{"id":2193419,"date":"2025-12-10T11:03:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T11:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2193419"},"modified":"2025-12-10T11:03:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T11:03:18","slug":"the-best-comedy-specials-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-best-comedy-specials-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The best comedy specials of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wow, 2025 \u2014 in the race to dismantle civilization, you certainly outdid yourself. And it took some brilliant stand-ups this year to take our problems big and small and turn them into jokes that reminded us that what we\u2019re going through isn\u2019t so bad or at least offer solace that things could always be worse. The best comedy specials even found a way to bring humanity together. From arena-level acts to L.A.\u2019s favorite local comics, these were our favorite comedy specials from 2025.<\/p>\n

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Los Angeles, CA. October 2, 2025 – Comedian Frankie Quinones at Super Chief Art Gallery in Los Angeles, CA Thursday, October 2, 2025. ( Ethan Benavidez\/For The Times)<\/p>\n

(Ethan Benavidez\/For The Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Frankie Qui\u00f1ones, \u201cDamn, That\u2019s Crazy\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

In his Hulu debut \u201cDamn That\u2019s Crazy,\u201d comedy sketchmaster Frankie Qui\u00f1ones, who earned viral fame for his Cholofit character, does all the heavy lifting as himself. And at certain points, he definitely gets heavy.<\/i> Directed by Ali Wong, the special takes viewers on a journey of relationship baggage, pandemic-related sex addictions and unresolved family trauma over sexual abuse he endured when he was a child. Yet still \u2014 there are plenty of laughs along the way. It\u2019s the type of thing that people will certainly label as brave, but only because it succeeds without trying to be. (Nate Jackson)<\/i><\/p>\n

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\"Andrew <\/picture>\n
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Andrew Schulz: LIFE. Andrew Schulz at the Beacon Theatre in New York, NY. Cr. Clifton Prescod\/Netflix \u00a9 2025<\/p>\n

(Clifton Prescod\/Netflix)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Andrew Schulz, \u201cLife\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to be fooled into thinking Andrew Schulz is living his best life when he\u2019s in the spotlight. But the stand-up comic and successful podcaster has been through his own share of problems too, like his and his wife\u2019s efforts to have a baby. It was an ordeal that inspired a refreshingly honest core of his latest hour titled, simply, \u201cLife,\u201d which focused on struggles with conception, IVF and new fatherhood. Though 2025 was a year when his name was often linked to the manosphere led by Joe Rogan, Schulz\u2019s special puts less effort into shock humor and any alt-right political agendas (though there is a touch of that here and there) as he leads with his personal story that shows a side to him as a parent that makes it not just funny, but also a compelling watch. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Our picks for this year\u2019s best in arts and entertainment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Sebastian Maniscalco, \u201cIt Ain\u2019t Right\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

In his seventh special, \u201cIt Ain\u2019t Right,\u201d Sebastian Maniscalco continues his streak as the Michael Jordan of disgruntled dad humor. As an arena-level act, the 51-year-old Chicago-bred comic still has the rubber-limbed athleticism and animated bravado that allows every one of his punchlines to be seen from space (or at least the cheap seats). But the over-the-top exaggeration he\u2019s known for is always rooted in humility and shame \u2014 as with any good Italian. The infirmities of getting older are also a key source of laughter in this new hour, from the struggle of putting on socks, going to bed with sleep apnea or taking his family to the zoo. Like the title of the special, a lot of the stress Maniscalco continues to put up with as a superstar comic doesn\u2019t seem right, but thankfully it\u2019s still funny. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Bill Burr, \u201cDrop Dead Years\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

No one detonates a room with honesty and irritation quite like Bill Burr, and his latest, \u201cDrop Dead Years,\u201d shows the comedian in his fully evolved form. His rants remain forever<\/i> epic as he talks about outlawing war, freedom of kids\u2019 speech, social acceptance, (not) thinking positive and fake political empathy. He even turns inward, questioning his own need to be likable and empathetic. Burr may joke that he\u2019s a broken man, but as fans would expect, he pieces it together beautifully in this special. (Ali Lerman)<\/i><\/p>\n

Jordan Jensen, \u201cTake Me With You\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Jordan Jensen\u2019s comedy is hard to categorize, just like the rest of her. And while that\u2019s generally how we like our funny people \u2014 layered, nuanced, tortured \u2014 it tends to wreak havoc on the actual lives of the comics themselves. Not quite fitting in a box (even though she definitely knows how to build one) has been Jensen\u2019s shtick since birth. She grew up in upstate New York, raised in a heavy-construction family that included three lesbian moms and a dad who died when she was young. Because of that unconventional background, she says her level of hormone-fueled boy craziness mixed with her rugged ability to swing a hammer basically turned her into \u201ca gay man.\u201d Somewhere in her teens she entered a \u201cfat mall goth\u201d phase that she\u2019s never left, even after becoming a popular comedian worthy of a Netflix special. Combining her inner Hot Topic teen with freak-flag feminism and alpha-male energy, her style makes not fitting in feel like one of the coolest things you can do \u2014 because it is. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Atsuko Okatsuka<\/p>\n

(Mary Ellen Matthews \/ Disney)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Atsuko Okatsuka, \u201cFather\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

There were a lot of specials that came out this year, but only one featured a perfectly coiffed bowl haircut, because only Atsuko Okatsuka could pull it off. In her latest for Hulu, \u201cFather,\u201d Okatsuka makes a great case for codependency as she talks about living a tandem life with her husband Ryan, their choice not to have kids, the downside to having \u201ca story,\u201d and she also pulls back the pompoms on the dark side of cheerleading. Okatsuka\u2019s movements are just as witty as her words, her energy is infectious, and \u201cFather\u201d is as refreshingly unpredictable as she is. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Gabriel Iglesias: Legend of Fluffy. Gabriel Iglesias at the Hard Rock Seminole in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cr. Clifton Prescod\/Netflix \u00a9 2024<\/p>\n

(Clifton Prescod\/Netflix)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Gabriel Iglesias, \u201cLegend of Fluffy\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

In the pantheon of stand-up comedy\u2019s living legends, few names carry more weight than Fluffy\u2018s. In \u201cLegend of Fluffy,\u201d which premiered on Netflix in January, the comedian born Gabriel Iglesias takes fans through a giant retrospective of his career in comedy while zooming in on certain aspects of life: dating as a newly single man, trying to age gracefully, and a robbery that happened at his former home in Long Beach. It\u2019s the type of special that is loud (just like his Hawaiian shirts) but also contains a positive message about refusing to give up on your dreams even in the face of obstacles, doubt or a near-death experience on a private jet. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Marc Maron, \u201cPanicked\u201d (HBO)<\/b><\/p>\n

The L.A. comedy scene\u2019s favorite curmudgeon is still finding the will to propel himself forward, hurtling over one existential crisis after another. Many of them come out in his latest HBO special, \u201cPanicked,\u201d where he zooms in on the indignities of not only growing old but finding ways to care for an aging dad whom he describes as \u201cnewly demented.\u201d Between bits about being unlucky in love, we see flashes of pain held over from the death of his partner Lynn Shelton. But that vulnerability one might ordinarily save for therapy comes out in the form of genius, nonsensical segues to bits about rat poop under his house, Hitler\u2019s fashion choices, the saving power of Taylor Swift and more from Maron\u2019s endearing, hopelessly twisted psyche. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Nate Jackson<\/p>\n

(Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Nate Jackson, \u201cSuper Funny\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason Nate Jackson\u2019s debut Netflix special arrives during barbecue season. Perched on a stool under the spotlight at his shows, the comedian spends most of the evening delivering hospital-worthy third-degree burns to crowd members who want the smoke. Throughout his quick-witted hour of crowd work on \u201cSuper Funny,\u201d Jackson finds a way to weave the stories of his random audience members together in a way that makes the whole show feel pre-planned. Meanwhile, even as Jackson is busy making fans the butt of his comedic freestyle, the person laughing the hardest in the crowd is usually the roastee. It\u2019s the mark of good crowd work that\u2019s not simply well done but, more important, done well. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Leanne Morgan, \u201cUnspeakable Things\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Most comics are used to getting better with age but not necessarily bigger. Though she\u2019s just turned 60 years old, one of comedian Leanne Morgan\u2019s funniest jokes about herself is about just how big she\u2019s gotten \u2014not in terms of her career but her figure. It\u2019s one of the first lines that escapes her mouth in her latest Netflix special, \u201cUnspeakable Things.\u201d But despite her jokes about not fitting into the typical Hollywood mold, it\u2019s clear that Morgan\u2019s life and career have certainly changed for the better since her hit 2023 Netflix debut, \u201cI Am Every Woman.\u201d As she grabbed the mic again for the streamer in 2025 \u2014 this time on a glitzy stage wearing a golden gown \u2014 her unvarnished style of storytelling shows us why she\u2019s resonating with much of America. There\u2019s just no substitute for a whip-smart Southern woman telling it like it is. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Iliza Shlesinger<\/p>\n

(Marcus Ubungen \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Iliza Shlesinger, \u201cA Different Animal\u201d (Prime Video)<\/b><\/p>\n

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger takes the word \u201cspecial\u201d very seriously, and not just because she\u2019s done a lot of them (seven). It\u2019s because when she hits the stage, the goal is to leave a mark. In her latest, \u201cA Different Animal,\u201d Shlesinger dives into her evolution as a mother of two dealing with \u201cmom brain\u201d while proudly upholding her role as an elder millennial who can school Gen Z and Alpha newbies on what\u2019s up with a mixture of wisdom, wit and wild animal noises. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Ralph Barbosa, \u201cPlanet Bosa\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

Garnering nationwide buzz since his debut Netflix special \u201cCowabunga,\u201d Ralph Barbosa has reached the top of his game in \u201cPlanet Bosa,\u201d his latest hour on Hulu. Aside from getting more comfortable on stage, the 28-year-old exudes an energy in this new phase of his career that\u2019s a welcome surprise from a guy whose packed schedule barely leaves time for sleep. The new special delves into his dating life, family woes as a young single dad and writing cleverly authentic jokes about the shocking ICE raids that have led to widespread detention and deportation of immigrants. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Jim Gaffigan, \u201cLive From Old Forester\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Raise your glass to Jim Gaffigan for being THE pre-party for Thanksgiving with his latest offering, \u201cLive From Old Forester: The Bourbon Set.\u201d Dedicated to his love of the spirit, Gaffigan\u2019s \u201cpassion project\u201d is already at over 3 million views and is packed with bourbon history and facts, wacky bourbon names, and consumption stories that even someone who covets Fighting Cock over Blanton\u2019s would connect with. And of course, between the mash bills and tasting notes, he still manages to slip in plenty of self-roasting. Gaffigan called this special \u201cniche,\u201d but the truth is, when he\u2019s the symposiarch, \u201cThe Bourbon Set\u201d is an oak barrel of straight-up laughs for the masses. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Steph Tolev<\/p>\n

(Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Steph Tolev, \u201cFilth Queen\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Blunt, unapologetic, insanely funny and owning the crown of \u201cFilth Queen,\u201d Steph Tolev knocked it out of the smutty park with her first Netflix special. Produced by Bill Burr and filmed at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, her show rips through bodily functions, dating gone wrong and, spoiler, the messy truths about women. Her energy is next level, her confidence is all I want for Christmas, and no matter your gender, or if you\u2019re holding in gas or not, Tolev is giving everyone (except maybe your parents) permission to laugh at the good, the bad and the hairy. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Cristela Alonzo<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Cristela Alonzo, \u201cUpper Classy\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

