The next six Netflix comedy specials include Anjelah Johnson, Anthony Jeselnik, and Mike Epps
August 10, 2015 Mark Says Hi! Anjelah Johnson, Anthony Jeselnik, Mike Epps, News, Specials
Online streaming service, Netflix, has become one of the premiere landing spots for comedians, their specials, and exposure. Already this year they’ve debuted six comedy specials including Iliza Shlesinger: Freezing Hot, Ralphie May: Unruly, Aziz Ansari: Live At Madison Square Garden, Chris D’Elia: Incorrigible, Jen Kirkman: I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine). and most recently last month’s Chris Tucker Live. Some already household names, but if they weren’t before their special, they are at least on the public’s radar now. Six more specials are on the docket for the second half of 2015 starting this Friday with the release of Demetri Martin: Live (At the Time). Netflix is striking while the iron is hot with the focus on comedy stronger than it’s ever been in almost every medium including television, film, live streaming, and live performance.
With over 60 million subscribers worldwide, the potential for eyes on a comedian’s special is quite high. And If you watch one and enjoy it, you are more likely to seek out another and give it a shot despite not intentionally looking for it in the first place. This is great for comedians who aren’t currently on the Louis CK – Amy Schumer level. Few are. Here are the other five with breakdowns on each comic to give you a head start going in:
October 2 – Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy
Anjelah Johnson is not only a stand-up comedian, but an actress and former NFL cheerleader. This will be her third hour long special. Johnson is most notable as a cast member on the series MADtv during its 13th season. Her characters included a Vietnamese nail salon employee and a rude fast food employee named Bon Qui Qui which has garnered over 65 million views worldwide. Not bad.
October 16 – Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers
Anthony Jeselnik is the current host of NBC’s Last Comic Standing which airs Wednesdays at 10p. In the past, he was a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in its first season and hosted a Comedy Central Presents in 2009. After releasing his critically acclaimed debut album Shakespeare in 2010, he began writing for the Comedy Central Roasts and moved up to performer in the 2011 roast of Donald Trump. He continued to perform on the roasts of Charlie Sheen and Roseanne Barr in 2012. In 2013, Jeselnik hosted his own Comedy Central series, The Jeselnik Offensive, for two seasons and released his second album, Caligula, which doubles as an hour-long stand-up special.
November 13 – John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid
He is best known for his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live as well as his stand-up. He was the creator and star of the Fox sitcom Mulaney. The series was a semi-autobiographical series about his life as a stand-up comedian and aired from October 5, 2014 to February 15, 2015. His other credits include Best Week Ever, Ugly Americans, Kroll Show and Important Things with Demetri Martin.
December 1 – Brent Morin (Title TBD)
Comedian Brent Morin is having a breakout year. He currently stars in NBC’s Undateable, which returns for season number two October 9. He made a name for himself as a member of Chelsea Handler’s round table in 2012 while other credits include appearances on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The McCarthy’s, and Ground Floor.
December 18 – Mike Epps: After Dark
Mike Epps is a stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel, Friday After Next, and also appearing in The Hangover, as “Black Doug”. He was the voice of Boog in Open Season 2. Other credits include L.J. in Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction. Epps began his professional career as a stand-up by joining the Def Comedy Jam tour in 1995 and starred in two of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam broadcasts. He’ll be playing Richard Pryor in the up coming biopic Nina, about the life of Nina Simone.
