Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!

Wow, I love Maria. I don't pretend to understand where she comes from, but there is certainly something honest about her stand up. I think that Ask Me About My New God is her most polished special to date, and it was a total trip to watch her drop it in front of her parents.

When the large audience is stripped away, you really get to see what's funny and what isn't; similar to when you watch sitcoms without the laugh-track. Seeing her material performed in such an intimate setting, and hearing my own laughter cut through the silence was a real testament to the quality of her material. Maybe her relationship with her parents is super solid, but still, it must takes some guts to be so vulnerable in front of your folks.

From the concept, to the candor, and ultimately, the thuggishly bold commentary on topics ranging from mental illness to sneaky Jesus stuff, Maria Bamford's Special Special Special was an inspiration. F*ck the haters, say what's in your heart.