Friends Like Us

Keith Robinson is the quintessential comedian’s comedian, admired by his fellow artists – his great art of inherently subverting his audience, shaking them out of their cozy assumptions to fresh perspectives sustains his comedic prominence. His commanding stage presence has gained him appearances on MTV, VH1, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, TBS’s family comedy series Are We There Yet, The Chelsea Lately Show on E! and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. In his teens, Keith began cultivating his wit with his "back of the bus funny," subsequently working the comedy circuit in his hometown Philadelphia and securing a spot as one of the finalists on Ed McMahon’s Star Search. He did not take home the $100,000 prize, but his career as a comic and actor mushroomed. He now merits a coveted comedic and acting career on the stage, screen, and television. Keith’s impressive record of accomplishments include his self-titled special on Comedy Central, a standout regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, writer and central performer on The Wanda Sykes Show and writer for the Chappelle Show. He was seen in Kevin Hart's record-breaking movie, "Laugh at My Pain.” Most recently he can be seen in Judd Apatow’s movie “The King of Staten Island.” One of New York Comedy Cellar’s elite, where he frequently hosts, Keith Robinson has a reputation, best described by Cringe Humor for "being the best at impromptu zingers and one-liners that annihilate his colleagues." His first hour special, recorded live in New York at The Gramercy Theater: Kevin Hart presents Keith Robinson in Back of the Bus Funny, is now released on iTunes, Hulu, Amazon, and Google Play.

Zainab Johnson, a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer is quickly being propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen. 

Zainab was named one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics To Watch in 2019, she hosted one of the host for Netflix's new show "100 Humans", she can be seen as a series regular on the new upcoming series from Greg Daniels a half hour comedy titled “Upload” an Amazon original series premiering May 1st, and she made her first late night stand up appearance on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers.  Zainab had a breakout appearance on HBO’s All Def Comedy (2017) and has made appearances on NBC’s Last Comic Standing (2014), Arsenio (2014), BET’s Comic View (2014), AXSTV’s Gotham Comedy Live! and just recently starred in a new web series titled Avant-Guardians.  She is a regular at the Improv Comedy Club in LA and the Comedy Cellar in NY.  Zainab has performed in the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival as one of the 2014 New Faces of Comedy and returned numerous times since.  She also had a breakout performance at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2018.

Ralph Harris is one of today’s hottest comedic and acting talents! He made his feature film debut in "Dreamgirls," a film that has struck gold (of the Golden Globe variety). Ralph’s jump to the big screen comes after years of successful television work, including appearances on "Seinfeld," "Parenthood," "Nick Freno," "Living Single" and "In Living Color." No stranger to late night, Ralph has been featured on "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno" and "Late Night with Conan O’Brien." However Ralph is probably best known for his starring role in the ABC-TV sitcom “On Our Own,” which aired during the immensely popular TGIF block on Friday nights, and which currently airs in syndication on TV One. You can also catch Ralph on TV in airings of his two previously recorded Cable TV specials – "Comedy Central Presents" and the "HBO Half-Hour Comedy Special." He also served as the Host of the Culinary Competition, “My Momma Throws Down” on the TVOne network. When he’s not filming, Ralph continues to tour the country and perform to sold-out audiences as a stand-up comedian, his first career and love.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Sara Contreras, a top female comedian, actor, and writer since 1995—and one of Showtime’s 2008 ALMA-nominated (Best Comedy Special) Original Latin Divas of Comedy—continues to be a comedic showstopper at premier comedy clubs and venues across the country. Sara will be touring as part of the Latin Divas of Comedy 10th Anniversary tour in Florida in June and a Texas tour is yet to be announced. She will be sharing the stage with legendary comedian Paul Rodriguez and Last Comic Standing Winner Felipe Esparza in Honolulu. Sara regards her performance as part of the Not That Time of the Month all-female comedy tour in Iraq/Kuwait in March 2011 as the most rewarding experience of her professional life.

