3 of the best comedy specials to watch this weekend

After more than 56,000 votes, we have a winner! Sam Reich — CEO of indie comedy streaming service Dropout and host of its most popular show, “Game Changer” – managed to beat 31 other funny folks to be named the Best Boston Comedian in our bracket competition.

Thanks to significant support from Dropout fans, Reich emerged victorious after more than two weeks of voting (and several rounds of posting about our bracket on social media). 

Some of you may be confused about who Sam Reich is (or where he’s from), but the Cambridge native has a pretty interesting story – one that he graciously shared with me over Zoom after I let him know he had won.

While I would encourage all of you to check out Dropout if you’re fans of quirky improv comedy, with the bracket now over, I also wanted to honor some of Reich’s fallen competitors.

Since I previously highlighted stand-up specials from Round 1 knockouts Gary Gulman, Jenny Slate, and Chris Fleming, this week I’m picking three new Boston comedians whose specials you should stream this weekend.

“Pete Holmes: I Am Not For Everyone” (2023)

The Lexington native got an early career boost from Reich and co. by acting in videos at CollegeHumor, including the delightful series “Badman,” before landing his own late-night show on TBS. His 2023 standup special is also a delight, though if you’re in a hurry, you can just watch him roast Reich for a few minutes. (YouTube)

“Bo Burnham: Inside” (2021)

In our interview, Reich said that Burnham would have been his personal pick for the Best Boston Comedian because after watching “Inside,” he had “a month-long existential crisis” because of how good it was.Personally I wanted Conan to win, but Sam is right about “Inside.” (Netflix)

“Stephen Wright: On Location” (1985)

One of my first favorite comedians growing up was Steven Wright, the stone-faced comic who is the master of the perfectly constructed one-liner. One of his earliest specials, filmed for HBO, is currently free on YouTube. (YouTube)

Play or Skip: All Comedy Edition

Have a movie you love or a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected]. Your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.

Press play on these shows:

“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” Season 2

Fans of “30 Rock” need to check out this comedy from Robert Carlock, which stars Tracy Morgan as an ex-NFLer busted for gambling who is trying to remake his image with the help of a documentary filmmaker (“Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe). For my money, it’s one of (if not the) funniest shows on TV. (Peacock)

“North of North” Season 2

Another comedy back for its second season this week is this Canadian Netflix sitcom, about an Inuit woman who leaves her philandering husband in a culture not especially hospitable to single moms. (Netflix)

“Parks & Recreation” (2009-2015)

Amy Poehler may have lost in the final of our comedian bracket, but with the Burlington native returning later this month with her new show “Dig,” now is the perfect time to refresh your memory of how funny she can be by binging a season or two of this NBC sitcom. (Peacock)

But go ahead and skip this one:

“Super Troopers 3” (2026)

Unless you’re a diehard Broken Lizard fan, this third entry in the series of goofy highway patrolman is the definition of skippable. Not terrible, by any means, but inessential. (Hulu)

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!