Tag Archives: black comedians

28 Days of Black Comedy: Moms Mabley Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Moms Mabley.

Mabley is one of the literal original stand-up comedians of any race. To say she paved the way is an understatement that does a disservice to her contributions to the genre of comedy. She has never received the respect she deserves for her work.

This is from 1974. Moms is 80 and less than one year from her passing, and she still steals the show and breaks Kris Kristofferson at least half a dozen times. She was just a natural entertainer and has a seemingly effortless ability to elicit laughter from the crowd as well as whoever she is performing with.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Moms Mabley Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Moms Mabley.

Mabley is one of the literal original stand-up comedians of any race. To say she paved the way is an understatement that does a disservice to her contributions to the genre of comedy. She has never received the respect she deserves for her work.

Today is a clip from 1948(!) showing Moms doing it before most of the icons of stand-up were born. To this day the lack of respect Moms gets is disgusting.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Moms Mabley Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Moms Mabley.

Mabley is one of the literal original stand-up comedians of any race. To say she paved the way is an understatement that does a disservice to her contributions to the genre of comedy. She has never received the respect she deserves for her work.

This clip is from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Please note that Tom uses the word “Negro”, which Moms seamlessly transitions into using “colored”, which was the preferred nomenclature at the time. This is the mark of a professional at work.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Richard Pryor Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Richard Pryor.

Honestly, we could do an entire month with just Richard Pryor and we’d still only be scratching the surface of the material available. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Pryor is one of the most influential comedians we’ve ever had grace the genre.

This clip is from the Dick Cavett show. In our not so humble opinion Dick Cavett is the best interviewer that has graced television, and this interview with Pryor shows this. Pryor opens up in a way you just don’t see in other interviews. Please take the time to enjoy this clip.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Richard Pryor Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Richard Pryor.

Honestly, we could do an entire month with just Richard Pryor and we’d still only be scratching the surface of the material available. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Pryor is one of the most influential comedians we’ve ever had grace the genre.

Today we’re catching a little more obscure Pryor stand-up special, one where he lets himself really explore comedy and his interactions with the audience. Observe how he keeps the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire set. It’s a master class in stand-up.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Richard Pryor Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Richard Pryor.

Honestly, we could do an entire month with just Richard Pryor and we’d still only be scratching the surface of the material available. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Pryor is one of the most influential comedians we’ve ever had grace the genre.

Today is one of the most famous moments in Saturday Night Live history. There are conflicting reports as to who wrote this sketch. Chevy Chase claims he wrote it, Paul Mooney says it was his work after Pryor made having Mooney as a writer the week he hosted one of the conditions of his appearing on the show. But no matter who wrote it, it is to this day considered one of the greatest and most shocking moments in broadcast television history.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Richard Pryor Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Richard Pryor.

Honestly, we could do an entire month with just Richard Pryor and we’d still only be scratching the surface of the material available. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Pryor is one of the most influential comedians we’ve ever had grace the genre.

Today’s clip is another cut you may not have seen before, but it is one you should definitely watch. Pryor was not just a brilliant stand-up comedian, he was also a brilliant actor. His facial expressions and body movements add so much to this scene, and his acting performances are criminally underrated.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Richard Pryor Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Richard Pryor.

Honestly, we could do an entire month with just Richard Pryor and we’d still only be scratching the surface of the material available. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Pryor is one of the most influential comedians we’ve ever had grace the genre.

Today’s clip is from an NBC special. Over 40 years later and it is just as prescient now as it was then.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Amber Ruffin Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Amber Ruffin.

Amber has been one of the best writers and performers working in late-night comedy right now, and having a black and female voice has brought a vital component that has been sorely lacking from the format since its inception.

It’s Day 5 so we’re bringing in a special guest who always makes the Amber Ruffin Show special.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Amber Ruffin Week

Posted by Ron Burr on

Hey, everyone. We’re going to do something a little different for Black History Month. Usually, we pick a different comedian every day. This month, we’re going to pick one comedian each week and take a deeper dive into their work. This week we’re celebrating Amber Ruffin.

Amber has been one of the best writers and performers working in late-night comedy right now, and having a black and female voice has brought a vital component that has been sorely lacking from the format since its inception.

We missed yesterday (Sorry, we dropped the ball on this one) so you will be getting a double dose of Amber today, with a side of Tarik Davis. But first, we look at Amber’s opening monologue from her glass ceiling and stereotype-breaking hosting of the 2018 Writer’s Guild Awards.

And here is Amber’s recap of 2021 from The Amber Ruffin Show.

Check back tomorrow for more!