''Def Comedy Jam'' is an

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television series produced by

Russell Simmons Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, writer and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. He has p ...

Stan Lathan Stan Lathan (born July 8, 1945) is an American television and film director and television producer. He is executive producer and director of Black Entertainment Television, BET's ''Real Husbands of Hollywood''. He has produced and directed nume ...

, and Bob Sumner. The series was hosted by

Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald LawrenceStated in interview on '' Inside the Actors Studio'' (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor and comedian. Lawrence began his career doing comedy shows, including in '' The Improv''. After his first acting role in t ...

and Joe Torry in its first six seasons, Mike Epps in its seventh season, and D. L. Hughley in its eighth season. Simmons and long-time collaborator Lathan were inspired to make ''Def Comedy Jam'' by The Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem, New York and The Comedy Act Theatre in Los Angeles, California. They teamed up with Def Jam Records label executive and veteran comedy scout Sumner to launch the show. The series had its original run from 1992 to 1997, and in 2006 it returned in the HBO fall lineup. The show helped to launch the careers of several African-American stand-up comedians. On 10 September 2017, a

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special, ''Def Comedy Jam 25'', was filmed at the Beverly Hilton. It was shown on 26 September 2017 and featured many of the comedy stars listed below.

Notable performers

* Kid Capri * Katt Williams *

Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle ...

* Mike Epps * Jamie Foxx * Adele Givens * Eddie Griffin * D.L. Hughley *

* Bernie Mac * Monique Hicks * Leslie Segar * Sommore * Chris Tucker * Chris Rock * Sheryl Underwood * John Witherspoon * Tj Mackie * Cory Fernandez

Spin-offs

The show produced a spinoff called ''Loco Slam''.

Home media

The show was released on DVD boxsets in the US and the UK.

References

External links

HBO - Def Comedy Jam

Comedy Jam 25''
on

* HBO original programming 1992 American television series debuts 1997 American television series endings 1990s American stand-up comedy television series 2000s American stand-up comedy television series 2006 American television series debuts 2008 American television series endings American television series revived after cancellation American English-language television shows Def Jam Recordings {{US-comedy-tv-prog-stub