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 Now
Iliza Shlesinger’s Elder Millennial is here
Back in 2013, Iliza Shlesinger joined Bill Burr and a few other comics by debuting a new comedy special exclusively on Netflix. Since War Paint, she has released two more specials with the streaming giant. That number jumps yet again with Elder Millennial, in which she dives into undeniable truths about life at age 35, the insanity of the road she has traveled, and what more lies ahead now that she’s married. It’s a fun hour featuring the many voices, characters, and contortions Shlesinger is well-known for employing on stage, and definitely worth your time.
What’s New(s)
2 Dope Queens returns to HBO with four more specials
Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson‘s podcast-turned-HBO special series, 2 Dope Queens, will return next year for a second batch of four hour-long specials. The first four, which were directed by comedian Tig Notaro and thematically centered on topics like “New York” and “Black Nerds,” featured celebrity guests like Uzo Aduba, Tituss Burgess, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Stewart. 2 Dope Queens also showcased comedians Michelle Buteau, Mark Normand, Baron Vaughn, Aparna Nancherla, Rhea Butcher, Sheng Wang, John Early, Jackie Kashian, Kevin Barnett, Naomi Ekperigin, Al Jackson and Gary Gulman.
Flight of the Conchords: Live at the London Apollo gets a release date and a trailer
In January, HBO announced that Flight of the Conchords‘ duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement would film a brand new special to air sometime in the spring. When McKenzie suffered a hand injury that March, the reunion tour was temporarily put on hold, causing fans to worry about the previously announced special. But rest assured, New Zealand’s fourth most popular folk comedy duo’s Live at the London Apollo will be premiering on HBO, albeit not in the spring. Instead, it will debut on Saturday, October 6th at 10 pm ET. “Can you believe it?” McKenzie says in a new teaser. “That’s not the sort of thing I would say, actually.”
So does Drew Michael’s unique HBO comedy special, directed by Jerrod Carmichael
Ever since it was announced that Saturday Night Live writer Drew Michael’s new HBO special, directed by fellow comic Jerrod Carmichael, had wrapped production in June, comedy circles have been talking about the unique hour. That’s because, following in the footsteps of comedian-turned-director Bo Burnham and others, Carmichael and Michael decided to blend artistic stylings with comedy for the appropriately titled Drew Michael, The Comedian’s First HBO Special. Premiering Saturday, August 25th at 10 pm ET, the taped performance does not feature a live audience, instead having Michael address the camera directly.
The Comedy Lineup: Part Two will debut on Netflix in August
Following the successful and critically-acclaimed debut of its first part, Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup will premiere a second batch of 15-minute specials from up-and-coming stand-ups on August 31st. Filmed this past February at the historic Terminal West venue in Atlanta, The Comedy Lineup: Part Two features the unique stylings of Aisling Bea, Emma Willmann, Janelle James, Josh Johnson, JR De Guzman, Kate Willett, Matteo Lane, and Max Silvestri.
Demetri Martin returns to Netflix with The Overthinker
With 2015’s Live (At the Time), comedian, actor and musician Demetri Martin made the switch from Comedy Central, where he’d dropped Standup Comedian in 2012, to Netflix. Three years later, the unique performer is set to drop yet another special with the streaming giant. Titled The Overthinker, Martin’s latest features him taking the stage at the Moore Theater in Seattle with the visual aids, music, voice-overs and deadpan style that characterize his previous works. Even the trailer for the new hour, which Netflix dropped this week, is rife with Martin’s wonderfully irreverent brand of humor.
Just For Laughs announces its New Faces for 2018
The internationally-renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival is currently happening in Montreal, where this year’s selections for the annual New Faces competition were announced. The “New Faces of Comedy” category features Rosebud Baker, Emmy Blotnick, Joel Boyd, JC Currais, Rocky Dale Davis, Robert Dean, Kenny DeForest, Kellen Erskine, Jourdain Fisher, Simon Gibson, Mekki Leeper, Zach Noe Towers, Erica Rhodes, Paris Sashay, Usama Siddiquee, Daphinique Springs, Nina Tarr, Ron Taylor, Jordan Temple, and Jeremiah Watkins.
What’s Later
Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle announces a new batch of judges
Next Tuesday, the third season of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle will debut on Comedy Central with all new comedians and a new panel of judges. With Ross serving as roastmaster, comics Nikki Glaser and Anthony Jeselnik will help judge the competition series. Season one champion Mike Lawrence returns to compete with Todd Barry, Sarah Tiana, Mark Normand, Sam Morril, Yamaneika Saunders, Kurt Metzger, Matthew Broussard, and many more.
The second season of Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level gets a lineup and a release date
Then on Friday, the second season of Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level premieres with a whole new batch of comics on Comedy Central. Ron G, Jeff Horste, Marvin Hunter, Gueterrius “T. Murph” Jackson, Miguel “Malik S.” Sanon and Tacarra Williams will all be showcased by the world-famous comedian’s ongoing series. “I can’t wait to show the world what they’ve been missing in these six amazing talents,” Hart said in a press release. “The Next Level is the country’s opportunity to get in on the ground floor with the next generation of stand-up headliners.”
