The Queens of Comedy

Last updated
The Queens of Comedy
The Queens of Comedy DVD.jpg
Directed by Steve Purcell
Written byLaura Hayes
Adele Givens
Sommore
Mo'Nique
Produced bySteve Purcell
Walter Latham
Starring Laura Hayes
Adele Givens
Sommore
Mo'Nique
Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date
  • February 20, 2001 (2001-02-20)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Queens of Comedy is a 2001 American stand-up comedy film directed by Steve Purcell that is a spin-off film of The Original Kings of Comedy , [1] [2] both of which were produced by Walter Latham. The film follows the performances and behind-the-scenes conversations of four black, female stand-up comedians at Memphis, Tennessee's Orpheum Theatre.

Contents

Laura Hayes opens the show and serves as MC. She tells family stories about her grandchildren, her mother, and her sisters. Adele Givens urges her audience to celebrate their flaws; she comments on this crazy world, her 92-year-old grandmother, and the need to take care when naming a baby.

Sommore, recently released from jail, talks about children, men, marriage, and why mothers give their eight-year old daughters a hula-hoop. Lastly, Mo'Nique celebrates big women and contrasts blacks and whites. She tries to give big women hope, that it is ok to be a big woman, and it is ok to dislike skinny women.

The film also cuts to footage of the queens on the town having fun. For one night only, eight years later, the ladies returned for a comeback on The Mo'Nique Show , which aired on October 29, 2009.

Airing

The Queens of Comedy premiered on Showtime in the United States. It has aired internationally in Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and it has been subtitled in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. In Africa, it aired in South Africa, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.

Related Research Articles

<i>Sex and the City</i> American TV series

Sex and the City is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name, the series premiered in the United States on June 6, 1998. They concluded on February 22, 2004, with 94 episodes broadcast over six seasons. Throughout its development, the series received contributions from various producers, screenwriters, and directors, principally Michael Patrick King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Cosby</span> American comedian and media personality (born 1937)

William Henry Cosby Jr. is an American former comedian, actor, spokesman, and media personality. Cosby gained a reputation as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He has received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career, though many of them were revoked following sexual assault allegations made against him in 2014.

Drag is a performance of exaggerated femininity, masculinity, or other forms of gender expression, usually for entertainment purposes. Drag usually involves cross-dressing. A drag queen is someone who performs femininely and a drag king is someone who performs masculinely. Performances often involve comedy, social satire, and at times political commentary. The term may be used as a noun as in the expression in drag or as an adjective as in drag show.

<i>The Parkers</i> African American television sitcom

The Parkers is an American television sitcom created by Ralph Farquhar, Sara V. Finney and Vida Spears, which aired on UPN from August 30, 1999, to May 10, 2004, lasting five seasons. The series stars Mo'Nique, Countess Vaughn, Mari Morrow, Dorien Wilson, Jenna von Oÿ, Ken L., and Yvette Wilson. It centers on the relationship between a mother and daughter, Nikki and Kim Parker, who reside outside of Los Angeles, in Santa Monica, California, while both attending the local Santa Monica College. The series was produced by Big Ticket Television, in association with Saradipity Productions and Regan Jon Productions. Executive Producers were Bill Boulware, Ralph Farquhar, Sara V. Finney, Vida Spears and Andrea Wiley.

<i>Moesha</i> American television sitcom (1996–2001)

Moesha is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her upper middle class family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was originally ordered as a pilot for CBS' 1995–1996 television season but was declined by the network. It was then later picked up by UPN, which aired it as a mid-season replacement. It went on to become the biggest success for the nascent network and one of the greatest hits over the course of the network's entire run. The series was a joint production for UPN by Regan Jon Productions, Saradipity Productions, and Jump at the Sun Productions in association with Big Ticket Television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agbani Darego</span> Nigerian model and beauty queen

Chief Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite 'Agbani' Darego, MFR is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2001. She was the first black African to win Miss World.

Sommore is an American comedian and actress. Known as the "Diva of Contemporary Comedy," her comedic style features biting sarcasm and frank discussions about money, sex, and equality between the sexes. She first gained fame as the first female host of the long-running Black Entertainment Television (BET) stand-up showcase ComicView, as well as one of the four female comedians that headlined The Queens of Comedy tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mo'Nique</span> American comedian and actress (born 1967)

Monique Angela Hicks, known mononymously as Mo'Nique, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Grammy Award.

