The Best Hour-long Comedy Specials* - GOLD Comedy - Make Funny Stuff

  • Who We Are
    • About GOLD
    • Meet some GOLDies
    • Our team
    • Write for Us
  • Classes
  • GOLD Mine
    • Resources
    • Digital Production Teams
  • Free Consult
  • Join the club

The Best Hour-long Comedy Specials*

Maggie Scudder Apr 11, 2024

*NOT an exhaustive list, just some of our favorites.

A comedian’s hour is something very special. It’s like a white coat ceremony or passing the Bar Exam. Except, ya’ know, funny. It shows their audience that they’ve moved beyond the standard tight five or tight ten and onto something not only more advanced, but often more intense, personal, and telling. (AND FUNNY!)

This is a list of (some of) our favorite hour-long comedy specials by the folks we admire.

Want to enter the big leagues? GOLD currently offers a “Build Your Solo Show” intensive course. It is perfect for anyone who needs to assemble an hour of material–comedy, keynotes, TED Talk, solo show, or even a very long Maid-of-Honor speech. You’ll get one-on-one feedback with one of the VERY best in the Biz. Iris Bahr is a solo show savant, an award-winning actress and comedian, and a very coveted coach.

Kate Berlant’s Cinnamon in the Wind

Zainab Johnson’s Hijabs Off

Maria Bamford’s Local Act

Whoopi Goldberg on Broadway

Tig Notaro’s Happy To Be Here

Nicole Byer’s BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo)

Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra

 

Related Articles

  • The Power of Satire: How comedy can change the world 

  • Exploring different standup comedy genres: How to find your style

  • Women over 50 who are still funny (and getting funnier!)

  • 30 Comedy writing prompts for standups, sketch writers, and humorists

Subscribe to Tight Five, our free weekly newsletter with comedy tips, funny reads, and entertaining reccos.

← Previous Post
Next Post →

Recent Articles

  • The Power of Satire: How comedy can change the world 

    May 15, 2026
  • Exploring different standup comedy genres: How to find your style

    Apr 22, 2026
  • Women over 50 who are still funny (and getting funnier!)

    Apr 03, 2026
  • 30 Comedy writing prompts for standups, sketch writers, and humorists

    Mar 16, 2026
View All

Recent How-tos

  • Screenwriters: Screenplay format should be your best friend

    Mar 05, 2026
  • Screenplay formatting cheat sheet

    Feb 25, 2026
  • Exactly How to Pitch a TV Show: Five Steps

    Feb 20, 2026
  • The definitive guide to standup comedy

    Jan 21, 2026
View All

Recent Q&As

  • Sarah Adelman will have a pity party and then try again ASAP

    May 12, 2026
  • Carley Whitt has a healthy dose of delusion

    Apr 17, 2026
  • Mike Albo works out his hope muscle

    Apr 08, 2026
  • Wendy Shanker immediately writes ideas down

    Apr 01, 2026
View All

Want to write for our site?

Send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to info(at)goldcomedy.com. In your cover letter please tell us about something that always cracks you up.

  • © 2026 GOLD Comedy
  • Scholarships
  • Coaching
  • Give GOLD
  • Why comedy
  • Contact Us

Privacy Policy Terms of Service

Site by The Hot Brain & The Big Smoke