With each passing year, it seems as though more avenues open up for artists, specifically comedians, to unleash content in unique and exciting new ways. In 2023, there was no exception to that idea, as a venerable ocean of specials, albums and overall digital content made its way into the world via numerous outlets aside from the usual goliaths like Netflix and HBO. We saw the birth of new independent comedy-centered record labels, comedians opting for self-produced specials on YouTube, Moment and even OnlyFans, and a number of artists “graduating” from self-produced work to the big stages of Peacock, HBO Max, Amazon video, and of course Netflix.
As with every year, we wish we could tell you about every single release that came about, but instead, we’ve chosen our 23 favorite comedy releases to share with you in hopes that you’ll either check them out for the first time, or hell, maybe just agree with our picks and watch them again as we head into hibernation mode this winter. So, dive in and enjoy.
Steve Hofstetter, The Recipe
Although we’ve wasted quite a bit of time in our lives scrolling over short novels about the memories connected to someone’s quiche recipe, Steve Hofstetter’s deeply detailed and rich storytelling special is the exception, as he brings all the feels to the surface with both light-hearted and, at times, solemn reflections about his parents, siblings and growing up in Queens, among a treasure trove of subcategories that present his poetically crafted “gallows humor” in an intimate way, amongst the warm and unique setting of his elementary school auditorium.
Andrew Santino, Cheeseburger
For as long as he’s been on the stand-up grind, Andrew Santino’s blunt Chicago attitude has made him a freight train of upfront and honest comedy. While his latest hour special harbors much of that, as well as a healthy dose of timely political and socially-centered commentary, he also largely uses his powers for good instead of evil, and offers up exactly what he wants people to have when checking out his work — a good time for everyone in the room, and a boat load of gut-busting laughs they don’t feel cheap or baited.
Marcella Arguello, Bitch, Grow Up
For anyone familiar with the potency of Marcella Arguello’s comedy and confidence, it’s no surprise that her debut special found its way to our list. But what really makes this piece of work stand out so much is the sheer velocity with which she operates within just a 30-minute window. Jumping from topic to topic with a ferocious energy, but not one that offers jokes that seem rushed or undercooked, Arguello keeps it real as she continues to stake her claim as one of the best talents coming out of the vast and eclectic LA comedy scene today.
Marc Maron, From Bleak To Dark
For someone who has shared his own personal struggles, tragedies and all-around misery with his audience, Marc Maron brought his latest hour into a whole new shade of darkness. Whether he was reflecting on timely political and social topics, or more prominently the loss of his partner, Lynn Shelton and the struggles surrounding his father’s battle with dementia, Maron’s emotion is on his sleeve the entire time, but not once does it take away from his legendary ability to dig deep and find a humorous and often thoughtful angle in even the most dour of recollections.
Bert Kreischer, Razzle Dazzle
Arguably the most powerful comedy freight train coming out of 2023, Bert Kreischer’s fifth special showed that not only is he still the fun-loving party machine who seeks to pack as much high-octane hilarity into an hour as he can, but he’s also approaching familiar topics from a different place. He delves into more heartfelt and sometimes emotional moments while also roasting the hell out of his family, friends, and pretty much anyone he comes in contact with. He maintains the attributes that made us love him to begin with, while also not being afraid to step a bit further out of his sweet spot.
Kelsey Cook, The Hustler
The subject matter covered within Kelsey Cook’s is well-sculpted with stories about her divorce, the craziness of the modern dating scene and everything that goes along with it and then some. But what truly puts this late-February gem on this list is the pacing with which Cook dictates her time on stage. Like a strategic boxer, Cook weaves from quick observations to long form stories with ease, and curates a dangerously sharp and on-target creative flow that is felt from start to finish.
Jenny Zigrino, Jen-Z
It’s Jenny Zigrino’s world, and we’re just living in it. In her first stand-up special, the Boston-bred comedian tackles a cavalcade of topics, both personal and cultural, with a gloriously blunt honesty that dominates a tight rope walk between the type of “unfiltered” comedy that descends into chaos and the relatable sentiments that has made her comedy so appealing to fellow millennials over the course of her already well-established career.
