Uptown Comedy Club
Uptown Comedy Club, is a sketch-comedy show filmed in the Harlem[1][2][3][4] neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City that aired in first-run syndication[5][6][7] for two seasons,[8] from 1992[9][10] until 1994.[11] The series was produced by Bob Banner. Repeats of the series eventually found their way onto BET.
Uptown Comedy Club | |
---|---|
Also known as | The BET Uptown Comedy Club |
Genre | Sketch comedy Stand-up comedy Variety |
Created by | Kevin Brown |
Written by | Jim Breuer Kevin Brown Monteria Ivey Debra Wilson Corwin Moore Tracy Morgan Flex Alexander Ian Edwards Paul Mooney Joe Torry |
Directed by | Don Weiner |
Starring | Flex Alexander Arceneaux & Mitchell Jim Breuer DJ Scratch Ronda Fowler Monteria Ivey Little Rascal Rob Magnotti Tracy Morgan Corwin Moore Domencio 'Macio' Parrilla Aries Spears Debra Wilson |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 44 |
Production | |
Executive producers | André D. Brown Kevin Brown Bob Banner Keith Samples Don Weiner |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies | Bob Banner Associates Don Weiner Productions Rysher Entertainment |
Distributor | Black Entertainment Television (1993) Rysher Entertainment (all media) |
Release | |
Original network | Syndication |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | September 28, 1992 – March 7, 1994 |
Taped before a live audience at a club in Harlem, Uptown Comedy Club provided a mixture stand-up comedy, musical guests usually from the world of hip-hop, and sketch comedy from a troupe of mostly black comics. Jim Breuer and Rob Magnotti were the only regular white cast members. Uptown Comedy Club would in hindsight, provide a springboard for future Saturday Night Live cast members Jim Breuer and Tracy Morgan and future Mad TV cast members Aries Spears and Debra Wilson. Monteria Ivey[12][13] served as the host for the first season, while the regular cast members rotated in capacity for the second. DJ Scratch meanwhile, was the resident DJ.
A recurring segment on Uptown Comedy Club was pitting stand-up comedians against each other in a game of The Dozens.[14] The audience picked the winner.
Cast
- Flex Alexander[15][16]
- Arceneaux & Mitchell[17][18]
- Jim Breuer[19][20]
- Ronda Fowler[21]
- Little Rascal (1993–1994)
- Rob Magnotti[22][23]
- Tracy Morgan[24] (1993–1994)
- Corwin Moore[25] (1992–1993)
- Domencio 'Macio' Parrilla[26]
- Aries Spears
- Debra Wilson[27] (1992–1993)
Special guests
Stand-ups featured
- Mark Anthony
- D.C. Benny[28]
- Brooklyn Mike
- Xavier Paul Cadeau
- Ian Edwards
- Pierre Edwards
- Talent Harris
- T.P. Hearns
- Robert L. Hines
- "Hamburger" Jones
- Kevin Jordan
- Brad Lowery
- Faizon Love
- Carlos Mencia
- James McNair[29]
- Mo'Nique[30]
- Hugh Moore
- Mark Overton[31][32]
- Dwayne Perkins
- Reynaldo Rey
- Keith Robinson
- Rickey Smiley
- Sommore
- Chris Tucker
- Sheryl Underwood
Stations
Uptown Comedy Club aired mostly late at night on UHF[33] stations.
References
- Marriott, Michel (August 17, 1994). "Many Faces of Harlem's Main Street; A Day in the Life of 125th: From Bustling to Restless to Cool". The New York Times.
- Simmons, Russell (September 2002). Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God. Three Rivers Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780609807156.
- Fearn-Banks, Burford-Johnson, Kathleen, Anne (3 October 2014). Historical Dictionary of African American Television. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 485. ISBN 9780810879171.
- Zinoman, Jason (November 11, 2016). "Why 'Def Comedy Jam' Gets No Respect". The New York Times.
- Johnson, Allan (February 18, 1994). "FUNNINESS CAN BE READ AS WELL AS HEARD". Chicago Tribune.
- "1992". TV Seasons.
- King, Susan. “Preview ‘92: Syndicated Hype...”. Los Angeles Times. 13 September 1992. http://articles.latimes.com/1992-09-13/news/tv-1122_1_kung-fu-fighting
- "Kevin Brown Comedian". Best Comedy Tickets.
- WNYW 1992 Fox 5 The Uptown Comedy Club Commercial on YouTube
- Rosenberg, Howard (December 16, 1992). "Bigotry on TV: The Stain Still Lingers". Los Angeles Times.
