Sundance Documentary “Why We Laugh” Acquired by Showtime to Air TONIGHT at 8pm

Groundbreaking Documentary Examines the Cultural Influence of Black Comedy

Directed by noted actor-producer-director Robert Townsend (“Hollywood Shuffle”), the documentary, which originally screened at Sundance in 2009 in the Premiere section, features interviews with prominent scholars, politicians, cultural critics, and a host of notable comics, including Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Steve Harvey, and Katt Williams.

“Why We Laugh” tracks the evolution of black comedy from the character of Stepin Fetchit and minstrels in blackface to the politically tinged humor of Dick Gregory, and from the television success of Good Times and The Jeffersons to the big-screen accomplishments of stars such as Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. The film also turns a perceptive eye on the controversial career decision of Dave Chappelle and the implications of corporate efforts to capitalize on the massive success of Russell Simmons’s Def Comedy Jam and Spike Lee’s The Original Kings of Comedy.

“’Why We Laugh‘ is a major historical contribution to American culture,” said Codeblack executive vice-president Quincy Newell. “This film is a tribute to the way one courageous person with a microphone can change history.”

Newell produced the documentary which he co-wrote with John Long. The film is based on the book “Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh,” by Darryl J. Littleton. Codeblack’s Clanagan, Richard Foos, and Littleton are executive producers on the project.
Director Townsend has been at the forefront of black cinema for 30 years and received a Career Achievement Award from the American Black Film Festival in 2002.

About Codeblack Entertainment

CODEBLACK ENTERTAINMENT is the first independent, vertically integrated African American-owned film studio, actively engaged in the business of feature film production and distribution, worldwide DVD & digital assets distribution, urban market consulting, and production of programs for television broadcast and syndication.

Recent national theatrical releases from the company include Shadowboxer (the directorial debut of Lee Daniels, producer of Monster’s Ball, The Woodsman and director of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival award winning Precious), Constellation, Steve Harvey’s stand-up comedy film Don’t Trip…and Preaching to the Choir. Under a multi-picture deal with 20th Century Fox’s film distribution division FOXFAITH, Codeblack produced film adaptations of the 80s Off Broadway gospel musical hit “Mama I want to Sing!” as well as the popular play “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”