<i>Eddie Murphy Raw</i> 1987 film by Robert Townsend

Eddie Murphy Raw is a 1987 American stand-up comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Robert Townsend. It was Murphy's second feature stand-up comedy film, following Eddie Murphy Delirious. However, unlike Delirious, Raw received a wide theatrical release. The 90-minute show was filmed at the Felt Forum, a venue in the Madison Square Garden complex in New York City. The film was released in the United States on December 18, 1987. As of January 2022, it is the highest-grossing stand-up comedy concert film ever released, making $50.5 million in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Hall</span> American actress (born 1970)

Regina Lee Hall is an American actress. She rose to prominence for her role as Brenda Meeks in the comedy horror Scary Movie film series (2000–2006). She has since appeared in the television series Ally McBeal (2001–2002), Law & Order: LA (2010–2011), Grandfathered (2016), and Black Monday (2019–2021), and in the films The Best Man (1999), its 2013 sequel The Best Man Holiday, About Last Night (2014), Vacation (2015), Girls Trip (2017), The Hate U Give (2018), and Little (2019). For the comedy film Support the Girls (2018), Hall received critical acclaim, and became the first African American to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madea</span> Fictional character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry

Mabel "Madea" Earlene Simmons is a character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry. She is portrayed as a tough, street-smart elderly African-American woman.

<i>The Original Kings of Comedy</i> 2000 American film

The Original Kings of Comedy is a 2000 American stand-up comedy film directed by Spike Lee and featuring the comedy routines of Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac. Filmed in front of a live audience at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, the comedians give the audience their views about African-American culture, race relations, religion, and family. The film was produced by MTV Productions and Latham Entertainment, and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was shot over the last two nights of the Kings of Comedy tour with Harvey, Hughley, Cedric, and Mac. The show is intercut with footage of the comedians backstage, promoting the show on the radio, at the hotel, and during a basketball game. It was a critical and commercial success. The film's popularity led to multiple spin-off films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shondrella Avery</span> American actress, model and comedian

Shondrella Dupre Avery is an American actress, model and comedian. Her film roles include as LaFawnduh Lucas-Dynamite in the independent comedy Napoleon Dynamite (2004), and supporting roles in Domino (2005) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Reformatory for Women</span>

The Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) is a state prison for women owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Marysville, Ohio. It opened in September 1916, when 34 female inmates were transferred from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus. ORW is a multi-security, state facility. As of July 2019, 2,394 female inmates were living at the prison ranging from minimum-security inmates all the way up to one inmate on death row. It was the fifth prison in the United States, in modern times, to open a nursery for imprisoned mothers and their babies located within the institution. The Achieving Baby Care Success (ABC) program was the first in the state to keep infants with their mothers.

Adele Givens is an American comedian, actress and writer. Beginning her career during the late–1980s in comedy, Givens television appearances include The Hughleys, Moesha, The Parkers, Comedy Central Presents, Def Comedy Jam, Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, Martin, Tracey Takes On... and The Steve Harvey Show.

<i>Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School</i> Season of television series

Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School is the first season of the VH1 reality show Charm School. It is a spin-off of Flavor of Love created by the producers of The Surreal Life and Flavor of Love spin-off I Love New York. It is hosted by comedian actress Mo'Nique, assisted by talent agency president Keith Lewis and magazine beauty director Mikki Taylor, and features thirteen contestants from the first two seasons of Flavor of Love, assigned the challenge of developing proper etiquette in a competition for $50,000 and the title of "Charm School Queen." The show was recorded over 25 days in an Encino mansion during Fall 2006. Saaphyri Windsor was ultimately named Charm School Queen and was awarded the $50,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Haddish</span> American comedian and actress (born 1979)

Tiffany Cornilia Haddish is an American stand-up comedian and actress. Her breakthrough came in with a leading role in the comedy film Girls Trip (2017), which earned her several accolades and was included on The New Yorker's list of the best film performances of the 21st century. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018, and The Hollywood Reporter listed her among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment in both 2018 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Latham</span> American actor

Walter Latham is an American film and comedy producer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Latham, who is African-American, founded a comedy production company, Latham Entertainment, which helped launch the careers of noted comedians and comic actors, including Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, and Mo'Nique. His releases, The Original Kings of Comedy, Queens of Comedy, Latham Entertainment Presents, and Bad Boys of Comedy have grossed more than $200 million worldwide. He currently resides in Franklin, TN with his wife and business partner,Yulonda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yara Shahidi</span> American actress and producer (born 2000)

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thenjiwe</span> South African comedienne, actress and MC

ThenjiweMoseley born Thenjiwe Maphumulo on 29 September 1977 is a South African comedian, actress, master of ceremonies and entrepreneur originating from KwaMashu, Durban. Professionally, she is simply known as Thenjiwe. She created and acted in Judge Thenjiwe Khambule and Meet the Khambules which aired on Moja Love. She is a goodwill ambassador for Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Toronto and Great Impact, Durban. She is also a YouTube content creator and influencer, having been made famous by the sketches she posts on social media.

References

  1. March 02, Troy Patterson; EST, 2001 at 05:00 AM. "Review: 'The Original Kings of Comedy'; 'The Queens of Comedy'". EW.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. Duffy, Mike (January 26, 2001). "'QUEENS OF COMEDY' DIVAS ARE TOO CRUDE". Detroit Free Press . pp. H5. ProQuest   1270468118.