Around this time every year, I get a little more stressed. There are the dreaded midterms and cold weather and class registration and mandatory family calls and eight-page essays and group projects. Sometimes I need just one hour to completely relax. I need a moment to laugh outrageously loud and forget any real problems. Usually for this hour, I turn to Netflix’s oh-so-amazing comedy specials. There are dozens of Netflix exclusive specials for any occasion. And although I love the fan favorites of John Mulaney and Mike Birbiglia, proper female representation in the comedy world is much harder to come by.
To help your search for the most hilarious women in the world, here are my five favorite female comedy specials on Netflix:
- Jenny Slate: Stage Fright
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You all probably know Jenny Slate as the brilliant Mona Lisa on the TV show Parks And Rec. But did you know she is also a world class comedian? This special is more than just jokes told on stage. Jenny fills her performance with documentary-style interviews from her siblings and parents. She takes you up close to her childhood home. This special is more of a videoed memoir with out loud cackling jokes.
- Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial
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Iliza Shlesinger got her start on the reality competition, Last Comic Standing, in 2008. Since then, Iliza has been blowing up the comedy scene with her personal stories about being a 30 year-old woman in the 21st century. This special, Elder Millennial, calls back some of her famous comedy bits, while also giving us something new to laugh at.
- Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
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Ali Wong is one of those comedians with an iconic look. With the tight patterned dress, the pointy red glasses, the ballet flats, and the rounded pregnant belly, how could you not spot Ali Wong from across the room. In her first comedy special of two, Ali dives into the troubles of pregnancy, marriage, and being an Asian-American women.
- Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
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Though she has the high voice and sweet-swinging ponytail, Sarah Silverman’s comedy special is anything but innocent. She shocks but delights the audience with her risky and graphic jokes. And although there are moments when I need to cringe and turn away, I always find my laugh at the punchline worth it.
- Hannah Gadbsy: Nanette
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Hannah Gadbsy’s “Nanette” is unlike any piece of comedy I have ever seen before. In the special, which is more performance lecture than comedy show, Hannah explains her thought process on coming up with the show. She delves into hatred for the men in society that have forced her to live a certain way. She battles her own insecurities with herself both on and off stage, and she turns it around to the audience, asking us what we can do better as a society. “Nanette” has become one of the most profound pieces of art I have ever watched. However, with all the heavy themes and emotional vulnerability, I still found myself laughing.
Comedy specials are one of the many ways to dive into something new. You gain a new perspective while laughing away the issues that you might be facing. These five female comedians offer such an original perspective into both their own lives and our societies, so I hope you have the opportunity to watch one!