or


[01/24/12 - 01:31 PM]
Showtime(R) Continues Black History Month Celebration With "Phunny Business: A Black Comedy"
The film chronicles the rise and fall of Chicago's All Jokes Aside, one of the preeminent comedy clubs in the country.

[via press release from Showtime]

SHOWTIME(R) CONTINUES BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION WITH "PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY"

Writer/Director/Producer John Davies, Producer Reid Brody & Writer/Producer Raymond Lambert's bittersweet Valentine To "All Jokes Aside" Comedy Club To Debut On Thursday, February 23rd At 8:30 PM (ET/PT)

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 24, 2012) - SHOWTIME continues its month-long celebration of Black History Month with a new docu-comedy PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY chronicling the rise and fall of Chicago's All Jokes Aside, one of the preeminent comedy clubs in the country which gave early exposure to many of the nation's most important young comedians. For a decade, All Jokes Aside was the most influential Black comic showcase in America. With no comedy clubs booking minority acts on a regular basis at the time, the 300-seat venue in Chicago's South Loop filled a void by showcasing Black talent and entertaining Black audiences in an upscale setting.

This mostly unheralded "star factory" introduced audiences to household name talent such as Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, MoNique, Bernie Mac, Carlos Mencia, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Adele Givens, Melanie Comarcho, Mike Epps, JB Smoove, Ali LeRoi, Aries Spears, George Willborn, Sheryl Underwood, Laura Hayes, Bill Bellamy, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Earthquake and Tommy Davidson, who recall their experiences working gigs at the club. Celebrities such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tommy Hearns, Barry Sanders, Boyz II Men, Maxwell, MC Lyte, Vivica A. Fox, Doug Banks and others could be found laughing it up in the audience... but one rule stood, no comps. No exceptions!

All Jokes Aside was the brainchild of 29-year-old Delaware native and Morehouse College graduate Raymond Lambert. After a fateful visit to The Improv in Los Angeles, Lambert decided to open his own "phunny" business. Thus began a journey that would put Lambert, a showbiz neophyte, in business with some of the biggest names in comedy and eventually, in conflict with a city known for its racial politics. Eventually, All Jokes Aside closed, but the artists and entertainers never forgot, "... the best little club no one ever heard of," and nostalgically share memories and re-live the glory days. Using stills, archival performance footage and interviews, PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY salutes the legendary showcase for its unsung contribution to comedy history.





  [january 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/04/24 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Zombieverse 2: New Blood" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The groundbreaking K-zombie series returns bolder than ever, with enhanced zombies, new members and wilder quests full of non-stop thrills and laughter.

[11/04/24 - 02:01 PM]
"Outer Banks" Renewed for Fifth and Final Season Following Fan Celebrations at Poguelandia and Multi-Country Pogue Tour
The news comes two days after the second Poguelandia: An Outer Banks Experience, held November 2 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

[11/04/24 - 01:31 PM]
Acorn TV's Hit Detective Crime Drama "Dalgliesh" Returns with All-New Episodes Monday, December 2
Season 3 is made up of three distinct mysteries, each two episodes long.

[11/04/24 - 12:01 PM]
NBC Unveils Lineup of New and Returning Beloved Holiday Programming
New programming for 2024 includes "Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular" and "A Motown Christmas," hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey.

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
The Final Bell: Production Begins for the Third and Final Season of "Heartbreak High"
In Season 3, it's time for Hartley High's graduating class to say 'goodbye' to school, and 'hello' to adulthood!

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
NBC's "The Voice" Taps Music Icon Sting and Multi-Hyphenate Jennifer Hudson as Season 26 Mega Mentors
Hudson joins Michael Bublé and Reba McEntire while Sting joins coaches Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani to mentor the remaining artists as each team prepares for the Knockouts, beginning Monday, November 11.

[11/04/24 - 10:31 AM]
Aussie Luke Hemsworth Joins the Cast of Prime Video's Global Hit Series "Deadloch" Season Two
Hemsworth will join lead cast members Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner.

[11/04/24 - 08:32 AM]
Netflix Announces Release of the Documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and Avicii's Last Show from Ibiza's Ushuaia
The documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and "Avicii - My Last Show" will launch globally on Netflix on December 31.

[11/04/24 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson" - Narrator Announcement, Sneak Peek & Key Art Debut
Ice T will narrate the three-part follow-doc leading up to the Netflix and MVP's heavyweight boxing mega-event.

[11/04/24 - 08:02 AM]
"La Liberacion" Will Premiere Exclusively on Prime Video on January 17
The unique series created and directed by noted filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella premieres January 17 on Prime Video.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On December 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up the morning after a loving family Christmas to discover their youngest child, six-year-old JonBenét, was missing, a chilling ransom note left downstairs.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland" - Official Trailer - Hulu
St Nick (voiced by Gerard Butler) receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts.

[11/03/24 - 07:30 PM]
Video: AMC Networks Releases a First Look at Season Three of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon"
Starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride as the beloved characters "Daryl Dixon" and "Carol Peletier," the new season is set to premiere in 2025 on AMC and AMC+.

[11/02/24 - 06:12 PM]
Video: "Outer Banks" Season 4 - Part 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Buried secrets surface as the Pogues race to find a legendary artifact - with a dangerous gang of rival treasure hunters hot on their trail.

[11/01/24 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News Studios Announces "Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story - A Special Edition of 20/20," Airing Nov. 3 at 10 P.M. EST on ABC
The one-hour special explores Liam Payne's meteoric rise to celebrity as a member of boy band One Direction and his personal journey, including his struggles with mental health and the pressures of stardom, as well as his efforts to reinvent himself as a solo artist.