A Black Lady Sketch Show

A black lady sketch show is a hilarious, dynamic, masterpiece created by Robin Thede for HBO. She invited her close friends and fellow comedians on board.

The show seeks out to include vital voices and Black women’s representation in the American comedic landscape. Each episode consists of five to six sketches.

It is the first all Black women writer’s room that is led by Lauren Ashley Smith.

Has the first Black women sketch director Dime Davis.

ABLSS is the first sketch series cast composed entirely of Black women.

It showcases comedy, culturally relevant themes, relationships, anxiety, and religion. They have been nominated for as well as rewarded Emmy awards.

A Black Lady Sketch Show premiered on 8.2.2019. Season 1 had a total of 6 episodes. The second season premiered on 4.23.21. The third season aired 4.8.22

This Show is important and stands out to me because it gives the needed diversity that we need to see in our entertainment. Yes there’s stereotypes of us all but some that are the most critical are those that are of our expense. Yes we are often portrayed as angry but the depth of joy when we are portrayed as happy is an entirely different emotion. I love seeing us in real life situations where we can turn moments of grief into laughter as we have no choice to do in real life off screen.

The main cast includes

Robin Thede

Robin Thede is an African American comedian, writer and actress. Thede was head writer and a performer on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. From 2015–16, she was the head writer for the first season and a half of The Nightly Show, the first African-American woman to hold that position on any late-night talk show. Thede is also the second African-American woman to write for a late-night talk show, as Amber Ruffin was first to join the writing staff for Late Night With Seth Meyers. Prior to that, she was head writer on The Queen Latifah Show and staff writer on the first two seasons of Real Husbands of Hollywood on BET.

Thede has often worked on TV shows as both a writer and actress. She created, writes, and performs in A Black Lady Sketch Show.

Ashley Nicole Black

Ashley Nicole Black is an African American comedian, actress, writer and producer. She was a writer and correspondent for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (2016–2019), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. She is a cast member and writer on HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show. Black joined Ted Lasso as staff writer and producer for the show's second season and she joined the writing staff of The Amber Ruffin Show in 2021. Also in 2021, she signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Studios to create and produce programming for HBO Max and other streaming services, cable and broadcast outlets. Ashley took over as the voice of Ms. Jacobsen in the 12th season of Bob's Burgers and starting in season 13, she also took over the role of Harley.

Gabrielle Dennis

Gabrielle Dennis is an African American actress and comedian. Dennis has a background in dance, theatre, stand-up comedy, and singing. She had her start on BET’s then TEEN SUMMIT from 1998-2000. In 2008, she won the role of Janay Brice on The CW comedy series The Game. The show was canceled however, fans campaigned for its return where Dennis was able to reprise her role for two more seasons on BET. During her role on The Game she landed roles in Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, and The Marc Pease Experience. She played Denise Roy on Spike's Blue Mountain State. Gabrielle has since guest-starred on several series including Franklin & Bash, Bones, Justified, and Baby Daddy. In 2015, she landed the role of Pippy Rosewood for Fox's Rosewood. Dennis had a recurring role as Candace on the hit show Insecure and played Whitney Houston in the BET miniseries, The Bobby Brown Story. Since 2019, Dennis has starred in the hit sketch comedy HBO show A Black Lady Sketch Show.

Quinta Benson

Quinta Brunson is an African American writer, producer, actress, and comedian. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing, and starring in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She went on to produce and act in content for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. Brunson has acted in the series iZombie, Single Parents, and Miracle Workers; provided voice work for Lazor Wulf and Magical Girl Friendship Squad; and starred in the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show. At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman to be nominated three times in the comedy category, receiving nominations for: Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (which she won), Outstanding Comedy Series (as an executive producer), and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Featured:

Laci Masley

Damaya Gurley

Tamara Jade

Angel Laketa Moore

Recurring Guest Stars :

Issa Rae

Essence Atkins

Yvonne Orji

Bob the DragQueen

Nicole Byer

Natasha Rothwell

Amber Riley

Yvette Nicole Brown

David Alan Grier

Holly Walker

Tyler James Williams

Broderick Hunter

Phil Lamar