Top Stand-Up Comedy Specials to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Once upon a time, Comedy Central used to launch the most original (and funniest) comedy specials. But then, HBO emerged, quickly becoming the biggest game in town. But when Netflix emerged, everyone knew it’d quickly take over everything, including stand-up comedy specials. If you’re sick of binge-watching your favorite shows, check out these top specials to watch on the streaming giant right now.

Top Stand-Up Comedy Specials

Before jumping on with the list of top stand-up comedy specials to make you laugh on Netflix, let’s first give a quick recap of this wonderful form of entertainment. It first emerged in the USA around the 1840s as a development of three-act, or minstrel, shows. Before long, it became popular in the UK as well. Fast forward to the 1950s, comedians were performing on radio and television. Today’s form of live comedy entertainment emerged around the end of the 1960s when comedians started performing at small clubs. And now, back to our list.

Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

Richard Pryor’s Live in Concert is sort of a movie-format stand-up comedy show. While it’s far from the first show of its kind, it was the first to be launched in theaters. Believed to be the most significant comedy performer of all time, Richard Pryor is known for his dark puns. The comedian picks up topics that are far from funny, but he has a natural ability to turn his life’s challenges into something not just funny but, in fact, hilarious. The show was released in 1979 and is now available on Netflix.

Bo Burnham: Inside

Bo Burnham’s Inside touches upon topics like mental health, doomed culture, and the events of the last few years in professionally edited silly songs and hilarious sketches. He’s celebrated for his ability to create a facade of profundity, pointing out just how senseless today’s life actually is. On the show, he often combines specific songs with pictures of himself staring aimlessly into the distance.

The stand-up show has been described as a revelation of the terminal superficiality we all live in. While it might not be the funniest out there but it definitely packs a punch in today’s society.