Welcome to Comedy Now, a weekly column cataloging what comedy fans should know about what’s available in the streaming world. Whether it’s a brand new special, an old classic, or the oddball show that defies categorization, we’ll list as many as we can for your enjoyment right here. Who knows? We may even throw in a few non-streamable bits on occasion, like tour announcements from our favorite comics. You can check out the previous column here.
What’s Heard
Janelle James: Black and Mild (Album)
If you don’t know who Janelle James is, you’re about to. The Night Train with Wyatt Cenac and @midnight comic has successfully carved out a place for herself in the bustling New York comedy scene during the past few years. She also scored entry to the “New Faces” category at the 2016 Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. James’s debut album, Black and Mild, will begin streaming on Friday, September 29th. Recorded at Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis, James “whips” through bits on “dating, popular culture and working as a stand-up comedian.” Black and Mild is available for pre-order here.
Comedy Central Launches a Podcast Network
Between Trevor Noah’s contract extension and Jordan Klepper’s new spin-off series, Comedy Central’s plate is quite full. Yet its ever-growing slate of late night comedy offerings didn’t deter it from announcing the launch of a new global podcast network. “Podcasting is the next step in the evolution of Comedy Central content,” said Comedy Central Consumer Products SVP Steve Raizes. “We’re huge fans of podcasting and truly excited to create content based on our signature properties as well as entirely new concepts.” The first podcast, based on The Jim Jefferies Show, went live on Wednesday, September 20th.
What’s New
Jay Larson: Me Being Me (Amazon Prime and Vimeo)
Actor Jay Larson most recently popped up in Twin Peaks: The Return, which is probably why most of you reading this are wondering, “Why is the limo driver doing stand-up?” Honestly, Larson is released his latest special, Me Being Me on various video and audio streaming platforms on Friday, October 20th because he is a comic, first and foremost. With multiple appearances on Conan, Comedy Central and other shows and networks, the Massachusetts native is perfectly primed to discuss “family life, marriage, neighborhood vigilantes and more” in his latest hour.
Def Comedy Jam 25 (Netflix)
Nearly a month after Netflix first teased stand-up fans about its upcoming Def Comedy Jam 25 special, the streaming giant has released the first trailer for the new hour. Set to stream on September 26th, Def Comedy Jam 25 “celebrates the impact and legacy of the long-running comedy series with surprise guests, tributes and performances in a can’t-miss evening of unbelievably funny and raw moments.” Special guests include Martin Lawrence, Cedric The Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Monique, Mike Epps, Adele Givens, JB Smoove, D.L. Hughley, Tracy Morgan, Sheryl Underwood and many more.
The Opposition with Jordan Klepper Announces Its Team (Comedy Central)
“Selfishly, we’ve also hired some really great people to populate this world. I just have so much fun playing around with them,” The Opposition host Jordan Klepper tells Uproxx in an upcoming interview. “I can’t wait for the world to meet them.” Comedy Central later revealed who Klepper was talking about, and judging by just how many fellow Upright Citizens Brigade improv maestros and comedians are included, The Opposition‘s team will surely get to play around a lot. Tim Baltz, Laura Grey, Aaron Jackson, Josh Sharp, Kobi Libii and Niccole Thurman will help bring Klepper’s world to life on Monday, September 25th.
Jerry Before Seinfeld (Netflix)
Jerry Before Seinfeld began streaming exclusively on Netflix this past Tuesday. The first of two new stand-up specials from the venerated Seinfeld star (Seinfeld’s Netflix work will also include his next season of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee), the new comedy hour feels like less of a concert film and more like a mix of performance and documentary. Or at least that’s what its strives to do. Whether it proves to be more like Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays and Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian, or yet another standard hour, is up to the audience. Check out Uproxx‘s review for more.
What’s Not
Kill Tony (Podcast and YouTube)
Tony Hinchcliffe is best known for writing jokes for the Comedy Central Roasts and hosting his popular Kill Tony podcast at the Comedy Story venue in Los Angeles. Since 2013, he and his comic friends have presented audiences with an hour and a half of uninterrupted comedy that includes giving random amateurs a chance to impress the room. To liven things up, Kill Tony recently began live streaming its tapings via YouTube, an element that now includes the use of virtual reality (VR) — thereby affording viewers the chance to experience the entire show in 360 degrees. Uproxx recently spoke to Hinchcliffe about this process.
What’s Live
Saturday Night Live Goes Live Coast-to-Coast, Again
Saturday Night Live concluded its previous season with four episodes broadcast live across the country. The coast-to-coast edition of SNL was viewed as a means of overcoming social media’s regular practice of (unintentionally) ruining the show for the west coast, but the gimmick worked so well they’ve decided to air the entire 43rd season in the same fashion. If this weren’t exciting enough, NBC also announced the hosts and musical guests for the first three new episodes. The Big Sick and Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani will anchor the live broadcast during the October 14th show.
