12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ali Wong to direct new Netflix special
Ali Wong is lending her comedic talents to Netflix once again, but she's returning to a behind-the-camera role.
The Pacific Heights native will direct Taiwanese American comedian Sheng Wang's next stand-up special on the streaming platform, according to Variety, which first reported the news. Set for release in 2026, the hour-long program is scheduled to be filmed at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 8.
Both Wong and Wang will executive produce alongside John Irwin, whose credits include 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' and 'MADtv.'
Wang, who grew up in Texas, is best known for his work as a writer on the ABC sitcom ' Fresh Off the Boat,' though he got his start practicing his material in San Francisco and New York City in the early 2000s.
His 2022 Netflix special, 'Sweet & Juicy,' was also directed by Wong.
The award-winning comic and actress has starred in a number of Netflix programs herself, and most recently earned a Golden Globe for her stand-up special ' Single Lady,' released last October.
While accepting the award at the ceremony in January, she shouted out San Francisco's Punch Line Comedy Club for helping her get started in the industry.
Wong returned to Punch Line in March for a string of 'Ali Wong: Work in Progress' shows, and brought along fellow comedian Bill Hader, who she has been dating since 2023.
The two were spotted at the newly reopened Vietnamese restaurant Turtle Tower in the Financial District. A loyal fan of the establishment, she previously mentioned that the restaurant's chicken pho was one of her top four noodle soups of all time during an appearance on the talk show 'Hot Ones.'
Though she now resides in Los Angeles, Wong frequently travels back up the coast to perform in the Bay Area, and even filmed part of her 2019 rom-com, ' Always Be My Maybe,' starring opposite 'Fresh Off the Boat' star Randall Park, in San Francisco.
