Oct 14, 2020
Judy Gold has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central and LOGO. She has written and starred in two critically acclaimed, Off-Broadway hit shows: The Judy Show – My Life as a Sitcom (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), and 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother (GLAAD Media Award – Outstanding NY Theater, Drama Desk Nomination – Actor). Judy received rave reviews as Gremio in The Public Theater’s all female production of The Taming of The Shrew for Shakespeare in the Park. She also co-starred in Off-Broadway’s Clinton! The Musical, and Disaster! The Musical. Judy plays the role of Chaya on FX’s Better Things. She guest starred on CBS’ Madame Secretary and on the Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. She has had recurring roles Netflix’s Friends from College and TBS’ Search Party. Judy is the host of the hit podcast, Kill Me Now. She has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show. From 1999-2010, Judy was the host of HBO’s At the Multiplex with Judy Gold. Judy also won two Emmy awards for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Judy has made numerous appearances on The View, The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show, and The Steve Harvey Show. She often pops up on The Food Network, but please do not mention Chopped All Stars to her, or Rachel vs. Guy for that matter. Judy’s newest comedy album, Conduct Unbecoming, and her previous albums, Kill Me Now and Judith’s Roommate Had a Baby are available wherever you get your music. Judy Gold is the author of YES I CAN SAY THAT – When They Come for the Comedians We’re All in Trouble, released this July from Dey Street Books.
Nika King’s talents as a comedian and actor are versatile and dynamic. King is best known for her comedic abilities but in her new breakout role playing Leslie, on the Emmy winning HBO series Euphoria opposite Zendaya and Storm Reid, King showcases a much more dramatic side of herself. In this role, King pulls from her early life in the projects of Liberty City watching her mother and uncles battle addiction and triumphantly overcoming. It is from that resolve and resilience that King offers a dramatic perspective and newfound depth in this role. Watching her mother work hard as a postal worker while battling and defeating addiction shaped King’s perseverance. Her passion for performance started at the early age of five years old. Armed with a silly sense of humor, King started reciting cheeky poems by Langston Hughes. After graduating from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) with a degree in Theatre Performance, King went on to hone her comedy improv skills at the Groundlings Improv School. King’s comedy has landed her roles on Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black, 2 Broke Girls and the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada. She's also produced and wrote on the hilarious web series Funny Married Stuff and her podcast King Confessions. Striving to be more than just an actor, King created Jeli, a technology company that reimagines Hollywood through diversity and inclusion. It’s a platform for people of color to navigate the entertainment industry in a supported way by connecting with industry leaders to develop their personal roadmap to success. For more information, visit www.jeli.life
Alvin Irby is a former kindergarten teacher turned award-winning social entrepreneur, international speaker, comedian, and author. He is Founder and Chief Reading Inspirer at Barbershop Books, a literacy program that creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops and provides early literacy training to barbers. His work connecting reading to male-centered spaces and involving men in boys’ early reading experiences earned him the National Book Foundation’s 2017 Innovations in Reading Prize. Irby’s popular TED Talk "How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader," has been viewed over 1 million times. Irby’s nationally-recognized cultural competency workshops help school districts, library systems, and education organizations create relevant and engaging learning experiences for all students. His Diversity & Inclusion trainings have been described as informative, inspiring, engaging, and humorous. Ir by helps educators better understand and address the systemic and personal challenges that inhibit children’s intrinsic motivation to read and learn. His debut children’s book, Gross Greg, combines Irby’s passion for early literacy and comedy. Gross Greg is a laugh-out-loud story that captures the hilariously gross behavior of kids everywhere. As a stand up comedian, Irby's fresh perspective and smart brand of humor shine through in his comedy album "Really Dense." His clever social commentary and funny observations have not gone unnoticed. Irby won the Clean Comedy Showcase at the 2019 San Diego Comedy Festival and won 2nd place at NYC’s 2019 Laughing Devil Comedy Festival. One of the highlights of Irby’s comedy career was being selected as a national finalist for the StandUp NBC competition and performing at the legendary Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles. Alvin Irby holds a Masters of Science (MS) in Childhood Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education, a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Grinnell College.
Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf