Actor Gabrielle Dennis joins Cheddar News to talk season three of HBO's Emmy-winning sketch comedy series, 'A Black Lady Sketch Show.'

Between Bells

Actor Gabrielle Dennis Talks Season Three of 'A Black Lady Sketch Show'

between bells, everyone offering the black Lady perspective is the hilariously honest Emmy winning HBO sketch comedy series, a black lady sketch show. Season three of the hit series has made its debut on HBO max just this month and the six episode season features huge names were talking ava Duvernay, Vanessa, Williams and wanda sykes. Just to name a few joining us. Now to discuss the newest season is actor Gabriel Dennis Gabriel, welcome to the show, so we know the show's debut season alone, earned the show, Emmy three Emmy nominations, three of them, Congratulations on that. How are you feeling now that season three is finally out there? You know what? It's a great feeling to make it this far, I think this is the first show I've been on that, I made it to three seasons, so that feels good, it feels good that the audience is enjoying the stories that we're telling and just going on a ride with us to just have a good time and let loose and laugh a little, we all need some laughs. Yes, we certainly do. And Gabrielle this season has had 40 guest stars, can I ask, do you have a favorite so far? Um and something I can't even say yet, because you haven't seen them, there will be a surprise, but being able to um see wanda sykes on our show, she cracks me up because I get to work with her on the shelf, so she always makes me laugh and um able to Renee who was just like so shocking to get someone like her to come in and play with us. Uh kel Mitchell this year was a lot of fun, you know, growing up watching him on do sketch comedy when he was younger than come back full circle and play with us. Just a lot of, a lot of fun. And I would say one of the highlights of all the seasons working with Tyler Bell, got to sing backup with Tyler Bell. Oh my gosh, yes, there's a clip, There's a clip. So, so funny. Tommy Davidson, Tommy Davidson is like comedy gold. So I'm collecting all of the uh the living color casts that I've gotten to work with. So now, you know, Tommy Davidson, kim Williams last season. So uh, David Alan Grier, so we're, we're just having a blast over there. These are huge legends you're mentioning. How do you feel the show has changed from season one now that you guys are in season three? You know what, I feel like people now get a better idea of, of what they signed up for. And um, I think it's such a we're so different in the space of sketch comedy where we're not on a sound stage, we shoot everything like little miniature, many films and short films and each genre that we get to tap into. So I love that people who get to go on the ride with us and know that we're going to cover a little science fiction. We're gonna cover a little drama, we're going to cover. You know, just wacky, we cover it all. So, I think that's what's so great about what this show is in season three people a little more um open to what that is and they're looking forward to a lot of our returning characters. So it's nice that those, those recurring characters have like fan base now, well with the current climate, do you feel you guys can get away with more? Maybe push the boundaries a little bit more when it comes to comedy? Um I feel like for sure, comedy, especially the sketch space um is something that you can just is a lot more broad, you can play with that, but also being written by a full black female writing staff. There's this colorful wheel in this, you know, the space that we haven't explored in all areas before. So being able to tap into this wide range of different socio economic backgrounds, different ages backgrounds, different, you know, um identity and and all of those things that we get to see these different stories being told in this very creative and funny way. And I feel like the climate now, people are more open to our story so that that lends itself to us having the ability to tell them and to feel free and to not feel um like we have the responsibility to hold all of black culture in our hand. But no, we can tell these stories to cover a gamut of uh of the different varieties of writers that we have, that tells the story of different audiences that we have. I'm so glad you mentioned that. How does diversity, not just on screen but behind, you know, the show? How does it impact your show? Oh, it makes a huge difference. I mean it makes a world where we create creatively, like even in like the hair makeup trailer or in the wardrobe department where we can have stories and conversations that instantly they get it. I'm like, okay, so I'm thinking finger waves girl, I understand exactly what you mean. You know, and being able to have those conversations and feel free to like go places that, you know, traditionally we may not have been able to go to because people don't understand or you know, you have to explain it a little longer because it's something that maybe they don't click immediately, but in comedy, like the small minor details down to, you know, hairstyle or a cultural reference or the way you might wear your your hair. You know, it's just, it's it's just a lot of fun and I think it's very important because the story that's being told on camera that the audience sees, it's not just the actor's job. You know, there's so many people that play a hand in us being able to do our work and that comes from the hair department makeup department, you know, the lighting the DP, like all of that it comes in a way that just helps tell the story and I think our our crew Robin Thicke has an amazing job just putting together an amazing amazing talented bunch of folks in front of and behind the camera. So we're lucky like I mentioned earlier your show is one in M. E. Eight Emmy nominations. Congratulations. We know being recognized as great but how do you judge having fun working on the show then as opposed to striving for it to be the best it can be here. Sorry I'm in a hotel and front desk is calling, could you repeat the question? Absolutely. How hard is it with all the Emmy nominations that you got? You guys are obviously having such a fun time making this show. How do you decipher separate not only just making this a funny show where everyone's having fun but also strive to be one of the best in this space. You know what I put all of the responsibility on robert T. V. And the writers and they do such a great job. I mean what I get to do is just come in and just add a little extra of my own to what's already there. But I think the show does a very good job of being responsible of like telling stories that don't punch down. Um that is definitely one of the the crusts of what she you know what Robin is very very known for and and just celebrating telling stories and having fun and just making it fun. I think at the end of the day, that's really what it's about. And I feel like when you're not punching down and you're having fun and you're just being honest and truthful um, and adding these little twists and turns, you have creative license and you you get, you get a pass to kind of get away with a lot of things and I feel like we we're pretty broad, but we're pretty respectful at the same time. So that, that helps. Well, congratulations to all your success. Can't wait to see who else you guys have on on the show. Thanks to a black lady sketch show, actor, Gabrielle Dennis, you can catch season three on HBO and it's available to stream on HBO max right now.