'Phat Tuesdays': Why Guy Torry started the all-Black comedy night in LA
Guy Torry's upcoming three-episode docuseries celebrates his time at The Comedy Store and how he helped kickstart the careers of some of the most famous Black comedians in Hollywood today. The show, set to premiere during the first week of February on Prime Video, looks at Torry's all-Black comedy project that became one of the most influential comedy showcases in the country.
'Phat Tuesdays' is the inspiring story of how the trial and error method helped Black comedians, after the tragedy of the LA riots that took place in 1992. The showcase of comedic talent and stand-up regularly brought people under one roof. Most importantly, people from all walks of life showed up, just for a single purpose — laughter. The showcase soon became the most popular comedy show in Hollywood during the ‘90s.
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Prime Video has officially given a green light to 'Phat Tuesdays', an upcoming docuseries by Guy Torry, the creator, and host of the world-famous Phat Tuesday comedy shows at LA’s 'The Comedy Store'.
The docuseries talks about how Torry swam oceans in order to launch his dream project; an all-Black comedy night at The Comedy Store, which started out as an experiment in the ‘90s. This soon turned into LA's must-see experience, elevating Black voices who got to flaunt their talent on stage. Comedian, writer, and actor Torry is working as executive producer for the docuseries, alongside Reginald Hudlin, who will also be directing.
“I can’t wait for the world to experience the story of Phat Tuesdays,” said Torry. “It was more than a night of laughter, it was a movement. Phat Tuesdays was Black, bold, and brilliant. It was the best damn comedy show, period".
The docuseries will also include several exclusive interviews with both comedians and celebrities, along with some unique footage of legendary comedy sets.
Hudlin said, “Against all odds, Guy Torry created a venue where the next generation of comedy superstars could launch their careers, and turned the lamest night of the week into the hottest, with the sexiest superstars in Hollywood showing up to laugh till they cried. He continued, “Phat Tuesdays tells that story and much more. It’s the funniest people on Earth explaining comedy from every perspective as an art form, as a business, and as a force for social change".
Head of television (Amazon Studios), Vernon Sanders said, “We are proud to celebrate the legacy of Phat Tuesdays and shine the spotlight on Guy Torry for his trailblazing efforts to give Black comedians their turn on stage in ‘90s Hollywood. The stories and first-person accounts that Reggie Hudlin and Guy help showcase in this docuseries are not only hilarious and entertaining, but powerful as well, and celebrate how the Black community came together to evolve comedy and entertainment".
'Phat Tuesdays' is scheduled to release on February 4, 2022, on Prime Video