Russell Simmons is Rebooting 'Def Comedy Jam' for The Digital Age

Source: Youtube

The iconic comedy incubator will return to HBO this December

After nearly ten years off air, Russell Simmons has announced the return of Def Comedy Jam. The Def Jam Records co-founder-turned-media-mogul has detailed the retitled All Def Comedy, named after his All Def Digital outlet, revealing Tony Rock (brother to Chris) will be at the helm as the show's host.

Between 1992 and 1997 (and for a brief run in 2006) Def Comedy Jam showcased the premiere funny men and women of a generation during a time widely acknowledged as a renaissance in comedy, tanning the stand-up scene as legends like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy stepped out off stage and into their respective post-peak creative pursuits.

No word on precisely who we can expect in the new line-up, but with current kings like Dave Chappelle, Eddie Griffin and the late Bernie Mac, all venerable alum of the comedic institution, there's a lot to live up to in this new phase. Simmons does, however, tend to deliver. Watch classic Def Comedy Jam performances from Dave Chappelle and Tracy Morgan below and hold tight for more details as they arrive in the weeks and months ahead.