News / TV

Netflix’s 2017 comedy slate will kick off with weekly stand-up specials, Valentine’s Day variety special with Michael Bolton and friends

Netflix has been pumping out a new stand-up hour almost weekly, and they’re already set to keep up that pace to kick off 2017, announcing four upcoming specials for January, plus Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Day Special to come in the first Tuesday of February.

Bolton has established some comedy cred, appearing alongside The Lonely Island guys in SNL shorts and their Popstar movie. Akiva Schaffer and Scott Aukerman direct Bolton’s Valentine’s Day variety special, premiering Feb. 7, 2017, with Bolton singing and joined by Andy Samberg, Casey Wilson, Chris Parnell, Eric Andre, Jorma Taccone, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Michael Sheen, Randall Park and Sarah Silverman.

As for stand-ups in January 2017 on Netflix, the release order looks like this:

 

Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Livin’? – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017

  • In her second Netflix original comedy special, Jen Kirkman is back with her neurotic, storytelling brand of unflinchingly honest comedy. Filmed at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, she jokes about people who won’t travel alone, getting a tattoo at 41, male feminists and her solution to street harassment. Just Keep Livin’ is a follow-up to her first original comedy special, I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine).

Jim Gaffigan: Cinco – Jan. 10

  • Gaffigan’s fifth special captures his recent “Fully Dressed Tour,” which included a sold-out performance at The Madison Square Garden Arena in New York, and smashed a Salt Lake City record with 29,000 tickets sold. Netflix also acquired exclusive rights to Gaffigan’s four previous stand-up specials.

Neal Brennan: 3 MicsJan. 17

  • Director, writer and comedian Neal Brennan is reimagining the hour-long comedy special with his acclaimed show 3 Mics — his first for Netflix. In a break from classic stand-up comedy, 3 Mics sees Brennan alternating between three separate microphones: one for traditional stand-up; one for one-liners; and one for short confessional monologues, covering everything from managing his depression to his difficult relationship with his father. The show is fresh off a successful off-Broadway run in NYC, with superstar musician John Legend serving as Producer.

Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy – Jan. 24

  • In her debut stand-up special for Netflix, actress and comedian Cristela Alonzo performs to a packed house in San Antonio, TX talking about life as the daughter of an immigrant, social class, breaking the glass ceiling and more importantly, how she can’t get the hang of Zumba.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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