Hulu’s standup lineup continues to grow.
The platform has inked a deal with Atsuko Okatsuka for her second special, which will be taped at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre in early November. Though the details are being kept under wraps for the time being, she is joining a roster that also includes Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, Roy Wood Jr. and Ilana Glazer. According to multiple sources, Hulu is expected to announce new hours from Sebastian Manisculco and Jessica Kirson as well.
“As a company that pioneered cartoons, it was only a matter of time until they asked to work with me. I mean look at me,” joked Okatsuka. “I rock a bowl cut and wear bright colors. I am Toon Town. Excited to bring good times and shenanigans to the people of the world with the Disney/Hulu family.”
The announcement arrives as Hulu is set to formally debut its “Hularious” standup brand in November. At that time, specials will begin rolling out monthly on Hulu (and Disney+ internationally), a slower cadence than behemoth Netflix by design. In fact, Hulu’s pitch to comics hinges on the fact that its platform is less saturated with standup and thus talent can feel special there. Hulu is also said to be flexing the power of the Disney brand, offering to introduce comics to other leaders around the larger company.
The curated push comes as standup comedy is proving to be a bright spot in an otherwise bleak entertainment landscape. Hulu is one of several platforms shelling out for new specials, with at least a few outlets willing to drop as much as eight figures for an hour. The various platforms are hopeful that comics will lure new subscribers, and often they’re particularly helpful in terms of promotion across their tours, podcasts and social media.
Okatsuka’s new material is currently the centerpiece of her Full Grown Tour, a global theater tour that’s had her traversing more than 20 countries and selling over 100,000 tickets. Her first special, the Tig Notaro-directed The Intruder, aired on HBO in December 2022 and was swiftly named the “best debut special of 2022” by The New York Times and one of the year’s best hours by Vulture.
More recently, Okatsuka has filled out her IMDB profile with roles in films All the We Love, Group Therapy and forthcoming studio comedy Outcome, starring Jonah Hill and Keanu Reeves. Still, many more will likely recognize her from her viral moments, including the #DropChallenge, which she created with her grandmother and has already been viewed more than 10 million times.