Tag Archives: D3

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.

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.

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.

Today we are checking out something that Amber does not get enough credit for: musical sketches.

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!

28 Days of Black Comedy: Patrice O’Neal 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 Patrice O’Neal.

It’s the last day of Patrice O’Neal Week & we’re wrapping up with Patrice’s appearance on The Green Room with Paul Provenza. If you haven’t seen this show you need to watch ALL of the episodes because it is that damn good and you will understand comedy better than you ever thought possible.

You gonna learn today.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Patrice O’Neal 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 Patrice O’Neal.

It’s Day 4, so we’re going to watch Patrice show some Canadians how Americans do comedy.

28 Days of Black Comedy: Patrice O’Neal 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 Patrice O’Neal.

Today is Day 3, where we see the genius of Patrice as he destroys some casual and some unrecognized stereotypes while hyping his Comedy Central special (which is coming soon).