How Chris Rock’s new live comedy special can totally change Netflix
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The new long-awaited Chris Rock comedy special, Selective Outrage, sets an important precedent for Netflix. The platform has built a streaming empire with groundbreaking original content and beloved, binge-worthy classics, and the streamer changed the entire TV landscape by uploading whole seasons at a time. Between true crime documentary series and stand-up specials, Netflix has become a hub for the world’s most talked about and viral shows. And as of 2023, Netflix has over 230 million subscribers (via Demand Sage), making it the ultimate platform for releases in terms of potential viewership.
However, while the Netflix platform has been a game changer in the way that people consume shows and movies, it has also succumbed to TV traditions that are seemingly unchangeable. Even though uploading entire series at a time proved successful for the streamer, Netflix has reverted to splitting up releases for certain shows, which it did with The Sandman and Stranger Things. And now, the platform will be trying its hand at live-streaming for the first time too. Netflix will be home to a live stand-up special from Chris Rock, his first since 2018’s Tamborine and “the slap heard around the world,” and the streamer has turned it into an entire event.
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Selective Outrage Is Netflix’s First Live Event
Other streaming platforms have streamed live events before, most notably ESPN+ streaming sports events, but Chris Rock: Selective Outrage marks the very first time Netflix has ever streamed an event before. And no other non-sports streamer has streamed a live event on such a major scale before. It could be more of an experiment than anything to see if it’ll be successful, but the streamer has chosen the right subject to test the live stream on, as Rock is one of the most famous comedians ever. The comedian and Netflix have a history together too, as Rock made the stand-up special Tamborine for the streamer.
The event not only comes four years after Tamborine, but the actor will undoubtedly have a wealth of jokes surrounding the slap heard around the world. That was the name given to the incident where Will Smith famously slapped the comedian on stage at another live event, the 94th Academy Awards. Chris Rock has remained relatively quiet about the event ever since it happened except for commenting on Will Smith’s apology, but the stand-up special will likely be full of gags regarding Slapgate – and plenty of Netflix subscribers will surely tune in just to see what Rock has to say about it.
Selective Outrage Will Have A Pre-Show And After-Show
Netflix is so set on making Selective Outrage a momentous occasion that it doesn’t just have a pre-show, but an after-show too. The pre-show, which Netflix is calling The Show Before the Show, will essentially function like an opening act. The pre-show is stacked, and though it’s only 30 minutes long, some might be more excited by its line-up than the main event. Ronny Chieng will host the show, and many of Rock’s closest comedian friends will feature, including Arsenio Hall, Leslie Jones, Dean Cole, Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and many more. Even non-comedian personalities will appear, such as Sir Paul McCartney (via LA Times).
The Netflix special after-show will be similarly full of superstars and recognizable comedians, as J.B. Smoove of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will take part in The Show After the Show. It isn’t clear if they’ll be discussing what audiences just watched during the main event or rehearsed gags. But as J.B. Smoove is known for his typically hilarious improvised remarks, it’s possible that he could have some unique and insightful words on the occasion. However, as it’s being live-streamed from The Comedy Store, it’s likely that the performers have their own stand-up routines.
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The Experiment Could Lead To More Live Comedy From Netflix
If the Rock extravaganza and live-streaming experiment ends up being successful for Netflix, it’s all but confirmed that the streamer will host more live events just like it. It’s likely that the streamer could offer other comedians of Rock’s caliber a live-streaming deal. It wouldn’t be surprising, as Netflix has invested so much into stand-up comedy specials in the past, as it paid Dave Chappelle $20 million per special (via Forbes) and has handed over hundreds of millions of dollars to other blockbuster comedians. And as Netflix essentially offers comedians an audience of up to 230 million subscribers, not many would turn the streaming service down.
Streaming services have pushed back on the idea of uploading whole seasons at once, as releasing one episode per week keeps subscribers from unsubscribing after watching the show, and its hype continues to build around the show for a longer period of time. However, outside of that, Netflix has been extremely influential in the streaming world, and live-streaming could be the platform’s next ground-breaking milestone. If Selective Outrage is successful for both Chris Rock and the platform, then not only will Netflix continue live streams, but other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video will undoubtedly adopt the idea too.
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