Pray For Me As I Rank Every Featured Comedian in the “Netflix is a Joke Festival” Series
On April 28th of this year, Netflix hosted the Netflix is a Joke Festival, a massive display of comedy that rivaled the largest events of its kind in the industry. On June 6th, they started to release Netflix is a Joke Festival specials, highlighting some of the showcases from those ten days. Nearly seven hours of comics old and new, big names and small, all together and released within a week of each other.
And I’m here because I watched them all, and ranked them.
I don’t know why, but I have always been obsessed with making lists. Oh, none that help me, like a planner or anything like that. That would be the smart thing to do, and unfortunately, I just pretend to be. It could be the way I was raised, it could be a tiny god complex, it could be some undiagnosed neurodivergence: I have no idea. But I saw that Netflix did this, and my brain immediately went, “List. Now.” (My brain is a caveman).
Right off the bat, I had a stipulation where I did not include the hosts. They had some “stand-up” before they introduced the comics, but ultimately their job was to warm up the crowd for the performers, not to perform themselves. So Bill Burr, Amy Schumer, Pete Davidson, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Billy Eichner, Bob The Drag Queen, and Snoop Dogg will not be on this list. Finally, I would like to reiterate that these are not rankings based on the comedian as a whole, just the set they did in their respective specials.
Without further ado, here is every featured comic in the Netflix is a Joke Festival series, along with the special they appeared in.
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*BFF-Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends; FWB-Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill; LN-Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live; PA-Amy Schumer Presents: Parental Advisory; SDFA-Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special; SO-Stand Out: An LGBTQ Celebration
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49. Christina P (PA)
I don’t much to say about this one, certainly not anything good. She came out on stage, and for ten minutes, did high-pitched voices, told unfunny stories that were definitely lies, and offered no creativity in her observations or takes on parenting. If I could take away one thing about this performance, it would be that I am going to have a rough day coming up where I have to watch her new full special.
48. Heather McMahon (LN)
Call me sensitive, but she literally opened with her just shitting on her partner for having a panic attack with no resemblance of a joke, just mockery, and that was it for me. She softened it up by the end, but McMahon’s set was tainted from the very start for me.
47. Patti Harrison (SO)
This was the first one I watched where I felt I’d remember this for all the wrong reasons. The only thing I will give her is that she prefaced her performance with an accurate reasoning for the nature of her set: she didn’t feel motivated or inspired during the pandemic. Her song reflected that, exhibiting none of her skill as a comedian and instead repeating the same joke over and over on a royalty-free backing track.
46. Guy Torry (SDFA)
Physical comedy, with all the funny voices and movements, require at least some humility. Torry, like the second shot of the vaccine, refused to utilize it. He had one good joke with crowdwork, and the rest of the material he thought he could mask with his goofy expressions and mocking tone. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and all you were left with was bad COVID jokes and a horrible image of him being sick.
45. Jeff Ross and Dave Atell (FWK)
I won’t do any roasts for these two, I don’t know how it could compare with the amazing “Bill Burp” line Ross had, or the cat lady named Kat. Truly groundbreaking. All I will say is that this format of tight tens back-to-back does not work in these two’s favor. It seemed more rehearsed and clunky than the others, and with the exception of a few zings here and there, it was a pretty forgettable performance.
44. Ian Edwards (FWK)
With what felt like the shortest set of the day, Edwards really leaves a lot to be desired. A little more gravitas and a little more organization in his material, and this guy could have been much higher. He had good jokes, what he was saying was funny, but at times he loses track of analogies, he doesn’t allow the punchlines to hit hard, and overall I saw myself liking this guy a lot more in different circumstances.
43. Chris DiStefano (PA)
Boy, this set left me out of breath. He had some decent jokes and a story that caught some feels as well as gave me some exhales out of my nose. He just clearly did not have a grasp of his timing, and when you are a rambling comic like he implies to be, you have to nail your timing. I’m sure his material could work better in different hands, but with him there were multiple times where I felt like saying “Hey Babe! Slow down!”
