Erin ’s Reviews > Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms > Status Update

Def Comedy Jam was a late night HBO series that introduced the world to such stars as Bernie Mac, Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker and Cedric the Entertainer.

Was Richard Pryor the greatest comedian of the 20th century??

The answer is yes!

Flip Wilson was named "TV's First Black Superstar" by Time magazine.

"In a sense, Bill Cosby's presentation of an essentially colorless comedy routine was revolutionary."

Nat King Cole had his own tv show in 1956, but it only lasted a year because companies refused to sponsor his show.

Dick Gregory was the first Black comedian to cross over and achieve mainstream success.

Moms Mabley witnessed and helped shaped every major shift in American comedy across the 20th century.

Redd Foxx's Sanford and Son was one of the most popular shows on television during a 4 year run starting with its first season in 1972 each year sitting at #2 in the ratings behind only All in The Family and occasionally beating that show too.

The top radio variety show in the country in 1932 was Show Boat, airing on NBC which was the first national network. The rest of the NBC lineup included the Sinclair Weiner Minstrels, Plantation Party, Miller Minstrels, and Minstrel Show.

In 1928 a radio show debuted on WMAQ in Chicago that would have an enormous impact on the way the nation considered comedy. That show was Amos 'n' Andy.