Actors/comics Cedric the Entertainer and Deon Cole among those being recognized for breaking barriers in Hollywood.
On March 8 at the Sunset Room Hollywood, Lexus and UPTOWN Magazine collaborated once again — this time to proudly honor the contributions of Black comedians to American culture, arts, and entertainment. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of hip hop (2023), as Guy Torry’s iconic documentary “Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy,” explores the intersection of the music genre and Black comedy during a significant time in the 1990s.
“This year’s Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood spotlights the complex history of Black comedians while at the same time telling our stories and making us laugh, even during times of trial,” said Mia Phillips, Senior Manager, Lexus Advertising and Media. “These comedians broke barriers and should be applauded, so we’re delighted to continue the tradition of celebrating those who are impacting the culture.”
Honorees included Guy Torry, creator of “Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy,” Cedric the Entertainer, one of the “Original Kings of Comedy” which won a NAACP Image Award, a Chicago Film Critics Association award, and National Film Critics Award; and star of CBS’s “The Neighborhood.” Also being honored is Deon Cole, who starred in “Black-ish,” earning him nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and now featured in the Netflix special, “Deon Cole: Charleen’s Boy.”
Lexus has been a long-time supporter of UPTOWN Honors Hollywood, with nearly a decade as its title sponsor. UPTOWN developed the annual pre-Oscar, invitation-only, black-tie affair with Lexus to establish a legacy of recognizing Black excellence in entertainment by bringing together the industry’s most prolific Black creators, writers, producers, filmmakers, and actors to pay tribute to the contributions of Black talent in Hollywood. Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood will be hosted by actor, comedian, writer, and producer Chris Spencer and award-winning media personality Tai Beauchamp.