Kevin Hart Shifts to Chairman of Laugh Out Loud, Jeff Clanagan Named New CEO

Thai Randolph, Kevin Hart, Jeff Clanagan )Courtesy of Laugh Out Loud_

Kevin Hart’s comedy brand Laugh Out Loud on Wednesday promoted Jeff Clanagan to CEO, while Hart will shift into chairman of the operation.

Clanagan, Hart’s long-time business partner who previously served as president, will focus on the development, production, distribution and experiential aspects of the brand’s content.

Thai Randolph, in turn, will take over for Clanagan as president and chief operating officer, where her focus will be on strategy and operations, including overseeing corporate development, marketing, ad sales, finance and strategic partnerships.

As company chairman, Hart will continue to have an active role in the company’s overall comedic vision, content and talent development.

Also Read: Kevin Hart to Return to Quibi for 'Die Hart' Sequel

Both Randolph and Clanagan have worked for the company since Hart founded it in 2017, and have helped it involve from an OTT streaming service into a “broader global multi-platform comedy brand with an owned IP portfolio and O&O distribution network,” according to LOL. Together, they will continue to share the company’s business development.

Clanagan has appointed Candice Wilson as head of production and development, and Randolph has hired Manveer Sehmi as the new senior vice president and head of finance and operations. Tina Maher was promoted to vice president of integrated marketing & monetization, and Beej Gefsky was hired as vice president of content acquisition and distribution.

Also Read: NBC News Apologizes to Kevin Hart After His Photo Appears on Usain Bolt Story: 'Very Sorry About That'

Earlier this year, LOL signed a first-look content deal with NBCU/Peacock, which also took a small equity stake in the business. Under the deal, LOL will bring series, catalog and original content to Peacock.

“In just a few short years, we have built a global comedy brand that is giving a platform to emerging and diverse comedic voices. As leaders, Jeff and Thai have been a tremendous force in growing the company with me. Together, they have expanded our distribution network, brought in amazing content partnerships, and led the expansion and growth of our divisions across the company,” Hart said in a statement. “My move to Chairman and Jeff and Thai’s new roles, along with our additional new hires and appointments, allow us to continue building on our promise and will keep us on track to become the biggest comedy company in the world.”

'Hocus Pocus' and 12 Other Old Hits That Made Big Bucks Again in Theaters in 2020 (Photos)

Over the weekend, the re-release of the 1993, campy, Halloween family comedy "Hocus Pocus" was the third highest grossing movie in America from theaters that are actually open. In just two weeks, it has made a cumulative $3 million, despite it also being available for digital rental and on Disney+. In that short time, it became the highest grossing re-release of 2020, and because we're in the midst of a pandemic, it's not surprisingly just shy of the top 50 highest grossing movies of the year. It hasn't made "Tenet" money, and especially not what movies were making before theaters closed down, but it's one of several classic, fan favorite movies that have put up respectable numbers for an audience craving any sort of movies on the big screen or at drive-ins. Here are 15 of the highest grossing re-releases from 2020 (all numbers from Boxofficemojo.com)
"Bohemian Rhapsody" - $240,000

The Queen biopic is not even two years old but audiences are still treating it like an instant classic.
20th Century Studios
"Back to the Future" - $247,000

The Robert Zemeckis classic celebrated its 35th anniversary with a re-release and a digital reunion.
Universal
"Gremlins" - $295,000

The Joe Dante classic brought in a respectable $295,000 from just 59 theaters over two weekends in July.
Warner Bros.
"Black Panther" - $367,000

"Black Panther" briefly opened in theaters about a month prior to Chadwick Boseman's death, and Disney then aired the film commercial free on ABC to a massive audience.
Disney
"Iron Man" - $430,000

While everyone really wanted to see "Black Widow" this year, Marvel fans settled for the film that started it all.
Disney
"Inside Out" - $460,000

Pixar's "Onward" opened briefly in theaters before the pandemic hit, and "Soul" was officially moved to Disney+, so "Inside Out" wound up being the summer option for those looking for a Pixar classic.
Disney
"Beauty and the Beast" (2017) - $467,000

While it was the live-action remake that got re-released in theaters for a weekend this summer, we're sure the animated original would've done just fine too.
Disney
"Ghostbusters" - $605,000

We were supposed to get a new "Ghostbusters" film this year, but since "Afterlife" was pushed to March 2021, the original will have to do.
Columbia Pictures
"Jaws" - $758,300

Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster proved again why it's the perfect summer movie.
Universal
"The Goonies" - $825,000

The 2020 re-release of "The Goonies" just about matched its performance just a year earlier when it wasn't one of the only options in town. The cast was one of many this summer that also reunited over Zoom.
Warner Bros.
"Jurassic Park" - $1.3 million

Steven Spielberg's original "Jurassic Park" continues to find an audience even as Universal is hard at work filming the next film in the "Jurassic World" franchise.
Universal
"Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" - $2.4 million

When "Empire" was first re-released back in July, it was the highest grossing movie of the weekend and brought in $611,000. The re-release has even earned another $613,000 internationally.
Disney
"Hocus Pocus" - $3.0 million

The Bette Midler comedy has now become inescapable for people who don't quite get the '90s nostalgia audiences have for this movie that once flopped at the box office.
Disney

1 of 14

“The Empire Strikes Back,” “Jaws” and “The Goonies” all filled the void left by new blockbusters moving out of 2020

Over the weekend, the re-release of the 1993, campy, Halloween family comedy "Hocus Pocus" was the third highest grossing movie in America from theaters that are actually open. In just two weeks, it has made a cumulative $3 million, despite it also being available for digital rental and on Disney+. In that short time, it became the highest grossing re-release of 2020, and because we're in the midst of a pandemic, it's not surprisingly just shy of the top 50 highest grossing movies of the year. It hasn't made "Tenet" money, and especially not what movies were making before theaters closed down, but it's one of several classic, fan favorite movies that have put up respectable numbers for an audience craving any sort of movies on the big screen or at drive-ins. Here are 15 of the highest grossing re-releases from 2020 (all numbers from Boxofficemojo.com)

View In Gallery