Following the recent announcement of UMC – Urban Movie Channel’s new original comedy series, The Rich and the Ruthless, UMC is keeping the laughs coming this summer with more original comedy series as part of its annual “Fall Out Fridays” summer lineup. The first variety series coming to UMC, Lawd Have Mercy, is a Sunday church service version of America’s Funniest Home Videos hosted by Flex Alexander (Single Ladies, Girlfriends) and comedian/writer Buddy Lewis (Real Husbands of Hollywood). Greenlit for a second season, The Comedy Underground Series initially premiered on UMC in 2015. The returning series, which kicks off with new host Red Grant, spotlights some of the world’s funniest comedic talent and rising stars. Lawd Have Mercy will premiere on Friday, August 4, 2017, followed by the return of The Comedy Underground Series on Friday, August 11, 2017. New episodes for both series will be added weekly through Labor Day weekend.
Hosted by Flex Alexander along with co-host Buddy Lewis, Lawd Have Mercy is a video clip show that takes a lighthearted look at faith and religion. Produced by former Major League Baseball player Kenny Lofton and his producing partner Brenton Earley under their production company FilmPool, the new variety series showcases some of the most righteously funny videos on the internet today with the help of the Lawd Have Mercy gospel choir. “UMC is the perfect home for “Lawd Have Mercy,” says Brenton Earley. “When the creator Lee House brought us the idea, we knew we had a home run. With Flex already attached, we knew adding Buddy and the LHM Choir would make it a Grand Slam,” says Kenny Lofton. Craig Hall, Theida Salazar and Chadwick Williams also served as producers on the project.
Returning fan-favorite The Comedy Underground Series breaks the hottest new faces in comedy while re-introducing seasoned veterans in the comedy business. In Season 2, comic Red Grant takes the stage as the show’s host with MC Lyte reprising her role as DJ and ringmaster. Created and produced by Angela White, via her Silver Lining Entertainment banner, along with producer Carol Ann Shine, the second season boasts a powerhouse roster of hilarious talent, including Guy Torry, Brooklyn Jones, Rip Micheals, Tony Roberts, Pretty Ricki, Cocoa Brown, Zooman Miller, and Ocean Glapion. Available at www.umc.tv, UMC is the first premium subscription streaming service that showcases quality African American and urban entertainment across all genres from RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE).
Created by Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), Urban Movie Channel (UMC) is the first subscription streaming service created for African American and urban audiences in North America that features quality urban content and showcases feature films, documentaries, original series, stand-up comedy, and other exclusive content. UMC is available on Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Amazon Prime, and Amazon Fire TV. At www.UMC.tv, UMC offers a free 7-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Keep up with UMC on Facebook at Facebook.com/UrbanMovieChannel and on Twitter/Instagram @WatchUMC.
