You know what's better than studying? Well, I mean other than literally anything else. Comedy! Especially stand-up comedy.
We all need study breaks sometimes, and there's no better or more productive way to spend that well-deserved mental respite than laughing. And with the advent of Netflix, that laughter is just a quick click away! If you're overwhelmed by the comedy options on Netflix or are unfamiliar with the genre of stand-up comedy, here are a few humble suggestions for you viewing pleasure.
1. John Mulaney - "New in Town"
"New in Town" is such a crowd pleaser that I once switched a Spring Break playlist that was blasting from a speaker on Myrtle Beach to the audio for this special, and beach games were halted as players were distracted by John Mulaney's greatness.
2. Demetri Martin - "Live (at the Time)"
Demetri Martin's wry one-liners are nothing short of brilliant. "Live (at the Time)" is original, dark yet positive, and all around fantastic for 45-minutes of laughs.
3. Jim Gaffigan - "Beyond the Pale"
Fun for the whole family! "Beyond the Pale" is a feel-good special that virtually everyone can relate to. Gaffigan's commentary on all things related to food is amazing, and not just because food is amazing.
4. Aziz Ansari -"Live at Madison Square Garden"
I've been watching Aziz Ansari's comedy specials since before live-streaming was even an available service and have to say that this is his best special yet. "Live at Madison Square Garden" features brilliant commentary on modern relationships as well as a totally on point Ja Rule impression.
5. Kevin Hart - "Laugh at My Pain"
As one of the biggest celebrities in stand-up today, Kevin Hart never fails to disappoint. Any of his specials on Netflix are worth a watch, so I basically just chose "Laugh at My Pain" at random because of this bit on being broke that any college student can sympathize with.
6. Marc Maron -"Thinky Pain"
Marc Maron is the crazy uncle we all need and perfectly embodies the pre-finals mindset: "I don't believe in preparing."
7. Moshe Kasher -"Live in Oakland"
Moshe Kasher seems to do the impossible in this special as he seamlessly meshes the absurd vulgarity of his style with intellectual witticisms and pithy musings on his every day experiences. His casual self-reflection juxtaposes phenomenally with his off-the-cuff, aggressive stage presence. All nerd-ing aside, an uproariously funny special, if you can stomach the language.
8. Chelsea Peretti - "One of the Greats"
Chelsea Peretti is snarky, relevant, and unafraid to "tell it like it is." In this special she truly proves herself as "One of the Greats." She pokes fun at everything from time traveling to fragile masculinity and has some ridiculous staged cut-aways to the audience. If you enjoy "One of the Greats," I'd also highly recommend Peretti's mockumentary "Women Aren't Funny."
9. Donald Glover - "Weirdo"
Comedy's renaissance man Donald Glover surprises absolutely no one with his adroit storytelling in "Weirdo." Donald Glover is well-known for acting on "Community," rapping as his alter ego Childish Gambino, and for his award-winning writing on "30 Rock," and his stand-up act certainly lives up to the hype.
10. Kevin Nealon - "Whelmed, but not Overly"
Kevin Nealon's frantic and somewhat confused style reflects every over-caffeinated dining hall conversation during the final weeks of the semester.
11. Mike Birbiglia - "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing"
Mike Birbiglia's awkward, bumbling nature is something we can all relate to. Make yourself feel better about previous social catastrophes by reveling in the series of unfortunate events that Mike Birbiglia recounts in excruciating detail for "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing."
12. Bo Burnham - "what."
"what." balances delicately on the line of the absurd and the acceptable. Multi-talented comic Bo Burnham, having started on the comedy scene from his YouTube channel at age 18, continues to break from the stand-up comedy tradition with this special that will keep you laughing from beginning to end.
13. Trevor Noah - "African American"
Trevor Noahproved his comedic chops on the international stand-up scene far before landing the sacred gig as the new host of "The Daily Show." With a vast arsenal of characters and an unreasonable amount of flawless accents and impressions, Trevor Noah's ebullient energy definitely entertains in "African American" and hopefully said energy will motivate any and all to keep powering through the final, difficult weeks of the semester.