Love for ‘Nanette’: All the best LGBTQI stand up comedy specials

Netflix comedy special Nanette took the internet by storm. Its star, Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, is on her path to becoming a household name.

Floods of viewers including celebrities are loving it, including Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book) who described the show as “incredible” and Kathy Griffin (Suddenly Susan) who stated: “I’ve been a professional comic for 30 years. I’ve been studying comedy for even longer. I thought I had seen everything . . . until I watched Nanette.” High praise indeed!

For those of you who are not yet aware of Gadsby, she’s a standup comedian who incorporates her sexuality into her performances. For example, in Nanette Gadsby discusses how she is gay by telling a story of when she flirted with a dude’s girlfriend, which resulted in the guy beating her up. The comedian is also unafraid of describing the darker parts of her life, explaining that tension is key in the structuring of a joke.

Gadsby moves the audience not just by making us laugh, but also by inviting us into her personal life. Overall, Nanette is a unique show that’s very thought provoking – and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. But until her next special, here are some other shows performed by LGBTQI comedians and where you can watch them . . . because we’re helpful like that!

Alan Carr: Spexy Beast

Netflix

British standup legend Alan Carr has a number of specials you can discover, but none capture his heart and character better than Spexy Beast. You can honestly judge it by the cover, which sets the tone for Carr’s wild ride. His energy will keep you engaged throughout – if it’s not the ridiculous British sense of humor that keeps you laughing, it will be his utterly camp and lovable personality.

Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill

YouTube

Who doesn’t like Eddie Izzard? The trans comedian has a lot on his mind and a lot to show off in this hilarious special, including the ridicule of his own British culture and way of life. “Tea, cake, or death,” is a standout joke that is one of many amazingly funny quips that Izzard dishes out, and to top it all off the comedy special is streamable right now on YouTube. The icing on the cake!

Tig Notaro: Comedy Central Presents Tig

Comedy Central

You may know Tig Notaro from her voicework on Bob’s Burgers, and while this technically is a series rather than a special, it’s worth checking out. With each episode being half an hour long, it’s easily bingeable and presents one of the most underrated comedians working today. Appearing on The Ellen Show, Community, and The Office as well, you’ll be delighted by her delivery and her confidence to produce some fantastic jokes.

Cameron Esposito: Rape Jokes

We’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of this one. From actress and podcaster Cameron Esposito, similarly to Gadsby she tells the story of her assault in her life, more specifically her experience with sexual assault and how it has affected her life today. As well as cracking some witty LGBTQI jokes, there’s plenty to get out of this thoughtful special.

Jes Tom: Soojung Dreams of Fiji

Amazon Prime

The new Funny or Die film showcases the Asian-trans comedian in full form – and it’s worth watching solely for Jes Tom. With some great performances and laughs from other upcoming Asian talent, Tom excels in some very self aware comedy and is just fabulous when playing the part of Stephanie.