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Comedian and Actress Luenell came back to Harlem this spring for her second sold-out show at the world-renowned Apollo Theater. On May 16th, the bold comedian took the legendary stage with her brand of storytelling and held nothing back, bringing the audience to their feet, cheering at the top of their lungs and rolling in their seats with laughter. And to add a bit of nostalgia to the show, the unforgettable Kiki Shepard, former longtime host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” returned as the co-host of Luenell’s performance.

After more than 30 years in entertainment, Luenell has paved a road of success since starting in her hometown in Oakland, Calif. on the black-owned and operated cable station KSBT-TV — more popularly known as Soul Beat Television Network — in the early 90s. She got her start in showbiz, hosting on Soul Beat TV, run by Chuck Johnson. She credits that experience and the connections she made on Soul Beat TV back in the late 1990s for making her a local star before landing in Los Angeles. In 2023, she returned to Oakland to tape her Netflix special, “Town Business,” with executive producer Dave Chappelle.

 

Luenell’s first breakout role was the 2006 hit mockumentary-styled comedy film “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”. This role introduced her to mainstream audiences around the world. Since then, Luenell has appeared in numerous TV and film credits, including two Eddie Murphy movies. She is part of the all-star cast of “Dolemite Is My Name” and “Coming 2 America,” the sequel.

Currently, Luenell appeared in the Universal/Dreamwork family animated hit movie, “Dog Man” as the voice of Milly, and is part of the cast of HBO’s Emmy Award-Winning show, “Hacks.”

In addition to TV and film roles as well as touring nationwide, she also has a residency at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas. She is one of the first African-American women to have a comedy residency on the Las Vegas Strip.

Unfiltered, no topic was off limits when Luenell took the stage at the Apollo. From the pandemic to dating to plastic surgery, Luenell amused the audience with her riffing and shared a little secret about dating.

 

As the crowd uncontrollably fell over with laughter and the sound of blow horns played, she spoke her mind with no apologies. She talked about her time at home during the pandemic in 2020. She joked about her dating life then, and the “late-night mentorship program” she held from midnight to 4 a.m. for young men between the ages of 29 and 40. “No, I’m not a cougar, I’m a sabretooth tiger, ladies, and gentlemen!” she said.

Luenell’s daughter DaNelle, is a professional dancer who majored in Dance/Fine Arts at San Diego State University. DaNelle served as the choreographer and dancer, of the opening act with her dance group, the Lue-Boos Dancers, inspired by the “Fly Girls” from the hit sketch show, “In Living Color.” The show came to an end with a standing ovation and Luenell twerked with her daughter and dancers, while Mary J.Bidge’s, No More Drama played.

For the show, Luenell looked like a rich auntie, wearing all black and dripping in diamonds! She was wearing a custom black, velvet two-piece set, designed by celebrity fashion designer Angela Dean (@iamangeladean). She’s been working with Luenell for more than 15 years, designing all her outfits, especially for the big moments.

“I became her designer and started working with her on her image because the image is a presentation of who she is,” said Dean. “She’s funny and wild and the colors highlight that. We created a formula that works continuously. When I started working with her, I told her you can keep the nails and blonde hair, but I am going to morph the image and work with colors that flatter her skin tone and design what works for her body and her chest.” she said.

In speaking about Luenell’s custom design she wore on stage at the Apollo performance, said Dean “I was excited to do something in velvet, a luxurious fabric known for its distinctive texture and rich colors. I was inspired by a search on the Internet and came across a silk cut velvet.” said Dean. “My favorite part of working with Luenell is being able to be free to try new things.”

Luenell entered the stage wearing a beaded, silk-cut entry coat with feathers. “When removing an entry coat, it has to be as powerful as what is underneath it,” said Dean. “Because the better you look, the better you feel,” she said.

The next day after the show, Sheen got a chance to chat with Luenell at the plush Empire Hotel in midtown Manhattan. She came down the elevator in rockstar mode with oversized red and green Gucci sunglasses; her signature long, acrylic nails covered with red crystals and stacks of diamond-encrusted and gold bangles on each arm. She took a moment to reflect on the show and how she tamed the wild audience during the show.

In talking about the source material for a show, said Luenell. “I don’t think it’s hard when you keep on top of what’s going on and talk about what’s going on social media, and that changes every day. I wake up and the comedy is just there. Comedians are wired differently than everybody else, and we see things that other people don’t see or pay attention to. Some things can strike us as funny when other people blow it off. Some things in our mind have to be translated out of our mouth in a way the audience can see it and relate to it,” she said.

Luenell explains some things on her bucket list. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and possibly winning an Emmy. Becoming a New York Times bestselling author. Hosting a late-night television show. “I would like to take over for Jimmy Kimmel, my boss because he is going to step down in the next year or two. After all, I can slide right up in there,” she said.

Luenell, explains where her inspiration for her signature nails come from. “The only people who had nails when I was growing up, were Glodean White — Barry White’s wife — Cher and Diana Ross. Those are the only people I saw with nails,” said Luenell, offering a backstory on how her nails became a part of her image. “Back in 1977, my girlfriend and I were graduating from high school, and she said she wanted to be a nail tech; so, I let her practice on me!” she said. “I’ve had nails on and off since then. Of course, with new technology in the nail industry, they’ve changed and evolved over the years. “It’s a great accessory because I love to give the audience something to look at besides my outfit on stage.”

On the topic of beauty and fashion, Luenell has started expanding her brand with her first perfume, called Luenell Iconic by Arzo. This genderless perfume with matching body butter and candles is available on heyluenell.com and byarzo.com.

Plus, she is also expanding into fashion with Dean, launching a line of high-low kaftans last year. In a past appearance on the Sherri Shepard Show, Luenell spoke on the collaboration with the designer, saying “If you can spend money on Amazon, Gucci and Versace, then support Black women and check out my stuff!” she said. Luenell’s kaftans can be purchased on deansign.net.

After more than 30 years working in the entertainment business, many will say Luenell has made it; but, she always remembers her roots and bumps in the road to get to the top. She still maintains a down-to-earth attitude, telling the audience during her Apollo show that “being a comedian is a gift God gave me. My job as a comedian is to make people feel better than when before they came.”

Photo Credit:Lunell