Entertainment
Longtime Entertainment Exec Bob Sumner From Def Comedy Jam To The New Comedy Groove Union Time To Laugh
For several years, veteran comedy talent scout and entertainment TV producer Bob Sumner has discovered and brought to the stage several of the world’s top comedians, from Bernie Mac and Dave Chappelle to Cedric the Entertainer and Oscar winner Monique.
While serving as a label executive for Def Jam Records, Sumner created with company co-founder Russell Simmons the now legendary HBO hit series “Def Comedy Jam” in 1990. For the next 20 plus years, Sumner worked behind the scenes recruiting the best then-unrecognized comedians in the world for the cable TV series.
During his last two years working on “Def Comedy Jam,” Sumner partnered with entertainment executive Arthur Spivak and launched Laff Mobb Enterprises, LLC. Sumner also served as Executive Producer on truTV’s comedy series, “Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks,” featuring some of the newest class of comedy icons.
In addition, Sumner launched two platforms spotlighting today’s comedians on a monthly basis – the Apollo Comedy Club (with the Apollo Theater) and the New Jersey-based Jazz & Jokes series – the latter mixing the top musical art form created by Black Americans here in the states with the works of rising comedians from across the country.
Today, Bob Sumner brings his talent scout skills to Our Nation’s Capitol City, Washington D.C. In partnership with D.C. based television producer Russell Webster of Union District Films, Sumner and Webster will unveil their new series, “Union Time To Laugh,” on December 5th, 2023.
Filmed weekly at the D.C. based restaurant, the Union District Oyster Bar, this live comedy show “Union Time To Laugh” will feature some of the most talented, side-splitting, up-and-coming comedians from around the DMV and beyond, with surprising cameos by some of the superstars in comedy.
For interview inquiries, contact [email protected]; 201 224 6570