The main event of New Year’s Eve festivities in the city came courtesy of a homegrown star. Thousands showed up to see St. Louis’ own King of Comedy Cedric the Entertainer headline the New Year’s Comedy Jam at the Chaifetz Arena. He brought a full roster of acts, each with their own signature brand of funny. The night started with Henry Welch, who was dressed in a dapper plaid suit with a contrasting comedy style. Welch warmed up the crowd with his conversational humor. His improv with the audience warmed them up before Deon Cole took the stage.
Cole’s presence alone and just walking on stage was enough to bring laughter. He joked about the one-sided club culture in St. Louis. “It doesn’t matter how many ladies you bring with you,” Cole said. “If you are a man, you are not getting in.” He also brought the audience in with jokes about the Black experience – how the top of the fridge is extra storage space for bread and produce, and the many other uses for grocery bags like trash bags and shower caps.
Following Cole’s performance, Michael Blackson took the stage in a flamboyant fur coat that matched his personality and comedy style. The coat was dyed in various bright colors. Underneath, he wore a suit jacket encrusted with jewels that glimmered as he crossed the stage. In his set, he addressed last year’s infamous “Club Shay Shay” interview featuring Katt Williams. In his conversation with host Shannon Sharpe, Williams challenged Blackson’s African nationality. “I’m so African I don’t even know my own birthday,” Blackson joked. “Most of us were just born in the backyard.” The response caused an uproar – and Blackson had the audience laughing at everything he said from that point until his set concluded.
Actor, radio personality and standup veteran Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman took the stage with a sleek and refined demeanor, though his jokes were punchy and relatable. He talked about his dismay waking up after Kamala’s failed campaign.
“The election map had so much red, it looked like it had been shot,” Earthquake said. He’d follow up the audience’s laughter with “These ain’t jokes.” His attempt to be serious made each joke even funnier.
King of Comedy DL Hughley kept the political humor going when he took the stage as the final comic ahead of headliner Cedric The Entertainer. His set was more focused on Donald Trump, and how America loves him for things they would usually scold others for. Refusing to leave after being evicted, stealing from the office on your last day of work and having a girlfriend behind your wife’s back were a few examples. He also joked about how Trump wants to keep “rapists and murders” but get rid of Mexicans – who he argues are the hardest working people in the country. He also championed the Muslim population, saying he believed they are the most trusted workers in healthcare. “If your doctor speaks English, then you have terrible insurance,” Hughley said. The audience howled.
Cedric the Entertainer took the stage in a white suit with a hat to match, a smooth signature look from him that we have come to know. His relatable comedy kept the audience laughing the entire set. He joked about how different songs carry different moods and used music and light design to reinforce his point. He said, “You ever listen to Never Scared,” Cedric said, referring to the 2003 club banger by Bonecrusher. “That song will make you want to fight.” The song played under bright red lights as he stomped comedically around and solidified his point. He then said that songs like “Always and Forever,” get you in the mood to love. He sang the intro of this song in a deep baritone under a lone spotlight. The audience erupted with laughter and needed a moment to recover before he could continue. He also joked about his weight loss journey – and how he continues to struggle, because there is always a reason to eat with the emergence of new food-centered holidays. “So, it’s National Donut Day,” Cedric said. “Then it is my civic duty to get a long john.”
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