Flip Wilson, television’s first Black superstar, hosted his own variety show that rose to the top of American TV ratings. He united the world to the sound of laughter while snatching a slew of industry awards. But while he enjoyed audience adoration on-stage, Flip struggled with trauma and addiction in his personal life. Yet his enduring work paved the way for more groundbreaking shows, like Sanford and Son, that continued to expand horizons and opportunities for Black comics on the small screen.

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