[Maritime Q-Scout]

Comics are the opposite of musicians. They tour then end with the special for Netflix/HBO/what have you.

Musicians put out the album, then tour.

Comedians use the tour to test jokes, their order, how they play off each other. Refining to put together a special.

Sometimes their best jokes don't "fit" with the flow of the special. They don't have a segue in and out that they're happy with. So it doesn't make the special.

The special needs to be better than the sum of its parts, which means they might leave the best part out to ensure the overall sum is the best. If that makes sense?

Mike Birbiglia's podcast Working it Out is a nice little dive behind the scenes of the process.