Netflix is a Joke: Ali Wong, Gabriel Iglesias, and Michelle Buteau among upcoming stand-up specials

Say what you will about Netflix, but they sure do invest in comedy. The 2024 Netflix is a Joke festival is jam-packed with stand-up comics and comedy groups of all kinds. Many of these shows you have to be in Los Angeles to appreciate, but there’s going to be events for the average Netflix user to enjoy from home, like John Mulaney’s Everybody’s In L.A. and the live comedy event The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady, airing on Sunday, May 5. Of course, there will also be plenty more opportunities to appreciate Netflix comedy, including new specials announced today from Ali Wong, Gabriel Iglesias, Michelle Buteau, and more.

Some of these specials are being taped over the next two weeks at the festival, including Wong’s. The streamer hosted her three previous specials, Don Wong (2022), Hard Knock Wife (2018), and Baby Cobra (2016), as well as her Emmy-winning drama series Beef and the rom-com Always Be My Maybe. Deon Cole (blackish) will also film his third special for Netflix, Ok, Mister, during the festival. His previous specials for the streamer include Charleen’s Boy (2022) and Cole Hearted (2019).

Other new specials announced on Wednesday include Netflix collaborators Michelle Buteau (Survival Of The Thickest), Fortune Feimster (The Mindy Project), and Bert Kreischer, who is taping the first of his previously announced two-special deal in July. Jo Koy, coming off of a pretty controversial Golden Globes hosting gig earlier this year, will soon be premiering a fifth special with Netflix. And Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, star of the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, will have two new specials coming soon on the streamer, the first of which will tape later this year at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL in July.

Netflix has become the premier destination for stand-up comedy, with a robust collection of specials from both big-name stars and up-and-coming talent. Among the comedy A-listers with stand-up specials at the streamer are Mulaney, Amy Schumer, Ricky Gervais, Dave Attell, Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes, Pete Davidson, Mo’Nique, Chelsea Handler, Trevor Noah, Dave Chappelle, and more. Last year’s offerings included Jacqueline Novak’s excellent Get On Your Knees and Mae Martin’s SAP. Netflix also continues to tip-toe into the live comedy space; in addition to the roast of Tom Brady, later this week the service will livestream Katt Williams’ new special Woke Foke.