Issa Rae to Executive Produce Robin Thede's 'Black Lady Sketch Show' for HBO

Thede and Rae are teaming up with HBO to deliver the first sketch comedy show written by, directed by and starring, an array of black women.

HBO's doubling (tripling?) down on Issa Rae. According to a recent story from The Hollywood Reporter, the not-just-TV company has announced a new deal with Rae's production company and comedian Robin Thede, ordering a straight-to-series show from the duo. Created by Thede, A Black Lady Sketch Show is being touted by its team as the first sketch show in TV history written, directed, and starring, an array of black women. Rae and Thede will be joined by Lauren Ashley Smith as head writer and co-executive producer of the show.

The announcement arrives just six months after Thede's BET series, The Rundown, was canceled despite almost unanimous critical praise and a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Rae is currently developing two other series for HBO (Him or Her with Daily Show-alum, Travon Free, and Sweet Life with Scandal producer, Raamla Mohamed) and is currently working on the fourth season of Insecure, even though she threatened to self-cancel if Melania Trump liked her show (she does.)

Watch Issa Rae, Robin Thede, and Lauren Ashley Smith, announce the new HBO series in the video above. Hold tight for premiere details in the weeks and months ahead.