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Who was the comedian who began a successful career in the early 60s and also became a political activist and later a health guru who promoted a diet of raw fruits and vegetables?
1. Flip Wilson
2. Dick Gregory
3. Richard Pryor
4. Bill Cosby
Dick Gregory
Dick Gregory, born Richard Claxton Gregory, became a pioneer of Black comedy in 1961 with his distinctly adult humor as he also engaged in political activism with his protests against the Vietnam War and other political issues. While he also became a vegetarian in the 1960s, he began to promote his raw fruits and vegetable diet in the 1980s. Gregory died in 2017 of heart failure.
Who, to date, is the comedian with the highest number of major awards, which include an Emmy Award and five Grammy Awards?
1. Martin Lawrence
2. Arsenio Hall
3. Richard Pryor
4. Marlon Wayan
Richard Pryor
Stand-up comedian and actor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (Richard Pryor) won an Emmy Award (1973) and five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982). He also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first-ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. He was listed at number one on "Comedy Central"'s list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. In 2017, "Rolling Stone'' ranked him first on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
What TV sitcom portrayed the first Black comedian dressed in drag (women’s clothes)?
1. Sandord and Son
2. In Living Color
3. Martin
4. The Flip Wilson Show
The Flip Wilson Show
The "Flip Wilson Show", featuring comedian Flip Wilson dressed in drag as the recurring character, Geraldine Jones, was the first TV sitcom to feature a Black man dressed as a woman.
Who is often recognized as the first Black stand-up comedian?
1. Fred Sanford
2. Godfrey
3. Moms Mabley
4. Redd Foxx
Moms Mabley
Jackie “Moms” Mabley is often considered the pioneer of Black stand-up comedy. Starting in the 20s with her “lesbian stand-up” routines, Mom’s Mabley reached the height of her career playing at the Harlem Apollo Theatre, and even playing at Carnegie Hall in 1962. She made several television appearances on such shows as The Ed Sullivan Show and the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and was soon billed as “the funniest woman in the world.”
John Elroy Sanford was a comedian of the 1950s who was best known by what name?
1. Redd Foxx
2. Flip Wilson
3. Richard Pryor
4. John Sanford
Redd Foxx
John Elroy Sanford earned the stage name Redd Foxx because of his red hair. He was also known as the "King of the Party Records" as he performed on more than 50 records in his lifetime. Known more recently for his lead role starred in "Sanford and Son", "The Redd Foxx Show" and "The Royal Family". His film roles included "All the Fine Young Cannibals" and "Harlem Nights"
What became the stage name for actor, singer, comedian, songwriter, television host and producer, Edward Marlon Bishop?
1. Jamie Foxx
2. Redd Foxx
3. Tracy Morgan
4. Chris Rock
Jamie Foxx
In 1991, Jamie Foxx became a regular on "In Living Color" until the show's end in 1994, after which he earned his own television sitcom The "Jamie Foxx Show", in which he starred, co-created and produced, airing for five highly rated seasons from 1996 to 2001. He is likely best known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the film "Ray", for which he won the Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
Which stand-up comedian also starred in his own TV show from 2001 through 2006, and earned two Emmy Award nominations?
1. Sinbad Steve
2. Harvey Bernard
3. Bernie Mac
4. Eddie Murphy
Bernie Mac
Jeffrey McCollough was known in the comedic world as Bernie Mac. In 2001 the Fox network gave Bernie his own television sitcom called "The Bernie Mac Show" portraying a fictional version of himself for which he earned two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Bernie Mac died from complications from pneumonia in 2008.
What comedian played the role of The Tin Man in the movie "The Wiz"?
1. Arsenio Hall
2. Katt Williams
3. Martin Lawrence
4. Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell, a famous stand-up comedian known for his comical poems, played the role of The Tin Man in the 1978 Black adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz", "The Wiz".
What comedian abruptly left a highly successful and financially lucrative program in the middle of production and took a personal hiatus to South Africa?
1. Dave Chappelle
2. Tracey Morgan
3. Jamie Foxx
4. Chris Rock
Dave Chappelle
In 2005, at the beginning of what was to have been season three of the "Dave Chappelle Show", Dave left without announcement; walked away from a 50 million dollar contract with Comedy Central for what he determined was his own personal growth and went to South Africa. He did not return to full-time touring until 2013.
As of 2019, who was the highest earning Black comedian in the U.S.?
1. Kevin Hart
2. Bill Cosby
3. Steve Harvey
4. Martin Lawrence
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart earned $59 million dollars between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019, including sponsorships with brands like Mountain Dew and Chase, his Netflix special, "Don’t F**K This Up", and a global stadium tour Hart earned the No. 1 spot on Forbes' list of the highest-earning stand-up comedians for the second time, ahead of Jerry Seinfeld.
Who is the woman comedian who is also an EGOT ( i.e. a winner of Emmy, Grammy, Academy Award, and Tony Awards)?
1. Leslie Jones
2. Wanda Sykes
3. Whoopie Goldberg
4. Lawanda Page
Whoopie Goldberg
Whoopie Goldberg, is the only woman comedian who is also an EGOT, having won an Emmy for co-hosting and moderating the talk show "The View"; a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording in 1985 for "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway"; an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Oscar)for her performance in the film "Ghost" (1990); a Tony Award as a producer of the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie".
