Poster of Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Plot: Directors Robert Townsend and Quincy Newell offer this comprehensive and hilarious examination of the history, evolution and cultural significance of African American comedy in America, from the earliest minstrel shows to the latest HBO special. Featuring interviews with cultural critics and loads of comedic clips, this program features appearances by a who's-who of black comedians including Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg and many more
Release Date: Thursday, January 1 2009
15 years ago
External Links
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Scroll to Crew

Cast

Portrait of Franklyn AjayeFranklyn Ajaye
Franklyn Ajaye was
59 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Fri, May 13 1949
Portrait of Angela BassettAngela Bassett
Angela Bassett was
50 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Narrator (voice)'.
Sat, Aug 16 1958
Portrait of Bill BellamyBill Bellamy
Bill Bellamy was
43 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, Apr 07 1965
Portrait of Todd BoydTodd Boyd
Todd Boyd was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Jeff ClanaganJeff Clanagan
Jeff Clanagan was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Bill CosbyBill Cosby
Bill Cosby was
71 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Jul 12 1937
Portrait of Stanley CrouchStanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Elijah CummingsElijah Cummings
Elijah Cummings was
57 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Thu, Jan 18 1951 –
Thu, Oct 17 2019
Portrait of Tommy DavidsonTommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson was
45 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Nov 10 1963
Portrait of Michael Eric DysonMichael Eric Dyson
Michael Eric Dyson was
50 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Thu, Oct 23 1958
Portrait of Walter FauntroyWalter Fauntroy
Walter Fauntroy was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Shang ForbesShang Forbes
Shang Forbes was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Marla GibbsMarla Gibbs
Marla Gibbs was
77 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jun 14 1931
Portrait of Louis Gossett Jr.Louis Gossett Jr.
Louis Gossett Jr. was
72 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, May 27 1936 –
Fri, Mar 29 2024
Portrait of Dick GregoryDick Gregory
Dick Gregory was
76 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, Oct 12 1932 –
Sat, Aug 19 2017
Portrait of Eddie GriffinEddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin was
40 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Jul 15 1968
Portrait of Steve HarveySteve Harvey
Steve Harvey was
51 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Thu, Jan 17 1957
Portrait of D.L. HughleyD.L. Hughley
D.L. Hughley was
45 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, Mar 06 1963
Portrait of Sheila Jackson LeeSheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Eddie LevertEddie Levert
Eddie Levert was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Himself'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Faizon LoveFaizon Love
Faizon Love was
40 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Fri, Jun 14 1968
Portrait of Kweisi MfumeKweisi Mfume
Kweisi Mfume was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Kel MitchellKel Mitchell
Kel Mitchell was
30 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Fri, Aug 25 1978
Portrait of Mo'NiqueMo'Nique
Mo'Nique was
41 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Dec 11 1967
Portrait of Paul MooneyPaul Mooney
Paul Mooney was
67 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Aug 04 1941 –
Wed, May 19 2021
Portrait of Garrett MorrisGarrett Morris
Garrett Morris was
71 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Feb 01 1937
Portrait of Charlie MurphyCharlie Murphy
Charlie Murphy was
49 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jul 12 1959 –
Wed, Apr 12 2017
Portrait of Niecy Nash-BettsNiecy Nash-Betts
Niecy Nash-Betts was
38 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Feb 23 1970
Portrait of Reynaldo ReyReynaldo Rey
Reynaldo Rey was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Chris RockChris Rock
Chris Rock was
43 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Feb 07 1965
Portrait of Sherri ShepherdSherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd was
41 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sat, Apr 22 1967
Portrait of SommoreSommore
Sommore was
42 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, May 15 1966
Portrait of Robert TownsendRobert Townsend
Robert Townsend was
51 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, Feb 06 1957
Portrait of Thea VidaleThea Vidale
Thea Vidale was
52 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Tue, Nov 20 1956
Portrait of George WallaceGeorge Wallace
George Wallace was
60 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Wed, Jul 21 1948
Portrait of Maxine WatersMaxine Waters
Maxine Waters was
70 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Mon, Aug 15 1938
Portrait of Damon WayansDamon Wayans
Damon Wayans was
48 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Sep 04 1960
Portrait of Keenen Ivory WayansKeenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans was
50 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jun 08 1958
Portrait of Marlon WayansMarlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans was
36 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jul 23 1972
Portrait of Shawn WayansShawn Wayans
Shawn Wayans was
37 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Tue, Jan 19 1971
Portrait of Cornel WestCornel West
Cornel West was
55 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Tue, Jun 02 1953
Portrait of Katt WilliamsKatt Williams
Katt Williams was
35 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Sep 02 1973
Portrait of Andrew YoungAndrew Young
Andrew Young was
76 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sat, Mar 12 1932
Portrait of Topper CarewTopper Carew
Topper Carew was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Julian BondJulian Bond
Julian Bond was
68 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jan 14 1940 –
Sat, Aug 15 2015

Crew

Portrait of Robert TownsendRobert Townsend
Robert Townsend was
51 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Director'
Wed, Feb 06 1957
Portrait of Quincy NewellQuincy Newell
Quincy Newell was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Writer, Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of John LongJohn Long
John Long was
55 in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Writer'
Tue, Jul 21 1953
Portrait of Angela NorthingtonAngela Northington
Angela Northington was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Darryl 'D'Militant' LittletonDarryl 'D'Militant' Littleton
Darryl 'D'Militant' Littleton was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Dana RiddickDana Riddick
Dana Riddick was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Associate Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Richard FoosRichard Foos
Richard Foos was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Executive Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Jeff ClanaganJeff Clanagan
Jeff Clanagan was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Executive Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Agústa EinarsdóttirAgústa Einarsdóttir
Agústa Einarsdóttir was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Editor'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Skip RobinsonSkip Robinson
Skip Robinson was
>> in Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as 'Editor'
Unknown Birthday