What’s better than watching your favorite movies and shows? How about watching the stars of those shows and movies talk about their experiences making them?
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Take for example, The Best Man — probably one of our favorite movies and likely one of yours too. We’ve got an exclusive sneak preview from Tuesday’s all-new episode of Black Comedy In America featuring the star of The Best Man discussing how impressed he was by the script for the film when he initially read it. In the clip, Taye Diggs describes how the movie was the first of its kind, largely just because the characters were the kind of upwardly mobile Black people that he associated with himself and his peers.
The episode also features commentary by The Best Man director Malcolm D. Lee.
Black Comedy In America, a new docuseries produced by SMAC Productions and She Ready Productions and hosted by comedians Tiffany Haddish, Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis, premiered last month on October 15 on VICE TV. The series explores the lore and legends of Black comedy and offers a definitive look at the history and impact of America’s most prolific Black comedians.
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Black Comedy In America explores the comedic pioneers of film, television, and the standup scene, along with the humble beginnings and meteoric rises of the most powerful voices to ever enter Black comedy. The premiere episode featured a rare sit-down reunion with The Original Kings of Comedy: Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley.
The series also delves into the cultural impact of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Best Man, Def Comedy Jam, the wave of memorable Black sitcoms from the 70s, and influential household names such as Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle. In addition, the show features a raw exploration of Jim Crow segregation with a nostalgic look at the foundations of the Chitlin’ Circuit, where Black comedy got its roots.
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A cultural time capsule, the 10-episode series brings together icons and respected figures for deep dives into what and who have shaped comedy and American culture over the past century, including many who have used their comedic visions to push boundaries in the face of controversies in an ever-changing society.
Each episode includes in-depth interviews with a who’s who of entertainers including Shaquille O’Neal, Marla Gibbs, Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson, Coco Jones, George Lopez, Luenell, Rachel Lindsay, Taye Diggs, W. Kamau Bell, B. Simone, and many more.
The all-new episode of Black Comedy In America airs Tuesday, November12 at 10:00 PM ET/PT on Vice TV.