She is the Head Writer for Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s Colors of Rhina and has appeared as a commentator and writer for MTV3. Sara received an impressive N.Y. Times review for her work as a writer/monologist in the off-Broadway production Jose Can Speak in 2005. Her first screenplay Searching for Sosie is under consideration as a 6-part television mini-series, and her highly regarded one-woman show Lifelines was part of the NYC ONE Festival in 2012. She was also a creator and writer for Lugar Heights, a Latino animated series featured on Galavision.

Sara was cast for the television web-series All My Children in 2013. Television credits include Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, 4 episodes on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, and Conviction; Comedy Central’s Comic Groove; Metrochannel’s New Joke City; A& E’s American Comedy: What’s So Funny; ABC’s The View and New York Comedy Festival; SiTV’s Funny is Funny; and TNC’s Que Loco. Sara taped with Marlo Thomas for the web-series Auntie Marlo & Kate and Univision’s Spanish-language stand-up comedy special Los Locos y Revueltos. Film credits include Nick the Doorman (2012) with Nick Turturro and Close Your Eyes (2013), which was part of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Sara was a featured radio personality for the WRKS 98.7 Kiss Morning Show and has been a featured comedian for nationally syndicated radio personalities Luis Jimenez and Wendy Williams. Commercial work includes Mastercard and Fleet Bank. She can be seen performing on The Comedy Jump-Off and Only in The Hood DVDs, as well as Original Latin Divas of Comedy on Netflix. Sara was a participant in the Latin Producers Academy of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). Sara has performed at the New York Comedy, Marshalls Women in Comedy, Urban Comedy, and the Toyota Comedy Festivals. She has been critically acclaimed for her work with the N.Y.-based “Sistas Doing Comedy,” D.C.-based “DiverCity,” and the L.A.-based “Hot & Spicy Tamales” comedy troupes.

Mia Jackson is a New York based comedian originally from Georgia. In 2017, Jackson was selected as a New Face by the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and Atlanta's Creative Loafing named her the Critic's Choice Best Stand-Up in the city. She has toured nationally with Amy Schumer and is a featured comic at festivals and clubs across the country. Her first stand up special aired in October 2018 as part of Unprotected Sets on EPIX. Jackson has appeared on NickMom's Night Out, Viceland, Comedy Central's This Week at the Comedy Cellar and was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of NBC's Last Comic Standing. Her Comedy Central half hour special debuted in November 2019. 

Pat Brown has been seen on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fuse’s Uproarious, Axis’s Gotham Live, NBC’s Comic’s Unleashed and BET‘s ComicView, TVOne’s made for TV movie-WHITE WATER, the independent film SOMEBODIES, and the web series UNREQUITED. Pat has won both the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and the She Devil Competition. She has been featured in Time Out Magazine, After-Ellen, Splitsider and Punchline Magazine. Her critically acclaimed album “The Pat Brown Sex-Tape” has been described as “provocative and conceptual” by Laugh and is streaming on all platforms. You can watch her stand up on Two Dope Queens on HBO!

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

TK Dutes and Ashley Ray visit friends and discuss toxic hollywood culture, social media constraint, a Screenwriter's Lawsuit and more with host Marina Franklin.

Keisha "TK" Dutes is a producer with experience spanning terrestrial radio, live streaming audio, and podcast since 2005. Her life in audio is all encompassing. Her most recent episode of NPR Life Kit is about "How to Mind Your Own Business". Currently, she helps people bring their podcasts to life via her company, Philo's Future Media and serves as a board member of Association of Independents in Radio. Fun Fact: She is also an extreme hobbyist and visual artist.

Ashley Ray is the most famous bisexual solo polyamorous black queer comedian, actor, and writer currently based in Los Angeles. In 2021, she was featured in Bust for her “whip smart TV criticism.” And yes, she’s also famous for smoking pot. In 2022, Ashley wrote on Adult Swim’s, ALABAMA JACKSON created by Donald Faison. Ashley was selected as one of HBO Max’s Queer Comics to Watch for 2021 and filmed a digital special for the platform. That same year she did a sold out hour at Union Hall in NY and debuted a new hour at The Yard Theater in Los Angeles. She hosts High Gear Comedy, a monthly live show with Barbara Gray at The Airliner in LA. Ashley is the host of the popular podcast ‘TV I Say with Ashley Ray’ which was featured in the New York Times as a 2021 Podcast Worth Checking Out.” She’s also been a guest on NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me and Seth Rogen’s Storytime. She is also known for her viral Shaun King video and post. Her newsletter about TV, pop culture and life as a solo poly bisexual dream babe was named "One of the Best 2020 Newsletters to Subscribe to That Will Keep You Informed and Entertained" by Marie Claire.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