In the third installment of the Texas comedian\u2019s \u201cClassy\u201d trilogy (\u201cLower Classy\u201d was in 2017, and \u201cMiddle Classy\u201d in 2022), Alonzo definitely saved the most class for last. \u201cUpper Classy,\u201d her latest special, is by far her most vulnerable, which the comedian says is necessary, especially during this political moment when people like her are spoken about in the news, but not spoken to. She gives us her rags-to-riches story of growing up in an abandoned diner with her family, pairing that against her life now and enjoying the childhood she never had \u2014 and the ability to keep all her bills on autopay. After being taught to work hard in an immigrant household, Alonzo is learning how to live hard \u2014 and have fun \u2014 in her 40s (including taking swimming lessons). With her glow-up complete, Alonzo still makes it a point to rep her Mexican roots with pride. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Ali Siddiq, \u201cRugged\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Switching back and forth between high-energy and effortless cool, Ali Siddiq captivates as he shares (and acts out) insane family stories in \u201cRugged.\u201d A master of storytelling, Siddiq talks about staying honest, teenagers and their antics, and getting mad about things that aren\u2019t even happening, all while keeping each one of his bits hilarious to the end. Siddiq might not be the king in his own castle, but he\u2019s certainly a king among comedians, and \u201cRugged\u201d proved it this year. (Fun fact: Siddiq released two specials in 2025, the other being \u201cMy Two Sons,\u201d which is equally as great and also on YouTube.) (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Jim Norton, \u201cUnconceivable\u201d (YouTube) <\/b><\/p>\n

Filmed at the Comedy Cellar in New York, Jim Norton\u2019s newest hour, \u201cUnconceivable,\u201d explores everything from adjusting his life (and apartment) as a first-time husband to intimacy with his wife, Nikki, all while remaining brutally honest, dark and Norton to the core. Even listening to him explain the pressures and expectations that society places on strangers and their marriages \u2014 which should fully be serious \u2014 feels more like a comedy confessional rather than a set. He\u2019s an industry veteran for good reason. His \u201cUnconceivable\u201d is as funny and as raw as it gets, proving once again that there\u2019s no such thing as TMI when it\u2019s delivered by the right comedian. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Jay Jurden, \u201cYes Ma\u2019am\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

In his first special, \u201cYes Ma\u2019am, \u201dcomedian and Mississippi native Jay Jurden burns verbal calories while showing the world why queer men from the South are often undefeated at being hilarious and<\/i> relatable. Dependably lethal with his joke construction, Jurden\u2019s every breath is laced with humor as he covers transphobia rules, emo rappers, traveling through blue dot cities, and fun stories with a dash of cuckoldry. His Southern background may have shaped his stories, but it\u2019s Jurden\u2019s hilarious and frank honesty that make \u201cYes Ma\u2019am\u201d a \u201chell yes, ma\u2019am!\u201d for 2025. And that million-dollar smile doesn\u2019t hurt either. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Rosebud Baker<\/p>\n

(Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Rosebud Baker, \u201cThe Mother Lode\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Life-altering in the sincerest sense of the word, \u201cThe Mother Lode\u201d comedically chronicles Rosebud Baker\u2019s journey into motherhood, in real time. Skilled at mining laughs from life\u2019s toughest situations and with her internal dumpster fire front and center, Baker goes from resisting parenthood to IVF, miscarriages, discussing parenting styles and questioning her own identity. Filmed and edited superbly with the same version of a joke, pre- and post-pregnancy, Baker truly did hit the mother lode giving birth to this special that now gets to live with its other mama, Netflix. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Ken Flores, \u201cLOL Live With Ken Flores\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

This year, the comedy world lost one of its biggest up-and-coming voices with the death of Ken Flores at age 28. Migrating from the Chicago stand-up scene to L.A., the loud comic made his presence known with raw, street-wise style, a diamond grill that made crowds smile before he even told a joke. Weight-related humor aside, Flores was undoubtedly one of the heavies in the local stand-up scene, and this half-hour comic assault is a time capsule of what could have been with this rising talent who left us too soon. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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\"Bert <\/picture>\n
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Bert Kreisher <\/p>\n

