Special Tapings Radar: The Funniest Comics Taping Comedy Specials This Month (December 2023)

Our last Special Tapings Radar of 2023 is here! Our monthly piece where we showcase & highlight all the funniest comedians who are getting ready to record their next stand-up comedy special & album this month.

Here are 8 comics who you need to see and be in the room for their next comedy special taping if you can (and are still able to if the show hasn't sold out yet). Your chance to be in the room for a live comedy special is closer than you think. Here's everyone you need to pay attention to that's recording their next hour during the month of December.

Born in the Philippines and raised in California, JR De Guzman began performing comedy while working as a music teacher, which he quickly learned just meant teaching Taylor Swift songs to teenagers. He has entertained all over the world, having performed for Stand-Up Tokyo and ROR Comedy in Japan, the Jokers Ball in Indonesia, the Badaboom Comedy Series in Amsterdam, and countless other international shows. JR was the winner Stand-up NBC in 2016 & named as a prestigious "New Face" at Just for Laughs 2017. His quarter hour special on The Comedy Lineup is streaming NOW on Netflix, and he was just named one of Variety’s Ten Comics to watch 2022.

Catch JR taping his next special on December 1st & 2nd at Wise Guys Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Tickets can be purchased here.

RELATED: Stream & download JR De Guzman's comedy album, Dual Citizen, on 800 Pound Gorilla!

Staten Island native Sal Vulcano is best known for creating and starring in truTV’s long-running hit “Impractical Jokers,” and for “The Misery Index” on TBS. In addition to performing as part of The Tenderloins Comedy Troupe to sold-out arenas, Sal founded the No Presh Network in 2020, hosting "Hey Babe!” and “Taste Buds” podcasts.

Catch Sal taping his very first special December 1st & 2nd at The Vic Theatre in Chicago. Tickets can be purchased here.

Adrienne Iapalucci is a comedian, writer, and performer based in New York. As a stand-up, Adrienne is a JFL New Faces alum. She won the first ever People’s Choice award at the New York Comedy Festival and made her debut on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Her Degenerates Netflix special is on Netflix and one of her jokes was featured in Netflix's Best of 2020 Stand-Up special. She has appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, This Week at the Comedy Cellar, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV. Adrienne wrote on What’s Your F@3King Deal?! with Big Jay Oakerson. She released her debut album, Baby Skeletons in 2020. It was met with high praise from fellow comedians Neal Brennan, Patton Oswalt, Chris Rock, Anthony Jeselnik and others. Baby Skeletons was named Interrobang's Top Eleven Comedy Albums of 2020.

Catch Adrienne taping her special December 3rd & 4th at the Comedy Cellar in New York. Tickets can be purchased here.

Also worth noting her new special will be directed by none other than Louis CK!

With equal parts confident social observation and cutting self-deprecation, New York City-based comedian Brendan Sagalow has deftly and defiantly owned the stage for over 10 years. His debut album, Not Now More Than Ever, premiered at #1 on the iTunes Comedy charts. Brendan performed as a “New Face” in the 2022 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. He has also taken part in the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, Skankfest, and the New York Comedy Festival. He was a finalist in 2018’s "New York’s Funniest", 2017’s Carolines Comedy Club Competition, and 2017’s Carolines March Madness Competition. He has written for MTV's Joking Off, and appeared on ViceTV’s "Tumbleweeds with Killer Mike" and the popular Barstool Sports series Answer the Internet. He is a recurring guest on "The Jim and Sam Show", Barstool Sports’ KFC Radio, and "The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder". Until recently, Brendan co-hosted the podcast "Here’s the Scenario" with fellow comedians Mike Cannon and Mike Feeney. He has been a guest on an array of popular podcasts, including "You Know What Dude!" with Robert Kelly, "Are You Garbage?", Ari Shaffir's "Skeptic Tank", "Tuesdays with Stories", "Chrissy Chaos", "The Chip Chipperson Podcast", Joe List’s "Mindful Metal Jacket", "Guys We Fcked", "Calta and Kelly", and "Legion of Skanks". When not touring nationally, Brendan can be seen performing at comedy clubs across New York City.