Kyle Kinane, Shocks & Struts
Another special from Kyle Kinane, another masterclass on how to take the mundane and turn it into a tapestry of philosophical insights, crushing self-deprecation, and an all-too-relatable perspective when it comes to dealing with daily struggles with being an operational human. If a fine, aged whiskey were a person, we’re willing to bet it’d be in the form of Kyle Kinane, to which we would say “bottoms up!” every time — and this time is no exception.
John Mulaney, Baby J
To be able to crawl out of the rubble of your own self-destruction is inspirational. But, as John Mulaney shows in his latest tour de force, crawling from that rubble with the ability to take a Willy Wonka summersault into your own self-deprecation is another. The fact that this show was recorded in Boston is cool, but what makes it even cooler is that the comedy superstar doesn’t try to let himself off the hook by bringing his struggles with addiction into a comedic light, but rather show the sheer insanity he both curated an endured to live that life and keep the finger pointed at himself the whole time. It was also good just to see him healthy and able to recapture the charm that we feared went away with the days of Kid Gorgeous.
Bobcat Goldthwait, Soldier For Christ
For someone who a lot of people thought went away with the ‘80s, Bobcat Goldthwait certainly brought his superstardom of yesteryear into a modern focus this year with his new album. With a microphone in one hand and a cowboy hat in the other, the longtime stand-up great threw down a rootin’ tootin’ hour chock full of his signature scathing verbal middle fingers to the stars-and-bars faction of society, his not-so-fond memories of organized religion, and his recent health issues, all delivered in his telltale spastic demeanor. What makes this release even more special are the bonus tracks that bring us into the way-back machine to visit a young Goldthwait and his old pal, Tom Kenny. A real time capsule moment in 2023, for sure.
Lewis Black, Tragically, I Need You
Sometimes, a moment to be still and mindful of our breathing isn’t gonna cut it for the times we live in. That’s where Lewis Black returns, from the frontlines of fighting grotesque absurdity with reason and rage, to tell us in his own way that it’s not only okay to be pissed off, but almost unavoidable. Of course, as he gets older, the heartfelt sentiments multiply and hit a bit harder each time, and with this go-around, the stories about the impact that his parents had on him show an even deeper side of Black that we should consider ourselves lucky to see. Not because of the novelty of it, but because it shows just how much a creative and comedic genius he truly continues to be with each new hour.
Sarah Silverman, Someone You Love
The level of “I don’t give a fuck” that Sarah Silverman still harbors is majestic. Whether it’s her delivery, or the poetic vulgarity she uses, or the almost cringe-worthy pictures she prints with her hilariously dirty verbal illustrations, the longtime stand-up vet’s return to the comedy special conversation brings such a refreshing level of creative freedom and understanding of her audience, that it truly left us wanting it to go on for a bit longer. Here’s to more Silverman sooner rather than later in the new year.
John Early, Now More Than Ever
When John Early made the decision to take every element that you could imagine putting into a stand-up special, it sounds like it would be a scattered mess. But once he smashed them all together, what he came away with was a gloriously chaotic, sweaty and fun hour of music, stand-up and sketch comedy that perfectly encapsulates the humor and fabulous, dramatic flair with which Early operates his eclectic comedy approach at home as one of the most in-demand comedy voices coming out of New York City, and abroad as a representative for thoughtful and meticulously crafted comedy greatness.
Mark Normand, Soup To Nuts
Besides maybe Ari Shaffir, Mark Normand is the living embodiment of “dedicating to the bit.” As a man of few words but many jokes, Normand’s first full-hour soirée with Netflix is a triumphant milestone, and it’s obvious throughout that he brought his A-game for the occasion. With jabs both big and small at anything you can really think of, Normand walks a tight rope masterfully with a brutally apparent love for the art of jokes and joke writing, and the desire to just make people laugh, cry or gasp at any of his deliciously off-color observations.
Jared Freid, 37 & Single
From start to finish, Jared Freid’s Netflix debut is all killer no filler. The laughs-per-minute ratio is virtually unmatched as the jokes pour out with the Needham native’s chaotic energy toward a smattering of topics like love and dating, being single as an older guy, and just how great it actually can be, contrary to public belief. There’s no exact moment where it takes place, but Freid certainly strikes a nerve with the crowd that has them hooked from the jump, making for a fun hour that had us feeling like we were in the room with him the whole time.
