SHOWTIME(R) PRESENTS "W. KAMAU BELL: SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO"

First Stand-Up Comedy Special Directed By Oscar(R) Nominee Morgan Spurlock To Premiere Friday, April 29th At 10 PM On SHOWTIME

LOS ANGELES, CA - March 30, 2016 - Critically-acclaimed socio-political comedian W. Kamau Bell stars in his first solo stand-up special W. KAMAU BELL: SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO premiering Friday, April 29th at 10 p.m. on SHOWTIME on-air, online, on demand and over the internet. Directed by Morgan Spurlock (the Oscar-nominated director of Super Size Me and Freakonomics) and filmed before a live audience at the Roulette Theater in Brooklyn, the film features his uniquely insightful and hilarious views on a host of social and political issues such as gentrification, marriage equality, "mixed-race" children and doing Black children's hair just to name a few. In SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO, Bell confirms his stature as one of the leading cultural critics of our time.

"I have been a huge fan of Kamau for years, and when he approached me about directing his first big time comedy special, I jumped at the chance," said Spurlock. "As a lifelong fan of standup comedy and specials, I thought this opportunity was too good to miss."

Bell added, "I'm extremely excited to finally release a one-hour comedy special on SHOWTIME. And the fact that it is directed by one of my favorite filmmakers ever, Morgan Spurlock, is too much to have hoped for. We live in critical times and comedy can help make those times a little bit easier to deal with. I hope that SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO can help people laugh and deal with these times. Also I hope it helps me afford better health insurance. Specifically dental and vision."

Bell can also be seen hosting CNN's upcoming series "United Shades of America," public radio talk show, "Kamau Right Now!" on KALW in San Francisco and the popular podcast "Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period," which was listed as one of Essence Magazine's "Top 10 Podcasts Every Black Woman Should Hear." The New York Times called Kamau "... the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years."

SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO is executive produced by Bell, Spurlock, Michele Armour and Jeremy Chilnick. For more information about W. KAMAU BELL: SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO, visit SHO.com.

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