This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
*Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat has launched “LOL Live,” a vibrant collection of stand-up comedy specials now streaming on Hulu, with the first two specials debuting on June 6. Featuring a lineup of dynamic comedians including Brandi Denise, Chico Bean, Chinedu Unaka, Devon Walker, Justin Silva, Lea’h Sampson, Malik B, Sydnee Washington, and the late Ken Flores, the series kicks off with a standout performance from Daphnique Springs.
Filmed during Hartbeat Weekend in Las Vegas, “LOL Live” continues Hartbeat’s tradition of showcasing rising and established comedic talent, following the success of global initiatives like “Comedy in Color” and the rebooted BET’s Comic View. For Springs, sharing the stage with her peers was a deeply rewarding experience.
“It felt amazing because these are my peers and people who either live on a different coast, but I’ve been able to live on both coasts. So East Coast and West Coast. And to get to a point where we’re all filming together the same week, it just felt good because it feels like all of our hard work is paying off,” she said.
Reflecting on the camaraderie, she added, “… even though stand-up is a singular sport, it felt like you were doing it within a community and with your peers. So, it felt good for you to cheer people on and to be cheered on as well. And nobody’s going to understand the whole process other than a stand-up comedian, especially one experiencing it at the same moment in time that you’re experiencing it.”
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In her “LOL Live” set, Springs delivers a relatable and hilarious take on modern life, diving into personal stories about dating and family dynamics. “I think (viewers) can expect to see relatable stories about dating in today’s world and climate, and also family and how your family perspective changes a lot from when you’re younger and till when you grow up and you become an adult, like your whole perspective changes,” she shared.
Touching on topics like life insurance and generational pressures, she noted, “I’m able to share the whole thing about life insurance… the whole family dynamic pressure of being in a generation where our birth rate is only 32 percent and the family pressures and how many people can relate to that. I think it’s going to be cool for the audience to connect to. And if you don’t relate to my story, I bet you know somebody just like me, so you can laugh all in the same.”
As a multifaceted creative—actress, writer, and comedian, Springs balances her stand-up work with projects like The First Lady of BMF through disciplined time management.
“I would say it’s all time management. And what I would tell anybody is that when you’re a creative and multifaceted creator, you have to divide things up into time and treat it like it’s a job,” she explained. Detailing her process, she said, “So if you got eight hours a day to dedicate, I may spend three hours of night time doing stand up shows, writing on stage, going over notes during the day, spend another 30 minutes listening back to tapes, watching videos, but also put another two hours over here into creating sketches and then an hour on writing my projects. So it’s just like you got to look at yourself as a business.”
Springs, who began her comedy career in October 2010, brings a unique perspective to LOL Live as a stand-up veteran who later embraced online content creation, unlike many influencers who transitioned into comedy from the internet
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“I’m a comedian who started as a stand-up comedian because a lot of influencers transition into stand-up. But I’m a stand-up comedian who started doing online content and sketches,” she said. Recounting her early days, she added, “So all of those skills that I honed in and developed before social media even really became a thing with creating content, which I started heavy in 2017. So I had seven years as a stand up to hustle and bustle, go to comedy shows, drive places, sleep in your car, drive late at night, pull over in a gas station parking lot with your doors locked and waking up every two seconds and make sure ain’t nobody checking for your doors.”
Her “LOL Live” special reflects her evolution as a comedian, building on her previous work. “I did a comedy special prior. So this one, you’re able to see the growth and see the progress and see that, hey, we’re going to keep moving. We’re going to keep progressing and we’re going to keep building,” she said.
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Being selected by Hartbeat for a platform like Hulu is a milestone for Springs. “To have this special go all the way to Hulu is absolutely amazing. To be handpicked by a Heartbeat Productions feels amazing because you feel like out here in L.A., you don’t know if your talents are going unseen. And for somebody to see you, which is what Heartbeat did, and then take you to a platform that is mega is absolutely tremendous.”
Daphnique Springs’ “LOL Live” special is now streaming on Hulu, offering audiences a chance to laugh along with her sharp, relatable humor and celebrate her journey as a comedian.
Watch our full conversation with Daphnique below.
The full “LOL Live” release schedule is packed with standout comedic talent across several months. On Friday, July 11, audiences can catch performances by Chico Bean and Chinedu Unaka. Devon Walker and Sydnee Washington take the stage on Friday, August 15, followed by Brandi Denise and Malik B on Friday, September 5. The season wraps up on Friday, October 3, with episodes starring Justin Silva and Lea’h Sampson.
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