Tracy Morgan, Sarah Silverman help Netflix ramp up comedy offerings

Netflix'saggressive expansionhas ticked off a lot of entertainment veterans, leavingothers scrambling to keep up.Its latest forayto offer a new originalstand-up comedy special every week bucks tradition yet again.

The Comedy Network, HBO and YouTubehave been the go-tos for stand-up specials. And in late 2011, Louis C.K. took control of his own stand-up, selling inexpensivedigital copies ofhis specials on hiswebsite.He praised the modelbut said he reserved "the right to go back on all of this and sign a massive deal with a company that pays me fat coin."

That company is Netflix.

Yes, he's still selling on his own site, but there's a lotof his stand-up on Netflixnow, too, including an original special. He joins Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker,AzizAnsariand Tracy Morgan, all of whom have their own Netflix specials.

Staying Alive, Morgan's specialreleased last Tuesday,marks his first since the2014 car accident he was involved in. The crash killed his friend and fellow comedianJamesMcNair, and he hassaid the accident is off-limits in terms of jokes.

'If you don't laugh, you gonna cry': Tracy Morgan on his return to comedy

7 years ago

Duration 0:56

Comedy helped him heal Morgan after a tragic accident more than two years ago. He's back with a new Netflix special, Staying Alive

Morgan said heused comedy to help him recover.

"I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity. Listen, I was in a tragic accident. It was horrible. To walk away from it,tobe able to talk about it,I feel very fortunate. I do," he told CBC News. "If you don't laugh, yougonna cry."

Morgan said he's in good company comedy-wise at Netflix, listing off Chappelle, Rock and Schumer.

"I think Netflix gave me the freedom to tell my story," he said."I'm happy. I'm happy about that."

'The reach is enormous'

The majority of Netflix's stand-up talent is American, but Mark Breslin, the founder and CEO of Yuk Yuk's,said he expects that to change "once they strip mine the topsoil of American talent."

Canadian subscribers already have access to 71 stand-up specials. The plan to add one a week until the end of the year will significantly add to their haul.

There are a handful of Canadians who already have Netflix specials Katherine Ryan, a Canadian comic who lives in Britain, hasIn Trouble, while Norm Macdonald just releasedHitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery,and there's Russell Peters'sNotorious.

Breslin thinks it's a great model as it could givelesser-known talent the opportunity for major exposure.

"People with a sizeable podcast following can get a special," he said. "The reach is enormous for Netflix."

Along withthe exposure, Breslin figures Netflix'sappeal for comedians is what the companypays. "I think you get a lot of money up front, which is a good thing."

The streaming companydoesn't disclose how much comedians make but Rock was estimated to have earned a hefty $40 million USfor two Netflix specials, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Netflix content head 'huge comedy fan'

Sarah Silvermanis one of the comedians with anupcoming Netflix special it's called A Speck of Dustand is out at the end of May. She saidTed Sarandos, the chief content officer for Netflix, is a huge comedy fan and that trickles down through the company.

"You kind of get the feeling you're working with people who love comedy, which is a huge plus," she said. "You'd be surprised how many people in the business of comedy are not fans."

She said no topic is off-limits "as long as thejoke is funny enough to carry the weight of whatever it'stalking about." Her special covers a lot of ground she kicks it off with a joke about U.S. President Donald Trump.

Why Sarah Silverman wades into politics

7 years ago

Duration 1:29

The comedian gets political in her upcoming Netflix special A Speck of Dust. She said it all goes back to her political upbringing.

"You know, it's hard to make fun of something that's already a f------joke," she told CBC News.

Brashit may be, but she's not shied away from talking politics in the past. During the 2016 campaign, shebackedBernie Sanders as the Democratic presidential candidatebefore shifting to Hillary Clinton.

"People say,'Why don't you stick to what you do?'And I go 'Well I'm a citizen and you're a citizen, too.You should be involved as well."