In the world of streaming, Netflix still reigns supreme in producing stand-up comedy specials, some of which are considered the greatest of all time. However, much like everything else they distribute, they can’t all be winners. Humor is subjective and while there isn’t a comedian for every viewer, there is a viewer for every comedian.
Sometimes the best in the business falter in their latest project and other times, an individual’s comedic talents aren’t translated well to stand-up. Every so often, a comedy special will be so objectively bad, controversial, or downright offensive that nobody laughs.
10 Dave Chappelle: The Closer (2021) Doesn’t Live Up To Its Star’s Talents
Even the best comedians sometimes put on a show that isn’t up to par with the rest. The Closer is arguably Chappelle’s most disappointing Netflix special to date. Upon its release, it was met with much controversy as his jokes were harmful towards the trans and LGBTQ+ community.
Though some people enjoyed The Closer, the special felt more like an angry, accusatory show than a fun, hilarious, and good-natured one. Chappelle’s jokes weren’t very funny and were not produced with a desire to make people laugh.
9 Gabriel Iglesias: One Show Fits All (2019) Doesn’t Fit Most Viewers
Gabriel Iglesias is, and always has been, a funny guy. His high energy is infectious and his wide range of voices can be entertaining. Unfortunately, One Show Fits All wasn’t a success because of its long, dragged-out jokes and anecdotes that only seemed to inspire a smile, rather than a belly laugh.
Iglesias has been doing the same observational and self-deprecating humor for quite some time now and apparently has no plans to stop. If it works it works, and he does have a dedicated fanbase. But in One Show Fits All, as a casual viewer, it gets very old very quickly.
8 Kevin James: Never Don’t Give Up (2018) Is Easy To Give Up On
Kevin James is an acquired taste, particularly for those who love clean comedy. However, compared to other clean comics like Nate Bargatze and Brian Regan, it becomes clear why James has become much more known for his film and television career than his stand-up.
Never Don’t Give Up is extremely clean humor, which is almost its fault because no risks were taken here. The material is nothing special, the stories drag on, and when the audience is wishing to see him as Paul Blart, there is evidently a problem present.
7 Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster (2017) Was Disappointing
When Jeff Dunham first gained popularity in the 2000s, his combined act of comedy and ventriloquism was a real novelty. After using the same puppets for a decade with the same running jokes, it eventually became clear that Dunham’s forte was ventriloquism, not stand-up comedy. As time goes on, the public’s tastes and demands will inevitably change. Unfortunately, Relative Disaster lives up to its title.
6 Chris D’Elia: No Pain (2020) Is The Opposite Of Its Viewing Experience
Chris D’Elia is known for his quick wit on podcasts, which is why No Pain was such a jarring juxtaposition. D’Elia delivers every joke as if he’s trying to get them all out at once. Maybe it’s nerves, but a professional comedian shouldn’t fall into the same traps that open mic-ers do in their first 6 months of stand-up.
D’Elia also has a habit of laughing at his own jokes, which can sometimes be charming. However, in No Pain, it feels like he’s trying to convince himself that the act is funny even more than he’s trying to convince the audience.
5 Rob Schneider: Asian Momma, Mexican Kids (2020) Finds Comfort In Mediocrity
Asian Momma, Mexican Kids is another baffling decision by Netflix to give Rob Schneider more career opportunities, while talented up-and-comers are confined to releasing their hilarious specials for free on YouTube. Though it’s far from the worst thing Schneider has put out, Asian Momma, Mexican Kids finds much of its power in mediocrity.
However, the special does end on a high note when Schneider performs a surprise duet with his daughter, singer-songwriter Elle King. The closing act of Asian Momma, Mexican Kids ends up being heartwarming and a welcome surprise in an otherwise disappointing special.
4 Joe Rogan: Triggered (2016) Is Exactly What It Sounds Like
Joe Rogan is a smart guy, which is evident in his ideas and the way he communicates on The Joe Rogan Experience, one of the most popular podcasts worldwide. However, he is one of the most controversial figures in media today, with some calling for his career to end and some of his fanbase still willing to defend him.
2016’s Triggered is as underwhelming as it is loud. Rogan has become known as an anti-PC crusader. However, he doesn’t convey these ideas with eloquence, nuance, or humor.
3 Ken Jeong: You Complete Me, Ho (2019) Leaves Fans Feeling Incomplete
Dr. Ken Jeong is clearly very excited to tell the world he’s a doctor. It’s an accomplishment worth celebrating, but it may not be a good basis for an hour-long stand-up special.
Dr. Jeong is a funny guy but not all humor translates well to stand-up, which unfortunately is the case in You Complete Me, Ho. The audience can only stomach so many “jokes” from a millionaire who loves to talk about his millions, and this special ultimately earned a spot on Netflix’s “how did this get made in the first place?” list.
2 Amy Schumer: The Leather Special (2017) Is Notoriously Despised
Although she doesn’t intend to be one, Amy Schumer is a polarizing comic. The Leather Special was met with such scathing audience reviews that it was the main catalyst in Netflix’s decision to remove user ratings from the platform.
Schumer isn’t afraid to get crude or be self-deprecating, which is admirable, but she is hardly the first female comic to do so and she still acts as if she is. Much of her act is in the same vein as Louis C.K.’s, which was most likely the whole point: why is it okay for male comics to talk about their genitals but not women? The Leather Special was a big swing-and-miss despite being an idea that had potential. Sadly, it felt more cringe-worthy than radical.
1 Jeff Foxworthy: The Good Old Days (2022) Was Not Well-Received
Foxworthy is best known for his “You Might Be A Redneck If…” jokes from back in the day, which were rather popular. His heart is in the right place with The Good Old Days but it isn’t enough to make up for jokes that are so dated that they border on satirical.
At one point, he jokes about kids being awarded participation trophies – as if it was the kids themselves who requested them. The biggest irony lies in the fact that this special is one big participation trophy that Netflix gave to Foxworthy.
About The Author
