Special Tapings Radar: The Funniest Comics Taping Comedy Specials This Month (December 2024)

L to R clockwise: Ian Lara, Bill Maher, Kevin Hart, Mike Vecchione, Lizzie Martinez, Lisa Wallen, Derek Gaines, & Mohanad Elshieky.

We're a few days now into December and with a new month comes new comedy specials in the works. Among recent specials shot earlier this year that now have premiere dates include Nate Bargatze's upcoming special, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, & Ari Shaffir's upcoming special, America's Sweetheart, both premiering on Netflix.

And now, we have our latest lineup for December which also marks 2024's final Special Tapings Radar. This is where we showcase & highlight all the funniest comedians who are getting ready to record their next stand-up comedy special & album this upcoming month (here's a refresher on specials to look out for coming up from November's radar).

Here are 8 of the funniest 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!

Lizzie Martinez is a Brooklyn based stand-up comedian and former headline contributor for The Onion. She currently co-produces Savage, which was named one of the Best Alt-Comedy Shows in Brooklyn by Vulture.

In her debut album recording, "Martinez explores the universal themes of romance, heartbreak, dry humping, dogs wearing bandanas, and syncing up your breathing to your boyfriend in bed without his knowledge (is that violating?). This is a clarion call to all u forlorn freaks."

Martinez is recording her debut comedy album December 3rd at C'Mon Everybody in Brooklyn, New York. Joining her will be Kenice Mobley & and Connor Creagan. Tickets can be purchased here!

Mohanad Elshieky is a New York-based, Libyan-born comedian who made his national TV debut on Conan, most recently made his Ed Sullivan Theater debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and has been featured on Comedy Central and Don't Tell Comedy. He has toured across the country with the critically acclaimed storytelling show Pop-Up Magazine.

Mohanad is currently a writer and consultant for the hit podcast Lovett or Leave It and was one of the hosts of Lemonada Media’s podcast I’m Sorry. He has also been featured in Kumail Nanjiani’s Little America book. Known for his deceptively laid-back demeanor and whip-smart perspective on politics and culture, he combines sharp humor with incisive commentary.

Elshieky will be taping his next stand-up special on December 3rd at The Slipper Room in New York City. Tickets can be purchased here!

Emmy-Award winning comedian & late night host Bill Maher will be continuing his longstanding partnership with HBO for his newest stand-up special Is Anyone Else Seeing This? premiering this January. The new special will be taped at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago on December 6th & 7th.

Maher headlined his first special on HBO in 1989 and has starred in 12 solo specials for the network to date including Be More Cynical (2000), I’m Swiss (2005), Bill Maher … But I’m Not Wrong (2010), Live from Oklahoma (2018), and his most recent, #Adulting (2022). His weekly HBO series, Real Time with Bill Maher, is currently in its landmark 22nd season. First on Politically Incorrect and for more than twenty years on Real Time, Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 41 Emmy nominations.

Maher taping his next special on December 6th & 7th at CIBC Theatre in Chicago (tickets are officially sold out)!

Lisa Wallen is an LA-based stand up comedian, Twitch partner, and all-around professional nerd who’s incredibly online. From dorky niche tidbits about constantly dying in video games, to finding silliness in her personal traumas, Lisa has earned herself a notable reputation in both the gaming industry and comedy. She’s worked with gaming orgs such as SEGA, IGN, and Evil Geniuses, and has performed in some pretty sweet places like Japan, Vietnam, and all the stinky anime conventions on the west coast.

Catch Wallen taping her next comedy special on December 7th at Level 7 Games in Lakewood, Colorado. Tickets can be purchased here!

Yamaneika Saunders is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor & radio host who's been making waves in the comedy scene for over the past decade. Born and raised in Maryland, Yamaneika has since tackled the comedy scene by combining her high-energy improvisational observations and stories with a unique and bold perspective on life.