42. Lil’ Rel Howery (PA)
It’s pretty bleak with a Lil’ Rel set when the best compliment you can come up with is… that he stayed with the theme of the show. It really was pretty hard. He is very talented, don’t get me wrong, and his bad days are better than most comic’s good days. He didn’t leave the stage without getting a few laughs out of me. Knowing him, however, I expected a lot more.
41. Scott Thompson (Buddy Cole) (SO)
Look, this character is charming. He’s bold. He’s sassy. He’s dressed to the nines to bang some of the tens. I just never caught the vibe of Thompson. I needed way more time with Buddy to truly understand where he was coming from, because besides a few quips and an actual backdrop for his set, I really didn’t get much from this.
40. Judy Gold (SO)
This was a hard one to rank, because most of her set was just breathing in the moment of an all LGBTQ lineup, which is definitely worth celebrating and it contributed to me enjoying the set more than I otherwise would have. The jokes just didn’t land for me. There may be a generational gap with her comedy, I’m not sure. I appreciated her energy; it just wasn’t that funny.
39. Steph Tolev (FWK)
The moment Burr announced Tolev’s name, she came out swinging with the energy of an auctioneer, the mannerisms of a used car salesman, and the joke material of the uncle that’s not allowed at family gatherings anymore. Being someone with such a smaller catalog than most of the comedians in this showcase, Tolev stood out with a relentless, unapologetic aura to her set. Her style is not my favorite, but I can always appreciate someone so true to their brand.
38. Sandra Bernhard (SO)
You know, I watched the first part of her set, and knowing her as a seasoned comedian, I was surprised at the jokes falling a little flat and the material not being as hard-hitting as one would expect. It seemed like there was something else on her mind. Turns out, at the end, she revealed that she did, and although the comedy wasn’t great, I’m all for the message she gave. That’s what’s important at the end of the day, not where she lands on a list made by some
37. Carly Aquillino (BFF)
Look, I’m going to be real with you. It could be the case of my headspace at the time or something, but aside from a few jokes here and there, I found this comic boring. Classic, in the sense that you’ve seen hours upon hours of the same jokes and takes on certain topics that Aquillino did. She nailed the vibe of the typical observational comic, and maybe she would work on a different day for me, but this was just okay to me.
36. Anjelah Johnson Reyes (LN)
I don’t know how else to put this, but in “Ladies Night,” Reyes had the same energy as Regina George’s mom in Mean Girls, and not in a great way. She owned her whole sass queen vibe which I respect, and some of her jokes landed, but ultimately it was too built up and came off a bit detached. I think I prefer Amy Poehler in the role.
35. Donnell Rawlings (SDFA)
I loved this guy’s energy. He’s clearly found a niche where he comes out in a suit and talks like a preacher and walks like something wrong with his hip. I laughed at the beginning for sure, but the whole shtick got old for me. You can only repeat song lyrics for a certain amount of time before you lose my attention.
34. Joel Kim Booster (SO)
We love to see a man use his role as the famous top in his relationship to his advantage. The bubbly smile, the classic sarcasm, the occasional reference to him being crazy, Booster gave what he could in his very short set. The material was a little predictable, but it still made me intrigued to watch his new special on Netflix.
33. Cristela Alonzo (LN)
Alonzo is the first Latina woman to create, produce, write, and star in her own American primetime comedy. She didn’t need to try hard, so she didn’t; I get it. She had a unique perspective to go along with her subtle snark, and I can understand where her talent lies. She gave us enough to prove that she belongs in the conversation of the best comedians out there.
32. Gina Yashere (SO)
With short sets like these, keeping it simple is the way to go, and Yashere is a great example of excelling there. Her signature bombastic personality shines through for basically one elongated bit, and I love her ability to use her energy effectively in capturing an audience and working a crowd. I know she can do much more than the time allotted in “Stand Out,” which brought her down so far. I do not make the rules, I just have them.
