ComicView
BET's stand-up comedy showcase launched many careers.
Last updated
BET's Comic View, a stand-up comedy series, originally ran from September 1992 to December 2008, airing Tuesdays and Fridays. It helped launch comedians like D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore, and Rodney Perry. BET announced its return in May 2014.
Overview
In its later years, the show moved to cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and New Orleans. Episodes from the 2005–2006 season were filmed in New Orleans less than a month before Hurricane Katrina; a message before airing dedicated the show to the city's citizens. An incarnation titled Comic View: One Mic Stand began in September 2008 with Kevin Hart as host. The recent incarnation, renamed back to Comic View, began in May 2014 with Sommore returning as host.
References in pop culture
The program was mentioned by Cam'Ron in his song "Tomorrow" ("Clowns, they belong on ComicView"). On the 11th episode of the first season of Chappelle's Show, an aged Asian man tells Dave Chappelle his camera will show him things some "would pay not to see," and Dave responds, "Oh snap, it gets ComicView?" Nas referenced it in "2nd Childhood" off Stillmatic ("He break his mom's furniture, watching ComicView"). Fabolous mentioned it in "Jokes on You" from From Nothin' to Somethin' ("But ok, you B.E.T. only if its Comic View"). Timbo King, in Bronze Nazareth's "More Than Gold" from The Great Migration, said "You ain't nice as hell, you a ComicView rapper you should write for Chappelle." The program was mentioned in the 4th episode of the third season of the Netflix series Dear White People, where a character says it has apparently not aged well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created ComicView?
ComicView was created by Curtis Gadson.
When did ComicView first air?
ComicView first aired on 14 September 1992.
When did ComicView end?
ComicView last aired on 17 December 2008.
More in BET Original Programming
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: ComicView (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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