It’s difficult to stand out in a show like The Upshaws, which stars comedian Mike Epps, sitcom royalty Kim Fields and co-creator/star Wanda Sykes, to name a few. But it’s Page Kennedy, playing reformed convict turned auto mechanic Duck, who’s one of the most reliable punch-line generators on the series. Kennedy, who also writes and produces his own comedy sketches on YouTube with his family, talked with Tudum ahead of the release of Season 2 of The Upshaws and revealed his five — OK, seven — biggest comedy inspirations, from his childhood heroes to contemporary comedians.
“Richard Pryor was the gold standard,” Kennedy says. Pryor, who counted an Emmy, multiple Grammys and the very first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor among his accolades before his death in 2005, was also an inspiration for many of Kennedy’s other favorite comedians. The Upshaws actor connected most with Pryor’s animated voice and facial expressions. “I love his physical comedy. His voice is so funny. He has a joke about a monkey,” the actor says, before bursting into laughter thinking about the now-iconic bit.
Kennedy cited Murphy’s 1987 stand-up special, Raw, before touching on the comedian’s other work. “I saw Raw, and it just blew me away. And then I went back to [1983 debut special] Delirious, obviously,” he says. But it’s Murphy’s film career that really inspired him. “I watched Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours so many times, over and over and over. And then he just continued to be a staple in my life, all the way to The Nutty Professors and Norbit. I just love his movies so much.”
“Right now, my favorite comedian is probably Kevin Hart. He has specials that made me laugh harder than any other special,” Kennedy says. “I identify with his comedy and his stories and talking about his family.” And while Kennedy has of course seen Hart’s movies, it’s the actor’s Netflix series True Story that stands out the most. “That blew me away.”
While Hart is probably Kennedy’s favorite mainstream star, “I also love some comedians that aren’t as big,” he says, naming Damon Wayans Jr., DeRay Davis and Corey Holcomb. (OK, that’s three, but we’ll let it slide.) “[Davis and Holcomb are] both very urban comics. They talk about urban stuff that I find funny.”
“Oh my god, Preacher Lawson is hilarious,” Kennedy raves. “He won America’s Got Talent. That guy is funny, and I really love his energy and his physical comedy. It’s just amazing.”
The Upshaws Season 2, Part 1 is available to stream now.
