Despite stand-up comedy only gaining mainstream appeal in the '70s, it is said to have begun many decades ago. The earliest performances can be traced back to twentieth-century front-cloth British comics who performed in music halls. Since then, the genre has evolved significantly.
In stand-up comedy, the comedians usually perform on stage for live audiences, though some also record segments of their performances as singles then release them collectively as a comedy album. Many great performances have been witnessed over the years but which are the best? According to IMDb, these are the best stand-up specials of all time.
10 Chris Rock: Bring The Pain (8.2)
This 1996 HBO special found Chris Rock at his peak. By the time the special came out, Chris Rock was already making a name for himself in movies but many fans agree that Bring The Pain was what made him a superstar.
In the special, Rock talked about various subjects including the controversial Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and the O.J. Simpson murder case. He also talked about dating and marriage (two subjects he enjoys touching on) as well as the different types of Black people you are likely to encounter.
9 Eddie Murphy: Delirious (8.2)
Delirious was widely praised in the '80s but it's safe to say that a lot of the material in it hasn't aged well. Murphy used homophobic slurs which he apologized for years later in 1997 by releasing a lengthy statement in which one of the lines read: "I deeply regret any pain all this has caused."
The 70-minute HBO special was Eddie Murphy's first feature stand-up. It was also quite profane as he ended up using a total of 501 curse words. However, Delirious was widely praised by both fans and critics. The comedian would go on to have a highly successful film career after its release.
8 Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (8.2)
Richard Pryor is widely regarded by many as the greatest standup comic of all time. Both Comedy Central and Rolling Stone have ranked him first in their lists of the greatest standup comics. For his work in comedy, Pryor won an Emmy Award in 1973 and five Grammy Awards.
In Richard Pryor: Live in Concert, he did what he does best - mimicking things. He mimicked dogs, children, and even his own self after he got a heart attack. He also talked about race as well as his tough childhood and how his mother abandoned him at a brothel. There was not a single joke in the special that wasn't met with laughter
7 Bill Burr: I'm Sorry You Feel That Way (8.4)
I'm Sorry You Feel That Way is a 2014 stand-up comedy special that was released exclusively on Netflix. The special was filmed at the Tabernacle Theater in Atlanta, Georgia in the summer of the same year. It was unique in that it was shot entirely in black and white, something that had never been seen before in modern times.
In I'm Sorry You Feel That Way, Bill Burr kept up with his unfiltered commentary as he touched on topics such as sex, religion, the disadvantages of hugging children hugs, and the wisdom of Lutheran people who believe that there is no afterlife once you die. He also talked about marital problems such as being expelled from bed by your wife.
6 Robin Williams: An Evening At The Met (8.4)
This was one of Robin Williams' last comedy specials in the '80s since he was shifting his focus from stand-up specials to acting. In the special, he covered a variety of topics such as the return of Jesus, President Reagan's tenure, the effects of marijuana as well as pregnancy and childbirth.
The album from the special ended up winning the 1988 Grammy Award for "Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical." Williams performed at a packed Lincoln Center in what was seen as one of his finest works.
5 Louis C.K.: Chewed Up (8.6)
The highly-rated one-hour special was filmed at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. It is dedicated to George Carlin, who also filmed his special on the same night as C.K. and died shortly after.
In Chewed Up, the controversial comedian covers topics such as white privilege, weight struggles, the use of offensive words, terrorist attacks, the difficulties of parenthood, age-related setbacks, and awkward visits to the doctor. The special which came out in 2008 was only released on DVD.
4 George Carlin... It's Bad for Ya! (8.6)
It's Bad for Ya was George Carlin's 19th and final special. Four months after it came out, he died of heart failure. He was 71 at the time. The stage was unique in that it was designed to represent a glamorous living room.
Interestingly one of the topics Carlin addressed when the things people say when someone dies. The HBO special was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special." The accompanying comedy album also won a Grammy for "Best Comedy Album." The award was given posthumously.
3 Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (8.7)
The special which was recorded in San Francisco mostly touched on religion and history. Throughout the performance, he managed to retell British history right from the Stonehenge all the way to the Reformation.
He also mimicked French and Italian accents then proceeded to talk about the pope and the Church Of England. Izzard also addressed his struggles as a transvestite and how it put an end to his dream of joining the military, claiming that there should be a first battalion transvestite brigade.
2 Bill Hicks: Relentless (8.7)
Relentless was Hicks's last special before he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. He performed it at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada during the annual Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
The special was characterized by his trademark long pauses before delivering the punchline. He touched on endless issues such as right-wing religious institutions and the criticisms of the Gulf War. Not only is it considered his finest work, but also the most daring special of all time.
1 Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (8.8)
Killin' Them Softly was Chappelle's first among many hour-long specials. It aired on July 26, 2000, and in it, the comedian talked about a myriad of topics, including police brutality, racism, and drug use.
In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly at position 6 on its list of the "25 Best Stand-up Specials Of All Times." The special is also the highest-rated among all of Chappelle's work. However, a few years after it came out, the comedian went into a lengthy retirement only to return late in the 2010s.
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