The Apollo Comedy Hour

*The Apollo Comedy Hour*
The Apollo Comedy Hour
Genre	Sketch comedy; Stand-up comedy; Variety;
Directed by	Moses Edinborough; Mark Warren;
Starring	Derrick Fox; Kent Jackman; Yusuf Lamont; Kool Bubba Ice; Randl Ask (1992-1994); Lisa Nicole Carson (1992-1993); Paula Jai Parker (1992-1993); Grace Garland (1993-1995); Michael Mabern (1993-1995); Deborah Magdalena (1993-1994); Ronda Fowler (1994-1995); Ilan Kwittken (1994-1995); Karen June Sanchez (1994-1995);
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	78
Production
Executive producer	Moses Edinborough
Producer	Ben Hill
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	60
Production company	Apollo Theatre Productions
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 27, 1992 –; January 1, 1995
Related
	It's Showtime at the Apollo

The Apollo Comedy Hour is a sketch-comedy that aired in first-run syndication^[2]^[3]^[4] from 1992-1995. The series was filmed the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. It was produced by the same people who produced It's Showtime at the Apollo.^[5]

Format[edit]

Like a similar syndicated show from around the same time period, Uptown Comedy Club and the Fox series In Living Color, Apollo Comedy Hour featured a cast of young hopeful comedians, guest stars and a new musical act for each episode.

Cast[edit]

The cast was primarily black^[6] and Hispanic, with sketches primarily written around their personal experiences and observations. Series regulars included Paula Jai Parker,^[7] Grace Garland, Lisa Nicole Carson,^[8] Debra Wilson, and Ian Edwards. Randl Ask and later Ilan Kwittken were the only white cast members. The show was hosted by Phyllis Stickney.^[9] Mary Flowers^[10] served as music talent executive.

Meanwhile, Patrice O'Neal's first television appearance was on The Apollo Comedy Hour.^[11] Other performers featured included Derrick Fox, Yusuf Lamont, Kool Bubba Ice,^[12] Gil T,^[13] A.G. White,^[14] Deirdre Boddie-Henderson,^[15] Mike Yard,^[16] John Henton,^[17] Charles Walden,^[18] Damon Rozier, Freddie Ricks,^[19] Darryl Littleton,^[20] Daran Howard,^[21] Tony Woods,^[22] and Alonzo Bodden.^[23]

Stations[edit]

City	Station
Atlanta	WGNX 46
Baltimore	WMAR 2
Boston	WLVI 56
Chicago	WGN 9
Cincinnati	WKRC 12
Cleveland	WJW 8
Colorado Springs	KXRM 21
Denver	KWGN 2
Derry	WNDS 50
Detroit	WJBK 2
Dothan	WTVY 4
Eugene	KEVU 34
Fayetteville	WKFT 40
Lakeland	WTMV 32
Lansing	WLAJ 53
Little Rock	KASN 38
Los Angeles	KTLA 5
Meridian	WTOK 11
Miami	WBFS 33
Milwaukee	WITI 6
Orlando	WFTV 9
Panama City	WJHG 7
Philadelphia	WPHL 17
Salt Lake City	KOOG 30
San Diego	KUSI 51
Seattle	KTZZ 22
Spokane	KAYU 28
Washington, D.C.	WJLA 7
West Palm Beach	WTVX 34
Yakima	K53CY 53

References[edit]

