Vaguely, I know.
My kingdom for a punchline!
1 hype-woman Robin Thede calls “specifically cast but universally funny” sketch comedy.
Robin Thede, Skye Townsend, Ashley Nicole Black, and Gabrielle Dennis in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.Tina Thorpe/HBO
I’m really excited because audiences are going to be on the edge of their seats … Because this season in an EW exclusive!
That is like a HUGE piece of information that you’ve got the option to’t appreciate right now!
So it’s all going to make sense by the end of season 3?
Ashley Nicole Black and Robin Thede in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.Tina Thorpe/HBO
Yes, this is notLost.
In my vision for the show, you know, I want to make this show forever.
There’s definitely a little more concrete information that viewers will get this season.
Robin Thede in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.Tina Thorpe/HBO
[Laughs]
They’re going to shock you.
You really have to watch all six episodes to understand what’s been happening for the past three seasons.
Which I think is really cool and something more layered and interesting than any other sketch show on television.
Robin Thede in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.Tina Thorpe/HBO
So it’s possible for you to go back and watch and see some of those connections.
Speaking of “Bad Bitch Support Group” and Angela Bassett, you always havethe best guest stars.
Can you tell me if there’s anyone coming through this season?
Skye Townsend and Gabrielle Dennis in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.HBO
Okay … we’re back to like 50 guest stars in six episodes … huge guest stars.
Did you say 50?
[Robin later clarified that it’s closer to 40, four-zero.]
Skye Townsend, Ashley Nicole Black, Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis in ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’.HBO
There are almost 20 in the first episode alone.
Some of them go by quicker than others.
You gotta keep your eyes peeled.
[Laughs] I know, it’s star studded!
HBO sent some photos from the new season, can you walk me through those?
You’re the first person to see them!
This is a very big deal!
We’ve never done this, we’ve never released photos early.
Nothing comes out before the trailer.
The other thing I can confirm based on the photos is the cast.
Okay, let’s see, I’m seeing aHidden Figuresmoment … looks like you’re in the bunker …
I’m not going to confirm or deny what the pictures are, but sure, make your guesses!
I think speculation is funnier than confirmation in these early stages.
I can confirm that in lifeandin that picture.
I will say, this season is bigger and better than ever.
The COVID restrictions were lifted a little bit.
Like last season we couldn’t have hundreds of background in a sketch or like kids or animals.
Season 2 was great five Emmy nominations, one win,hello!
Like every episode feelsso … epic.
The first sketch alone people are going to be like, “Ooooooh, okay!
That’s what they’re doing.”
Just like stunts and choreography, just bigger.
The central tenet of this show is Black women joy.
I think for us, we just want to do that in even bigger and better ways.
We want to blow people’s minds in terms of what sketch can look like.
I think they’re going to see that in season 3.
Guest stars everywhere, in the most unexpected places, bigger set pieces, over-the-top characters.
We’re so gelled as a cast, the chemistry is off the charts, the writing is unbelievable.
We have a whole crop of new writers.
She directed everything and just killed it.
We want you laughing so hard that you miss jokes.
There are a ton of recurring characters that people are going to be excited to see.
Not only from season 2, but also ones you haven’t seen since season 1.
And of course, everybody’s faves are coming back.
But then there’s a bunch of new faves that I think people are going to really enjoy.
I always talk about this show as being specifically cast but universally funny.
And the twists this season are huge.
Like you’re never going to see where the sketches are going.
And with the celebrities that pop up out of the blue.
We verify that they feel native to the sketch.
It’s not like, “Oh, why is Angela Bassett in ‘Bad Bitch Support Group’?”
No,of courseAngela Bassett is leading the bad bitch support group.
[Laughs] She’s the baddest bitch!
That was the name of the episode: “Angela Bassett Is the Baddest Bitch.”
In that way, we’re just leaning into that even more.
We do this for our audience, to feel seen.
Whether you’re a Black woman or you’re just somebody who really enjoys comedy.
I mean, I believe it.
You’re hyping it up.
Yeah, and you know I wouldn’t bulls—.
Like, I’m not going to say all this and then it’s whack!
I’m really excited.
I wanted to touch back down on “Black woman joy.”
Well, we don’t really make fun of anything.
Our show doesn’t really punch down.
If we did do that, I think it would be harder.
No, it’s not harder for me because comedy is my escape.
It’s just joy.
It’s ajoyto go to work.
I am so happy to see them.
We’ve literally never had a fight.
Never even a weird moment.
It really is lightning in a bottle.
It’s just good people making good content.
But I also know that while we get to come to work and play, the world is hurting.
But, without sounding cheesy, that’s what keeps us motivated.
We know people need the show.
And you know how we know?
We know it’s only six episodes a year but it’s jam-packed.
This season is denser this year.
But you get to share it with your friends.
I got to laugh and not think about the bad stuff in the world."
Because we can’t take that away.
But we can give you a moment to not think about it and that’s our goal.
I’ve been given a gift that I’d be selfish to not use.
It’s the only thing that really keeps me sane and we don’t do political humor.
If I was still in late night, then my answer would be totally different.
It just wouldn’t be timely.
I think that’s our political act above anything else.
Is there a limit … [Laughs] I will make it forever.
IfSNLcan be on the air for 500 years, why can’t we?
It’s already established.
I think that’s the legacy of it … it’s starting to be built.
I think that’s critical.
HBO has been such a great partner in that.
I know that sounds really cheesy, but this really is the thing I dreamt about for 20 years-plus.
I really love making it, it’s so much fun, it’s so silly.
The level of improv this year, oh my god, is insane.
We reformatted the outtakes, also, so that you see them sooner.
And there’s more outtakes this season.
More, more, more.
More wigs, more celebrities, more everything.
More wigs, honey!
More celebrities,yaaaaaas!
Oh, the wigs, honey,the wiiiiigs!
The wigs are why I tune in.
It’s worth watching for that alone.
