The “King of Comedy” 

Washington, DC….  Business mogul, Walter Latham, President, Latham Entertainment, widely regarded as the most successful comedy production company in the world; and who, himself, is credited with launching the careers of several Award-winning actors and comedians, including Tyler Perry, Steve Harvey, Mo’Nique, and the late Bernie Mac, will be launching Walter Latham’s “King of Comedy” Channel on YouTube beginning Spring, 2012.

Latham joins Jay-Z, Shaquille O’Neal, Barry Diller, Pharrell Williams, Ashton Kutcher, Amy Poehler, Deepak Chopra, and other well-known personalities and content producers from TV, film, music, news, and sports, as well as some of the most innovative new media companies in the world, in launching new advertising supported channels for YouTube’s worldwide audience.

 On October 28, 2011, when YouTube announced plans to bring more than one hundred new original channels created specifically for today’s connected viewer’s to its platform and announced its content partners, Latham’s channel was described as being “the premier platform for original, cutting edge, urban comedy programming. “

Latham, one of the youngest, most innovative and creative producers and promoters of our time, has been so enormously successful in his trendsetting and groundbreaking ventures, that he is oftentimes referred to as “The King of Comedy.”  The Wall Street Journal once wrote, “Mr. Latham has been able to succeed in an industry that is rapidly leaving behind individual promoters like him.”

“My partnership with YouTube is definitely going to play a large role in redefining urban entertainment as we know it,” says Latham, “ I’m excited about the new channel and the challenges that will come along with it as we introduce urban comedy to programming.”

Walter Latham is a history maker.

In 1997, Latham launched the “Kings of Comedy” tour, which featured triple headlining acts: Steve Harvey, Cedric “The Entertainer” and the late, Bernie Mac. Latham later added comedian D.L. Hughley to the lineup.    The tour grossed more than $40 million in its two year run and consistently sold out arenas seating 10,000 or more, even selling-out Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.   USA Today described it as being, “the top grossing comedy tour in US history.”

So successful was the “Kings of Comedy” tour, that Mr. Latham decided to capture the experience of the live tour on film.   Directed by Spike Lee and produced by Walter Latham, and MTV Films, the “Original Kings of Comedy” grossed $37 million during its run at the box office and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture.  The accompanying soundtrack, released on Universal Records, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Spoken Album.

In 2000, Latham launched the “Queens of Comedy” tour featuring Miss Laura Hayes, Adele Givens, Sommore and Mo’Nique.  In addition to performing before sold out audiences, the quartet appeared in a “Queens of Comedy” Showtime special in 2001.  In its debut, the special rated higher than any other special on the network that year.  This was the first time in history that a comedy tour featuring women was produced and played to sold-out audience throughout the United States.

Latham and Sean “Diddy” Combs Co-Executive Produced, “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy. “  The popular and highly-rated show, aired on HBO for two seasons: 2005 and 2006.  In 2005, Latham Entertainment and Bad Boy Entertainment released the best-selling “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy” DVD.

Due to his consistent success, Mr. Latham was approached by Greg Meidel, Chairman, MyNetwork TV, to create and produce a modern version of the “Dean Martin Roasts.”  Again, Latham worked his magic, surpassing expectations and in 2008, produced, “Shaken Not Stirred,” five one hour highly rated “toasts” to some of the biggest names in Pop Culture: Pamela Anderson, Bobby Brown, Ice T, Rev. Run and Rev. Al Sharpton.  The shows, which were hosted by Anthony Anderson, D.L. Hughley, Paul Rodriguez and John Salley aired on MyNetworkTV.

In September 2011, Latham signed a seven (7) year “first look” distribution deal with Paramount Home Media.  Paramount will begin to release archival content and “never before seen footage” from the programs Mr. Latham has produced.  Paramount will also have a “first look” on new “made for digital and television releases.”

Latham and his longtime friend and former agent, Hollywood veteran Robert Stein, have partnered to form Walter Latham Digital. “ Robert’s knowledge of the industry and strong relationships have played a substantial role in the company’s success,” says Latham.  They plan to become the premiere “go to” company for digital programming.  Stein is one of the founding partners of United Talent Agency, former Worldwide head of Motion Pictures at the William Morris Agency and at the Paradigm Talent Agency.  Yulonda Smith, Mr. Latham’s longtime assistant, has been appointed COO of Walter Latham Digital.

Mr. Latham is one of four African-Americans to partner with YouTube in its new venture.  The others are:  recording artist and music mogul, Sean “Jay-Z” Carter; singer, songwriter and creative producer, Pharrell Williams; and NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal.

For further information or to schedule an interview with Mr. Latham, please contact Raymone Bain at: (202)  904-2156 or (202) 386-3042.

From an outsider looking in, they would surely believe that he was living “the life.”  However, Latham constantly struggles with the idea of how he paved the way for most of today’s urban comics, yet some refuse to return a phone call.  When asked how he felt about the achievements of the Kings and Queens prior to his project, he answered;

I’m very proud and happy for their current success, however, one of the biggest lessons is to lock up talent when I got into business with them.  I can not afford to make more people famous and not have a part of their future after me.

