Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle Host Screening For Earthquake’s New Netflix Comedy Special

Last night in Hollywood, comedians Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle joined the stage with Earthquake to talk about his new Netflix comedy special titled Legendary.

The special screening had many in the house such as director of the special Stan Lathan, Producer Rikki Hughes, comedian JB Smoove, Judge Greg Mathis, Big Boy, and many others who joined in to view the conversation.

As you probably know by now, Chappelle will Executive Produce four comedy specials exclusively to be produced by Netflix, and Earthquake is the first of the group to be produced along with Donnell Rawlings to follow. No word yet on the other comedians.

Take a look at the behind the scenes screening courtesy of producer Rikki Hughes’ IG;

Here’s another look at the screening courtesy of Earthquake’s IG;

Mike Epps Offers First Look Of Him As Richard Pryor In Upcoming HBO Series

Many may remember the plan to have Mike Epps, among others, star in a Richard Pryor biopic. Unfortunately, plans fell through and a film about the legendary comedian never made it to the big screen. However, Epps has received an opportunity to portray one of his favorite comedians in an upcoming HBO series.

Epps took to Instagram earlier this week to reveal his portrayal of Richard Pryor in HBO’s Winning Time. The upcoming series will tell the story of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime era, which featured Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy.

Mike Epps shared a photo of himself beside John C. Reilly, who will portray late owner Jerry Buss, and talked about his excitement for the role.

“It’s one thing to compete but [it’s] another to be compared!!!!” Epps wrote. “Here I played the long-awaited role of the GOAT Richard Pryor in the @winningtimehbo series it’s never easy to fill the shoes of our greats but [I am] humbled and honored to have gotten this opportunity s/o to my man @therodneybarnes for believing in me check us out March 26th on @hbo #riprichardpryor#adammcay.”

Will Smith’s Stand Up Comedy Series ‘This Joka’ Gets March Debut On Roku TV

Will Smith is on a mission to keep people laughing with his new show This Joka. The Roku Original series will premiere on the Roku Channel on March 4, and it promises to be an ode to the Oscar nominee’s deep love and appreciation for stand-up comedy. The 16-episode series will feature a lineup of 16 diverse comedians, ranging from newcomers and up-and-coming stars to established names in comedy. Smith brought the comedians to Vegas to showcase their material, and together, they will explore the nature of comedy and its unique ability to unite people. 

This Joka will showcase their stand-up sets and will feature one-on-one conversations between the King Richard star and the comedians, plus docu-style moments shot backstage and around Sin City. The comics featured on the show are Baron Vaughn, Megan Gailey, Punkie Johnson, Sean Patton, Rosebud Baker, Shane Torres, Clayton English, Christi Chiello, Vanessa Gonzalez, Martin Urbano, Sam Tallent, David Gborie, Jackie Fabulous, Chris Estrada, Rell Battle, and Daphnique Springs. This Joka will also feature special appearances by George Wallace, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Shawn Wasabi. 

Lance Bangs directed the series and Smith serves as host and executive producer. This Joka is also a co-production of Jada Pinkett Smith and Smith’s Westbrook Media and Topgolf Studios, a unit of Topgolf Entertainment Group. The series was shot on location at Topgolf’s Las Vegas driving-range venue and other Vegas locations. The show was first acquired by Quibi in April 2020 before making its move to Roku. “This Joka not only puts exceptional comedic talent on full display, but it also showcases the power of laughter in bringing people together,” Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Alternative Originals at Roku said in a statement. “Collaborating with Will Smith and the teams at Westbrook Media was a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to share the series with audiences on The Roku Channel.” 

“There is no line up quite like this in comedy—all different styles and voices and vibes are represented in this show which honestly is a testament to Will’s rabid fandom for comedy,” Lukas Kaiser, SVP, Head of Content at Westbrook Inc. said. “The comics in This Joka not only deliver big laughs, but they also show viewers how comedy can be a connecting force. We’re thrilled to finally get this special project in front of audiences on The Roku Channel.” 

Watch the exclusive trailer for This Joka above. The series will premiere on The Roku Channel on March 4.