Who was the first Black comedian to host a nationwide syndicated late night talk show?
1. Robert Townsend
2. Arsenio Hall
3. Marlon Wayan
4. Sinbad
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall became a breakout late-night show success when he was issued a contract by Paramount for "The Arsenio Hall Show" which ran from 1989-1994.
What is the last name of the starring Family from the TV Show "Good Times"?
1. Johnsons
2. Jacksons
3. Millers
4. Evans
Evans
The last name of the "Good Times" family was Evans. The family members were James, Florida, James “J.J.”, Thelma, Michael
Who is the early Black woman comic who played in the hit TV show, "Sanford and Son"?
1. Mom’s Mabley
2. Lawanda Page
3. Whoopie Goldberg
4. Luenell Campbell
Lawanda Page
Lawanda Page was a comedian best known for her role as Esther "Aunt Esther" Anderson in the popular television sitcom "Sanford and Son" which originally aired from 1972 until 1977.
What role did Edmond Lincoln Anderson play on both the Jack Benny Program radio and TV show?
1. Lancaster, the Yardman
2. Simon, the Cook
3. Farmington, the Driver
4. Rochester, the Valet
Rochester, the Valet
Edmond Anderson played the role of the raspy throated Rochester, the valet on Jack Benny’s radio and TV shows, earning Anderson ranking as the first African American to have a regular role on a nationwide radio program.
Known as Mr. Show Business, who was the versatile comedian who was also a singer, musician, dancer, actor who started performing at the age of 3?
1. Marty Davis
2. Sammy Martin
3. Monroe Samuels
4. Sammy Davis
Sammy Davis
Sammy Davis Jr. starred in seven Broadway shows and appeared in 23 films and began his career at the age of three.
Which comedian was involved in an auto accident that almost ended his career?
1. Chris Tucker
2. Tracy Morgan
3. Cedric the Entertainer
4. Chris Rock
Tracy Morgan
On June 7, 2014, Tracy Morgan and three other comedians along with Morgan's assistant and two limousine company employees, were involved in the crash that killed Morgan's friend and collaborator, 62-year-old comedian James McNair. Morgan did not return to the stage until a year later.
What comedian played newly selected V.P. candidate, Kamala Harris in episodes of Saturday Night Live and earned an Emmy nomination?
1. Wanda Sykes
2. Sommore
3. Jessica Williams
4. Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph.
Maya Rudolph played several hilarious sketches of Kamala Harris on SNL, where she also did sketches of Beyonce’, Oprah, Whitney Houston, Dinah Ross and a host of others.
On "Sanford and Son, what was Fred Sanford’s son’s name?
1. Lamont
2. Jamil
3. Raheem
4. Derrick
Lamont
The capitalistic, even greedy, son of Fred Sanford in the sitcom is named Lamont Sanford.
Which four stand-up comedians starred in the Original Kings of Comedy?
1. Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Deon Cole
2. Arsenio Hall, Sinbad, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey
3. Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley
4. Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker
Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley
Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley starred in the film "The Original Kings of Comedy."
"Heyeah (here) come da judge" is a line most associated with which comedian?
1. Flip Wilson
2. Arsenio Hall
3. “Pigmeat” Markham
4. Robert Townsend
"Pigmeat" Markham
The boisterous, "heyeah (here) come da judge" phrase, which made a mockery of formal courtroom etiquette, became a signature routine of Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham Pigmeat as he was popularly known performed often at the Apollo Theatre in his early years and became a feature on Rowan and Martin’s Laughin-In (NBC) (1968-69) as did his catchy phrase.
What was Loretta Mary Aiken, one of the first Black women stand-up comics, known by what name?
1. Tracey Morgan
2. Whoopie Goldberg
3. Moms Mabley
4. Katt Williams
Moms Mabley
Loretta Mary Aiken, known by her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley, was one of the first Black women stand-up comedians. She was a veteran of the Chitlin' Circuit of African-American vaudeville, she later appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour"
Which Black woman was NOT in the comedic girl buddy picture, "Girls Trip"?
1. Leslie Jones
2. Jada Pinkett Smith
3. Tiffany Haddish
4. Queen Latifah
Leslie Jones
"Girls Trip", the buddy film about four women The Flossy Posse featured Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Regina Hall. Leslie Jones did not appear in this film.
Which comedian is the producer of Last Comic Standing?
1. Monique
2. Cedric the Entertainer
3. Wanda Sykes
4. Paul Mooney
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes is the producer of “Last Comic Standing,” “The Chris Rock Show,” and a number of other comedic specials.
Which Wayan did NOT produce the 1996 film, "Don’t be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" that parodied several previous films about life in “the hood?”
1. Keenen Ivory Wayan
2. Shawn Wayan
3. Kim Wayan
4. Marlon Wayon
Kim Wayan
While Kim Wayan was in the film, playing the role of Mrs. Johnson, she was NOT on the film's production team.
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Most people enjoy humor and laughter. Here you can learn about African American pioneers and purveyors of comedy and how they have contributed historically to American humor on stage and screen.