While some may view this statement as arrogance, they don’t realize privately owned promoter companies are becoming few and far between.  Mega promoters like Live Nation and AEG are beginning to monopolize the industry through purchasing venues and partnering with Ticketmaster, which makes it impossible for smaller companies to even think about competing with the large offers to artist.

While Latham could take the state of the industry as downfall, he remembers he changed the comedy industry forever with the ground breaking “Original Kings of Comedy.”  From humble beginnings where he once had an artist not show up, Latham, took all the mishaps, criticism, and challenged himself to put his company and urban comedy on the forefront.

By 1998, Latham solidified his presence by placing four headlining comedians on one bill (Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, and DL Hughley), which by the completion of the tour sold out  847 venues and grossed more than $11 million dollars in ticket sales.  Many promoters questioned the outcome of Latham’s brainchild.  In fact, Walter describes his negative experience, “Every promoter I asked said it would not work.  They said the same 3000 people who came to see one the comedians are the same that came to see all. Why did I think 18,000 would come?”

After the success of “The Original Kings of Comedy,” Latham went on to create a comedic franchise which included: “The Queens of Comedy,” “Latin Kings of Comedy,” and “The Bad Boys of Comedy.” Although Latham capitalized on his brand, he now focuses on producing television specials and finding untapped talent. Since his string of hits in the early part of the decade, black comedy has taken a turn for the worse.  “I believe the state of urban comedy is in need of revitalization.  There is no black comedy out that means anything, and that’s where opportunity lies.” says Latham.

After numerous years in the entertainment industry, Walter Latham has orchestrated countless high end business deals with celebrities ranging from Pamela Anderson, Chris Tucker, Robin Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg. However, none of these affairs compare to his tumultuous relationship with Hip Hop and fashion entrepreneur Sean P. Diddy Combs.

After making a name for his company and urban comedy, Latham became the hottest commodity in the live stand up comedy and film industry.  Countless studios and businesses execs relished at the idea of him sharing his expertise, including P. Diddy himself.

As a means of breaking into the comedy realm, Combs sought after Latham to partner the hugely successful P. Diddy Presents: The Bad Boys of Comedy, sponsored by Diageo, who later inked a deal for the representation of Combs for their popular alcoholic beverage, Ciroc.

The benefits of the collaboration were plentiful, airing two seasons on HBO and subsequently selling out theaters across the nation, Bad Boys of Comedy achieved the success both Latham and Combs expected.

However, the road to victory was long and plagued with disagreements between the two CEO’s.  Each businessman, both thriving in their own right, possessed an innate gift to lead and a mind to produce creative projects.

By working closely with Combs for almost two years, Latham was able to witness the price many celebrities pay for their careers and ultimately developed a new attitude, “I will produce great television and be the best entrepreneur, but you can keep the fame” states Latham.

More than a decade ago, Latham promoted small scaled comedy shows in Greensboro, NC.  With very few females in the comedy industry, he took a chance and booked Mo’Nique for a mere $500.00, who later went on to be one of the “Queens of Comedy”.

After the highly successful Original Kings of Comedy, many female comedians felt the ladies voice was being ignored; because of this, Sommore approached Latham with the idea of creating The Queens of Comedy. Open to the suggestion, but with a few doubts, Latham believed that there were no female comedians who could carry the show or bring thousands to the theatres.

Distraught with the lack of faith, Sommore suggested herself, Adele Givens, Laura Hayes and Mo’Nique; she was certain they could prove him wrong.  During this time, most of these ladies seemed like the perfect fit because they had years worth of standup and television experience; especially Mo’Nique, who was currently starring in her own UPN series The Parkers.

After being sold on the idea and satisfied with the caliber of talent, Latham launched the official Queens of Comedy tour in 2000.  However, much like his reservations, the tour dates did horribly, audiences were not ready to see an all female cast on stage.

Nonetheless, with egos and investments at stake, Latham decided not give up on the female quartet.  Instead, he took his chances and filmed the tour, which aired on Showtime in the beginning of 2001.  Taking advantage of the mainstream success of The Kings movie and tour, Latham found it only appropriate to tour a second time; which this time around, sold out countless theatres.

After the victory of promoting two all black successful comedic tours, slowly tensions began to rise.  Mo’Nique and Latham were at odds when he decided not to purchase a gift for the Queens, something he’d done for the Kings when he bought them presidential Rolex watches.

As the years passed and the ladies continued to build their careers, Latham constantly attempted to create new projects with them.  For example, he wanted to produce Queens of Comedy: Beyond Bars, but Mo’nique chose to do her own special, I Coulda Been Your Cell Mate. Also, after her newly found fame from Precious, Latham wanted to put the ladies back together and tour; however, Mo’Nique decided to tour alone in early 2010.

While some may deem their relationship as rocky, Walter Latham only wishes the best and is appreciative of the history they’ve made together.  He states, “Overall, it was interesting to see her career develop from nightclub, Queens, to Academy Award winner”.