Will Smith is on a mission to keep people laughing with his new show This Joka. The Roku Original series will premiere on the Roku Channel on March 4, and it promises to be an ode to the Oscar nominee’s deep love and appreciation for stand-up comedy. The 16-episode series will feature a lineup of 16 diverse comedians, ranging from newcomers and up-and-coming stars to established names in comedy. Smith brought the comedians to Vegas to showcase their material, and together, they will explore the nature of comedy and its unique ability to unite people.
This Joka will showcase their stand-up sets and will feature one-on-one conversations between the King Richard star and the comedians, plus docu-style moments shot backstage and around Sin City. The comics featured on the show are Baron Vaughn, Megan Gailey, Punkie Johnson, Sean Patton, Rosebud Baker, Shane Torres, Clayton English, Christi Chiello, Vanessa Gonzalez, Martin Urbano, Sam Tallent, David Gborie, Jackie Fabulous, Chris Estrada, Rell Battle, and Daphnique Springs. This Joka will also feature special appearances by George Wallace, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Shawn Wasabi.
Lance Bangs directed the series and Smith serves as host and executive producer. This Joka is also a co-production of Jada Pinkett Smith and Smith’s Westbrook Media and Topgolf Studios, a unit of Topgolf Entertainment Group. The series was shot on location at Topgolf’s Las Vegas driving-range venue and other Vegas locations. The show was first acquired by Quibi in April 2020 before making its move to Roku. “This Joka not only puts exceptional comedic talent on full display, but it also showcases the power of laughter in bringing people together,” Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Alternative Originals at Roku said in a statement. “Collaborating with Will Smith and the teams at Westbrook Media was a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to share the series with audiences on The Roku Channel.”
“There is no line up quite like this in comedy—all different styles and voices and vibes are represented in this show which honestly is a testament to Will’s rabid fandom for comedy,” Lukas Kaiser, SVP, Head of Content at Westbrook Inc. said. “The comics in This Joka not only deliver big laughs, but they also show viewers how comedy can be a connecting force. We’re thrilled to finally get this special project in front of audiences on The Roku Channel.”
Watch the exclusive trailer for This Joka above. The series will premiere on The Roku Channel on March 4.
By KARLA RODRIGUEZ For Complex
