Just as they’ve done with pretty much everything else, Netflix has cornered the market on comedy specials, having spent upwards of half a billion over the last few years. The streaming giant is now heading offline with the inaugural Netflix Is a Joke Fest, a comedy festival set to take place April 27th through May 3rd across Los Angeles.
Unsurprisingly, the lineup of over 100 performers is stacked with big-name stars, many of whom already have Netflix specials or shows. A mix of stand-up, improv, podcast tapings, and showcases, Netflix Is a Joke Fest will host individually ticketed shows, meaning there won’t be a festival badge that gets you into everything. That said, 11 of the events will be recorded for eventual streaming on Netflix.
Dave Chappelle will lead the appropriately titled “Chappelle’s showcase”, a mix of comedy and music, on May 2nd at the Hollywood Bowl. Other showcases will come from Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence, Amy Schumer, and the all-star tag team of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, all of whom will set up shop at the Palladium between April 29th and May 2nd.
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction host David Letterman will hold two “That’s My Time” shows at the Fonda Theatre. Set for April 28th and 29th, the events will feature both stand-up and interviews. On May 1st, the Orpheum will welcome the cast of Schitt’s Creek as part of their farewell tour, while Kevin Hart will hold a special Q&A at the venue on May 3rd.
The Greek Theater will house “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration” on May 1st, featuring appearances from Margaret Cho, Rosie O’Donnell Wanda Sykes, Hannah Gadsby, and Alan Carr. Presenters for the show will include Demi Lovato, Graham Norton, and Ruby Rose.
Other stand-up sets during the festival will come from our 2019 Comedian of the Year Jenny Slate, Ali Wong, Mike Birbiglia, Ronny Chieng, Norm Macdonald, Chelsea Handler, Bill Burr, Iliza Shlesinger, and Michelle Wolf.
Netflix Is a Joke Fest’s big finale will take place May 3rd at the Ace Hotel with The Hall, a tribute to legendary comedians George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Robin Williams. The confirmed guest list includes Chappelle, Sykes, Hart, Sarah Silverman, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld.
A full schedule of shows and events is available at the Netflix Is a Joke Fest website, with many of the lineups being announced in the coming weeks. Tickets go on sale March 6th, with pre-sales live on March 3rd. You can check via Ticketmaster, and find access to sold out events here.
