Overview
If you've seen Hannah Gadsby's two Netflix comedy specials so far — smash-hit Nanette and follow-up Douglas — then you'll know that the acclaimed Australian comedian's sets and "feel-good romantic comedy" don't usually go hand in hand. But comedy, like life, changes. Indeed, Gadsby has been embracing exactly that on- and off-stage. And after getting married to their producer Jenney Shamash, new special Something Special is all about warm vibes.
Well, mostly. "Just for the next hour, we're going to feel good together, and then we can head back out there and be the mass-extinction event that we are," Gadsby tells the audience in Something Special's just-dropped trailer.
"I didn't say who it's a feel-good show for," the comedian continues, as they also noted when the special's streaming date was revealed by Netflix.
Come Tuesday, May 9, Gadsby has a wedding to talk about, plus the politics around nuptials, homophobic bakers, queer domesticity and bunnies. Announced in 2022 and filmed at the Sydney Opera House that same year, Something Special is based on their recent stand-up show Body of Work. Even with the feel-good rom-com tone, expect Gadsby's usual wit, insights and sense of humour.
It's been a huge few years for the Tasmanian-born talent, and they keep going from strength to strength onstage — and on-screen. In fact, when the time came for Gadsby to initially follow up international smash-hit show Nanette, that seemed a rather difficult task. After all, the one-performer stand-up set copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and, of course, spawning its very own Netflix special.
But, then Douglas was born, with Gadsby returning to the stage with a performance named after a pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". It made its way across stages around Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and then hit Netflix in 2020 as well.
After that came Body of Work — first as a live show again, and now as Netflix special Something Special, too. It's the first release in Gadsby's new a multi-title deal with the streaming platform that is also set to span a new multi-comic special featuring gender-diverse performers.
Check out the trailer for Something Special below:
Hannah Gadsby's Something Special Netflix special will be available to stream from Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Images: Jess Gleeson/Netflix © 2023.