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Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ comedy special “I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry” was released in 2016.

Every once in a while, it is nice to sit back and relax to enjoy a good laugh without the crudeness which has become so prevalent in our culture that it is almost mundane. On Netflix, there is an extensive catalogue of stand-up comedy specials, but most of them are rated TV-MA. However, there are funny and more family-friendly alternatives that can be enjoyed just as much.

For example, Nate Bargatze, the poster child of clean comedy, has several specials on Netflix. In an interview with The New York Times, Bargatze said his comedy is “driven by a bigger purpose.” He said his faith and family compels him to be careful with his words and refrain from anything raunchy.

Recently, I watched his Emmy-nominated 2024 special “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” which is rated TV-PG. His tone is monotone, and I found his dry, self-deprecating humor to be very entertaining.

Most importantly, the stories in Bargatze’s special were deeply relatable and charming. Much of the special consisted of him talking about his relationship with his parents, wife and kids. Unlike other comedians, it was easy to see myself in the situations he talks about, as he jokes about everything from doing the laundry to ordering pizza. After watching, I found myself more attuned to humorous occurrences in my daily life.

Before Bargatze, Jerry Seinfeld pioneered modern clean comedy. His 2020 special “23 Hours to Kill” exemplifies his style of observational comedy. Just like in his eponymous sitcom, Seinfeld pokes fun at the quirks of modern life in this special. 

In “23 Hours to Kill,” like Bargatze, Seinfeld jokes quite a bit about his family. He also touches upon other topics, including modern technology, buffets and aging. Compared to Bargatze, Seinfeld is more energetic and endearingly boastful in his delivery. He sneaks in a couple of words into his special which gives it the rating of TV-14. However, nothing in the special is overwhelmingly inappropriate.

Another wonderful comedy special on Netflix is Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ 2016 special “I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry.” The special is about 30 minutes longer than the other two on this list, but it is by no means boring. Iglesias, unlike Seinfeld and Bargatze, specializes in his impressions and noises, using different accents and sound effects. This makes his comedy very funny.

Iglesias touched on a diverse set of topics, ranging from his relationship with his son to numerous whimsical stories from his time on the road as a stand-up comedian. The special is rated TV-14 and is slightly more suggestive than the other two. However, he was never explicit, even noting how there were children in his audience.

All three specials were enjoyable, but I found Iglesias’ to be the funniest. Some of his stories were less relatable than Baragatze’s and Seinfeld’s but were humorous, nonetheless. 

I liked both Bargatze’s and Seinfeld’s specials; however, their comedic styles are more of an acquired taste that some may not be accustomed to. Their bland delivery requires the viewer to follow what they say very closely. Otherwise, their jokes may not register so well.

On the other hand, Iglesias’ delivery is funny on its own and, even for those who are tired and won’t catch every word, it is still enjoyable. Iglesias is not necessarily as verbally witty as Bargatze or Seinfeld, but overall his comedy special is the one I would recommend the most.

It was difficult to find these more wholesome comedy specials on Netflix. However, it was very encouraging to see more urbane comedians such as Bargatze, Seinfeld and Iglesias. None of them are excessively puritanical or prudish, but being able to produce high quality comedy specials without succumbing to the obscenity which dominates their industry demonstrates real talent.