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BET is returning to its comedy roots by rebooting its beloved stand-up series “ComicView.”
Titled “ComicView: Rooftop Series,” the 10-episode revival will premiere on the network on June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET. It’s hosted
by Chris “CP” Powell and will take place outside, from a rooftop in Hollywood.
Each episode will spotlight three comedians, including Tony Roberts, Ryan Davis, Darren Fleet, Shuler King, Ian Lara, D’Lai, Amir K and more (full lineup below). Plus, BET promises “crowd interactions, celebrity drop-ins and organic viral moments.”
“ComicView” first aired in 1992 as a nationally broadcast showcase for up-and-coming comics. The show became a pillar of Black comedy and a launchpad for talent that would go on to become huge names in stand-up, including D.L. Hughley, Sommore, Cedric the Entertainer and Bruce Bruce.
The series rotated hosts throughout its initial run from 1992 to 2008, and it was briefly revived in 2014. After a nine-year absence, the show returned in 2024 as a four-episode series hosted by Mike Epps, taped at Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Weekend in Las Vegas.
“I’m super excited to be a part of this iconic brand. It’s an honor to put my name in history as one of the few hosts of ‘ComicView,’” said Powell. “Growing up in Detroit, we didn’t always have cable, so ‘ComicView’ was my go-to as an aspiring comic. It was my daily chance to experience the greats. And here I am…”
The full lineup of “Rooftop” comedians — and where they’re from — is: Tony Roberts (Detroit), Ryan Davis (Concord, NC), Darren Fleet (Baltimore), Shuler King (Charlotte), Ian Lara (New York), D’Lai (New Orleans), Amir K (Los Angeles), Tacarra Williams (New York City), Barry Brewer (Chicago), Learnmore (Zimbabwe), Sidney Castillo (Fort Worth), Lance Woods (Bay Area), Ocean Glapion (Los Angeles), Just Nesh (Chicago), Henry Coleman (Memphis), Mario Hodge (Oakland), TBarb (Detroit), Leonard Ouzts (Charlotte), Sweet Baby Kita (Atlanta), Kevin Tate (Detroit), Precious Hall (Dallas), Kelly Kellz (Milwaukee), Michael Turner (Cincinnati), Dominique (DC), Skeet Carter (Philadelphia), Cousin Tierra (Chicago), Blaq Ron (Houston), Darrius Bennet (Austin), Correy Bell (Chicago) and Kalea McNeil (Bay Area).
“ComicView: Rooftop Series” is executive produced by Jeru Tillman for Southfield Village Entertainment and Royale Watkins.
“BET has always been home for comedy that speaks directly to our audience,” said Aisha Summers-Burke, EVP and head of creative at BET Studios. “’ComicView’ was a cornerstone of that legacy and with this rooftop series, we’re reviving that tradition and putting a spotlight on this sharp, deliberate lineup, giving them the platform to claim their moment.”
“The creative mandate for ‘ComicView: Rooftop Series’ was simple: honor the legacy and let these comedians show exactly what they’ve got,” added Angela Aguilera, BET’s SVP of unscripted programming and development. “Chris ‘CP’ Powell sets the tone from a Hollywood rooftop, and the result is stand-up from comedians that earns every laugh.”
