The Top 15 Stand-Up Comedy Specials Of 2015

2015 was another great year for stand-up. I'm sure I left someone out, but hey, I'm not getting paid for this shit. Here are my top 15 stand-up specials from 2015.

15. Beth Stelling - Simply the Beth

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Aside from being an amazing and incredibly strong person, Beth proves she's one of best new comedians out right now in her latest release Simply the Beth. Recorded at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago, Beth talks about body issues, her dick of an ex step-dad, and creepy religious Ohio people. The highlight is the closer, Mom vs. Sprint which is must-listen.

14. Nate Bargatze - Full Time Magic

Via exclaim.ca

Recorded at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, Full Time Magic opens with jokes about married life, being a new dad and the craziness involved in raising kids. Among other topics, he jokes about being dumb, trying to lose weight, and his trip to Honduras. Nate brings a laid back, self-deprecating slant to some familiar comedy tropes and some new ones as well.

13. Dan Telfer - Ocean of Panic

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"Hey, I hope you like my weird comedy" is how the perpetually underrated Dan Telfer begins his latest special. Dan talks getting attacked by raccoons, super intelligent octopi, killer bees and other non deadly animal related topics. A high energy hour of alt comedy goodness.

12. Brooks Wheelan - This Is Cool, Right?

Via amazon.com

The SNL alum's debut album contains some hilarious stories about his youth, including his penchant for making tournament brackets involving his classmates, his dad murdering a opossum in front of him, and a prank played on him during college involving a stick of butter. At the end, he treats us to the SNL sketches he pitched that never made it out of Lorne's office.

11. Amy Schumer - Live At the Apollo

HBO / Via broadwayworld.com

Amy's had an incredible year. A hit TV show and movie, an SNL hosting gig, media following her every move, it's a wonder she had the time to write and perform an hour standup special. In it Schumer tackles getting older as woman, gender roles in movies, sexual positions, and her awkward meeting with Bradley Cooper. You can see true growth in this special, she's being more herself and less of a caricature or character. Chris Rock's directing is a bit of a mess, but it doesn't take away from the actual comedy.

10. Anthony Jeselnik - Thoughts and Prayers

Netflix / Via scdn.nflximg.net

Jeselnik's deliberately offensive, but hilarious one liners are a guilty pleasure. Nothing is off limits, he jokes about Eric Clapton's son, child molestation, animal cruelty, domestic violence, neglect, poverty, and 9/11 among other things. The best part is you still like him afterwards because you know he doesn't mean any of it and he's actually a pretty progressive dude proving that, yes, anything can be funny if you're talented enough. His timing, joke structure and stage presence are among the best in the business.

9. Tig Notaro - Boyish Girl Interrupted

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The word "bravery" comes to mind when I think of Tig's latest special (you probably already know why, but I won't spoil it). She's suffered through so much these past few years yet still continues to put out amazing work. Boyish Girl Interrupted does have some familiar bits if you're a big fan of hers, but they're more honed and there's enough new, funny material for this to easily crack the top 10.

8. Hampton Yount - Bearable

Via amazon.com

Nerdist regular Hampton Yount's special came out of nowhere and knocked me on my ass. His delivery is big, but not too big, and helps him sell certain jokes that would probably fall flat for other comics. Hilarious from the start, Yount talks about a range of different topics like LA morning news, the origins of human sacrifice and the Olympics, political ads, religious hypocrisy, and depression from angles that haven't been previously explored.

7. Guy Branum - Effable

Via amazon.com

So glad I found this album. Guy takes on a host of different topics including being a large Jewish gay man in Hollywood, Canada, crazy pet people, Red Lobster and politics, with a particularly hilarious few lines about the Tea Party. Guy's charisma is hard to match and his jokes are clever and delivered impeccably.

6. Natasha Leggero - Live At Bimbo's

Via ecx.images-amazon.com

Absolutely loved Natasha's newest offering. Recorded at Bimbo's in San Francisco, Natasha's upper class snob character fits her incredibly well. She riffs on reality TV, hipsters, Costco, the benefits of being child-free, Republican's obsession with restricting abortion. At the end, she plays matchmaker with two audience members, which results in some real laugh out loud moments.

5. Ron Funches - Funches of Us

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Yes, I agree, there should be more black comics on this list, but I'm not a fan of Mike Epps and Katt Williams so... Ron talks about being a single dad and the pros and cons of hanging out with his Autistic son. The last few bits, especially Wear Yo' Scarf where he suggests we use the N-word to shame our pets had me literally crying with laughter.

4. Demetri Martin - Live (At The Time)

Netflix / Via scdn.nflximg.net

Been a huge Demetri fan since his first Comedy Central special over 10 years ago. I don't think this special got nearly the buzz it deserved, Martin is a wizard at misdirection and absurdist one-liners. It's much less story and life-based and more wouldn't it be weird it..., isn't it weird that... type of observational comedy that I really enjoy. "How bad of a guess does it have to be to be an uneducated guess." "I have an 'L' shaped couch, lowercase."

3. Matt Braunger - Big Dumb Animal

Via smile.amazon.com

Braunger's a comedy veteran that doesn't disappoint in his latest special. Big Dumb Animal entertains from start to finish with topics including being 39 and single, overly nice Portland people, awkward blood donation questions, weaponized gay sex, and comedy angels. Make sure you listen to Wildcattin' at the end, you'll be glad that you did.

2. Eugene Mirman - I’m Sorry (You’re Welcome)

Via smile.amazon.com

To call this album ambitious isn't giving Eugene nearly enough credit. The man put out a 7 LP box set of new material which includes (from his Web site):

"1) Terrible sound FX trying to actually sound like the thing with my mouth

2) Me crying for 45 minutes

3) Ringtones

4) Whispering secrets to my dick

5) A comedy album to be played for different animals (cats, dogs, horses, goats, birds and even an alligator!)

6) Me yelling at inanimate objects

7) Talking over ocean sounds and music helping someone relax/go to sleep (recorded live at an ocean)

8) Songs

9) Words to Make Love To — Seven Inspirational Sex Tracks

10) Field recording of going hunting for the first time"

It's crazy ridiculous and mostly hilarious, especially the relaxation section which is a perfect parody of new age relaxation CDs and the actual stand-up album itself.

1. John Mulaney - The Comeback Kid

Netflix / Via image.tmdb.org

The much anticipated follow-up to his cult favorite New In Town, Mulaney picks up right where he left off with hilarious stories and observations. Recorded in his hometown at The Chicago Theatre, John let's us know what's new in his life including his new wife "get away from my wife!," evil dog Petunia, as well as stories from his past about his no-nonsense conservative father. The closing story about his mother taking him to meet Bill Clinton, and his parent's history with him is what pushes this special over everyone else.