“A Black Lady Sketch Show” has told its final joke on HBO. The comedy series from creator and star Robin Thede will note return for a fifth season at the premium cable network, TheWrap has confirmed.
Thede and HBO mutually decided to end the series on a creative high with its Season 4 finale, which aired May 19.
“Thank you to all the immensely talented cast members, guest stars, writers, directors, editors and crew members who have made ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ an Emmy-winning success,” Thede said in a statement. “I especially want to recognize the Black women and other women of color who excelled in every department at ‘ABLSS.’
“I am also eternally grateful for the support of Issa Rae and Jax Media, Amy Gravitt, Casey Bloys and the entire team at HBO, Max and Warner Bros. Discovery,” she added.
Thede’s working relationship with the network is far from over, as she is currently developing the half-hour comedy series entitled “Disengagement” for HBO.
“Robin Thede is a visionary comedic talent, and for four exceptional seasons of ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ we’ve been thrilled to partner with her on this groundbreaking, hilarious series,” an HBO spokesperson said in a statement. “Robin, alongside HOORAE, Jax Media, and the incredible cast and crew, leave an indelible legacy not only in sketch, but in television comedy, and we look forward to continued creative collaboration under her deal with us.”
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” served as a showcase for aspiring Black talent both in front and behind the camera. Through its hilarious sketch comedy, the show presented a Black woman’s gaze on current events, the Black church, society and more. Thede created the show and served as star, showrunner, executive producer and writer.
Alongside Thede, Season 4 starred core cast members Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend, joined by featured players DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade and Angel Laketa Moore. Previous cast members included “Abbot Elementary” all star Quinta Brunson, Laci Mosley and “Ted Lasso” writer Ashley Nicole Black.
For its first three seasons, the series garnered 13 Emmy nominations — and won three for directing and editing categories. The show was also honored with the TCA award for outstanding achievement in sketch/variety shows in 2020, as well as five Black Reel Awards, a HCA award and two NAACP Image Award nominations.
“We talk about an all-Black women writers’ room, but what that means is that we get to really celebrate the diversity amongst a group that may seem the same, but it’s not,” Thede told TheWrap about the show’s creative process ahead of Season 4. “We’ve got Black women from all sorts of different walks of life and different experiences that bring so many different types of comedy to the table.”
All episodes of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” are currently streaming on Max.
