Five trending comedy specials you can stream right now

With a recent new Covid Variant causing us to limit our December plans, we're definitely feeling as though our Festive period was yet again shelved for a 2nd time in a row.

We definitely understand how frustrating this can be. Especially considering the fact that countries were opening up for international travel shortly beforehand. On the flip side, the past two years of lockdowns have definitely created new and exciting ways to enjoy live performances without risking social distancing protocols.

Comedians, in particular, have made use of an abundance of streaming platforms that have partnered up with them to produce some of the best comedy content for quite some time. Comedy specials and shows have been cropping up all over from Showmax to Netflix providing hours of entertainment. We take a look at some of our favourite recommendations that are guaranteed to leave you streaming with laughter!

Mae Martin - Feel Good

Broadcasted right at the beginning of the pandemic, Mae Martin's Feel Good series, now with a 2nd season, has been met with critical acclaim. Mae Martin is a British born comedian who rose to stardom during the pandemic with her disarmingly autobiographical love story which follows the life of character Mae as she works to overcome addiction, identity, and the lifestyle of being a comedian following her passions.

While not specifically a comedy special, Feel Good is a slice of life comedy-drama series which focuses on the various challenges one faces in a modern world with a society still trying to play catch up with concepts surrounding identity and personal well-being. Although some of these topics may seem serious and hard to laugh about, Mae's exceptionally talented writing seeks to poke fun in every direction making these ideas easy to consume with a lighthearted and high-brow tone typical of English humour.

You can catch Feel Good on Netflix.

Amy Schumer - Growing

Amy Schumer is well known for her blunt and below-the-belt humour which focuses primarily on some of the issues women face in the modern world. Her latest comedy special, Growing, is far more than just your typical stand-up act and a little removed from her normal frontline routine following feminist themes.

Growing focuses on what it's like being a married woman expecting. Taking masterful jabs at awkward taboos surrounding sex, impropriety, and gendered norms. Schumer doubles down on her sharp edges to demonstrate that maternity is yet another aspect of a woman's journey not beyond poking fun at. 

And while other acts may hesitate to appear on stage while heavily pregnant, Schumer is committed to her special since gigging in her 2nd trimester is simply part of her repertoire of flouting expectations.

You can catch Growing on Netflix.

Trevor Noah - Son of Patricia

Trevor Noah is yet another proudly South African comedy star that has grown from success to success throughout his exceptional career. From humble beginnings as a local comedian to becoming the host of America's titular The Daily Show following in the footsteps of renowned journalist and political commentator, Jon Stewart.

In this exceptionally close-to-home comedy special, Trevor ditches his suit and tie in favour of a black T-shirt and jeans in order to deliver some of his best lines yet. Son of Patrica draws its inspiration from life lessons Trevor's mother taught him on how to deal with racism while growing up in Apartheid South Africa.

Since race and immigration are at the forefront of US politics, Trevor addresses these issues from a South African's perspective and in the form of lengthy anecdotes about Bali snake shows, ethnic foods, and of course everyone's favourite 45th US president.

You can catch Son of Patricia on Netflix.

Wanda Sykes - Not normal

Wanda Sykes is a well known American comedian and actress. If you don't know her by name you've more than likely seen her in one of Hollywood's more famous comedies from Monster in Law (starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez) or Evan Almighty (Steve Carrell's breakout comedy hit).

At her core, Wanda is a social commentator whose charismatic and upfront nature makes for a punchy yet concise delivery regardless of the topic. Known for her great "withering stare", Wanda easily gets a laugh through her quirky mannerisms, her unique inflexions, and self-deprecating stories. 

She is just as comfortable with personal jokes as she is with entertainment and politics, which covers the broader theme of her Not Normal Special. From The Bachelor to the White House, she is exceptionally talented at formulating a new spin on seemingly overdone topics in an ever-shifting political landscape.

You can catch Not Normal on Netflix.

Schalk Bezuidenhout - Levendig

Coming back for a little more local flavour, Schalk Bezuidenhout is a Kempton Park (which he calls the New York of The East Rand) born and bred Joburg comedian who started his stand-up career after realising there's "more to life than beer and rugby."

The Fuzzy-haired comedian's Levendig (Or feel good in English) focuses on local stories while putting a hilarious spin on news coverage doing the rounds in South Africa. Bezuidenhout's tongue in cheek takes on various issues surrounding race and sexuality in the country follows the theme that even a white Afrikaans boy from the plaas can recognise and address issues in a comical, yet informed and refreshing way.

Bezuidenhout is an individual who is extremely comfortable in his own skin. This is portrayed in his straight-talking yet blithe delivery which only increases his charm and provides a new yet comical perspective on the current issues we face as South Africans. From Lockdowns to elections, his particular talent at improvising jokes and engaging with the audience makes for a unique and exceptional comedy special.

You can catch Levendig on Showmax.

Read our previous article here: https://www.hamiltons.co.za/news/trending-local-art-pieces-for-a-modern-home/ 

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