12 Comedy Specials Worth Checking Out This December (PHOTOS)
Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah (Netflix)
National treasure Tiffany Haddish celebrates her 40th birthday with a celebrity-filled bash and standup performance, ranging from musings on being a black woman to her Jewish faith. Watch it ahead of Hanukkah this year to really get you in the holiday spirit.
Available to stream December 3.
Lil Rey Howery: Live in Crenshaw (HBO)
It’s hard to believe Get Out scene-stealer Lil Rey Howery has never had a HBO special, but his highly-anticipated debut set is the perfect holiday present. Even better: the special is directed by Jerrod Carmichael ahead of his feature film directorial debut On the Count of Three, starring Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, and Henry Winkler.
Premiering December 5 at 9/8c.
Eddie Griffin: E-Niggma (Showtime)
Eddie Griffin returns to Showtime for his third comedy special, this time discussing personal family issues and sociopolitical history lessons.
Premiering Dec. 6 at 11/10c.
Celeste Barber: Challenge Accepted (Showtime)
The self-proclaimed “queen of everyday sophistication,” Celeste Barber harnesses her viral Instagram humor to parody celebrities, trolls, and fan comments.
Premiering Dec. 6 at 11:45/10:45c.
Bill Burr Presents Jessica Kirson: Talking to Myself (Comedy Central)
Jessica Kirson dissects lesbian one-night stands, fat camp, and Judaism. You’ve seen Kirson guest starring on HBO’s Crashing and phoning prank calls on The Howard Stern Show, but this time her humor and cutting wit is rightfully front-and-center in her own one-hour special.
Premiering Dec. 6 at 12/11c.
Dan Soder: Son of a Gary (HBO)
Billions star Dan Soder flexes his comedic chops in his first hour-long HBO comedy special.
Premiering December 7 at 10/9c.
Michelle Wolf: Joke Show (Netflix)
Fan favorite Michelle Wolf somehow found time to film a Netflix special while touring the world. The New York City-based set covers everything from outrage culture, childbirth, and who gives the best massages — so basically it’s the perfect summary of 2019.
Available to stream Dec. 10.
Jack Whitehall: Christmas With My Father (Netflix)
British comedian Jack Whitehall spends Christmas with his old-fashioned father, Michael, onstage in London’s West End with a few surprise celebrity guests. Whitehall’s father is a former theatrical agent who actually represented Colin Firth and Dame Judi Dench, and the father-son duo also starred in the Netflix series, Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father.
Available to stream Dec. 12.
Lavell Crawford: New Look, Same Funny! (Showtime)
Lavell Crawford puts his new physique on display after a 120-pound weight loss in his latest special featuring jokes about President Obama and how to deal with cops in 2019.
Premiering Dec. 16 at 12/11c.
Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America! (Netflix)
The Crazy Rich Asians and The Daily Show star shares his views on consumerism and what the U.S. would be like under an Asian-American president.
Available to stream Dec. 17.
John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Brunch (Netflix)
The lovable John Mulaney goes full Mister Rogers with a cabled sweater and gaggle of children, plus iconic guests like Jake Gyllenhaal, Natasha Lyonne, and Talking Heads’ David Byrne. It’s comedy, it’s music, it’s Christmas Eve.
Available to stream Dec. 24.
Funny Women of a Certain Age (Showtime)
Like a fine wine, these comedians only get better with time. The incomparable Fran Drescher helms this standup special, with Carole Montgomery, Luenell, Lynne Koplitz, Kerri Louise, and Vanessa Hollingshead also starring.
Premiering Dec. 27 at 10:35/9:45c.
Some of our favorite comedians have been working overtime to make this holiday season even more special. From Tiffany Haddish to Michelle Wolf to John Mulaney, check out which standup specials are premiering this month.
Click through the gallery above for a calendar of what to watch between snowstorms and Santa Claus!
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