If you’ve ever sat in a comedy club and felt the air change when a certain person walks on stage, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sommore is that person. For over twenty years, she hasn't just been "performing"—she’s been ruling. There’s a reason her peers call her the "Diva of Contemporary Comedy." It isn’t just about the jokes. It’s the fashion, the timing, and that specific way she looks at a crowd like she knows all their secrets.
She grew up as Lori Ann Rambough in Trenton, New Jersey. Honestly, she wasn't even planning on being a comedian. She went to Morris Brown College for Business Administration. That business mindset explains a lot about how she’s handled her career. She’s not just a talent; she’s a brand. She’s a producer. She’s a mogul who happens to be hilarious.
The Big Break: Sommore Movies and TV Shows That Changed Everything
You probably first saw her on BET. In 1994, she became the first female host of ComicView. That was huge. It wasn't just a gig; it was a statement. From there, she hit the stratosphere with the Queens of Comedy tour in 2000.
Think about the scale of that for a second. We’re talking about performing in front of 50,000 people at the Georgia Dome. That earned her and the other Queens (Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, and Laura Hayes) a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. When the filmed version hit Showtime in 2001, it became the highest-rated special in the network's history. It changed the game for Black women in comedy. It proved they could sell out arenas, not just small clubs.
A Career Built on Consistency
Most people know her from Friday After Next (2002). She played Cookie, Uncle Elroy’s girlfriend. It’s a cult classic for a reason. But she didn't stop there. She popped up in Soul Plane (2004) as Cherry and took on a more dramatic vibe in Dirty Laundry (2006).
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She’s been all over the dial. You might remember her guest spots on The Hughleys or The Parkers. She even showed up on Celebrity Fit Club and 1 vs. 100. It’s a wild mix. One minute she’s roasting Flavor Flav on Comedy Central, and the next she’s discussing her success on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She’s versatile.
The Stand-Up Legacy
The thing about Sommore is that she never waits for a handout. She produces her own specials. Her company, One Thousand Kisses, Inc., is how she keeps the lights on and the creative control in her hands.
The Queen Stands Alone (2008) was a massive moment for her. It premiered on Comedy Central and reminded everyone that while she’s great in an ensemble, she can carry a whole night by herself. She followed that up with Chandelier Status in 2013 and The Reign Continues in 2015.
If you haven’t seen her 2023 special, Queen Chandelier, on Netflix, you’re missing out. She talks about everything from fake eyelashes to social media prayers. She’s got this gift for taking something mundane and making it feel like a high-stakes drama.
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Why She Matters Right Now
In an era of TikTok comedians and 15-second sketches, Sommore is a reminder of what craftsmanship looks like. She writes her own material. She analyzes life. She doesn't rely on stereotypes. In fact, she’s famously picky about her roles. She once said she didn’t want to be the "desperate for a man" trope. She wanted to represent educated, independent Black women.
Her filmography is a bit like a time capsule of Black excellence in the early 2000s:
- A Miami Tail (2003) as Stephanie
- Something New (2006) playing herself
- South Side (2021) as Yvonne Turner
- All the Queen's Men (2019) as a host and performer
She’s basically the blueprint. She paved the way for every woman who currently has a Netflix special. She showed that you could be "raunchy" without losing your class. She calls it "sass with class."
How to Experience Sommore Today
If you want to catch up on the best of Sommore movies and TV shows, start with the classics. Rent Friday After Next for the laughs, but then watch The Queens of Comedy to see her in her true element.
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Check her latest work on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. She’s still touring, too. She often headlines big comedy festivals like Just for Laughs or the Royal Comedy Tour.
Don't just watch her for the punchlines. Watch the way she controls a room. There’s a lesson in confidence there for anyone, whether you're a performer or just someone trying to command a meeting at work. Sommore didn't just ask for a seat at the table—she built the table, designed the chairs, and then charged everyone admission to sit down.
The best way to appreciate her impact is to dive into her self-produced specials. They give you the unfiltered version of her wit. Look for A Queen with No Spades or Queen Chandelier to see how her perspective has evolved over the years. She’s still sharp, still stylish, and still very much the Queen.
To really get the full Sommore experience, track down her early ComicView episodes if you can find them. It’s a masterclass in hosting and audience interaction. After that, look into her guest appearances on sitcoms from the late '90s to see how she translates that stage energy into a scripted character. You'll see a professional who knows exactly how much space to take up in every scene.