Film
Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious
- Gross-out comedy
- Light-hearted
Aziz Ansari's debut special captures him at his most energetic and unfiltered, riffing on sex, dating, and New York life with the manic charm that made him a standup standout. It's loose, occasionally crude, propelled by his distinctive voice and physical comedy. For anyone who loves observational comedy with real personality.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy observational stand-up that riffs on everyday awkwardness with a sharp, fast-talking energy, and you don't mind it getting profane while it does so.
Skip it if you want a polished narrative or a comedian who stays clear of crude material, since this set leans on bawdy, sex-focused bits for much of its length.
What it asks of you: Roughly an hour of one man at a microphone, no story arc, just a steady run of bits you either ride or tune out; it stays brisk.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City2018
Mulaney's storytelling precision and ability to build jokes into architecture rivals Ansari's energy. Warm, intelligent, and genuinely funny about modern life without ever feeling like a lecture.
But If you need comedy to feel dangerous or provocative, this is extremely polished and safe. Some find his delivery a bit arch.
Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!2012
Bamford's early special is fearless about her own weirdness and mental health, channeling anxiety into surreal, unexpected comedy. The creativity matches Ansari's invention.
But It's experimental and doesn't always land. Some bits feel half-formed on purpose, which works for some and frustrates others.
Bo Burnham: Inside2021
A special about modern life, loneliness, and despair wrapped in musical comedy. Burnham's multimedia ambition and willingness to be both funny and gutting is remarkable.
But It's dark and exhausting. Watching it feels like emotional labor, not casual entertainment.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Hannah Gadsby: Nanette2018
Both are personal specials about vulnerability and attraction, but Gadsby dismantles the form while Ansari inhabits it. Gadsby asks why comedy needs cruelty; Ansari celebrates it.
A special that deconstructs comedy itself—its violence, its mechanics, its relationship to power—while still being genuinely funny. Gadsby uses standup against itself in ways that feel urgent.
But It's more essay than joke delivery. If you want to laugh constantly, this builds slowly and asks a lot of you.
More like this (4)
Hannibal Buress: Animal Furnace2012
Buress has Ansari's gift for absurdist observational humor without the frenetic energy. Dry, clever, often hilarious about the small ridiculous moments of life.
But His delivery is so understated it can feel like nothing's happening. Requires patience that not everyone has.
Ali Wong: Baby Cobra2016
Wong's pregnant-and-furious energy is infectious, and her willingness to be crude and personal about relationships and desire echoes Ansari's best instincts. Genuinely inventive.
But Her shouting-delivery won't appeal to everyone, and some of the shock value hasn't aged as well as the actual jokes.
Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American2021
A genuinely funny special about nothing in particular, with a warmth and accessibility that's refreshing. Simple storytelling done really well.
But Lacks the edge or ambition of more celebrated specials. Some see it as pleasant but forgettable.
Patrice O'Neal: Elephant in the Room2011
Both excavate dating and desire as comedy, but O'Neal weaponizes it while Ansari seeks connection. O'Neal wants to win arguments; Ansari wants to share jokes.
O'Neal's special is a master class in relationship comedy and the psychology of desire. He's aggressive and vulnerable simultaneously in ways that feel genuinely dangerous and alive.
But His delivery is combative and he's not interested in being likable. Some of his material about gender feels dated or provocative without justification.
People
Cast
Aziz AnsariSelf
Directing
- Jason WolinerDirector
Writing
- Aziz AnsariWriter
Recommended by
Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American, Important Things with Demetri Martin