14 stand-up sets to stream for National Let’s Laugh Day

Showmax is bringing the noise with these comedy specials. But be warned – put the kids to bed before you start streaming. These are way, way too rude for little ears.

Comedy Central Presents ColourBlind Live At The Lyric

Kykie nou – Joey Rasdien is bringing his mense (like Chris Forrest, Ndumiso Lindi and Tumi Morake) to the Lyric Theatre and they’re going off. They’re tackling SA’s biggest problem: racism. It’s a tough topic, but they’re on form and there’s nothing they’re saying that’s not true.

Goliath & Goliath: Aweh Mzansi

Donovan Goliath and his bro Nicholas are bringing it hard. And they’ve got backup with their comedy mafia gang of jokesters. Nothing is off the board. No one gets a free pass. Nothing can escape their clutches as they rap 1, 2, 3 and turn the most serious things in life into another joke. But that’s what you’re here for – a good laugh from Mzansi’s best men of stand-up.

Jason Goliath Live: Manstruation Surviving A Wife

He’s larger than life and Jason Goliath is dropping the truth about life and everything in-between. It’s like a life lesson in an hour as Jason raps about growing up, education, dealing with abuse from society, and rising above to be a boy from Extension 9 Eldorado Park who’s moved to Sandton and made it. Aweh.

Schalk Bezuidenhout – Volksbesit

The man with the moustache is on stage and on fire. He’s got a joke for this, a wisecrack for that and 80 more minutes of the funniest stories on Showmax as he delivers comedy so funny that he laughs at his own jokes. Even the hecklers get a bashing as Schalk takes no prisoners. Check out his other comedy specials Lewendig and Second Language.

The Live Series: National Comics Party

There’s a joke about politicians being the best comedians because they write their own jokes – and that makes them easy pickings for Schalk Bezuidenhout and his pals like Jason Goliath (read above), Chester Missing, Skhumba Hlophe and more. A 16L rating means these guys are going hard and heavy as they beat the country’s “political best” to a bloody pulp.

Trevor Noah Presents NationWild

Tricky Trevor might be calling NYC and LA home these days, but he’s still got love for Mzansi and his people. And since he’s such a kind and caring oke, he’s helping rising comedy stars to get their names, faces and jokes out there in this stand-up showcase. While Trevor is talking smack like normal, he’s also letting his lesser-known friends take the spotlight… and boy, are they funny! The 13 episodes are only 22 minutes each, but that makes 286 minutes of jokes!

Unprotected Sets

Two seasons of stand-up comedy gold sees 25-minute episodes filled with rising talents in the global comedy game. What’s being spoken about? Oh, you know, the usual – politicians, sex, drugs, rock and roll… and pretty much everything else that’s fair game. The best part is that each comedian has a different styling, so you’re guaranteed to laugh a lot no matter what mood you’re in. Feeling serious? Zainab Johnson tackles hilarious sexual experiences, while Mexican-American Raul Sanchez jokes about smoking marijuana – legally – outside the infamous Alamo in Texas (which is actually happening now… legally).

Amy Schumer: Live At The Apollo

She’s rude, she’s crude… sometimes she’s lewd. But that’s part of Amy’s charm – she’s telling it like it is and doesn’t care what anyone says. It’s produced by Chris Rock (read below) and has a 16SL rating… so put the kids to bed and get ready for roff en onbeskof one-liners about everyone and everything that’s wrong with the US.

Bill Maher… But I’m Not Wrong – coming soon

Bill Maher is a master of satire. He does it with a straight face. He does it with honesty. And he does it to make you think things through and realise just how crazy the world is that we live in. From politicians to social injustices, Bill’s got the comic gift of the gab and he’ll talk you through things you never thought about.

Bill Maher: Live from DC – coming soon

Satire superstar Bill loves talking about things that society can’t get enough of no matter how controversial: politicians, religion, the pope and social inequality… and taking up most of Bill’s time is tackling the problem of former President Donald Trump. Ja boet, this is a wild ride.

Billy Crystal 700 Sundays

He’s 74 years old but his comedy brain is sharper than a razor blade and that makes Billy Crystal a dangerous man behind the mic. But this is a family show, so there’s no emotional bloodshed among the jokes. Instead, Billy is exposing himself on stage in this autobiographical story and he’s playing the people who influenced him most – not his mom and dad, but the entertainment stars of Manhattan’s comedy past.

Bob Saget: That Ain’t Right – coming soon

The late, great Bob Saget might’ve been a nice guy in 90s sitcom Full House… but his comedy, yoh, it’s a whole other story. He swears. He shouts. He talks trash. And he says what we’re all thinking but are too polite to say. Bob is the best at being the baddest comedian because you don’t expect him to say the things he says. And you’ll enjoy it … because Bob said so!

Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger

It’s been a minute since THE Chris Rock was telling jokes in Mzansi – and now you can relive his stand-up show. This special won him an Emmy and follows Chris’s global 2008 tour of London, New York and Jozi as he delivers hard truths in his comedy styling. There’s swearing, there’s joking, there’s serious straight-faced delivery… but most of all, there’s jokes that’ll make you go “yoh yoh yoh!” when Chris reads you the riot act.