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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

The Queens of Comedy

Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, Sommore and 1 more

Showtime · 2001 · 79 min

Four working comics share specific takes on sex, dating, and family dysfunction.

Watch it free on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Following the massive success of The Original Kings of Comedy, producer Walter Latham assembled four prominent Black female working comics for their own arena-style tour. The Queens of Comedy puts Mo’Nique, Adele Givens, Sommore, and Laura Hayes on a Memphis stage to talk openly about sex, family dysfunction, and the realities of womanhood. Hayes acts as the emcee, warming up the crowd with stories about her grandchildren and sisters. Givens zeroes in on the necessity of celebrating physical flaws and the absurdity of naming babies. Sommore questions why mothers buy hula-hoops for eight-year-old daughters and details relationship dynamics. Mo’Nique closes the night by praising big women and offering highly specific bedroom advice.

Filmed live at the Orpheum Theatre, the 2001 special captures the four comics right as their television and film profiles were rising. Mo’Nique was in the middle of her run on the UPN sitcom The Parkers, while Givens and Sommore were already familiar faces from ComicView and Def Comedy Jam. The broadcast intercuts the stage performances with backstage footage and scenes of the women hanging out in the city, breaking up the stand-up sets with a documentary feel.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Family stories about grandchildren, mother, and sisters

    Laura Hayes opens the show and serves as emcee, sharing personal stories about her family.

  2. Celebrating personal flaws, aging, and baby naming

    Adele Givens comments on the crazy world, her 92-year-old grandmother, taking care when naming babies, and a conspiracy to dumb down people with Top Ramen noodles.

  3. Jail experience, children, men, and marriage

    Sommore recounts being released from jail and having to fend off lesbians, and riffs on why mothers give eight-year-old daughters hula-hoops.

  4. Celebrating big women and sexual superiority

    Mo'Nique celebrates big women, contrasts Black and white people, urges acceptance of being big, and crusades against skinny women.

How it plays

Tone
Profane, brassy, provocative, raw, and adult.
On stage
Described as profane, brassy, and real, attempting to exert class while maintaining ghetto credibility: Laura Hayes as the sassy matriarchal figure, Adele Givens as the sassy cynic, Sommore as the sassy wild-child, and Mo'Nique as the sassy big-girl.
About
Family, Flaws, Body image and big women, Men and marriage, Sex, Race

What the critics said

Critics found the film overly crude and profane, questioning whether its coarse sex humor undermined its message of sisterly respect, though user reviews praised the comics' delivery, honesty, and comedic energy.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, paramountpictures.com, allmovie.com, ew.com, houstonpress.com, vulture.com, variety.com.

Backstory

A direct spin-off of Walter Latham's successful 'The Original Kings of Comedy' concert tour and film, showcasing four prominent Black female stand-up comedians performing and interacting behind the scenes.

Details

Lineup
Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, Sommore, Laura Hayes
Released
Taped
Orpheum Theatre, Memphis
Runtime
79 min
Where
Showtime
Director
Steve Purcell
Topics

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