Thirty years ago, a weekly comedy showcase opened in Los Angeles and helped launch the careers of some of the biggest names in stand-up. Now those comics are celebrating the groundbreaking weekly event in the new docuseries Phat Tuesdays.
The Amazon Prime Video series comes from Phat Tuesdays founder and host Guy Torry and Academy Award-nominated producer Reginald Hudlin, the streamer announced Wednesday.
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The three-episode docuseries will feature Torry (American History X, Life) explaining what inspired him to launch an all-Black comedy night at the famous Comedy Store in the 1990s.
“I can’t wait for the world to experience the story of Phat Tuesdays,” Torry said in a statement. “It was more than a night of laughter – it was a movement. Phat Tuesdays was Black, bold, and brilliant. It was the best damn comedy show, period!”
Phat Tuesdays will also include interviews with comedians who performed and were in the audience on Tuesday nights, including Anthony Anderson, Tichina Arnold, Nick Cannon, Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg, Cedric the Entertainer, Tiffany Haddish, Steve Harvey, Lil Rel Howery, Regina King, Jo Koy, Luenell, Flame Monroe, Jay Pharoah, Craig Robinson, JB Smoove, Chris Tucker, and Kym Whitley.
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On February 4, relive the best and most revolutionary stand-up of the 90s with the greatest Black writing minds to grace the stage at the Comedy Store. Check out Phat Tuesdays on February 4. pic.twitter.com/hrqyw1VJaE
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) January 5, 2022
Torry started Phat Tuesdays to elevate Black comedians following the 1992 LA riots. The showcase regularly brought together people from all walks of life and became the most popular comedy show in Hollywood during the ’90s.
“Against all odds, Guy Torry created a venue where the next generation of comedy superstars could launch their careers, and turned the lamest night of the week into the hottest, with the sexiest superstars in Hollywood showing up to laugh till they cried,” said Hudlin. “Phat Tuesdays tells that story and much more. It’s the funniest people on Earth explaining comedy from every perspective as an artform, as a business, and as a force for social change.”
The docuseries is executive produced by Torry and Hudlin (Django Unchained, House Party), who also directed the three episodes.
The series is produced by Amazon Studios, Original Productions, Phat Tuesday Productions and Grammnet Productions.
Byron Phillips co-executive produces, along with Jeff Hasler, Brian Lovett, and Jeff Bumgarner for Original Productions, and Kelsey Grammer and Tom Russo for Grammnet Productions. Joshua Firosz, Darren Toon for Original Productions, and Jordan McMahon for Grammnet Productions serve as co-executive producers.
Phat Tuesdays starts streaming on Prime Video on Friday, Feb. 4.