^ Erickson, Hal (11 July 2015). "From Beautiful Downtown Burbank": A Critical History of Rowan and Martin's ... p. 251. ISBN 9781476600789.
^ King, Susan (September 13, 1992). "Preview '92 : Syndicated Hype : There's Whoopi, Cosby and don't forget the return of Kung fu fighting". Los Angeles Times.
^ Moon, Allen, Spencer, Linda (1997). Reel Black Talk: A Sourcebook of 50 American Filmmakers. p. 355. ISBN 9780313298301.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Beech, Wendy (14 March 2002). Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success. p. 137. ISBN 9780471436898.
^ Brooks, Marsh, Tim, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. p. 72. ISBN 9780307483201.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Littleton, Darryl (2008). Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh. p. 221. ISBN 9781557837301.
^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1223. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
^ Oh, Minya (February 2000). Vibe Feb 2000. p. 154.
^ Winslow, Harriet (September 13, 1992). "HELLO, 'WHOOPI!'". The Washington Post.
^ "DRAGUTAINMENT: FABULOUS FAKES, AT THE APOLLO ON APRIL 28". Black Star News. April 27, 2012.
^ Patrice Oneal at IMDb
^ "Comedy Night at The Guild Theater". St. HOPE. February 22, 2019.
^ "GIL T". Comic Cure.
^ "Comedian A.G. White". A.G. White.
^ "Could you Spare some Social Change, please?". WOW Cafe.
^ "Comics…As Seen on TV! with Mike Yard (HBO's Def Comedy Jam) and Mike DeStefano". Goldstar.
^ Johnson, Allan (January 2, 1994). "LAUGHS TRAIL 'SINGLE' STAR FROM TV TO STAGE". Chicago Tribune.
^ "Charles Walden & Damon Rozier". NIGHTOUT.
^ "Your Name" (PDF). Museum of the Moving Image.
^ Roberts Ott, Leilani (January 31, 2013). "Laugh and live longer with comedy". Muskogee Phoenix.
^ "Banjo player at the UU Dome". Tampa Bay Times. August 31, 2005.
^ "Love and Laughter Comedy Show". Local Stubs.
^ Ferraro, Robert (November 5, 2018). "Alonzo Bodden still looking for challenges 14 years after 'Last Comic Standing'". NJArts.net.

External links[edit]

The Apollo Comedy Hour at IMDb

[1] Erickson, Hal (11 July 2015). "From Beautiful Downtown Burbank": A Critical History of Rowan and Martin's ... p. 251. ISBN 9781476600789.

[2] King, Susan (September 13, 1992). "Preview '92 : Syndicated Hype : There's Whoopi, Cosby and don't forget the return of Kung fu fighting". Los Angeles Times.

[3] Moon, Allen, Spencer, Linda (1997). Reel Black Talk: A Sourcebook of 50 American Filmmakers. p. 355. ISBN 9780313298301.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[4] Beech, Wendy (14 March 2002). Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success. p. 137. ISBN 9780471436898.

[5] Brooks, Marsh, Tim, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. p. 72. ISBN 9780307483201.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[6] Littleton, Darryl (2008). Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh. p. 221. ISBN 9781557837301.

[7] The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1223. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.

[8] Oh, Minya (February 2000). Vibe Feb 2000. p. 154.

[9] Winslow, Harriet (September 13, 1992). "HELLO, 'WHOOPI!'". The Washington Post.

[10] "DRAGUTAINMENT: FABULOUS FAKES, AT THE APOLLO ON APRIL 28". Black Star News. April 27, 2012.

[imdb-11] Patrice Oneal at IMDb

[12] "Comedy Night at The Guild Theater". St. HOPE. February 22, 2019.

[13] "GIL T". Comic Cure.

[14] "Comedian A.G. White". A.G. White.

[15] "Could you Spare some Social Change, please?". WOW Cafe.

[16] "Comics…As Seen on TV! with Mike Yard (HBO's Def Comedy Jam) and Mike DeStefano". Goldstar.

[17] Johnson, Allan (January 2, 1994). "LAUGHS TRAIL 'SINGLE' STAR FROM TV TO STAGE". Chicago Tribune.

[18] "Charles Walden & Damon Rozier". NIGHTOUT.

[19] "Your Name" (PDF). Museum of the Moving Image.

[20] Roberts Ott, Leilani (January 31, 2013). "Laugh and live longer with comedy". Muskogee Phoenix.

[21] "Banjo player at the UU Dome". Tampa Bay Times. August 31, 2005.

[22] "Love and Laughter Comedy Show". Local Stubs.

[23] Ferraro, Robert (November 5, 2018). "Alonzo Bodden still looking for challenges 14 years after 'Last Comic Standing'". NJArts.net.

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