- Lewis, Gregory (February 11, 1994). "Dozens is oral legacy rooted in survival". The Baltimore Sun.
- George, Nelson (26 April 2005). Hip Hop America. Penguin. ISBN 9781101007303.
- Brooks, Marsh, Tim, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1460. ISBN 9780307483201.
- Leigh, Pressley (March 4, 1994). "GET READY FOR A SNAPPY COMEBACK". News & Record.
- "From 'Snakes' to R&B". Los Angeles Daily News. August 7, 2006.
- Graham, Tina (July 13, 2018). "FLASHBACK FRIDAY: The Original Harlem Uptown Comedy Club TV Show Cast 1993". Instagram.
- Temple, Terra (November 7, 2002). "Community News: Pre-Thanksgiving Comedy Jam is Saturday". State Gazette.
- Hines, Lora (December 27, 2013). "Comedian finds his true calling by helping the poor". Houston Chronicle.
- Hanner, Zach (August 25, 2005). "strange breuer: 'SNL' alum ready for comedy set at UNCW". Star News Online.
- Breuer, Jim (December 27, 2013). I'm Not High: (But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories About Life as a Goat Boy ... Penguin. ISBN 9781101443804.
- "CUNY Academic Works". The Ticker. October 20, 1993.
- "FOX 5 TV's Uptown Comedy Club Images with Rob Magnotti". Rob Magnotti.
- Shea, Ryan. "Get To Know Actor & Comedian Rob Magnotti".
- Tropiano, Stephen (November 2013). Saturday Night Live FAQ: Everything Left to Know About Television's Longest ... Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781480366862.
- "Production wraps on 'Brothers on the Phone'". Oh Gee Productions. March 4, 2013.
- Minalgo, Jody (September 15, 2005). "Macio brings urban flavor to his hip brand of comedy". SFGate.
- "Comediennes Of Color: 'I Am Funny'". NPR. November 6, 2013.
- Hart, Jon (January 6, 2000). "Heckle and jive - DC Benny" (PDF). Time Out New York.
- "Peekskill's James McNair, Tracy Morgan's friend, mourned". Gannett. June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- Krefting, Rebecca (23 July 2014). All Joking Aside: American Humor and Its Discontents. JHU Press. p. 311. ISBN 9781421414317.
- "Uptown Comedy Club". TV Guide.
- "Retro: Flint/Lansing, Michigan Sat, Dec 12, 1992". Radio Discussions. December 21, 2009.
- Uptown Comedy Club Yo Momma Battles- Hugh Moore on YouTube
- "Retro: South Georgia/North Florida Sat, Apr 17, 1993". Radio Discussions. April 23, 2012.
- "Retro: Atlanta, Saturday, June 18, 1994". Radio Discussions. March 5, 2017.
- "Retro: Atlanta/Chattanooga, Saturday, December 11, 1993". Radio Discussions. March 6, 2018.
- "Retro: Atlanta Saturday, April 17, 1993". Radio Discussions. April 10, 2008.
- "Retro: Boston, MA: Friday, December 4, 1992". Radio Discussions. February 26, 2019.
- "Retro: Nova Scotia Fri, Dec 18, 1992". Radio Discussions. October 9, 2009.
- "Retro: Yakima, WA, Christmas Eve 1993". Radio Discussions. December 24, 2018.
- "RETRO: CHICAGO FRI NIGHT, OCT 29, 1993". Radio Discussions. May 17, 2007.
- "Retro: Cleveland, Saturday, November 14, 1992". Radio Discussions. May 28, 2017.
- "Retro: Flint/Lansing, Michigan Sat, Dec 12, 1992". Radio Discussions. December 21, 2009.
- "Retro: Eugene, OR, Monday, July 11, 1994". Radio Discussions. January 24, 2018.
- "Retro: Tampa/St. Petersburg, Sunday, April 24, 1994". Radio Discussions. August 7, 2018.
- "Retro: Kentucky Sat, Dec 19, 1992". Radio Discussions. August 3, 2007.
- "Retro: Kentucky Sat, Dec 19, 1992". Radio Discussions. September 9, 2017.
- "Retro: Norwalk, CT, Saturday, April 16, 1994". Radio Discussions. December 27, 2018.
- "Retro: Salt Lake City, Friday, May 13, 1994". Radio Discussions. December 14, 2017.
- "Retro: San Diego Sat/Sun Oct 17/18,1992 (pt 1)". Radio Discussions. August 22, 2005.
- "Retro: San Francisco/Sacramento/Monterey Sat, Sept 18, 1993". Radio Discussions. March 31, 2008.
- "Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Friday, June 18, 1993". Radio Discussions. October 4, 2018.