From The Comic's Comic

The first-ever Golden Globes nominations for stand-up comedians were announced this morning, and oh boy, color nobody surprised by this slate.

The Globes may have moved from NBC to CBS, and they may have new owners, but it’s still the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, so why would anyone expect these fame-whore junket-lovers to pick anything other than the most famous comedians whom they already know and love, regardless of their current prowess at stand-up or the actual content of their 2023 specials?

Sarah Silverman and Wanda Sykes were on my list of predictions back when the Globes first announced they’d be adding a category for “Best Stand-Up Comedian On Television.” Which means you already know I think Marc Maron, Mo’Nique, Nate Bargatze and Jim Gaffigan were snubbed. Obviously, Chris Rock‘s LIVE Netflix special generated too much attention and hype to be ignored. Amy Schumer? Perhaps the HFPA just wants to see what she’ll say or do or how much wine she’ll drink at the ceremony? Trevor Noah and Ricky Gervais — their specials haven’t even come out yet, and Netflix won’t even release screeners for Gervais in advance, but that couldn’t stop the HFPA from welcoming Gervais back with open arms to let him do his schtick. I have watched Noah’s screener, and it’s interesting but not as funny as his previous work.

But it’s awards and superlative season for all who celebrate, which means other chances for snubs and surprises galore to go around.

The Critics Choice Association announced their TV nominees last week, and their “Best Comedy Special” slate only shares two nominees with the Globes in Noah and Sykes. Also on the CCA list: Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (Netflix); Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (Prime Video); John Early: Now More Than Ever (HBO | Max); John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix); Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix); Wanda Sykes – I’m an Entertainer (Netflix).

At Vulture, critic Kathryn VanArendonk‘s Best Comedy Specials list for 2023 includes a Top 10 and another 10 honorable mentions. Her Top 10 (1-10): Marc Maron: From Bleak To Dark (HBO/Max); Beth Stelling: If You Didn’t Want Me Then (Netflix); Joe Pera: Slow & Steady (YouTube); Sam Jay: Salute Me Or Shoot Me (Max); Gary Gulman: Born on 3rd Base (Max); Maria Bamford: Local Act (Comedy Dynamics); Zainab Johnson: Hijabs Off (Prime Video); Birbiglia; Early; Sasheer Zamata: The First Woman. Her honorable mentions: Shane Torres: The Blue-Eyed Mexican (YouTube); Dina Hashem: Dark Little Whispers (Prime Video); Chris Fleming: Hell (Peacock); Ali Siddiq: The Domino Effect Part 2, Loss (YouTube); John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix); Mo’Nique: My Name Is Mo’Nique (Netflix); Mae Martin: SAP (Netflix); Kyle Kinane: Shocks and Struts (YouTube); Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me (Max); Nate Bargatze: Hello World (Prime Video).

My NYT counterpart Jason Zinoman resists Top 10 lists to instead categorize comedians into different superlatives. His honors for 2023 included (gift link to read in full): Jim Gaffigan: Dark Pale (Prime Video) for Best Special; Stelling for Best Breakthrough; Siddiq for Best Storyteller; Early for Best Bit; April Clark and Grace Freud of Girl God for Best New Double Act; Maron for Best Closer; Dan Rosen for Best Online Roaster; Sophie Buddle for Best Canadian Newcomer; Deon Cole for Best Take On Crowd Work; Pera for Best Response to a Beeping Cellphone; Mulaney for Best Impression; Diane Morgan‘s Philomena Cunk for Best Buffoon; Nathan Macintosh’s “Money Never Wakes” for Best YouTube Special; Gulman for Best Comic-On-Comic Comedy; and Savannah Moss for Best Gen Z Surrealist.

Paste Magazine reminded us that there also were a bunch of specials that only exist for our listening pleasure, with their Best Comedy Albums list for 2023. They’re honoring Natasha Vaynblat: We’re All Dads Here; Greg Proops: French Drug Deal; Papp Johnson: Timeless; Jon Glaser: Jon Glaser’s Soothing Meditations for the Solitary Dog; Cara Connors: Straight for Pay; Derrick Brown: A Close Shave with Heaven; Liz Barrett: Gettin’ By; Maria Bamford: CROWD-PLEASER.

Meanwhile, I’m furiously feverishly finishing my own Top 10 list for Decider, and no spoilers, but some of my picks will match up with my fellow critics Kathryn and Jason a lot more than they will with the others, although I’ve got my eyes on a few names they didn’t highlight, too! (hint hint Ralph Barbosa, Blair Socci, and Greg Warren are all vying for spots on my list hint hint as I go through the HUNDREDS of specials worth considering)

If you’d like to put in a last-minute plug for your special or for someone you think released one of the greatest comedy specials in this calendar year of 2023 and needs to be recognized, then please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

I just realized this dispatch already has gotten long without me even mentioning all of the other things going on in comedy over the past few weeks, so let me hit publish on this and I’ll circle back soon with a full comedy catch-up.