Black Comedy

Black people aren't funny — that's the message the American Film Institute sent in 2000 with its "100 Laughs" list, which included only three movies with African-American leads. "Blazing Saddles made the cut, but it's a Mel Brooks film," critic Shawn Edwards says. "Then there's one Eddie Murphy movie (Beverly Hills Cop) and one Richard Pryor movie (Silver Streak), both super-mainstream choices." Motivated by the snubs, Edwards chronicled his own selections in the documentary No Joke: The 50 Funniest Black Movie Comedies (Ever). Egregious A.F.I. oversights such as Coming to America and Friday ("the perfect example of ghetto humor") make Edwards' top-10 list, and Kansas City native Eddie Griffin's DysFunktional Family checks in at No. 25. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Queen Latifah, among others, contribute commentary. No Joke premieres tonight at 6 at the Gem Theater (1601 East 18th Street). Nick Cannon (Drumline) is the host. Free tickets are available at the American Jazz Museum (1616 East 18th Street). For more information, call 816-241-1111. Shawn Edwards
Sat., Feb. 23, 6 p.m., 2008