Amazon Prime’s newest docuseries takes a look back at the Black comedy renaissance of the ’90s through the eyes of iconic comedians who got their start at the legendary Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. “It was 1995. Comics back then were predominately white, and I said, ‘Man, there’s so many funny people doing comedy in the hood,’ but there was no one there to see it. And I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to change that sh*t,'” says Guy Torry, the host and creator of Phat Tuesdays, a weekly comedy night devoted to giving Black comedians their turn on stage.
“For the first time, I was able to do Black humor.”
“Stand-up comedy for Black comedians was born out of some specific circumstances,” says Tommy Davidson in the trailer. What started out as an experiment in joy following the aftermath of the 1992 LA riots quickly became the most popular comedy show in Hollywood during the ’90s. By bringing together comedians from all walks of life, Torry was able to help kick-start the careers of comedy idols like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Kevin Hart, and many more. “For the first time, I was able to do Black humor,” Steve Harvey says before the camera cuts to Regina King adding, “This was really our space.”
Along with never-before-seen footage from the Comedy Store, Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy features exclusive interviews from world-famous personalities including Anthony Anderson, Tichina Arnold, Nick Cannon, Snoop Dogg, Cedric the Entertainer, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Pharoah, Jo Koy, Luenell, Flame Monroe, Craig Robinson, JB Smoove, Kym Whitley, and more.
The three-episode docuseries premieres Feb. 4 on Amazon Prime. In the meantime, see how many famous faces you can spot in the full trailer here.