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Summary
The good drollery specials of all clip highlight the lawful art form of standup comedy and the many talents in the industriousness . Determining the best standup special is a question that has never die to elicit public 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 the like of Richard Pryor , George Carlin , Andy Kaufman , Richard Lewis , and Lenny Bruce .
Although many of the good resist - up comedy special premiere decades ago , some of these figure stay popular today - despite the 21st century insert dozens of new competitor for stand up - up comedy ’s greatest of all time . Indeed , even Netflix andPrime Video ’s drollery lineups , which always develop to conciliate more and more comic , can hardly compete with the sheer need for unspoiled comedy . However , there are a few that brook out as the best stand - up clowning specials of all clip .
Humor is immanent but , from Airplane ! to Monty Python and the Holy Grail , there are some comedy pic that everyone concord are screaming .
20John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)
Stream On Netflix
The latestNetflix special from John Mulaneyis also his most personal one to date . Though Mulaney had humorously bear upon on a wild yesteryear , his standup material was often very clean and gave him a interchangeable range of a function in the public eye . That image was shattered by the news of Mulaney yield to rehab for drug problems . InBaby J , Mulaney go on to be painfully and hilariously honest about his whole trial by ordeal , from the lengths he go to get his drugs to his star - studded intercession to have a call from Pete Davidson in rehab . Mulaney also address the fact that his look-alike has now changed dramatically , but it also proved he stay on one of the funniest comic working today .
19Norm MacDonald: Nothing Special (2022)
The death of Norm MacDonald shocked the comedy community as the dear comedian hid his Crab diagnosis from the world as well as many of his colleagues . However , in the calendar month that followed his tragical death , it was revealed thatMacDonald impart a leave-taking gift for his fanswith the standup specialNothing Special . ineffectual to perform in club due to the COVID restriction and his declining wellness . MacDonald put down his final carrying into action from his habitation without an audience . It is one of the most unequalled standup specials ever made , and while MacDonald does n’t address his own wellness , the subject explored show that he faced it with laughs as expected . The peculiar earned three Emmy Award nominations include Outstanding Variety Special .
18Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops, And Stuff (1990)
Paula Poundstone is not quite a household with mainstream audiences but taking a look at her specialCats , Cops , and Stuffis enough grounds as to why she is a standup fable . What is so telling about Poundstone ’s work is how she is able to register the crowd so effectively . She is a master storyteller who nurse with personal and hilarious stories , is able-bodied to go on tan outdoors of her prepared work , even doing some terrific crowd work , and return spell back to her stuff . She controls the stage with such confidence and physicality that defecate her a true joy to watch .
17Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)
It is hard to understand just how swelled of astandup wiz Eddie Murphywas in the eighties . While he was a rising movie star with movies likeBeverly Hills Copand48 Hrs , he was also packing stadium for standup shows that felt more like John Rock concerts . While there are some incredible present moment in his iconicRawspecial , Deliriousis a glimpse of Murphy at the peak of his stardom and at summit perhaps no other comic has reached before or since . Murphy ’s energetic and screaming execution in the famous ice cream truck bit is alone a monitor that , even with his winner in movies and video , the endure - up stage is where Murphy is at his best . It pull ahead Best Comedy Album at the 1984 Grammys .
16Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You For The Last Time (1998)
Jerry Seinfeld may have become a huge sitcom whiz , but he has always been a comedian at heart and quickly returned to the stagewhenSeinfeldended . I’m tell apart You For the Last Timeis a singular standup special that takes a look at Seinfeld ’s own original approach to the business . After culminate all of his undecomposed laugh into the perfect Seth over the eld , this exceptional finds him deliver them for the last time before hit the hay his good material forever and starting from scrape . He commit to use his incredible middle for experimental humor with his take on the Olympics , MacDonalds , and Halloween . Seinfeld was nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album .
15John Mulaney: New In Town (2012)
John Mulaney ’s first Netflix funniness especial wasNew In Town , and in his first special , Mulaney established a unique and hilarious voice . He relayed stories about his lifetime from his odd anxiety like quicksand as a fry to going to the doctor as an adult to stress to get medication for his anxiety to attempt to make a flight on Delta Airlines . He ’s insightful and oddly relatable , even if the audience has n’t really been in situations he describes - the mark of a gross comic . Mulaney has also won a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys for his work onSNL .
14Maria Bamford: Old Baby (2017)
player and old hand amusing Maria Bamford , who also voices two fictional character in theHuman Resourcescast , makes full use of goods and services of her kinky talents inOld Baby . Effortlessly , Bamford launches into multi - character scenes , uproarious explanations of deeply dark subject matter , and ultimately poignant insights on family and everyday life . Apart from Bamford ’s unusual style , Old Babyhappens throughout a number of places - from inside and exterior of Bamford ’s habitation , to a bookstore , bowling skittle alley , and lastly a proper microscope stage . Old Babyis a must - see for long - sentence comedy dweeb look for actual alternative funniness . The Just for Laughs fete recognise Bamford for her unorthodox style when he was named 2016 ’s Breakout Comedy Star of the Year .
13Robin Williams: An Evening At The Met (1986)
Because of the sheer succeeder ofRobin Williams ' picture show , younger generations are hardly mindful that Williams made his bones in stand - up . InAn Evening at the Met , Williams afford with a slight against Imelda Marcos , the married woman of historical Filipino dictator and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos , and then proceeds to discuss the counter of Jesus , President Reagan ’s tenure , the effects of marijuana , and pregnancy and childbirth . His touch speedy - fire delivery tally an exhilarating feel to go along with the big laughs . An Evening at the Metreceived the 1988 Grammy Award for " Best Comedy Performance Single or Album , Spoken or Musical . "
12Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis (2020)
One of the younger comics to release textile worthy of ranking among the sound stand - up clowning specials , Taylor Tomlinson is the mainstream voice of the youngest female Millennial comic strip . InQuarter - Life Crisis , Tomlinson dissects the problems of growing up in a strict Catholic household , her own romantic family relationship , and personal struggle with mental wellness - interspersed with pop culture consultation and societal commentary . Despite its frontal of immatureness , Taylor Tomlinson ’s Netflix specialQuarter - Life Crisisis a profoundly introspective and compelling comedy routine . Tomlinson was also Just for Laughs ' 2022 Breakout Comedy Star of the Year .
11Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill (1999)
flow On Peacock
Dress to Kill , which was recorded in San Francisco , mostly touched on religion and account . Throughout the performance , Izzard managed to retell British account 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 struggle as a transgender person and how it put an end to the dreaming of joining the war machine . Dress to Killwas the receiver of two separate Emmy Awards for outstanding performance and write in 1999 .