Netflix Sets ‘Funny AF with Kevin Hart’ Comedy Competition Featuring Celebrity Judges

Kevin Hart is teaming up with Netflix to search for the next great stand-up comic.

The superstar comedian will executive produce and host a new comedy competition series titled Funny AF with Kevin Hart.

According to Netflix, the eight-episode series features “uncensored” sets as up-and-coming comics make the leap from small comedy clubs to performing for a global audience.

Celebrity judges, including Keegan-Michael Key, Chelsea Handler, and Kumail Nanjiani join Hart to help narrow down the field of competitors.

“Along the way, Kevin and a circle of comedy heavyweights will decide who progresses in the competition, offering a behind-the-curtain look at the pressure, triumphs and occasional bombs that shape a career in stand-up,” according to the official description.

The competition kicks off with four pre-recorded episodes on April 20. Two more recorded episodes air on April 27, with the final two episodes streaming live from Los Angeles the first week in May as part of the Netflix Is a Joke Festival.

Funny AF with Kevin Hart is produced by HartBeat and Alfred Street Industries. Showrunners are Bill Dixon, Liz Cook, San Heng, and Jason Raff.

Executive producers include Kevin Hart, Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Meghan Hoffman, Jeff Clanagan, and Jenny Groom.

Judges:
Comedy veterans Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler, and Nikki Glaser serve as a rotating panel of guest judges on episodes 1-6.

Contestants:
Comedians from across the U.S. take part in the competition. The series was announced in August 2025, and the showcases have already been held.

The Competition:
Competitors will face “rigorous tests that mirror the real-life journey of a comedian — from brutal open mics to bombed sets, rewrites and the pressure of big-stage performances.”

Grand Prize:
The winner gets a deal for their very own Netflix stand-up special.

Who Can Vote:
Any Netflix subscriber watching the show live can vote, from anywhere in the world, the streamer said.

How to Vote:
Viewers can vote directly on their TV using their remote, or through the Netflix mobile app.

Schedule:
Week 1 (4/20/2026): Episodes 1-4

Week 2 (4/27/2026): Episodes 5-6

Week 3 (5/4/2026): Episode 7 (Semi-Final) Streams live at 6PM PT/9 PM ET

Week 3 (5/5/2026): Episode 8 (Finale)
Streams live at 6PM PT/9 PM ET

The winner will be chosen by the audience and announced at the end of episode 8.