Netflix’s decision to host specials some years ago gave a tremendous boost to the global stand-up comedy scene

As a working stand-up comedian, I have a special place in my heart for Netflix’s stand-up specials. While some don’t like to admit it, Netflix’s decision to host specials some years ago gave a tremendous boost to the global stand-up comedy scene, making viewers more aware of comedians and educating those who never came across this type of show.

So, every now and then, we check in with what’s happening on Netflix to bring you the best shows out there, those that stand above the rest and are a guaranteed laugh!

Here are the best stand-up comedy shows that came out this past year!

The Legend Of Fluffy

Gabriel Iglesias, known as “Fluffy”, continues to please audiences and score high with his good-natured humour and relatable storytelling. With his voices and sound effects enriching his routines, Inglesias is the very definition of “affable” in an era where edginess has overtaken the comedy field. Despite his enormous success and after 27 years, his stories are still relatable and his self-deprecating humour elevates his show rather than being a cheap attempt at self-pity. In his new special “The Legend of Fluffy”, Iglesias talks about living the single life, how he aims not to offend but to entertain and how having his house broken in leads him to a hilarious encounter with an elderly gun salesman. Infectious, warm and likeable, Iglesias still has it after all these years!

Fun fact: Did you know that Gabriel almost had a show in Cyprus? Yup, true story. Negotiations were being finalised for him to include Cyprus in his latest comedy tour but plans fell apart due to Covid. Here’s to hoping he swings by in the future!

Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All

While I wrote that edginess is now the new norm – to an annoying degree – there is a way to embrace that kind of comedy and come out ahead of the pack. Anthony Jeselnik might just be the superior joke craftsman working today, taking material nobody wants to touch and masterfully building jokes with punchlines that leave everyone floored. Equal parts brilliant and offensive, Jeselnik sticks to his guns and utilises his unique delivery to land joke after joke after joke, relentlessly and aggressively challenging the audience to be offended at something. He weaves subjects and themes together in hilarious ways, taking sharp turns to the extremes of any social issue in ways that leave audiences roaring with laughter and shock.

In his new special, Jeselnik takes on the age of consent, US politics, his everlasting war with parents, trans rights and slams comedians who rage against cancel culture!

Jeselnik’s last show of this tour actually took place in Nicosia three months ago and it’s the only comedy special where I can comfortably say “Well, it’s great but seeing it live is a whole different experience”!

Dave Attell: Hot Cross Buns

There is a breed of comics that is known as “a comic’s comic”. Performers that comics consider to be top class, amazingly funny but their material and performances don’t have a broader appeal. The late Norm McDonald was one of them, Dave Attell is another. Attell’s shows are a masterclass in comedic delivery, joke structure and witty observations on the world. Attell is hilarious, perfectly embodying the “world-weary comic” persona, a man who has seen enough of the world to know he is sick of it. Attell spins dark, edgy material in an absurd way that makes it relatable to the audience, jumping from subject to subject, quick-firing jokes that land every time.

In his special, Attell tells people how he loves his mother so much that he set up an OnlyFans page for her, storming the Capitol, and how vaping is killing a generation!

The Roast of Tom Brady

Roasting shows are an acquired taste. Some people absolutely love them, others cannot stand them. I’m not a huge fan but the “Tom Brady Roast” that dropped in May was one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Hosted by Kevin Hart and Jeff Ross, the show went on for almost three hours, with sports celebrities and comedians taking turns roasting each other and famous quarterback Tom Brady. Comedians who took the stage include Kevin Hart, Jeff Ross, Tom Segura, Andrew Shultz, Bert Kreischer and Nikki Glacier. Glacier was considered to be the stand-out during the whole event, delivering what many fans considered the highlight of the night.

WARNING: This show was live and unedited so if you are even in the slightest prone to be offended, stay away.

Nate Bargatze: “Your friend”

If you went through three hours of dark humour, let me clean your palate with some clean, relatable and laid-back jokes by the loveable and universally appealing Nate Bargatze. Bargatze is a rare voice in the community, known for his observational humour and down-to-earth storytelling where he finds the hilarious in everyday situations and the small things in life. Charming as ever, in his new special “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze” the southern comedian delivers jokes in his folksy, dry manner about his thoughts on getting another dog, how his wife is the responsible one in their relationship and answers the age-old question: How much pizza is enough for a guys’ night?