Comedian Punkie Johnson Opens Up About Being the First Out Black Queer Woman on 'Saturday Night Live'

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/getty Punkie Johnson is still reeling after making history as the first out Black queer woman to be cast onSaturday Night Live. Johnson wrapped her first season on the show in May, and while she is not the first Black queer person to star in the show, her predecessor Danitra Vance was not publicly out when she appeared onSNLin the 1980s. “It wasn’t even a dream because I never thought that I would get there.

Comedian Rickey Smiley on 'Responsibility' to Share His Grief Over Son's Accidental Opioid Overdose (Exclusive)

Photo: Lynsey Weatherspoon Comedian and radio personalityRickey Smileyhas found a new purpose since losing his 32-year-old son Brandon to an accidental overdose in January. The host of radio’sThe Rickey Smiley Morning Showis speaking out about his grief and encouraging families to have conversations about addiction. Brandon, an aspiring stand-up comic, died of fentanyl and ethanol toxicity, PEOPLE has learned. The manner of death was ruled as accidental, according to the autopsy report from the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Comedian Robyn Schall Surprises Waitstaff at New York City Bar with $13,000: 'I Just Know They're Hurting'

A New York comedian is doing her part to spread joy amid the coronavirus pandemic. “As a New Yorker when you walk down the street and you see these restaurants starting to ford off, and it just hurts personally,” she toldCNN. “I just know they’re hurting, so I felt it was like who I want to help.” The comedian live-streamed her act of kindness onInstagram, in which she surprised her waitress with $7,000, the bartender with $2,000, and gave $2,000 to each of the two cooks working that night.

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Says Nobody's Off Limits in Correspondents' Dinner Roasts — Including Himself

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty ComedianRoy Wood Jr.says “nobody’s off limits” as he prepares to deliver his White House Correspondents' Dinner roast on Saturday night — and he’s ready for the possibility of PresidentJoe Bidenturning the tables right back on him. “You’ve got to watch yourself around Joe Biden. Joe Biden’s got some jabs. Joe Biden’s got a sense of humor. So, you know, he could come back up there and dunk on me,” Wood tells PEOPLE.

Comedian Sam Jay's Partner Is 'Never Blindsided' by Jokes About Their Relationship: 'We Have Fun'

The couple has developed a comedic shorthand over the years, which is apparent as they tell their love story from their sun-soaked New York City apartment. “We were always friends,” Jay, 39, tells PEOPLE in this week’s Pride Issue of their on-and-off relationship. “And I think over time, just being connected to one another and not being able to break that connection, a person just becomes family to you. So even when we weren’t necessarily dating, I always felt she was a person who was going to always be in my life.