11 days and over 250 shows, Netflix is a Joke: The Festival took over Los Angeles in the most unparalleled way bringing comedic heaven to over 25 venues across the city. The jam-packed festival was filled with hilarity and exciting events – everything from sold-out shows, to sneak peeks at series premieres, performances, and more. The remarkable festival saw icons including Dave Chappelle, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin who hosted the Ladies Night Live event, Arsenio Hall who filmed his Arsenio! Live from Netflix Is A Joke Fest episodes, Wanda Sykes, Chelsea Handler, John Mulaney, and many more.
The City of Angels turned into one big Netflix comedic extravaganza during Netflix is a Joke: The Festival, presented by Live Nation, and it’s all the world was talking about. There are too many terrific highlights from the event to name, but, in no particular order, let’s take a look at 10 of the many wonderful events that took place throughout the exceptional festival.
1. Sebastian Maniscalco’s Nobody Does This shows at The Wiltern
Renowned comedian Sebastian Maniscalco had two, phenomenal performances at The Wiltern in Los Angeles during Netflix is a Joke: The Festival. Talking about everything from his son’s soccer practices to deal-breakers when it comes to picking a restaurant to eat at with his family, Maniscalco’s show was everything and more you could ask for during a night of nothing but the greatest laughs. Watching Maniscalco live is always a good idea. Read more of a review of Sebastian Maniscalco’s Nobody Does This set here.
2. Dave Chappelle’s sold-out shows at the Hollywood Bowl
There’s no better way to kick off a comedy festival than with the king of comedy himself, Dave Chappelle. The comedic icon welcomed in the start of Netflix is a Joke: The Festival with a sold-out show on April 28 at the Hollywood Bowl. More Chappelle excitement took place throughout the fest with a total of four shows. Chappelle also brought out a countless amount of his esteemed friends during his shows including Chris Rock, Usher, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Donnell Rawlings, and many more.
3. All of the Outdoors at The Hollywood Palladium free events
All of the fun didn’t just happen at the shows because Netflix also brought the festivities outdoors during its fest within the festival at the Outdoors at The Hollywood Palladium free events. Attendees were able to enjoy Netflix inspired photo-opps, including a Squid Game section for those that wanted to play a little game of red light, green light. Other exciting events that took place as a part of Outdoors at The Hollywood Palladium included the Goddamn Comedy Jam, where guests performed a set and then showed off their inner rockstar by performing one of their favorite songs. Justine Moreno, Jay Oakerson, Jay Pharoah, Harland Williams, Cristela Alonzo, Nico Carney, Deon Cole, and Beth Stelling were just some of the many amazing, familiar faces who dropped by the marvelous, outdoor events.
4. Larry David In Conversation
When it comes to bringing great humor, the notable Larry David is pretty, pretty, pretty good at that. Larry David joined in on the Netflix is a Joke: The Festival merriment for his Larry David In Conversation event that took place on May 2 at The Greek Theatre. David chatted with Robert B. Weide and joked about having a good side when it comes to being funny. After switching seats with Weide, David said, “You know how people have good sides and bad sides with the way they look? I’ve got good and bad sides for being funny.” Thanks to Netflix’s spectacular festival, LD fans were able to relish in an intimate conversation with the prolific writer and comedian and hear him talk about everything from Curb Your Enthusiasm to seeing him try (and fail) at throwing a ball of paper in a waste basket.
5. Seth Rogen’s Table Reads
Profound actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen hosted several table reads throughout the festival in support of Hilarity for Charity, a non-profit that helps families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. The first night of Seth Rogen’s Table Reads featured Natasha Leggero, Brendan Scannell, Moshe Kasher, Kathryn Hahn, John O’Hurley, Aziz Ansari, and Jack Black who all joined in on the fun to perform three episodes from Seinfeld. Rogen also brought some Friday vibes to fans with a hilarious table read of Friday with O’Shea Jackson Jr., Brian Simpson, GaTa, Xosha Roquemore, George Wallace, Luenell, Janelle James, Lil Rel Howery, Craig Robinson, Zainab Johnson, Ron Funches, Maggie Maye, and Tony Baker. Watch a clip from the hysterical table read below.
6. Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends
SNL‘s Pete Davidson had a busy time during Netflix is a Joke: The Festival. He hosted two shows of Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends at The Fonda Theatre. Davidson brought out friends including Carly Aquilino, Giulio Gallarotti, Joey Gay, Jordan Rock, Dave Sirus, Big Wet, and Neko White. His good friend, Machine Gun Kelly also performed at his event and Davidson joined him for a fantastic duet. The comedian also talked about his “really weird year” and addressed Kanye West. You can take a look at a clip of Davidson discussing West below.
7. Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special
What happens when you bring together the legendary Snoop Dogg along with some of the greatest comedians on this planet? You get Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special. Snoop Dogg hosted a night of the best laughs at the Hollywood Palladium. He sang some of his greatest hits and then invited top-notch comedians including Katt Williams, Mike Epps, DeRay Davis, Donnell Rawlings, Melanie Comarcho, and Guy Torry to the stage for incredibly funny sets that guests will be quoting for the rest of their lives. Snoop Dogg chatted it up with each comedian after their performance. It was a magnificent night celebrating black comedians. Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special will be available to watch on June 16 on Netflix.
8. THE HALL: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up event
THE HALL: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up celebrated the GOATs of comedy. John Mulaney honored Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle honored Richard Pryor, Chelsea Handler honored Joan Rivers, and Jon Stewart honored George Carlin. Fans can watch the special event, hosted by Pete Davidson, which will premiere at a later date on Netflix.
9. Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration
There truly isn’t any better way to end off Netflix is a Joke: The Festival than with the most outstanding Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. The remarkable event was hosted by none other than, Billy Eichner. Ani DiFranco introduced Margaret Cho, Sarah Paulson introduced Tig Notaro, Lily Tomlin introduced Sandra Bernhard, Issa Rae introduced Wanda Sykes, and Rosie O’Donnell closed out the night. O’Donnell and many of the night’s extraordinary performers even got up on stage to do their own special rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s classic song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” but with a unique twist as “Gays Just Want to Have Fun.” Other brilliant performers at the event included Bob the Drag Queen, Eddie Izzard, Solomon Georgio, Sam Jay, River Butcher, Patti Harrison, Matteo Lane, Marsha Warfield, Mae Martin, Judy Gold, Joel Kim Booster, James Adomian, Guy Branum, Gina Yashere, Trixie Mattel, Scott Thompson, and Todd Glass. Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration, which is the largest-ever gathering of LGBTQ+ comics, will premiere on Netflix on June 9.
10. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias makes history
If there’s one person who can always make us laugh, it is, without a doubt, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias. The unmatched comic made history during Netflix is a Joke: The Festival as the first-ever comedian to have performed at the Dodger Stadium. Fluffy took part in other stellar events throughout the festival including his very own Fluffy Fest, a fan-focused tailgate experience that featured a bunch of Fluffy-inspired activities. Iglesias was even presented with a proclamation ceremony ahead of his historic show at Dodger Stadium.
Needless to say, we’re already having post-event withdrawals from Netflix is a Joke: The Festival. The event was unlike anything that has ever happened before in the world of comedy. We’re already counting down the days until the next festival, but until then, we have a lot of exciting, taped specials to look forward to from the event that will be premiering on Netflix end of May and in the month of June.
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