By KARLA RODRIGUEZ For Complex

Mo’Nique Talks To Tyler Perry, Both Agree To Meet After Long Feud

In a new episode of FOX Soul’s new show Turnt Out with TS Madison, comedian and actress Mo’Nique updated where she stands with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, both of whom she claims were behind the demise of her career.

During the show, Mo’Nique told Madison that Perry agreed to meet with her under certain conditions. She’d have to come without her husband and manager, Sydney Hicks, and apologize for accusing him and Winfrey of “blackballing” her.

The long-time friction came after Mo’Nique’s Oscar-winning role in the 2009 film Precious, for which Perry and Winfrey were the executive directors.

She said Perry asked her to do things that she was not “contractually obligated to do,” including promoting the film at a festival for free.

“I don’t care who it is, it’s not fair for you to want me to work for free just because it’s you…so now, here comes the blackball,” she told Madison, according to Radar Online. This is what started the accusations that Mo’Nique is “difficult.”

The Academy Award winner added that Winfrey didn’t speak up against the allegations, which is why she took an issue with her. Instead, she sided with Perry, who supposedly told another director named David Talbert how difficult she was to work with.

“Well, Tyler Perry you’ve never worked with me. We never worked together,” she continued. “When we did ‘Precious,’ [he] came on after we said ‘Cut; that’s a wrap and it’s over.’”

According to Mo’Nique, Perry recently called her and her husband to apologize. She secretly recorded the phone conversation, where he admitted what he did to her was wrong, she told Madison, who confirmed hearing the recording.

She told Madison that several mutual friends, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Kevin Hart, reached out to Perry directly after hearing the recording. But he did not want to “revisit” the conversation.

But now, after all that, Perry has agreed to meet with her.

Watch the full video below:

Source: Black Enterprise, Radar Online, Fox Soul

Tracy Morgan To Guest-Star on Cedric The Entertainer’s CBS Show, ‘The Neighborhood’

Tracy Morgan is heading back to broadcast. The Last O.G. star is set to guest on CBS’ The Neighborhood, marking his first live-action network comedy appearance since his seven-season, Emmy-nominated run on NBC’s 30 Rock. Morgan will play Curtis Butler, the frenetic younger brother of star Cedric the Entertainer’s character.

“Cedric the Entertainer and Tracy Morgan as brothers? Looking forward to one of the funniest family dinners in history,” said showrunner Meg DeLoatch in a statement.

Titled “Welcome to Bro Money, Bro Problems,” the episode will center on Morgan’s Curtis, a super lottery winner with a deep love of spending money, which includes showering people with hugely expensive gifts and experiences. The half-hour is expected to air on March 28, part of the already-renewed series’ fourth season.

Like many comedy stars of Morgan’s generation, his career largely began in broadcast comedy, first on Fox’s Martin and, later, with seven seasons on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. The upcoming appearance also marks a reunion for him and Cedric. The two stand-up comics starred together on early seasons of The Last O.G. Cedric has since stepped back from the cable comedy, which recently wrapped its fourth season on TBS, while Morgan has remained at the series’ center.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Dave Chappelle To Executive Produce 4 New Comedy Specials For Netflix-First To Feature Earthquake

Dave Chappelle will executive produce four new stand-alone comedy specials featuring comics personally selected by him as part of his Chappelle’s Home Team series for Netflix.

The first special will spotlight D.C. comic Earthquake (The Neighborhood), premiering on February 28. Donnell Rawlings, one of Chappelle’s longtime collaborators, will host the second special in the series on a future date.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and comedians like Quake and Donnell are not only friends but have inspired my own career. Anyone in the comedy community knows these names and knows their time to shine is long overdue. I am proud to be a part of this moment.” Dave Chappelle said in a statement.

Earthquake: Legendary will see the longtime comic discuss health and wealth, prostate exams, and disciplining kids.

The special is directed by Emmy and Grammy-Award winner Stan Lathan. Executive producers include Chappelle, Earthquake, Lathan, Rikki Hughes, and Jermaine Smith.

Earthquake currently appears in the CBS comedy The Neighborhood, Bounce networks’ Johnson, and South Side for HBO Max, in recurring roles.

He also has a development deal for a project with the CBS network.