(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Bert Kreischer, \u201cLucky\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Bert Kreischer resumes his shirtless razzle-dazzle and talent for hilarious, heartfelt storytelling in his special \u201cLucky,\u201d inspired by his constant state of identifying the luck in his life. Most of that luck, let\u2019s be honest, is actually the result of being married to his wife, LeAnn, who keeps him from going over the edge with his antics. If you\u2019re into his brand of bare-chested misadventures, you will get plenty of that. But the heart of this latest hour doesn\u2019t really show up until Kreischer\u2019s moving tribute to his family\u2019s dog, which will leave you laughing and crying right along with him. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Comedian CP, \u201cSunday After Six\u201d (Veeps)<\/b><\/p>\n

Chris Price, a.k.a. comedian CP, is a killer on the mic. Whether he\u2019s hosting or headlining, comedy fans who\u2019ve seen him perform know that his dragon-style delivery mixed with creative storytelling breathes fire onto any stage. His debut special, \u201cSunday After Six\u201d puts all of his skills firmly on display in a way that will hopefully lead to our seeing more of him on the screen next year. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Trae Crowder, \u201cLiberal Redneck\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t judge a comedian by his accent, especially if it\u2019s Trae Crowder. Though the Tennessee-born comedian describes his voice as having more Southern twang than \u201ca racist banjo,\u201d it takes him less than two minutes onstage to show why he\u2019s known as \u201cthe Liberal Redneck.\u201d Whether it\u2019s punchlines skewering white supremacists or viral video rants about the Trump era filmed from the front seat of his sun-damaged Jeep, Crowder\u2019s brand of comedy is a mind-melting combination that never minces words about where he stands on major topics related to America. His latest special, \u201cTrash Daddy\u201d \u2014 released on YouTube via comedy platform 800 Pound Gorilla \u2014 swerves among jokes about politics, family and living life as a hick from the sticks while trying to raise California-bred children. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Phoebe Robinson, \u201cI Don\u2019t Want to Work Anymore\u201d (YouTube)<\/b>
Phoebe Robinson\u2019s new comedy special dismantles girl-boss culture, questioning whether financial independence and constant achievement actually lead to women\u2019s happiness. \u201cI Don\u2019t Want to Work Anymore\u201d tackles modern dating, aging and the exhausting pressure to constantly create content. The 41-year-old comedian now prioritizes rest, boundaries and authentic work over relentless productivity and the need for external validation. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Tim Dillon, \u201cI\u2019m Your Mother\u201d (Netflix)<\/b><\/p>\n

Taped at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas, \u201cI\u2019m Your Mother\u201d is Tim Dillon doing what he does best, showering us with the confidence of a man who\u2019s absolutely done pretending things make sense. From America\u2019s never-ending identity crisis and celebrity worship to his own royal worship and to what parenting seems like from his view, he breaks down the world\u2019s nonsense with the energy of someone who\u2019s seen some s\u2014 and isn\u2019t impressed. \u201cI\u2019m Your Mother\u201d isn\u2019t guidance, it\u2019s a verbal smackdown wrapped in laughter that\u2019s unremorseful and so well written, Tim Dillon is now our<\/i> mother. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Kathleen Madigan, \u201cThe Family Thread\u201d (Prime Video)<\/b><\/p>\n

Kathleen Madigan\u2019s \u201cThe Family Thread\u201d gifts us an hour built on the everyday chaos and wry Midwestern sensibility that define her comedy. From absurd family group texts to aging parents and small-town quirks that feel instantly recognizable, she never fails to turn the frustrations of life into sarcastically sharp punchlines. \u201cThe Family Thread\u201d is a master class on why Madigan has kept people entertained for years with nothing more than honesty and outstanding storytelling. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Mike Vecchione, \u201cLow Income White\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Making a second special funnier than the first is effortless for Mike Vecchione, and \u201cLow Income White\u201d serves as an even sharper follow-up to his debut special, \u201cThe Attractives,\u201d both produced by Nate Bargatze. Vecchione\u2019s deadpan style and constant misdirection are on full display as he talks about age gaps, magic doctors and the reality of marital vows, piling on joke after sarcastic joke. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Ian Edwards, \u201cUntitled\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Ian Edwards fires off rapid-paced jokes throughout his latest special, \u201cUntitled.\u201d At the Comedy Store in La Jolla, Edwards\u2019 comfort onstage (in a onesie, no less) is in plain view as he riffs on relationships, confusing albinos, problematic travel, rooting for the wrong side of current events, and the many layers of racism in green-bubble texts. \u201cUntitled\u201d is a straight shot into the mind of Ian Edwards, and if you\u2019ve slept on this special, there\u2019s still time to fix that. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Ryan Sickler, \u201cLive & Alive\u201d (YouTube)<\/b><\/p>\n

