comedy specials

From just Atlanta, Better Things, What We Do In the Shadows, Baskets, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and, before Louis C.K. was found out to be the Louis C.K. we know now, Louie, FX has one of the best track records in comedy of any network or streaming service. Their sole focus on high profile, high concept scripted comedies has earned them endless acclaim and plenty of rewards to boot.

Intriguingly, they haven’t really dipped into stand-up or comedy specials, well, at all. They did put out the documentary Hysterical, which covered a myriad of women pushing their way forward in stand-up comedy, but it’s only now that they’ve played some big cards for comedy specials, keeping in line with their highly touted comedy brand.

Both Kate Berlant and Byron Bowers, two highly respected comedians that have been deserving of an hour special for years now for all the trailblazing stand-up and acting they’ve racked up, are going to have their very first hour specials drop via FX. Kate’s special will be the hour solo show that you have been lucky enough to see in LA or NYC this year and will have been directed by comedy auteur Bo Burnham. Byron’s hour will very likely be a showcase of how exquisite he can weave together long form jokes/bits/stories along with his cavalier persona. From where the two and FX as a network stand, this feels like a similar precipice that Netflix was at when they entered into original comedy specials with Ali Wong, Jen Kirkman, and Tom Segura several years ago.

Thankfully, you won’t have to ponder about what any of these specials will be (and we won’t spend any more time pontificating on the possibilities) since they’ll both be premiering exclusively on Hulu just a couple days from now on Thurs. Sept. 15th.

we're dropping two first-time comedy specials from @kateberlant and @byronbowers. watch thursday 9/15. only on hulu. pic.twitter.com/VUJaDyaAXL

— FX Networks (@FXNetworks) September 13, 2022