In a year that could really use some levity, these five queer comedians delivered the goods. Each of these stand-up specials from 2024 brings something fresh to the table–why not make a meal of it and sample them all? Whether this holiday season finds you holed up in your childhood room or hosting friends for a night of mulled wine and cookie decorating, here are five specials to laugh your way into the new year.
1. Ilana Glazer – Human Magic
Ilana Glazer’s unapologetic new stand-up special takes a deep dive into life’s messy realities, from cringe-worthy high school memories to the wild ride of parenting as a “stoner mom.” The Broad City star, who identifies as queer/nonbinary and uses she/they pronouns, spends a good portion of the special discussing becoming a parent. “Everyone tells you how hard it is having a kid, but I’ve been shocked by the joy of it,” Glazer told The Hollywood Reporter. “People don’t seem to make space to wonder at the magic of it, because then we’d have to stop living in this capitalist structure. And also — pregnancy is funny.”
Streams on Hulu
2. Fortune Feimster – Crushing It
Crushing It is an apt name for Fortune Feimster’s latest offering, released in early December. The comedian earned Critic’s Choice Award nominations for her previous two specials, Sweet and Salty (2020) and Good Fortune (2022). And she clearly hasn’t lost her touch. In Crushing It, Feimster delivers laughs on topics ranging from her ever-evolving relationship with her mom to her honeymoon with her wife, former kindergarten teacher Jacquelyn Smith.
Streams on Netflix
3. Ellen Degeneres – For Your Approval
Before she said “peace out” to living in the United States, Ellen Degeneres returned to the stage for a show billed as her final comedy special. In For Your Approval, the former queen of daytime TV tackles her exit from show business head-on. Amid the laughs, she weaves in moments of introspection. “I’m here because I love doing stand-up, and I miss doing stand-up,” she admits. “I like making people happy, and I do care what people think.”
Streams on Netflix
4. Tig Notaro – Hello Again
Tig Notaro’s wife, actress Stephanie Allynne, may have directed Notaro’s latest special, but don’t get it twisted: This is Tig’s time to shine. In Hello Again, the comedian applies her signature brand of comedy–somehow as sharp as it is laid back–to stories about her health, family, career, and so much more. The show’s second half gets more experimental. Notaro performs behind a piano, an instrument she admits she can’t actually play. But if you’re a fan, you’ll love to watch her try.
Streams on Amazon Prime
5. Hannah Gadsby – Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda
Hannah Gadsby is accustomed to crowds hanging on her every word, but in Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda, she’s happy to share the mic. The comedy special features eight stand-up routines from a diverse lineup of genderqueer performers hailing from both the UK and the US. “For something that seems so simple, [standup comedy] offers up such a diversity of possibilities,” the Australian comic told The Guardian. “And I think queer people are really great individuals to populate that space.”
Streams on Netflix