Chris Fleming, Hell
Whatever it is that Chris Fleming uses to put together his stand-up specials, we’ll take two. After watching the sheer creative absurdity with which the Stow native navigates in his Peacock debut, it’s clear as day that there truly is no talent quite like Fleming. From musical numbers, to sketches, to stand-up, the depths from which Fleming’s creative inspirations come from are yet to be seen, and we like that way. The true hilarity of this special rests largely in the arena of thinking “what the hell am I watching?” but loving every goddamn second of what’s going on in front of you.
Dan Cummins, Trying To Get Better
In this day and age, it’s never easy to walk the line between political ideologies, but in his YouTube-released special, Dan Cummins shows that it’s definitely possible — and quite fun once you’re in that spot. Calling out conspiracy theorists, party extremists, and “the word police,” Cummins stays A-political while dishing out the hard truth to both sides of the aisle, while once again suggesting his own policies that may or may not have you raising a fist for a minute before he moves it along and takes on the next subject. It’s not hateful or bitter, or even pointed at one side. Rather, it’s along the lines of being fed up with the bullshit and squabbling, and that’s something we can all get behind.
Sam Jay, Salute Me or Shoot Me
Always upfront, and always willing to say the uncomfortable things that need to be said, Sam Jay’s sophomore special is a downright killer hour. As she tackles the intricacies of relationships and family dynamics, while also drawing something of a new blueprint of what you can and can’t say or how you can say it, the Dorchester native ties it all together with a myriad of subsequent stories that come together in a call for empathy and understanding in a time where they kind of message is sorely needed. If this is even a fraction of what we can expect from Jay in the future, expect her to be on this list for years to come.
Beth Stelling, If You Didn’t Want Me Then
We’re not exactly sure if it’s the laid back demeanor or the lack of apprehension in speaking her mind, but there is something almost supernatural that makes Beth Stelling’s second special so magnetic. Whether she’s talking about aging or monitoring her father’s army of neighborhood raccoons, Stelling commands the stage with a near punk rock-type of defiance that translates to a potent comedic delivery and keeps the laughs coming with every sidebar and small detail she objects into her wonderfully executed storytelling.
Pete Holmes, I Am Not For Everyone
For as long as he’s been on a stand-up stage, Pete Holmes has had a way of getting into the audience’s collective mind and setting out on a highly understandable and relatable journey with them. His latest hour is no exception, as he digs his heels into his absurdist perspective with thoughts on religion and atheism, the absurdity of New Year’s Eve, the idea that our phones are listening to everything we say, and the intensity of small children. Whether it’s his approach or the subject matter itself, Holmes once again delivers a near cozy hour of comedy that is so rich with punchlines that it should be on every single year’s-end list.
Mike Birbiglia, The Old Man and The Pool
With his latest in-depth and theatrical approach to the stage, Mike Birbiglia further ascends into a league of his own. Thoughts and stories that shouldn’t naturally connect find their way to each other seamlessly, woven through the ever-regenerating creative mind of the Shrewsbury native as he muses on mortality, fatherhood, and the YMCA pool, as he brings it all together into another rock solid, expertly-crafted and even sometimes heart wrenching conclusion that will likely find you on the edge of your seat without you even noticing.
Chad Daniels, Mixed Reviews
There’s nothing “mixed” about our feelings toward this one. Chad Daniels brings out all the best elements of his act for a laid back hour that gets the stories and punchlines into the world with an almost mesmerizing confidence. The material gets stronger and hits harder as the Minnesota-based comic brings us to the ground floor of his life and perspective, as he navigates through his experiences with fathering older kids, dating after his divorce, and his questions about the legitimacy of the COVID vaccine card (not in the way you’re probably thinking). While he may not be the only one, Daniels shows once again that the glitz, glam and crazy budget is not necessarily needed to create a killer special.
Stavros Halkias, Fat Rascal
Whether it’s his subtle mannerisms, his verbal illustration and relatable references to pop culture, or his warlock-level crowd work abilities, Stavros Halkias rises to the occasion in his Netflix debut. Within stories of relationship failures, self-deprecating reflections, and a heavyweight amount of jabs at everything from Elon Musk and his “poor people” spending to how dumb people sound when they discuss “defending our borders,” no one is safe, including Halkias himself, which only makes the hour feel more accessible and real.