Comedy, to me, is about elevation—the ability to lift people’s minds and spirits out of whatever challenges they are currently facing, offering laughter or an alternative perspective as a space to say, “Hey, look around, we’re all a little foolish here… Keep going, my friend.” What I find special about a comedy special (insert smiling poop emoji) is, in part, the memories attached to watching it, as well as the ones that felt like a story. These specials not only made me laugh but also shed light on the darkest complexities we face as a society. Because almost everyone you meet is funny, but the visceral perceptions narrated through the prism of one’s life (to me) make a stand-up special. This list is not ranked based on which I liked the most but rather the order in which I remember watching them, spanning my still-qualified-as-a-youth lifetime. – Kamaney
Russell Peters – Comedy Now!
It’s the one where he’s wearing a white shirt. This is first on the list because it is actually the first special I remember watching, shown to me by my cousin-brother while on holiday. As brown kids, I don’t think there was much representation for us (circa 2006) beyond Apu (The Simpsons) and Rajesh Kumar (Isidingo), so it was dope to see someone who was ‘like us.’ Even though he was Canadian, his perspectives on things like having white friends and getting ‘disciplined’ by his father, who had a catchphrase before said disciplining, were so resonant to our own experiences. The content—at the time—was relatable, and we quoted lines from that special every time we saw each other, my cousin-brother and I. This is a sentimental answer that I guess will end up on most of my personal lists.
Trevor Noah – Crazy Normal
In the time of DVDs, this was bootlegged and shared across friends and family with much giddiness. For me, this is the one where he cemented himself as an undeniable talent and one of the greatest storytellers. It was also one of those specials where the jokes and laughter continued beyond the watching of it, through sharing quotes with friends; like “Don’t bite meeee!” and Vernacula’s “Even meeee!”. After all these years, it is still so very funny; resonating too, as perhaps one of the greatest love letters ever penned to South Africa, as a nation.
Maria Bamford – Old Baby
During the lockdown of 2020, I had a lot of time to spend with YouTube and I started watching interviews with comedians, like John Oliver, who said his favourite comedian was Maria Bamford, and I was like, “Who is that?”. OMG, who indeed. One of the most singular and remarkable comedians, whose bend of the genre is embedded in her unique brand as a performer. What I like about Old Baby is not just the material but the way it is filmed, sort of mimicking the creative journey a comedian takes with said material. It begins with her practising alone in a mirror, then performing to people on a park bench, a bowling alley, a living room, and a parking lot, mimicking a more conventional space before being filmed in a theatre with a full auditorium. Moving from the solitude of her rehearsal process to the connection of the performance is sweetly highlighted by her “One Big Blob” bit, in the auditorium. Also, one of my favourite endings to a special is her last bit, where she just makes fart noises, followed by her saying “Jesus, Maria, are you even writing anymore?”, to which she quietly responds “No.” into the microphone. Legend!
Ali Wong – Hard Knock Wife
I love that for the first half hour of this special, she talks about how shitty motherhood is while being heavily pregnant with her second child. Through these “complaints” she highlights the need for maternal healthcare and Planned Parenthood in America, which has notoriously obscure laws on maternity leave/healthcare. Added to this is the recent ban on abortion, which makes this special kind of significant; as Ali Wong addresses her successes, the amount of support she has around her and still notes that being a mother is strenuous, even for her, with all these resources. So those without it, what must happen? This special is also fucking hilarious, rhythmically astute and forthright in its observations.
Richard Pryor – Live in Concert
This is last on the list, which shamefully means it is the last one I watched…It’s true. I had heard the name Richard Pryor from almost everyone who spoke about stand-up comedy. I had also heard he was the greatest. Although this special was on Netflix, I did not watch it immediately, as I thought maybe it was just something that was beloved in popular culture that I won’t quite get, like Christopher Nolan films. I think I eventually watched it in 2021, and I remember thinking “Everything they said, was true”. His ability to be vulnerable, open, and funny, taking you to the edge of sorrow only to make you shed tears from laughter – the undisputed G.O.A.T of stand-up.