The Apollo Comedy Hour
Genre
Director
  • Moses Edinborough
  • Mark Warren[1]
Starring
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons3
Num episodes78
Executive producerMoses Edinborough
ProducerBen Hill
CameraMulti-camera
Runtime60
CompanyApollo Theatre Productions
NetworkSyndication
First airedSeptember 27, 1992
Last airedJanuary 1, 1995
RelatedIt'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

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

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

CityStation
AtlantaWGNX 46
BaltimoreWMAR 2
BostonWLVI 56
ChicagoWGN 9
CincinnatiWKRC 12
ClevelandWJW 8
Colorado SpringsKXRM 21
DenverKWGN 2
DerryWNDS 50
DetroitWJBK 2
DothanWTVY 4
EugeneKEVU 34
FayettevilleWKFT 40
LakelandWTMV 32
LansingWLAJ 53
Little RockKASN 38
Los AngelesKTLA 5
MeridianWTOK 11
MiamiWBFS 33
MilwaukeeWITI 6
OrlandoWFTV 9
Panama CityWJHG 7
PhiladelphiaWPHL 17
Salt Lake CityKOOG 30
San DiegoKUSI 51
SeattleKTZZ 22
SpokaneKAYU 28
Washington, D.C.WJLA 7
West Palm BeachWTVX 34
YakimaK53CY 53

References

  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (11 July 2015). "From Beautiful Downtown Burbank": A Critical History of Rowan and Martin's .... McFarland. 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. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 355. ISBN 9780313298301.
  4. ^ Beech, Wendy (14 March 2002). Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success. John Wiley & Sons. 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. Random House Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 9780307483201.
  6. ^ Littleton, Darryl (2008). Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh. Hal Leonard Corporation. 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.
  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". 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