Kevin "KevOnStage" Fredericks' comedy empire is growing.
The unifying theme of KevOnStage's story is his consistency and understanding of the importance of hard work. He learned this from his mother, he told AFROTECH.
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In an interview, she said that in her youth she worked three jobs and was disabled for a long time, but she retained her creative spirit, writing plays, stories, poetry, and novels.
«"I think my mother was probably the greatest example of hard work for me... She was disabled for most of my life, practically blind and hard of hearing, and that never stopped her from creating," he said.
KevOnStage also remained persistent in pursuing his creative interests, which led to him quitting his job at a bank because he shared his lifelong dream of becoming an artist. It all began with a desire to make people laugh, whether with friends and family or at church, when he created sketches using a borrowed camera in the early 2000s.
«"I didn't even do stand-up, I just wanted to make my grandmother laugh... my aunts, uncles, and mom—that was my only goal. So, I think my audience just grew, but the goal always remained the same," he said.
Following this passion, he self-funded his projects, filming and editing videos on his iPhone, and uploading them to YouTube starting November 21, 2011. He now has the support of various major media companies, including BET. His portfolio includes the TV show "Churchy," financed by savings from endorsement deals and commercial shoots, he told AFROTECH.
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Later, in 2024, the series premiered on BET with the help of Fulwell Entertainment CEO Jamal Henderson.
With an expanded partnership with Tubi, beginning with the launch of Tubi for Creators in June 2025, KevOnStage is taking its creativity to the next level.
According to a press release provided by AFROTECH, the initiative has produced over 20,000 episodes from over 300 creators. KevOnStage's T
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Among the company's successful projects, ubi includes the comedy series "Safe Space" and the freestyle show "Bald Brothers".
«When I didn’t have any funds, I just created content using what I had, and I think that’s how I grew my audience, and it was that audience that led me to this partnership with Tubi,» he explained.
Moreover, KevOnStage is the most popular content creator on Tubi. According to CreatorIQ Connect, he generated $10.6 million in free media exposure from 116 posts across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where he has millions of followers.
«"Because Tubi is free and provides instant access… if I post a sketch on my stories and you click this link to watch the full episode on Tubi, you click this link and can watch it. You don't even have to enter your email address. It significantly lowers the barrier to entry, and I think that's why these shows are so successful," he noted.
As expected, KevOnStage and Tubi are expanding their partnership. According to a press release, he signed a multi-year agreement with the streaming service. The agreement guarantees him creative control, ownership, and participation in the project's management.
A second season of the series "Safe Space" is in development and will premiere in June. The 10-episode comedy series "The Airport" will also be released in November. According to him, the crew for both series comprises 40 people.
«"That includes the writers, the crew, and everything like that. Because of this partnership, I'm able to hire all these Black artists and give them their first jobs as writers," he noted.
The third season of "Safe Space" is scheduled for 2027, as is "Grief Sucks," KevOnStage's first stand-up special on the streaming platform. He calls the special "the best comedy I've ever done," and it will be dedicated to the memory of his late brother, Jason. He will also release a Christmas comedy feature film, and a horror comedy in 2028.
The more projects he has, the more opportunities open up not only for himself but also for other creators. He says he was greatly inspired by the concept of "In Living Color," the brainchild of Keenan Ivory Wayans.
«"The Wayans family has helped so many people break into the music scene and become superstars, from Jim Carrey to Jamie Foxx, of course, and Jennifer Lopez. All of them can be traced back to 'In Living Color.' I want to do the same for others, to open doors for them," KevOnStage said.
«"And if they beat me, that would be amazing, but at least we'll be able to do something cool. And I hope people will be grateful, but even if they're not, I'm still grateful for what I get to do and the people I get to work with," he continued.
The article "KevOnStage, a creative who is deeply inspired by 'In Living Color,' sees expanded multi-year deal with Tubi as a way to create more superstars" first appeared on AfroTech.
The article "KevOnStage, a creative who is deeply inspired by 'In Living Color,' sees expanded multi-year deal with Tubi as a way to create more superstars" first appeared on AfroTech.