As a WGA Award-winning writer, Saunders' credits include writing for Inside Amy Schumer and HBO’s That Damn Michael Che. She's often recognized for her work as a panelist on The Meredith Vieira Show, a lead role on Oxygen’s Funny Girls, and Comedy Central’s In Security. And as a stand-up, she previously released a half hour special with Comedy Central in 2017 & also performed as part of Netflix's comedy showcase The Degenerates. And ahead of taping her next special, Yamaneika launched her new radio show Off Topic with Yamaneika as part of Kevin Hart's LOL Radio on SiriusXM this past summer.

Catch Yamaneika taping her next special on December 8th at 3 PM & 5 PM at the Comedy Cellar's Fatblack Pussycat in New York City. Tickets can be purchased here! 

Derek Gaines is a New York comic who you've seen star on NBC's Will & Grace, The Last OG with Tracy Morgan as well as Blue Bloods on CBS. He also previously appeared in the film The King of Staten Island and alongside Pete Davidson in the Peacock series Bupkis. After working Netflix & Davidson to debut a 15 minute special in 2021, Derek will be releasing his filming his debut comedy special currently billed as Goodlum.

Catch Gaines taping his next special on December 10th for two shows at The Stand in New York. Tickets can be purchased here!

Ian Lara is one of the hottest rising comics in New York City. He found internet success when he recorded his Comedy Central Stand up Featuring, which has garnered over 10 million views, he also made an appearance on the first season of NBC’s Bring the Funny and made his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon all in the same year. He was a regular player on This Week At The Comedy Cellar on Comedy Central with his second Comedy Central set hitting the 10 million views mark yet again. He's been featured in The New Yorker Magazine and was named a 2021 JFL New Faces of Comedy. On February 10th, 2022 he debuted his Comedy Central half-hour special titled Growing Shame. Shortly after on November, 11th, 2022 he debuted his first standalone HBO special titled Romantic Comedy now streaming on Max. In 2023 he has hit the ground running and has received the high honor of being name one of “Variety’s 2023 Comics to Watch” he then went on to make his third appearance on The Tonight show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Catch Lara taping his next special December 21st at Le Poisson Rouge in New York. Tickets can be purchased here!

Superstar comedian Kevin Hart has been having a busy year since hitting the road with his newest standup tour Acting My Age. Hart earlier this year was the esteemed recipient of The 2024 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the ceremony aired on Netflix earlier this year. He also hosted the Roast of Tom Brady on Netflix as part of Netflix Is A Joke Fest, which made one of the year's most popular events on the streaming service in 2024.

Over the last two years, Hart had the highest-grossing comedy tours of 2023 and 2022. He's opened 11 movies at No. 1 at the box office, twice made The New York Times’ bestseller list and earned multiple Emmy and Grammy Award nominations. He currently stars in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist on Peacock.

Hart will be taping his next comedy special on December 21st & 22nd at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL (tickets are currently sold out)!

Mike Vecchione is a New York City-based comedian, who has been performing in the city and across the country for more than 20 years. A former special education teacher, Mike got his start in Philadelphia, before moving to the Big Apple, where he has gained the respect of the industry, comedy clubs and his fellow comedians. Mike has a sarcastic, joke-heavy style combined with sharp writing and an understated delivery that leaves audiences in stitches. In his most recent one hour special, The Attractives, directed & produced by friend and fellow comic Nate Bargatze, Mike talks about everything from relationships to running with the bulls. Because “The Attractives” was shot in Nashville, Tennessee, it sets Mike’s unique New York City style against a fun-loving, southern audience, making it one of the premiere comedy specials of 2023.

And following the acclaimed success of The Attractives, Vecchione & Nateland Entertainment are teaming up once again to shoot another comedy special. The same team helping shoot Mike's next special also just taped new hours with fellow Nateland collaborators Greg Warren, Aaron Weber & Nick Thune.

Catch Vecchione taping his next hour on December 28th at The Lab at Zanies in Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets can be purchased here!

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