Source: Deadline

‘Martin’ Returns For A 30th Anniversary Reunion Special On BET+

Few shows defined an era like Martin. From music to movies to fashion, the iconic sitcom was not only abroad mainstream hit, it was a cultural force that went beyond the screen and epitomized an era. The show was a crossover sensation all while providing an honest and refreshing view of the Black experience and to this day, the characters, all created by the comedic genius of the show’s namesake, Martin Lawrence, are still some of pop culture’s most beloved. Thirty years later, its legacy lives on, and this summer, fans will be able to relive all the love, joy and laughter as Martin and the gang come together once again for the first time in decades.

The reunion special, hosted by comedian and actor Affion Crockett, will include Martin Lawrence (“Martin”), Tisha Campbell (“Gina”), Tichina Arnold (“Pamela”) and Carl Anthony Payne II (“Cole”), along with surprise guest appearances. Taking a look at the show’s origin and evolution, the reunion will feature interviews with the cast, original directors, special musical performances, and behind-the-scenes commentary on the importance and impact of the show that shaped a generation.

“Martin is one of the most beloved sitcoms in our community, both because it is hugely entertaining and because it played a pivotal role in changing the narrative of Black voices in entertainment and in culture through the portrayal of young, ambitious Black leads and healthy Black relationships,” said Scott Mills,CEO of BET. “Decades later, that representation is still just as important, which is why we’re so excited to honor a series that put Black culture front and center on our platform that embraces Black culture everyday.”

“To be able to sit here thirty years later with this amazing cast that has had such an impact on pop cultureis truly a blessing. I am always humbled that the fans still want more of the show and its characters. I amlooking forward to the reunion special.” said Martin Lawrence.

“Martin is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time,” said Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.“JCE is honored to partner with Martin and BET on such an iconic reunion.

”The reunion is executive produced by Martin Lawrence, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, and Stacy Lyles through his company Run Tel Dat Entertainment. For Jesse Collins Entertainment, Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon serve as executive producers along with Jeannae Rouzan-Clay who is also the showrunner. The show is executive produced and directed by Stan Lathan. The special is written by Nile Evans as well as Bentley Kyle Evans who also serves as a co-executive producer. Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Brittany Brazil is a producer.

The taping will take place Sunday, February 20 and will launch on BET+ later this year. In the meantime,fans can get ready for the reunion by re-watching all five seasons of Martin now on BET+.

‘Impractical Jokers’ Returns In April With Eric André On TBS, TNT, And TruTV

“Impractical Jokers” will return on April 2 with a special “supersized” episode that will be simulcast for the first time on TBS and TNT in addition to TruTV. The roadblock will air on all three Turner (sorry, “TNets”) channels right after coverage of the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

This reps the first new episode of “Impractical Jokers” since August, and the first since Joe Gatto announced his departure from the show and the Tenderloins troupe. Remaining stars Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray and Sal Vulcano are back, and the special will include comedian Eric André (“The Eric André Show”) as a guest.

The tenth season of “Impractical Jokers” is currently in production, and will return to TruTV this summer, featuring celebrity guests joining Quinn, Murray and Vulcano each week.

The “Impractical Jokers” news was announced Monday during the Television Critics Association’s virtual winter press tour. Also announced for TruTV, the network has ordered eight half-hour episodes of the travel comedy series “101 Places to Party Before You Die,” starring Adam Pally (“Happy Endings”) and Jon Gabrus (“Game Over, Man!”). Based on the book “101 Places to Get F*cked Up Before You Die,” the show follows the pals as they explore Maui, Moab, Miami, Puerto Rico, Portland, Richmond, Atlanta and Denver.

“101 Places to Party Before You Die” comes from Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, produced by Shed Media in association with Clone Wolf, Inc., High and Mighty Productions, Inc., 3 Arts Entertainment, Inc. and Artists First with Dan Peirson, Lisa Shannon, Michael Rucker, Julie Golden, Adam Pally, Jon Gabrus, Greg Walter, Josh Lieberman, Tucker Voorhees and Brian Steinberg serving as executive producers. Rucker also serves as showrunner.

At TBS, “Chad” returns for Season 2 on Monday, April 11 at 10 p.m. ET. The network also released a teaser of the upcoming second season starring creator/executive producer/showrunner Nasim Pedrad:

And TBS has also renewed gamer “The Cube,” hosted by NBA star Dwyane Wade, for a second season.

Source: Variety