeld ended. I'm Telling You For the Last Time is a unique standup special that takes a look at Seinfeld's own original approach to the business. After culminating all of his best jokes into the perfect set over the years, this special finds him delivering them for the last time before retiring his best material forever and starting from scratch. He puts to use his incredible eye for observational humor with his takes on the Olympics, MacDonalds, and Halloween. Seinfeld was nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album.
15 John Mulaney: New In Town (2012)
John Mulaney's first Netflix comedy special was New In Town, and in his first special, Mulaney established a unique and hilarious voice. He relayed stories about his life from his odd anxieties like quicksand as a child to going to the doctor as an adult to try to get medication for his anxiety to trying to make a flight on Delta Airlines. He's insightful and oddly relatable, even if the audience hasn't actually been in situations he describes - the mark of a pure comic. Mulaney has also won a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys for his work on SNL.
14 Maria Bamford: Old Baby (2017)
Actor and veteran comic Maria Bamford, who also voices two characters in the Human Resources cast, makes full use of her quirky talents in Old Baby. Effortlessly, Bamford launches into multi-character scenes, hilarious explanations of deeply dark subject matters, and ultimately poignant insights on family and everyday life. Apart from Bamford's unusual style, Old Baby happens throughout a number of places - from inside and outside of Bamford's home, to a bookstore, bowling alley, and finally a proper stage. Old Baby is a must-see for long-time comedy nerds looking for actual alternative comedy. The Just for Laughs festival recognized Bamford for her unorthodox style when he was named 2016's Breakout Comedy Star of the Year.
13 Robin Williams: An Evening At The Met (1986)
- Not Currently Available to Stream
Because of the sheer success of Robin Williams' movies, younger generations are scarcely aware that Williams made his bones in stand-up. In An Evening at the Met, Williams opens with a slight against Imelda Marcos, the wife of historic Filipino dictator and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos, and then proceeds to discuss the return of Jesus, President Reagan's tenure, the effects of marijuana, and pregnancy and childbirth. His signature rapid-fire delivery adds an exhilarating feel to go along with the big laughs. An Evening at the Met received the 1988 Grammy Award for "Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical."
12 Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis (2020)
One of the younger comics to release material worthy of ranking among the best stand-up comedy specials, Taylor Tomlinson is the mainstream voice of the youngest female Millennial comics. In Quarter-Life Crisis, Tomlinson dissects the problems of growing up in a strict Catholic household, her own romantic relationships, and personal struggles with mental health - interspersed with pop culture references and social commentary. Despite its facade of immaturity, Taylor Tomlinson's Netflix special Quarter-Life Crisis is a deeply introspective and compelling comedy routine. Tomlinson was also Just for Laughs' 2022 Breakout Comedy Star of the Year.
11 Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill (1999)
Dress to Kill, which was recorded in San Francisco, mostly touched on religion and history. Throughout the performance, Izzard managed to retell British history right from Stonehenge all the way to the Reformation. She also mimicked French and Italian accents, then proceeded to talk about the pope and the Church Of England. Izzard also addressed the struggles as a transgender person and how it put an end to the dream of ing the military. Dress to Kill was the recipient of two separate Emmy Awards for outstanding performance and writing in 1999.
