Movies

‘Def Comedy Jam 25’ Trailer Unites Comedy’s Biggest Stars

Def Comedy Jam 25 trailer reveals a comedy treasure trove.
By  · Published on September 28th, 2017

Def Comedy Jam 25 trailer reveals a comedy treasure trove.

There was a time before YouTube, podcasts, and VOD when you had to sit down in front of a TV to catch your favorite comedians. Before the digital age, comedy fans tuned into shows like Evening at the Improv, or if they were lucky, HBO comedy specials, to catch their favorite comedians’ sets. Many of those old-school shows from the 80’s and 90’s forged yesterday’s hungry comedians into today’s stars. And when it comes to churning out world-class talent, it’s hard to match Def Comedy Jam’s track record.

Kicking off in 1992, Def Comedy Jam quickly became a stand-up comedy institution for black comics; a quick glance at the show’s alumni reveals why. Def Comedy Jam gave a platform to today’s comedy stars (Cedric the Entertainer, Monique, and Kat Williams), mega-stars (Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle), and legends (Bernie Mac, Patrice O’Neal, and Paul Mooney). To mark Def Comedy Jam’s 25th anniversary, Netflix released a new comedy special, cleverly titled, Def Comedy Jam 25. The special commemorates Def Comedy Jam’s legacy with series highlights, appearances by former guests, and even a panel titled, ‘Ladies of Comedy,’ featuring Girls Trip’s breakout star, Tiffany Haddish.

If you missed out on the Def Comedy Jam era then Netflix’s special is a good place to start. I’m betting some of the special’s clips will lead to some YouTube deep dives. Even casual stand-up comedy fans can lose themselves going down the Def Comedy Jam rabbit hole since it’s shocking how many familiar faces graced the show’s stage. It’s not hard to go looking for a 20-year old Chris Rock clip before getting hooked by an up-and-coming Aries Spears or stumbling across a young Craig Robinson.

Netflix makes it easier than ever for comedy junkies to get their fix. The streaming giant’s goal is to continue releasing at least one new stand-up special a week for the rest of 2017. With dozens of comedians’ specials just a Netflix login away there’s less incentive for viewers go looking for stand-up specials someplace else. On the positive side, Netflix’s massive audience gives talented yet less established comics a chance to get noticed.

In case you’re still not sold, check out the profanity-filled trailer below.

Def Comedy Jam 25 is now available on Netflix.

Official Synopsis: Netflix presents a celebration to top all celebrations in honor of the 25th anniversary of “Def Comedy Jam,” the iconic show that made giants out of ferociously funny black comedians like Martin Lawrence, Cedric The Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Monique, Mike Epps, Adele Givens, JB Smoove, D.L. Hughley, Tracy Morgan and Sheryl Underwood to name a few. Def Comedy Jam 25 celebrates the impact and legacy of the long-running comedy series with surprise guests, tributes, and performances in a can’t-miss evening of unbelievably funny and raw moments. Stan Lathan, Russell Simmons, Sandy Wernick, and Jesse Collins serve as executive producers. Def Comedy Jam 25 is now streaming.

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