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15 funny shows to stream this weekend

Cape Town - With Dry January, Back to School, New Year’s Resolutions, and the direness of a post-holiday bank balance, it’s no secret that January’s no joke.

You’re going to have to get all your laughs from internet TV this weekend, where, luckily, there’s heaps of comedy to help you forget that there are still 12 days left of the month that feels like the longest one of the year. (Sorry.)

1. Die Radio Raps Show, weekly episodes (Showmax)

Jonathan from the East Rand (Rikus de Beer) has his very own reality show, because “almal het mos ‘n show”, you know. The first two episodes launch on Showmax on Friday, 19 January, and after that, new episodes will land every Saturday, express from the broadcast on VIA on Fridays. Radio Raps: Life 101 and 201 are also on Showmax, if you feel like binge-ing on off-the-wall life lessons, courtesy of Jonathan.

2. Point of Order, weekly episodes (Showmax)

Inspired by the shenanigans in SA’s real-life Parliament, this kooky panel show sees SA’s top comedians being joined by a new honourable member in every episode. See Khanyi Mbau being named “Minister of Champagne Affairs” in episode 1, and DJ Fresh dropping the mic in episode 2. New episodes land every Monday on Showmax.

3. Tali’s Wedding Diary (Showmax

This eight-episode mockumentary about a Sandton princess (played by Julia Anastasopoulos) who hires a camera crew to follow her on her journey to her wedding to harmless, hapless fiancé Darren, is completely hysterical. The ensemble cast features the créme de la créme of SA comedy (think: Anton Taylor, Glen Biderman-Pam and Kate Normington), and you’re going to love to hate Tali.

4. Black-ish, Seasons 1-2 (Showmax)

Dre Johnson is successful and has a great family. But then he starts to wonder if all this success has made his family forget their roots, in this side-splitting comedy. Season 4 is currently on DStv Now, so now’s the time to catch up on the first two seasons on Showmax.

5. Odd Mom Out, Seasons 1-2 (Showmax)

Jill Weber is an odd mom already. Then she marries into a rich family, making her oddness stand out even more among the snobs - thank goodness! In Season 2, Jill tries to get back into the magazine business, which should be a cakewalk compared to family, Hamilton theatre tickets and the world's worst neighbours.

6. Casual, Seasons 1-2 (Showmax)

Everyone is looking for something casual in this hilarious not-so-normal family comedy about trying to hang in the shallow side of the dating pool. Valerie’s marriage is over so she moves in with her brother, Alex, and her teenage daughter. Alex made loads of money by creating dating app Snooger, which he uses to his advantage, while Valerie’s getting used to life after marriage and trying to have a little fun.

7. The Dilemma (Showmax)

What if you find out your best friend's wife is having an affair? But you also find out something worrying about him? And your future depends on it? No pressure. Starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly and Queen Latifah.

8. Zoolander (Showmax)

He's a male model, catwalk genius and the inventor of Blue Steel. He's also unbelievably stupid. And he's the only guy who can save the world. A comedy classic.

9. Role Models (Showmax)

Danny (Paul Rudd) hates life and Wheeler (Sean William Scott) never wants to grow up. So becoming mentors for teens may seem like an odd choice for them, but not when the alternative is jail...

10. Lay the Favourite (Showmax)

Beth is looking for a job in Vegas, so professional gambler Dink hires her. But when things get complicated, all bets are off in this caper comedy starring Bruce Willis.

11. Baby Mama (Showmax)

Tina Fey stars as a successful businesswoman who wants children, but is infertile. So she makes a deal with an unstable woman to be the surrogate in this hilarious comedy.

12. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (DStv Now)

From covfefe to “shit-hole”, from “stable genius” to making China great again, there’s no hiding for the US President from Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s indignation and mockery. His interviews with celebrity guests leave no stone unturned (wondering how Hillary Clinton would deal with the threat of Russian cyber warfare? Trevor’s got your back), and, when it seems like it might all be getting too serious, the comedians in The Best F***ing News Team conduct irreverent interviews and use satire to poke fun at issues of the day. We particularly liked their Song for Women feat. DJ Mansplain.

13. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix)

Jerry Seinfeld has become something of a Netflix darling in recent months, with no fewer than three comedy shows carrying his hallowed name in the title. There are four seasons of the series in which Jerry selects a vintage car, picks up a guest comedian, drives them to a cafe or diner to grab a coffee, and then drives them around aimlessly while they talk about their start, their rise, their fame and their failures casually and candidly. Look out for the episodes featuring Sarah Silverman, Larry David, Jimmy Fallon, Alec Baldwin, Kirsten Wiig and, of course, our very own Trevor Noah.

14. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)

In this talk show hosted by veteran David Letterman, his guests really don’t need any introduction: Season 1’s six episodes feature Barack Obama, George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, Jay-Z, Tina Fey and Howard Stern. He may veer into serious-topic territory in his interviews, but with his inimitable conversational style, Letterman keeps it light, funny and full of heart.

15. The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (Amazon)

Winner of two Golden Globes and two Critics’ Choice Awards, this light-hearted comedy about, well, comedy, may be the most refreshing thing you’ve watched all year (yes, all 20-something days of it). Midge Maisel is a good 1950s Jewish housewife until her wannabe comedian husband leaves her - the night before Yom Kippur, no less - and she’s forced to make her own way in the world, using her untapped talent for stand-up.

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