31. Matteo Lane (SO)
One of the more sexually driven sets of the night, Lane is hilarious as he is irreverent. He talks about his sex life so nonchalantly, the awkwardness kind of fizzles out and you’re left with his matter-of-fact nature and his endearing demeanor. However, as good as the set was, I know Lane is capable of more.
30. Guilio Gallarotti (BFF)
If there was a setup-to-punchline ratio, I’m almost positive this guy would’ve had the slowest. Don’t get me wrong, the punchlines were good, and he had a friendly vibe that carried you along the way, but eventually you started to notice the gaps in laughter. He landed the jokes he did tell, but the lack in quantity made the set feel like stale bread. Or you know, stale bruschetta. Alright, that’s my only Italian joke, I swear.
29. Solomon Georgio (SO)
Perhaps the most unknown of the performers in “Stand Out,” Georgio fit his role perfectly. He didn’t get boastful, he didn’t overexaggerate his stock, he told some good jokes, expressed his support for the community, flexed on the crowd for being a “six-foot goddess,” and peaced. Not the most impactful performance, but I’m definitely interested in more.
28. Ron Funches (PA)
The opener for Amy Schumer’s comedy night is a tough standard to set, and overall, I think Funches did a pretty good job. He started off slow with some generic jokes on marriage, but eventually he picked up some momentum with his observational humor and his disarming charm. I’m not sure if I’m ready for a full performance from him, but I think I could hang out with him for a while.
27. Jordan Rock (BFF)
Most of the time, when I see comics that have a lot more talent than what they show, it’s usually a half-assing old dude that everyone loves so they know they can get away with it. I don’t think Rock was half-assing, but I do think he has way more potential than what he showed. He worked a crowd extremely well, and the technical ability he showed on the mic proved that with some more hard-hitting material, his irreverence could shoot him up the ladder of comics.
26. Marsha Warfield (SO)
Warfield is the veteran of the veterans in “Stand Out,” and because of this I have to give her some respect. Her set was very similar to Lane’s, sex-driven and feisty, albeit a bit predictable, but she just had a command of her performance like a person in the business since the 80’s could. The night seemed important for Warfield, being openly gay for less than a decade now and being recognized as a legendary gay comedian, so she added a little more effort accordingly, and it showed.
25. Melanie Comarcho (SDFA)
A little bit of good feeling goes a long way, and although her set wasn’t my favorite, Comarcho gave anyone who was watching a whole lot of good feeling. I’m not a fan of “catchphrase comedy,” and she had the audience saying it the whole set. However, in between she had some good observational humor, and most importantly, she made you feel like you were welcomed and part of her show.
24. Mike Epps (SDFA)
Epps has never been one of my favorite comedians, but after this set… he still isn’t. I could never get past the superficial reflections on everyday life spoken with the slurred speech of Big Foot on tranquilizers. However, he was a great way to end Snoop’s special. Whatever your thoughts are, he is a seasoned comedian that is able to roll with the punches, and he showed that.
23. Trixie Mattel (SO)
The level of snark drag queens are expected to have should translate perfectly to the comedy stage, and Mattel proves this. All you need is a desire for the stage, a fantastic ability to work a crowd, and in this case, elegant guitar playing over a song about rich people. It’s a shame we only got four minutes of her. Much like RuPaul’s Drag Race, maybe I would’ve been completely sold on her if she was given more time.
22. Guy Branum (SO)
Not often will you find a comic embrace disgust quite like Branum. He was fresh with his takes on gay marriage, and he brought small instances of self-deprivation that the show needed to fill out the full variety of comedy. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed a set that started with him literally shushing the crowd like a fed-up day care teacher.
21. Jimmy Carr (FWK)
Perhaps the highest billed comedian in “Friends Who Kill,” Carr made sure everyone knew who he was and what he is all about. The bait-and-switch one-liners, the brutal punchlines, the laughter that sounds like squeaky toy with an iron lung, it was all there. In one hand, the material and execution was good, but on the other hand, very standard for Carr. He was sleepwalking, but even that is enough to get a few laughs out of any fan of dark humor.
20. Deray Davis (SDFA)
One of my favorites of the lower-billed names of these specials, Davis brought out some great jokes for his two idols, Snoop and Katt Williams. He wasn’t the most efficient comic, and he dragged out some of the jokes (he really didn’t have to “Bop It” the girl’s ankles for that long), but his magnetism and classic observational style ultimately wins you over.
19. Dave Sirus (BFF)
He led with “I was a creepy kid” and he came out dressed like a pedophile from the 1970s. It’s a shock I liked this guy as much as I did. But hey, that’s what good childhood material and a slick delivery will get you in comedy I suppose. He balanced his awkward demeanor and casual punchlines perfectly, and you couldn’t help but root for this guy in the end.
18. Tracey Ashley (LN)
Any comedian cosigned by Tiffany Haddish is worth the watch, and Ashley is no exception. She didn’t blow me away, but her casual style was somehow engaging and easy to watch. Maybe I had a connection with some of the material, but I found Ashley’s comedy to touch something another comic with a similar genre wouldn’t hit.
17. Eddie Izzard (SO)
I was not as familiar with Izzard as the rest of the other headliners of “Stand Out,” only from a disingenuous shoutout from Ricky Gervais that made no sense in retrospect. She’s funny, she’s very intelligent, and she actually had fresh takes on history and society (Gervais, take notes). The roaring bit was too long, and the ending was a bit ham-fisted, but Izzard gives the audience plenty to think about and plenty to laugh at. What more could you want?
16. Jessica Kirson (FWK)
It didn’t grab my attention out the gate, but Kirson exhibited her expertise and creative mind by the time her ten minutes were up. Her meta jokes were hilarious, her deadpan delivery switched to high-pitched voices were so unexpected, just her whole set was a masterclass in keeping an audience guessing. She lost me at first, but no comic has flipped the script for me as much as she did within her short set.
15. Michelle Buteau (LN)
I’ve always compared Buteau to a ray of sunshine with her comedy, mixing comical voices with a radiant charisma. This time, it is more feisty than I’m used to seeing her, although not out of character, but keeping that same charm really allowed for a very enjoyable performance.
14. Rachel Feinstein (PA)
Who would have thought Amy Schumer’s best friend would actually be funny? A sarcastic juggernaut, Feinstein threw out quip after quip, and eventually her style grew on me as her wit shone on through. I was pleasantly surprised with her classic, yet deviant material from the normal family comedy, and she was a well-needed breath of fresh air following Christina P.
13. Neko White (BFF)
When you hear Pete Davidson is bringing his friends for a Netflix special, I don’t think anyone expected a dude with a clean white blazer and nice jewelry to come onstage. I at least didn’t. What was expected was a group of people who didn’t give a fuck, and White was that to an incredible degree. He had a smoothness and charisma about him that complimented his sarcastic delivery perfectly, so much so that you quite literally get on board with him walking away as you hypothetically get robbed.
12. Margaret Cho (LN)
This was the second set of Cho that I watched (spoiler alert), and even though some parts were a bit repetitive in comparison to her “Stand Out” performance, I still enjoyed this a lot. With harsher punchlines and that famous irreverent tone, Cho clearly deserves the flowers she has for being as consistent as she is.
11. Katt Williams (SDFA)
Most people know Katt Williams for pointing out the absurdity in society, particularly when it comes to politics and social issues. Not many think of him as an absurdist comedian himself, but we got a little taste of that here. It wasn’t an Andy Kaufman set or anything, but he used his legendary sense of humor and steered clear from almost anything political, and he still made it hilarious.
10. Wanda Sykes (SO) — I love Wanda Sykes. She has a way of winning a crowd over without compromising her material that few other comedians have, and that was on display this night as well. There isn’t much else to say about it, however. She was classic Sykes, and not much else above that.
9. Joey Gay (BFF) — It was extremely cool to see a comedian own a unique style of stand-up the way Joey Gay did. I probably would call it “abrasively friendly,” using Kinison-like punchlines (and volume), but with material that is much more observational and relatable. He was more smiley than annoyed, but he still commanded the room with a voice that could’ve been heard from LA to, I don’t know, Mars.
8. Jaye McBride (PA)
Now THIS is how you do bait-and-switch comedy! Her dark humor with perfect delivery was something I expected from Carr, but I’m glad I actually got my fix from this comic. To see someone so new to the mainstream stage and go all in on her strong suit of comedy with nothing held back and yet still seem to have so much more in her tank, I think McBride is someone to keep an eye on.
7. Sam Jay (SO)
I am going to be 100% honest with you all, this placement is a bit hypocritical. Jay had a short set and the other people that got a short set got put way farther down, and the reason I am being a hypocrite is because… of Sam Jay bias, that’s all it is. I’m sorry, but all of you that have been sleeping on the queen of deadpan cynicism need to wake up. She kills every joke in her set, and if you are a fan of sarcasm and no-punches-pulled comedy that isn’t in your face, she’s your comic.
6. Tig Notaro (SO)
You got to give respect to a comedy great like Tig Notaro, especially when she gives you exactly what you came for with a Notaro set. The friendly banter with nobody, the constant misdirects, she gave everyone the full experience. Her low-key nature made the set slightly less memorable than others, but I think the set is perfectly placed among some of the best “Stand Out” had to offer.
5. Margaret Cho (SO)
Cho was introduced as a legend by Ani DiFranco, and then proceeded to prove her right. Having 30 years of stand-up under your belt and the name recognition she has, it would have been easy to get on stage, half-ass some jokes, and get the same amount of raucous applause. But she was in top form, perhaps pandered to the audience a bit more than I would like, nevertheless she delivered on her set.
4. Michelle Wolff (FWK)
Introduced as one of Bill Burr’s favorite joke writers, Wolff does what she does best: bash white women and make people laugh. She is hilarious as always, dissecting the contradictions of white women’s attitudes towards BLM and #MeToo with equal parts snark and wit. Although her jokes usually have a little more bite than what she showcased here, it still was a solid set.
3. Mae Martin (SO) — Don’t let appearances fool you. They may look like Ellen Degeneres with Benjamin Button disease, but they are nothing like that goofy, relatable comic we used to tolerate. Martin utilizes blue comedy to grab your attention, and ends it as perfectly as a set at an LGBTQ comedy special could. They may have the charm of a more awkward comedian, but their material is top-notch humor.
2. Joe Bartnick (FWK)
Show me anyone that thinks ten minutes is not enough time to make people burst with laughter and I will show that person Joe Bartnick. A veteran comedian with not a lot of mainstream success, Bartnick hit the audience with self-deprecation, taboo topics, and a mustache that really encapsulated his “if Mario gave up the first time Peach got kidnapped” vibe. Even with the multiple genres of comedy, he worked through it masterfully with a strange charisma you find in rare comedians. I hope Netflix is smart enough to keep an eye on him; I know I will.
- Iliza Shlesinger (LN)
For years I did not get Shlesinger. She has released so many specials and I have watched a few of them, and overall I’ve been very lukewarm on her. On “Ladies Night,” in ten minutes, I finally got it. I always saw her boldness and her intelligence, she was never one to shy away from any topic, but that night, she came full force as the top comic that she is. The perfect wit, the wide range of material, the Carlin-esque comedic timing… My hat is off. She killed it.
Final thoughts:
In my opinion, the short sets from these specials gave the audience every comic’s best shot, or at least the shot they wanted to give them. All of these performers, especially those who didn’t have the same notoriety as comedians like Katt Williams and Tig Notaro, were given a special opportunity to showcase their best stuff, and most of them capitalized. Furthermore, I would use this list not as a gauge of what showcase special to watch, but what comedians to look out for in the future. Comedy is only growing from here, and hopefully this somewhat helps you keep track of where it is headed.
That being said, “Stand Out,” was the best put together showcase, with “Ladies Night” and “Friends Who Kill” as honorable mentions. All of them cater to different audiences, and based on the host, you usually can tell which one is for you.
Now, I am going to bed forever. See you next time.
