Comedy Now: Louis C.K. Wears A Suit And An Early Richard Pryor Set Resurfaces

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.

What’s New

Louis C.K.: 2017 (Netflix)

The biggest news this week, of course, is the arrival of the first of two new Louis C.K. Netflix specials on April 4th. Titled 2017, the hour represents the end result of at least two separate chunks of tour dates the comedian scattered throughout most of 2016 and early 2017. C.K. isn’t the first big comedian to make the jump to Netflix, whose available slate already includes Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle’s latest routines. Nor will he be the last, as Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld will soon follow. Though we’re pretty sure C.K. is the only comic among them who chose to wear a suit for his performance. Unless, of course, you consider Schumer’s titular Leather Special outfit a suit, too.

Sasheer Zamata: Pizza Mind (Seeso)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJx5otc9KAk

If you’re at all familiar with current Saturday Night Live cast, chances are you’ll recognize Sasheer Zamata. (Lorne Michaels famously hired the young comic in 2014 following public outcry over its lack of diverse, female cast members.) She may not get as much airtime as Leslie Jones or Kate McKinnon, but don’t let that fool you. Zamata is a comedic force to be reckoned with, and it’s on full display in Pizza Mind, which is now available on Seeso. The comic is funny in her own right, but Pizza Mind transcends the typical setup with sketches and animations. “I wanted to include elements within the stand-up to showcase other art forms,” Zamata explains. “You can break the mold and not just be a person with a mic onstage talking for an hour.”

Steve Byrne: Tell the Damn Joke (Showtime, then Hulu and Amazon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ddl7r07pE

Meanwhile, Sullivan & Son co-creator Steve Byrne, whose three-season sitcom preceded TBS’ current comedy-centric model by a few years, premieres his latest stand-up hour on Showtime. Tell the Damn Joke, which showcases the veteran comedian’s penchant for pro-American punchlines (he comes from a military family), debuts on the premium cable channel Friday, April 7th at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Soon after, the televised special will be made available to Hulu and Amazon Prime customers with Showtime subscriptions.

What’s Not

Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin’ (Netflix)

Years before conquering the comedy concert film circuit with Live in Concert, and over a decade before Live on the Sunset Strip launched a monumental resurgence in the ’80s, Richard Pryor filmed his first stand-up special, Live & Smokin’ in 1971. Even so, the notably short set (48 minutes) didn’t see the light of day until 1985, when it was released on VHS to capitalize on Pryor’s success. Though the set contains some of Pryor more famous characters, like “Willie the Junkie” and “Wino Preacher,” it’s most notable for offering fans new and old a look back into Pryor’s career before it went later in the ’70s. It’s worth a look for all comedy aficionados with a Netflix subscription when it drops April 1st.

Eddie Murphy: Raw (Hulu and Amazon)

So too is Eddie Murphy: Raw, the 1987 followup to Delirious four years prior. The phenomenal special used to sit atop the best comedy hours available on Netflix, but the streaming giant’s license for Murphy’s second concert film expired — paving the way for Hulu to scoop it up. Unlike its predecessor, and most other stand-up films, Raw benefited from a worldwide theatrical release. As a result, Murphy’s stardom exploded on the international scene while the film itself became the highest-grossing comedy hour ever by amassing a phenomenal $50.5 million domestically. No other special has ever come close to these numbers. Hulu subscribers can check it out April 1st.

What’s Live

Ron Funches: Funch-A-Mania (Tour)

Comedy fans and television viewers alike know who Ron Funches is. Even though the 34-year-old comic didn’t record his first stand-up album until 2015, that didn’t stop the outspoken wrestling fan from accruing a massive following via multiple Chelsea Lately and @midnight appearances. Three seasons of Undateable (including a final one comprised entirely of live shows) and NBC’s new superhero sitcom, Powerless, haven’t hindered his profile either. Hence Funches’ new Funch-A-Mania tour, which he announced last week. Tickets for the first batch of shows are now available for sale online.

Boston Calling: Comedy Experience (Festival)

In January, the increasingly popular Boston Calling music festival announced its lineup, which included a “film experience curated by Natalie Portman.” With a month and a half to go before the festival hits in late May, however, this has been replaced with a “comedy experience hosted by Hannibal Buress.” Along with the latter, comedians Tig Notaro (One Mississippi), Pete Holmes (Crashing) and Eugene Mirman (Bob’s Burgers) will headline the stand-up arm of the three-day extravaganza. Other participating comics include Lamont Price, Kelly MacFarland, Phoebe Robinson, Jordan Rock, Bethany Van Delft, team Kate Berlant and John Early, Josh Johnson and Nick Chambers.