Black Comedy in America - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
The Original Kings of Comedy
Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, and the late Bernie Mac joined forces nearly 20 years ago to make comedy magic and launch their careers into the stratosphere.
Def Comedy Jam
Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan fuse a hip-hop sensibility with cutting-edge comedy voices to create a groundbreaking franchise with enduring cultural impact.
70s Sitcoms
A wave of hit sitcoms like The Jeffersons bring Black family life and humor into the homes of Americans everywhere, with an influence that continues today.
The Best Man
The quintessential Black romantic comedy brings together a talented cast, a genre ripe for fresh voices, and perfect chemistry to inspire a rom-com boom.
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor blazes a trail that includes transformational appearances, addiction and tragedy, and a mix of pain and joy.
Eddie Murphy in the 80s
Eddie Murphy's story features his instant emergence as a force on SNL, his raw and boundary-pushing standup, and his rise to A-list movie star status.
Our Roots
The origin story of Black comedy includes slave tradition, the chitlin circuit, racial stereotypes, Jim Crow segregation on the road, and breakout triumphs
The Fresh Prince
A fish-out-of-water sitcom proves to be the perfect vehicle for the talents, personality, and charisma of Will Smith, setting him on a course for superstardom.
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart overcomes a series of early setbacks and hones his comedic voice to become one of the biggest comedians and movie stars in Hollywood.
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle's uncompromising comic voice and vision fuel his ascent to major success, even in the face of controversy and changing cultural tides.
Recently Updated Shows
Chicago Fire
No job is more stressful, dangerous or exhilarating than those of the Firefighters, Rescue Squad and Paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51. These are the courageous men and women who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death. These are their stories.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is an Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase.
Since its inception in 1975, "SNL" has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of their generation. As The New York Times noted on the occasion of the show's Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary special in 1999, "in defiance of both time and show business convention, 'SNL' is still the most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture." At the close of the century, "Saturday Night Live" placed seventh on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years.
