‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ might be HBO’s hottest comedy release yet
Are you tired of just the sprinkle of melanin on comedy television and sketch shows, like SNL and Veep? Or even just tired of Black male-centered comedy? A Black Lady Sketch Show is here to answer your prayers.
It seems like Insecure’s success on HBO has made the network more comfortable producing shows written and produced by Black women, FINALLY.
The show which aired its first episode on Friday, August 3rd at 11 pm eastern time is hilarious and brilliant. With Issa Rae and Robin Thede as producers, there’s a lot of biting and original content to come.
The cast includes viral sensation Quinta Brunson, Ashley Nicole Black who wrote for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Gabrielle Dennis from Luke Cage and Rosewood. Executive producer Robin Thede is also one of the main cast members.
As a show written, directed and acted by Black women the content is refreshing, unique and original. In the very first episode, one of the sketches is “Hertep Masterclass.” Robin Thede delivers a clever satire on the ‘Hotep’ phenomenon.
Another sketch features Angela Bassett as the leader of a support group for Bad Bitches along with Laverne Cox. Taping into subcultures usually ignored like the gay black women scene. Also, Gina Torres and Kelly Rowland hop on a sketch with spy-genre action.
“I did not watch Hotline Bling 42 times to be disrespected like this.”
Ditto. #ABLSS pic.twitter.com/S6SrCXaCKm
— A Black Lady Sketch Show (@BlackLadySketch) August 4, 2019
Finally, there’s a show that has enough range to give us better satire through well thought out Black female characters.
The show is able to subvert stereotypes by implementing genres like sci-fi (that Black women have always been a part of but not acknowledged enough, shout out to Gina Torres.) The sketches are also able to confront stereotypes to satirize the regurgitated Black female characters we’re tired of seeing.
The show takes a jab at cancel culture and it’s taking over of POC and female consciousness, in the face of larger issues like SPOILER ALERT the literal end of the world, a reference to climate change.
We’ve had enough of Black women being the butt of jokes on TV and film. We hope this signals a new era of expansive identity on television for people of color and Black women in particular.
The show airs Fridays at 11 pm eastern time and will include more guest stars. Big names include Tia Mowry, Aja Naomi King, Lena Waithe, Patti Labelle, Amber Riley, Loretta Divine, Yvonne Orji, David Alan Grier, Lil Rel Howry, Marsai Martin and many more.
Is this the new Key & Peele? Maybe. Or maybe it’s the first of many Black Lady Sketch Shows.