06 Aug Tiffany Haddish Joins National Comedy Center’s Advisory Board of Directors
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Jamestown, NY – August 6, 2021 – The National Comedy Center, the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy, announced today that comedian, actress, producer and author Tiffany Haddish has joined its Advisory Board of Directors. Located in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York, the National Comedy Center presents the vital story of comedy in its state-of-the-art museum and preserves its heritage for future generations. The announcement was made as the Comedy Center also honors Lucille Ball’s 110th birthday.
The Emmy and Grammy award-winning Haddish is one of the most sought-after comedic talents worldwide, with acclaimed work in stand-up, film, television, animation, albums, as well as a best-selling memoir. She can currently be seen in the Sony feature film Here Today where she stars opposite Billy Crystal, in TBS’ new weekly movie showcase & talk show Friday Night Vibes, and in Netflix’s Bad Trip.
“We are so pleased to welcome Tiffany Haddish to this esteemed board,” stated National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson. “It’s particularly meaningful for Tiffany to be joining us on this day – as we remember Lucille Ball on what would have been her 110th birthday. Tiffany’s creativity, talent and commitment to the art form embody Ball’s own pioneering achievements and extraordinary work in front of and behind the camera”
“Comedy is a true art form – its artists deserve to be celebrated and its creative work needs to be preserved,” stated Tiffany Haddish, “I’m truly honored to be part of the National Comedy Center. Lucille Ball was an extraordinary influence on my career and my work, so to help bring her vision for this cultural institution to life is a dream come true for me.”
“On behalf of the entire advisory board, it’s a thrill to have Tiffany Haddish join us,” stated comedian, writer and actor Lewis Black, Founding Chair of the National Comedy Center Advisory Board. “With Tiffany’s participation, we become a more vital resource for all who value comedy’s impact on our world. She pushes our art form forward fearlessly – and believes in the Comedy Center and its important work to tell comedy’s story for generations to come.”
Earlier this year, Netflix debuted the second season of the Emmy-nominated stand-up comedy series Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready, conceived, executive produced and hosted by Haddish, which introduces and showcases six of her favorite comedians to comedy fans worldwide.
Haddish joins a roster of artists, creators, directors, producers and writers on the National Comedy Center Advisory Board who help guide the mission of this non-profit institution, which realizes comedy legend Lucille Ball’s vision for a cultural institution that celebrates comedy across all genres and eras of the art form. She fills the board seat of comedy legend and founding Advisory Board member Carl Reiner, who passed away in June of 2020. The Comedy Center’s Department of Archives and Preservation was named in Reiner’s honor and his archives were donated to the Center this past March, with a new exhibit of this material planned for 2022.
The full roster of National Comedy Center Advisory Board members is available here: https://comedycenter.org/advisory-board/
Since opening in 2018, the National Comedy Center has collaborated with dozens of artists and estates to preserve materials that represent comedy’s significant artistic, social, and political contributions to American culture including collections illustrating the careers of legendary artists like George Carlin, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lenny Bruce, The Smothers Brothers and more.
Within the Comedy Center’s museum galleries, more than 50 interactive exhibits and immersive experiences employ cutting-edge technology to present the story of comedy from its origins to the present day – using archival documents, artifacts, and media as their core. Its educational programming on the art form has featured Haddish, George Lopez, Margaret Cho, Norman Lear, Debra Messing, Rain Pryor (daughter of Richard Pryor), Jay Leno, Kenan Thompson, Gabriel Iglesias, Ben Stiller, John Cleese, Jimmy Fallon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and many more.
The National Comedy Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural institution whose mission is funded by philanthropic support. Donations and grants support the museum and its work to present the vital story of comedy and preserve its heritage for future generations. Visit comedycenter.org.