ABOUT THE FILM

PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY chronicles the rise and fall of ALL JOKES ASIDE™, which for a decade, was the preeminent Black Comic showcase in America. This mostly unheralded “star factory” impacted American Pop Culture in a huge way, giving early exposure and early paychecks to major talent like Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, MoNique, Bernie Mac, Carlos Mencia, D.L Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Adele Givens, Melanie Comarcho, Mike Epps, JB Smoove, Ali LeRoi, Aries Spears, George Willborn, Sheryl Underwood, Laura Hayes, Bill Bellamy, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Earthquake and Tommy Davidson, to name just a few. An equally impressive list of celebrities like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, ‘Da Bears’, Tommy Hearns, Barry Sanders, Boyz 2 Men, Maxwell, MC Lyte, Vivica A. Fox, Doug Banks and many other luminaries could be found laughing it up in the audience.

In the late 1980’s, armed with his new MBA, Raymond Lambert was working in the world of high finance and being mentored by Chicago’s legendary Chris Gardner. Yeah, that Chris Gardner, the guy Will Smith portrayed in the Hollywood movie THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS. The only problem… Lambert was unfulfilled. He wanted to create a business of his own.

On August 9th, 1991, with no experience running a comedy club or any other kind of business, Raymond and his partner James Alexander borrowed money from James’ mother and opened All Jokes Aside. For most of a decade, All Jokes Aside one of the premiere comedy clubs in the country.

Sadly, after almost a decade, All Jokes Aside™ officially closed. The artists haven’t forgotten “the best little club no one ever heard of” and sat down in front of our cameras to share their memories and re-live the glory days of All Jokes Aside. PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY salutes the legendary showcase for it’s major contribution to comedy history.

Get more information at www.phunnybusinessmovie.com.