LA-based comedian Quincy Jones’s dream to release an hourlong standup special into the world before he dies of cancer just got the support of HBO. In a press release today, the network announced that it’s officially signed on to air the special, which will tape at the Teragram Ballroom in LA next month and debut on the network sometime this spring. The announcement comes less than a week after Jones appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where DeGeneres appealed to Netflix and HBO to air the special. Here’s an excerpt from HBO’s press release:
Quincy Jones, a young stand-up comic diagnosed with terminal cancer who recently told his story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and expressed his intent to tape a one-hour stand-up show, is set to headline his first HBO comedy special. The exclusive presentation will tape at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on April 4 and debut this spring. Originally from Seattle, the 32-year-old Jones moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy. At the time of his cancer diagnosis in July 2015, he was performing an estimated 1,000 stand-up sets a year in order to develop his skills, and continues to perform today, despite ongoing chemotherapy. To help Jones achieve his dream of starring in a stand-up comedy special that would be his legacy, friend and fellow comedian Nicole Blaine, along with her husband, Mickey Blaine, launched a Kickstarter campaign, which led to his March 15 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and his subsequent HBO deal. Jones found out that HBO would air his special when he returned for a second appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which taped Thursday, March 17 for air today, Monday, March 21.
Check out DeGeneres surprising Jones with the news (and $15,000) on today’s Ellen: