3 of one of the best specials from Boston comedians streaming now
The Queue
Plus, press play on these new films and reveals.
Spherical 1 of our Finest Boston Comic bracket is within the books, and I believe some readers are going to be fairly shocked.
A pair of 2-seeds – Jennifer Coolidge and Jay Leno – had been upset by two 7-seeds because of some private lobbying from one comic. And one of many 1-seeds – Invoice Burr – barely eked out a victory.
The second spherical of voting is now open, and the matchups solely get tougher from right here. However earlier than we overlook in regards to the 16 humorous of us who exited stage left, I’d like to focus on a few of their finest materials.
Together with the same old weekly streaming recs, this week’s version of The Queue has a fast recap of our ongoing comedy bracket, in addition to three specials value watching from native comedians who readers voted off the island.
If you wish to see the complete outcomes from Spherical 1, scroll to the underside of our touchdown web page. Spherical 2 voting is now open by Monday afternoon.
Largest upset: 7-seed Sam Reich (56.6%) over 2-seed Jennifer Coolidge (43.4%)
Not solely did the Cambridge native put up on social media about his matchup in opposition to Coolidge, he additionally rallied round fellow 7-seed (and Dropout common) Pete Holmes, who took down former “Tonight Present” host Jay Leno. Will this “dangerous b****” (to make use of Reich’s phrases) have what it takes to beat Matt LeBlanc in Spherical 2? Sam says sure.
Closest name: 1-seed Invoice Burr (50.4%) over 8-seed Paula Poundstone (49.6%)
Although I knew Paula Poundstone had loads of followers from her many years of standup and NPR appearances, I didn’t anticipate that she would end inside tenths of a proportion of Invoice Burr.
Hardest determination: 4-seed Jenny Slate (39.3%) vs. 5-seed Jason Mantzoukas (60.7%)
For followers of “The Workplace,” selecting between Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak was in all probability the toughest. However for me, it was Slate vs. Mantzoukas, two longtime collaborators on reveals like “Huge Mouth,” “Kroll Present,” and “Parks & Recreation.” Ultimately, on-line assist from listeners of the Comedy Bang Bang and How Did This Get Made podcasts probably helped Zouks over the road.
Given what number of comedians from the Bay State didn’t even make our subject of 32 comics, those that misplaced in Spherical 1 shouldn’t really feel discouraged. However as a parting reward, listed below are three specials from the record of losers streaming now.
“Gary Gulman: Born on Third Base” (2023)
The Peabody native gained better recognition for 2019’s “The Nice Depresh,” an sincere examination of his lifelong wrestle with melancholy. Gulman’s latest particular is nearer to his typical type of observational comedy, with a specific concentrate on the haves and have-nots. (HBO Max)
“Jenny Slate: Stage Fright” (2019)
Slate emphasizes the native in her debut particular, which blends conventional stand-up with documentary footage from her childhood residence and tales of rising up in Milton. (Netflix)
“Chris Fleming: Stay on the Palace” (2026)
Government produced by Conan O’Brien (Fleming’s opponent in our bracket), the Stow native’s HBO particular showcases Fleming’s boundless power and skewed outlook on the world. (HBO Max)
Play or Skip
Have a present you possibly can’t cease watching? E mail me about it at [email protected], and your suggestion could seem in a future version of The Queue.
Press play on these new films and reveals:
“The Invite” (2026)
Talking of native performers, Olivia Wilde advised me about how her time at Phillips Academy in Andover helped inform her work directing “The Invite,” a darkly humorous movie that capabilities extra like a stage play. Wilde and Seth Rogen play a pair who ought to’ve divorced years in the past internet hosting the upstairs neighbors (Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz) for a cocktail party that takes a flip. (HBO Max)
“The Dropout” (2022)
First, you need to get off your sofa and head to the theaters for “You Can See Every part.” Probably the greatest films of 2026, the mind-bending documentary is nominally about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who welcomed comic Nathan Fielder into her residence proper earlier than she went to jail in 2023. With out spoiling the movie, I’ll simply say that watching this 2022 miniseries, which stars Amanda Seyfried because the disgraced tech mogul, is an edifying expertise. (Hulu)
“No one Desires This” Season 3 (2026)
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s interfaith odd couple have moved in collectively in Season 3, resulting in a season that’s largely mild and nice however with sufficient drama on the margins to maintain us entertained. (Netflix)
However go forward and skip this one:
“The Terminal Checklist” Season 2 (2026)
4 years after its first season, Chris Pratt’s Navy SEAL commander is again, and he’s bent on revenge (as a consequence of occasions from Season 1 that I gained’t spoil). The brand new season is satisfactory, however it’s onerous to match the present’s feelings after such a protracted layoff. (Prime Video)
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