Comedy can change the world.

Comedy points out the absurdity of bigotry. Comedy makes hard truths easier to hear. Comedy serves as a form of catharsis, social critique, and opens the door to talking about taboo experiences; it normalizes groups and individuals too often portrayed as “the other.”

Today, diverse comedy writers and performers want to create hilarious comedy that reveals their lived experiences, addresses injustice, and brings people together to connect about urgent topics like racial justice, gender equity, climate change, and Islamophobia. They want their comedy to make it in Hollywood while collaborating with philanthropists, social movements and social justice organizations to increase its impact. And yet, until recently there was no model to elevate and support them.

The Yes And… Laughter Lab (YALL) is a competitive incubation lab, pitch program and showcase that lifts up the best comedy writers and performers creating new comedy about topics that matter, with a focus on BIPOC, immigrant, Muslim, LGBTQ, and female talent. Designed to be one of the most important places for networks, platforms and distributors to find exciting new comedy content and creators, Laughter Lab connects an expanding pool of non-profit and advocacy organizations with innovative creative partners to ignite social change.

OUR TEAM 

The Yes, And…Laughter Lab is directed by the Center for Media & Social Impact and Moore + Associates, in partnership with the entertainment industry and social justice non-profits. Its sponsors and funders include Comedy Central, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art’s Building Bridges Program, Luminate, MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Pop Culture Collaborative. 

OUR PARTNERS 

Partners from the entertainment industry, philanthropy and social justice non-profits advise on the Laughter Lab and participate in the pitch events, which are underwritten by our sponsors.

The Yes, And…Laughter Lab Model

• THE LAB: CULTIVATING TALENT – Comedians answer a call for comedy about a social justice topic. Top projects are juried by a selection committee of entertainment industry executives, comedians, and social justice leaders. A group of Fellows begin a year-long incubator program.
• THE TRAINING: DEVELOPING TALENT – Fellows are invited to an intensive two-day training program, where they strengthen their projects and are trained in how to pitch to industry and non-traditional partners.
• THE SHOWCASE: PRESENTING TALENT – Fellows are invited to one of pitch showcase events held in New York or Los Angeles. There, they perform and pitch their hilarious work to pitch tables of entertainment leaders and social impact experts, curated for their specific projects.

You can read about our 2019 winners & finalists here, 2020 winners & finalists here, and 2021 winners & finalists here. 

Overview

A competitive incubation lab, pitch training and showcase for diverse
comedy writers and performers.

YALL will select a limited number of applicants with original comedy projects as our 2023 YALL Fellows. Those selected as Fellows will present their original projects in person, either in New York City or Los Angeles (September 2023), to a curated room of traditional and digital media platforms, grantmakers and investors, leading NGOs/nonprofits, production companies, and other select industry leaders. We aim to build support around each comedy project to accelerate its impact and influence.

YALL comedians overwhelmingly come from diverse communities often overlooked or typecast in Hollywood, including immigrants and refugees, women, queer and trans folks, people of color, and religious minorities. The Laughter Lab is an essential part of the comedy and social change landscapes. Over time it will become one of the most important places for major networks, platforms and distributors to find exciting new comedy content and creators, while connecting an expanding pool of non-profit and advocacy organizations with potent creative collaborators.