Ryan Sickler turned thick blood into sweet wine this year with his new special \u201cLive & Alive.\u201d His trademark candor (and giggle) drives the hour as he plays tour guide through a traumatic hospital stay that nearly became his last \u2014 plenty of morbid humor to go around in this hour. His survival is his own setup and punchline as he pulls you into embarrassing bits at his own expense. And every twist and ridiculous turn leaves you grateful he\u2019s still around to tell the story while being \u201cLive & Alive.\u201d (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Chinedu Unaka, \u201cLOL Live With Chinedu Unaka\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

For over a decade, L.A.-bred comedian Chinedu Unaka\u2019s passion-driven work as a special education teacher would become the day job that both funded his dream and gave him the tools to achieve it as he held the attention of kids with ADHD while making them learn while laughing. Coming at comedy from the lens of a charismatic instructor with a Nigerian American background, Unaka\u2019s quick wit and dry humor about life, relationships and his immigrant parents are on full display in his latest special. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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\"Woman <\/picture>\n
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Cameron Esposito<\/p>\n

(Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Cameron Esposito, \u201c4 Pills\u201d (DropOut)<\/b><\/p>\n

A lot of comedy specials are made for us to sit and laugh at a comedian\u2019s funny thoughts. In her latest special, Cameron Esposito wants to take things a step further by giving you a look inside her brain. As a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 40, her mind offers a lot to unpack. But the goal remains the same as any special: to laugh at something we feel like we\u2019re not supposed to, only to realize we can relate to a person\u2019s struggles more than we think. In her latest hour, \u201cFour Pills,\u201d Esposito has honed a fresh perspective on living with bipolar disorder that forced her to take her 20 years of stand-up to the next level by bringing fans into the deepest part of her world for the first time. (N.J.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Samantha Hale, \u201cHorror Nerd\u201d (Apple TV\/ Prime Video)<\/b><\/p>\n

Only Samantha Hale, raised in Los Angeles on \u201cTop Ramen and fear,\u201d could make hair-raising terror this funny. Her long-running show, \u201cHorror Nerd,\u201d jumps from the Hollywood Improv stage to the screen as she nostalgically riffs on serial killers, the healing power of stabby movies, and turns genre obsessions, cult-classic fandom and online feedback into an unbroken chain of laugh-out-loud brilliance. No topic is too strange or scary as she turns her passions and life\u2019s oddities into \u201cHorror Nerd,\u201d a must-watch for anyone who loves humor one (bloody) bite at a time. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n

Jiaoying Summers, \u201cWhat <\/b>Specie<\/b> Are You?\u201d (Hulu)<\/b><\/p>\n

Jiaoying Summers is a single mom and a comedian, and somehow she killed it in her first stand-up hour, \u201cWhat Specie Are You?\u201d on Hulu. Summers swings from dating after divorce and discovering her identity as an immigrant, to choosing favorites between her kids and breaking down an \u201cAsian hate system\u201d that\u2019s so deadpan it almost feels reasonable. Blaming her lack of a filter on her Chinese upbringing, she will have you dying laughing one minute and feeling personally attacked the next. And that works. (A.L.)<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.latimes.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wow, 2025 \u2014 in the race to dismantle civilization, you certainly outdid yourself. And it took some brilliant stand-ups this year to take our problems big and small and turn them into jokes that reminded us that what we\u2019re going through isn\u2019t so bad or at least offer solace that things could always be worse. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2193420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2193419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-best-comedy-specials-of-2025.com2F272Fa52F3bf62585443dba912c7a64c9.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2193419"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2193421,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193419\/revisions\/2193421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2193420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2193419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2193419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2193419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}