Robin Thede

Did you know?!

1. A first

   Robin Thede made history in 2015 when she took the role of head writer on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, becoming the first African-American woman to hold that position for a late-night talk show.

2. First role

   Robin Thede began in a sketch comedy group named Cleos Apartment, alongside writers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin. AOL and HBO picked up that stage show as The Message, which lasted a full year in 2007.

3. Early training

   After earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism and African-American Studies from Northwestern University, Robin Thede went on to study at The Second City theater group in Chicago.

4. Behind the award

   Robin Thede also wrote for and performed with Elite Delta Force 3, an all-female sketch group. That group took the Audience Award at the 2009 Los Angeles Comedy Improv Festival.

5. Behind the camera

   A Black Lady Sketch Show, which Thede created, writes and performs in, first aired on HBO on August 2, 2019.

6. A first

   In October 2017, Robin Thede started hosting The Rundown with Robin Thede, her own late-night talk show on BET. She is among the few African-American women who have hosted a late-night show.