Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
If you’ve been craving a niche comedy streaming option that isn’t Seeso or LouieCK.net, Kevin Hart has you covered. The accomplished comedian, actor, writer, and producer has announced that his new service, Laugh Out Loud (LOL) Network will launch on August 3.
Described as a funny video hub, LOL is a partnership between Hart and Lionsgate. According to The Comics Comic, Decider contributor Sean L. McCarthy, the streaming service will feature original specials from big names such as King Bach, GloZell, Anjelah Johnson, Jo Koy, Emmanuel Hudson, DC Young Fly, Draya Michelle, David So, and Timothy DeLaGhetto. However the service’s biggest draw is that it will be the exclusive online home for all seasons of Def Comedy Jam.
“Funny has no color or gender. With our friends at Lionsgate, we are creating a global network that gives a platform to the next generation of diverse comedians from all over the world, of all ethnicities, to tell their stories,” Hart said in the announcement. “Our culture of comedy is unfiltered and inclusive. Most importantly, we exist to make the world laugh.”
Hart and Lionsgate’s goal is certainly admirable, but it’s hard to make an argument for LOL in this streaming-flooded landscape. After all, Netflix and HBO already have impressive libraries of comedy specials, YouTube exists, and as Seeso has proved, launching a comedy-only streaming service is hard even when you have network support. Another streaming service with another monthly fee is a difficult sell in 2017.
However, LOL sounds as if it will be focusing on non-white, non-male, and non-American comedians, which is a blindspot the mainstream comedy scene still struggles with. That focus could be LOL’s distinguishing factor. Well, that and its cutesy but fun name. In time, the streaming service could grow from being just another niche service to becoming a hub from criminally ignored comedians. There could be a place for LOL in the current streaming landscape, but it’s going to be tough.
Much like Seeso, LOL has also announced a lineup of original programming to accompany its launch, including Kevin Hart: Lyft Legend, a satirical investigative series called Black Geo, a scripted sitcom called Campus Law, Inglorious Pranksters, and Just For Laughs 2016. A free version of LOL will be available on iOS and Android starting on August 3. Users will have the option to upgrade to a $2.99 a month ad-free package. I wish Kevin Hart all the best in his streaming service aspirations, but in this already overcrowded market, I’m certainly not envious of him.
