In 2007 following the release of his book, Black Comedians on Black Comedy, comedian / writer, Darryl Littleton was approached to be part of the advisory board to the Comedy Hall of Fame. Head Curator and Founder, Jeff Pancer, wanted to expand the Hall’s influence and felt Littleton would be a valuable addition. He was selected to be the first African-American board member and wasted no time in recruiting fellow comedian / historians, Robert Townsend and Franklyn Ajaye. Besides diversifying the 26 members board which consists of talents such as Adam MacKay, Gary Sanchez and Jay Roach as well as entertainment attorneys and network CEOs, Littleton has been instrumental in archiving living Black comedy figures for the Hall. Those he’s recorded for prosperity include Reynaldo Rey, D. L. Hughley, Joe Torry, Franklyn Ajaye, Robert Townsend, Katt Williams and Comedy Act Theater Founder, Michael Williams.
The Comedy Hall of Fame’s goal is to elevate comedy to the status if the other recognized art forms: painting, music, dance, acting and sculpting. Based in New York, the Hall has a strong academic outreach program and comedians such as Hannibal Buress hold workshops and seminars in as part of the school curriculum educating students on the appreciation and application of comedy in its various forms. Due to his parallel efforts and his recent production work on the acclaimed Joan Rivers documentary, Exit Laughing, including enlisting the talents of Luenell Campbell, Deon Cole and Cocoa Brown, Littleton was named Associate Curator. The new title involves duties on a number of upcoming projects for the Comedy Hall of Fame, including televised inductions and specials.
Littleton is currently working on a new book on what else – comedy, as well as traveling as a lecturer on comedy.
