Ali Wong is back and more raw than ever. The San Francisco comedian returned to the stand-up stage this past spring to film her fourth original comedy special for Netflix, Single Lady.
Known for her unvarnished takes on everything from the challenges of monogamy to what makes feminism awful, Wong takes the stage once more, this time in a new phase of her life — she’s in her divorced mom era. In Single Lady, the comedian opens up about postdivorce life and the quest for love. And while she didn’t perform in her signature animal print this time, Wong’s still got plenty of sizzling takes and life advice for everyone. The special was directed by Wong, who also serves as executive producer alongside John Irwin.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wong’s latest stand-up special.
In Single Lady, Wong opens up about getting back on the dating scene after divorcing her husband of 10 years in 2022, though the couple remain very good friends. Wong shares stories about her various dating adventures and why so many men started pursuing her when the news broke: “A divorced mom is very special because she doesn’t want commitment,” she says.
Wong has dated all sorts of people since her divorce and is here to kiss and tell. “The age range of who I can date is huge,” she says. “I can go as low as 25, and I can go as high as 55.” So she has a diversity of experiences to share, from the movie director she broke up with after three weeks to the 25-year-old Midwesterner who only eats PB&Js.
While her sexual adventures have been fun and exciting, at heart Wong describes herself as “a romantic hoe” who’s excited about falling in love again — and she has.
Single Lady was filmed as part of Wong’s residency at The Wiltern in Los Angeles when she headlined Netflix Is A Joke Fest.
In her past specials, Wong’s wardrobe and set design were loud — she often wore animal-print dresses against a dramatic, dark-colored backdrop. Plus, she filmed her first two Netflix specials with baby bumps. But in Single Lady, Wong walks onto the stage with a softer look. She’s in another big transitional moment in her life; she’s fresh, she’s bright, and she’s ready for something new. And she wanted her set to reflect that.
Production designer JP Connelly tells Tudum that Wong “wanted something airy and angelic, and we found inspiration in vintage imagery.” After spending a few hours researching modern and vintage drapery using an AI computer program, Connelly says he “fell in love with an Asian-inspired half round bun.” He adds, “Ali and I played with different lighting palettes on site, and together landed exactly on something that matched the reference.”
Wong’s wardrobe goes perfectly with the bright and airy set design. The comedian wears a long flowing white dress, which she describes as a nightgown, as she glides across the stage. But don’t be mistaken — while her set design may not be as pronounced as her previous specials, her message is as spicy and explicit as ever.
“I know divorce gets a really bad reputation and can sound really scary,” she says. “But then just look at me as an alternate example of how it can be. I’m best friends with my ex-husband, and if you can take away anything from what you’ve heard tonight, just look how much fun I’m having.”
Single Lady will premiere on Netflix on Oct. 8, but there’s plenty of Wong to go around before then. You can watch any of her previous Netflix specials Don Wong, Hard Knock Wife, and Baby Cobra, as well as her Emmy-winning performance in the drama series BEEF. Wong also stars in the comedy film Always Be My Maybe and lends her voice to Netflix’s Ask the StoryBots and Ada Twist, Scientist, as well as the Emmy-winning adult animated comedy Big Mouth.
