Film
Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
Katherine Ryan's 2019 special finds her sharp and unapologetic, riffing on motherhood, ambition, and the small revenges we take on people who wronged us. She's funny in that particular way—conversational, smart, never punching down. It's an hour of someone who's worked through her material and knows exactly what she's doing.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy a stand-up who talks like a sharp, unbothered friend, turning everyday indignities about motherhood, bodies and old schoolyard grudges into quick, pointed bits with a glint of mischief.
Skip it if you want a comedy with a strong narrative or a rough, confessional edge, since this is a polished, hour-long set of tightly built routines rather than anything raw or searching.
What it asks of you: It runs about an hour and moves briskly from one joke to the next, so you only need to keep up with her rhythm and be willing to laugh at yourself a little.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas2020
Gadsby returns after Nanette with material that's looser, funnier, and less interested in being a manifesto. Sharply observed observations about sexuality, art, and ambition delivered with genuine delight in the comedy itself.
But If you came for another 'serious reckoning' special, this is lighter and more playful. Some might find that a letdown after the cultural moment Nanette created.
Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!2012
Bamford mixes standup with sketches and her distinctive visual style to discuss mental illness, family, and identity. Inventive formally and emotionally honest without ever becoming heavy-handed or self-pitying.
But The mix of formats and constant tonal shifts can feel scattered if you want a traditional special. The self-deprecating humour won't land if you find that exhausting.
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City2018
Mulaney constructs perfect scenarios—absurd premises built logically until they collapse. His material about childhood, culture, and the stupidity of mundane things is precisely written and genuinely hilarious.
But His style is very clean and structured. If you prefer messier, more improvised energy or dark subject matter, this brand of clever comedy might feel a bit polished.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Inside Man2006
Both are solo performers working through their own heads on stage, but Burnham transforms the comedy special into something closer to conceptual art—showing what's possible when you refuse the format's conventional shape.
Bo Burnham filmed himself alone in a room for a week, mixing musical production, philosophy, and genuine claustrophobia. It's formally ambitious, beautiful, and genuinely strange—comedy that wants to say something about isolation and creation.
But It's less a traditional standup special and more an art film that happens to be funny. If you need conventional comedy structure, it will frustrate you. Some find the self-seriousness grating.
More like this (4)
Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American2021
Bargatze's Southern charm masks sharp observations about family, class, and the particular American experience. He's funny in a warm, conversational way without sacrificing intelligence or edge.
But His meandering storytelling style can feel aimless if you prefer tighter material. Some might find his persona a bit too likeable and unthreatening.
Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted2015
Notaro's deadpan delivery and willingness to sit in uncomfortable silences makes her special feel like a private conversation. Her observations about gender, performance, and identity are genuinely original.
But Her comedy is very dry and minimalist. Long stretches without obvious punchlines can feel sparse if you need constant laughs or clearer comedic architecture.
Marc Maron: End Times Fun2020
Maron weaponizes anxiety and neurosis into material that's darkly funny and weirdly cathartic. He finds absurdity in the everyday panic of being alive and thinking too much.
But The constant self-examination and existential dread might feel relentless. If you're looking for escapism, this special's vibe is specifically about spiralling.
Andrew Schulz: Infamous2022
Both comedians are secure enough in their material to not need the audience's permission—they're not chasing approval, just expressing their point of view. Ryan's intelligence and Schulz's belligerence are different flavours of the same confidence.
Schulz is a combative, politically incorrect comic who genuinely doesn't care about your approval. His material about relationships, masculinity, and culture is deliberately provocative and smartly constructed beneath the showboating.
But If you're sensitive to edgy material or offended comedy, this will irritate you by design. His contrarianism can feel like performance rather than genuine belief.
People
Cast
Katherine RyanHerself
Directing
- Linda MendozaDirector
Writing
- Katherine RyanWriter
Production
- Dave BeckyExecutive Producer
- John IrwinExecutive Producer
- Josh LiebermanExecutive Producer
- Katherine RyanExecutive Producer
- Kitty LaingExecutive Producer