Catch Sagalow taping his special December 17th at New York Comedy Club Midtown. Tickets can be purchased here.

Rachel Feinstein is a nationally touring comedian and actress. AV Club says “Feinstein’s acute observations create silly, sympathetic characters keeping her subtly, exquisitely attuned to her audience. She recently appeared on the first season of LIFE & BETH for Hulu. She also recurred on the Steven Soderbergh Amazon series RED OAKS and on Judd Apatow’s HBO comedy CRASHING. Her past credits include TRAINWRECK, TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON, HBO’s LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, co-hosting THE VIEW on multiple occasions and several appearances on INSIDE AMY SCHUMER for which she won a WGA award for best writing in a variety series. Rachel also co-hosting alongside Shaq on UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE ONEAL. Feinstein has also lent her voice to Adult Swim’s VENTURE BROTHERS and the phenomenally successful GRAND THEFT AUTO video game franchise.

Catch Feinstein taping her new special for Netflix December 18th at Sony Hall in New York. Tickets can be purchased here.

Keith Robinson, the comedic sensation born and raised in Philadelphia, has become an enduring legend in the heart of New York City’s comedy circuit. Renowned for his sharp wit and uproarious humor, Robinson’s career boasts a rich tapestry of accomplishments. He’s graced the stages of HBO’s iconic “Def Comedy Jam,” delighted audiences on MTV, VH1, and charmed viewers on shows like “The Chelsea Lately Show” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” With his infectious laughter and keen observational humor, he’s a true master of the craft.

Beyond the stage, Keith Robinson’s talent transcends into the world of cinema, with memorable roles in hit movies such as “Trainwreck” and “King of Staten Island.” His unique brand of comedy, marked by its authenticity and relatability, continues to captivate fans and cement his status as a comedic icon in New York and beyond.

Catch Robinson taping his new special for Netflix December 19th at Sony Hall in New York. Tickets can be purchased here.

Katherine Blanford has brought her human Golden Retriever presence to stages across the country where she has shared the stage with the likes of Jeff Foxworthy, David Spade, and Ron White.
 

She shares true confessions of a washed up Pediatric Waste Management Specialist (a nanny) and war stories from the front lines of brunch. Her humor has taken her to festivals across the nation including Limestone Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, 10,000 Laughs, Burning Bridges Festival and Red Clay Festival.
 

Katherine made her Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon debut in 2022, and her first album, Salt Daddy, was released in June of that year, debuting at #1 on iTunes.
 

You can catch her weekly co-hosting her podcast, Cheaties, with fellow ATL comedian, Lace Larrabee. The juicy series follows two comedians interviewing guests about their personal stories of cheating and being cheated on and helping each other heal through laughter. Cheaties has been consecutively ranked in Podcast Magazine’s Hot 50 and continues to climb the charts.

Catch Blanford taping her new special December 21st-23rd at Louisville Comedy Club in Louisville. Tickets can be purchased here.

With a penchant for good, clean fun, entertainer Rickey Smiley has been bringing the laughs for the last three decades. The stand-up performer, TV actor and radio personality always has an arsenal of hilarious characters and witty observations up his sleeve. His onstage antics fuse physical comedy, music, and sparky social commentary, culminating in a laugh-a-minute, high energy comedy riot that's not to be missed.

Perhaps best known for his prank phone calls, Smiley hosts the nationally syndicated 'Ricky Smiley Morning Show' and also stars in in 'The Rickey Smiley Show', a beloved TV sitcom that has solidified Smiley's status as comedy royalty.

Catch Smiley taping his new special for a sold out crowd on December 29th & 30th at the Lyric Theatre in Birmingham.