Netflix Lowering Comedic Standards for Profit

If you’re like me, you enjoy tuning into a Netflix comedy special while working out at the gym. For me, it’s usually a John Mulaney show, which I practically have memorized by now. But recently, as I was browsing through the comedy section, I couldn’t help but notice a few comedians who seemed a little out of place.

One name that stood out was Joe Rogan, a controversial figure known for spreading misinformation on his right-wing podcast. Surprisingly, he had not just one, but three comedy specials available on Netflix. His most recent one, “Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats,” came out in 2024.

A user by the name of bergy-97063, who claimed to be a Rogan fan, commented, “I feel like Joe Rogan doesn’t actually do stand up, he just yells at the top of his lungs about all the subjects he discusses on his podcasts.” It seems like Rogan’s 14.5 million podcast subscribers were the main target audience for his Netflix specials, and it’s likely that Netflix viewed this as a quick way to make some profit given Rogan’s dedicated following.

Even though some of Rogan’s fans appreciate his content, it’s clear that his comedy style may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s interesting to see how different comedians bring their unique flavor to the comedy landscape on streaming platforms like Netflix.