Vanessa Fraction - Born in St. Louis and raised in Chicago, this mother of two has over a decade of experience captivating fans around the world with her one of a kind storytelling talent. Whether you see her on stage, television or hear her on the radio, Vanessa is on a mission to empower her audience to overcome their struggles while laughing at hers. These can be hilarious tales of being a single mother paying child support or revealing anecdotes on the battle of being a strong, successful black woman.

Her television credits include appearances on Comedy Knock Out and Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks (TruTV), Tales (BET), and a  recurring role on BounceTV’s Mann and Wife. Vanessa’s hilarious and bold stand-up comedy has been showcased on many shows such as HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, 1st Amendment Standup (STARZ) and Mike Epps Live at Club Nokia. As a writer she has worked on The Arsenio Hall Show (CBS), 106 & Park and The Mo’Nique Show (BET). Her film roles include Barber Shop 2: Back in Business and Kim Field’s Holiday Love: The Rebirth. Her quick wit and sharp humor is featured when she guests hosts on entertainment shows like DishNation (FOX) When you "do the math" Vanessa Fraction equals One Very Funny Lady! More info at www.vanessafraction.com 

Erin Jackson is one of the fastest-rising comedians in New York City. She works nightly in the city’s top comedy clubs, and has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, CONAN, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, This Week at the Comedy Cellar, truTV’s Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks, Last Comic Standing, and Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham. Erin's debut comedy album, Grudgery, was released in 2018 and debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes comedy charts.

Pat Brown has been seen on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fuse’s Uproarious, Axis’s Gotham Live, NBC’s Comic’s Unleashed and BET‘s ComicView, TVOne’s made for TV movie-WHITE WATER, the independent film SOMEBODIES, and the web series UNREQUITED. Pat has won both the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and the She Devil Competition. She has been featured in Time Out Magazine, After-Ellen, Splitsider and Punchline Magazine. Her critically acclaimed album “The Pat Brown Sex-Tape” has been described as “provocative and conceptual” by Laugh and is streaming on all platforms. You can watch her on the new season of Two Dope Queens on HBO!

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf

Judith Fiona Joseph M.D., M.B.A (http://judithjosephmd.com/) is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, with additional expertise in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Therapy, in New York City.  Dr. Judith helps people from all stages of development including childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in a collaborative treatment to identify and achieve individual and family goals. Dr. Joseph is a clinical assistant professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center. She is a television consultant, career coach and a sport's therapist. You can see her regularly on the Dr. OZ show! 

Denise M. Williams is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, licensed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and is a member of the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where she completed most of her clinical training with and for women of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Denise has been serving clients in private practice since 2015. Prior to transitioning to a mental health career, Denise worked in logistics, management, and event production for sports and entertainment facilities and large-scale events across the United States.

Drawing on her personal experience, academic study, and clinical research – which all showed strong connections between Black women’s lack of positive self-care practices and negative health outcomes – Denise designed “Me First: The Art of Self-Care”, an interactive program designed to teach women to use self-care practices to improve their wellbeing. Since 2008, she has offered workshops, experiential events, one-on-one coaching, and online activities that help women improve their mental, emotional, and physical health.

Pat Brown has been seen on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fuse’s Uproarious, Axis’s Gotham Live, NBC’s Comic’s Unleashed and BET‘s ComicView, TVOne’s made for TV movie-WHITE WATER, the independent film SOMEBODIES, and the web series UNREQUITED. Pat has won both the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and the She Devil Competition. She has been featured in Time Out Magazine, After-Ellen, Splitsider and Punchline Magazine. Her critically acclaimed album “The Pat Brown Sex-Tape” has been described as “provocative and conceptual” by Laugh and is streaming on all platforms. You can watch her on the new season of Two Dope Queens on HBO!

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf