It’s easy to find yourself in a funk after returning from winter break. New professors are stressing you out, the homework is already piling up and all you want to do is lay on the couch like you have been for the past few weeks. To try and combat these feelings of frustration, my roommates and I have implemented a new tradition to make the Sunday scaries seem a little less, well, scary. Every Sunday at 8 we gather around the living room TV with snacks and sangria and pick a random Netflix comedy special to watch together. Words can’t explain how much I look forward to this light-hearted quality time before the start of each new week. So, next time you’re feeling low, grab your gals and turn on one of my favorite 5 Netflix stand-up specials to raise your spirits!
Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
Ali Wong is seriously such a boss lady. Best known for her writing on NBC’s Fresh Off the Boat, her Netflix special takes a different turn and tells the story of how she “trapped” (as she says) her Harvard grad husband after years and years of duds. Wong effortlessly describes the awkward stage so many girls experience while transitioning from single life to dating, talking all things sex and money and truly leaving nothing off the table. Oh, and did I mention that she’s 7 months pregnant while filming this?
Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable
Yeah, yeah, we all know Ellen as the voice of Dory and the star of the world’s greatest talk show, but it’s not often that we get to see her perform stand-up anymore. With her first comedy special in 15 years, Ellen (obviously) dances and jokes, but more importantly, shows us that even though she may be rich and famous, she’s experienced hardships in life that make her more relatable than it seems. Sidenote: her impersonation of what people do when trying on new shoes gets me every time, so, please, just watch this special for that bit alone.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
If you like your comedy served with a side of political commentary, then Hasan Minhaj is the guy for you. Very much following the tone of his Netflix show Patriot Act, Homecoming King is somewhat of a “darker,” more introspective stand-up special that tells the tales of being a child of immigrants, coping with cultural differences in school and struggling to fit in. At first, I was shocked to see that there are full minutes that go by without any jokes. But, in the end, Hasan is such a captivating storyteller that he easily pulls you in and is able to so eloquently express the experience of feeling outcasted in America.
Chris D’Elia: Man on Fire
After seeing his cameo play out on You, my roommate wanted more of Chris D’Elia and suggested we watch his 2017 special. And wow, this dude is funny! Man on Fire is full of spot-on impressions, hilarious facial expressions and blatant rants about the (many) annoyances in life. After watching, it’s clear that D’Elia hates a lot of things, including the AC vents on airplanes and birthday parties, and he wants everyone to know it.
Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial
Okay, this one had me in tears from laughing so hard. Iliza Shlesinger is able to perfectly capture what it means to be a woman in the 21st century, joking about all things social media, rejection, dating… and more rejection. As an elder millennial, Iliza calls herself a mentor to girls our age, preaching that we need to stop making excuses for guys, especially when they can’t even text us back (!). All in all, this stand-up special was such a great one to watch with friends – 10/10 would recommend.