Taking Risks, with Gina Yashere

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Gina Yashere. Gina is currently producing, writing and acting in the sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola” on CBS, which she co-created with Chuck Lorre. Gina harnesses risk to get what she wants in life – she was a successful standup comic in the UK, who had her eyes set on America. Gina took money that was earmarked for taxes in England and used it to finance the life she was striving for in the United States. Luckily for her and all of us who benefit from her comedy, Gina scored a commercial in England, which brought in enough cash to pay the taxman in the nick of time.

Gina was born & raised in London UK, of Nigerian parents. She has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for numerous years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as “Live at The Apollo” and “Mock The Week”, as well as creating & performing the hugely popular comedic characters, Tanya & Mrs. Omokerede on “The Lenny Henry Show.”

She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on “Last Comic Standing” (NBC), where she made it to the final 10, and then never went home!

Gina went on to be named one of the top 10 rising talents in the “Hollywood Reporter.” She is also known in the US for being the only British comedian to ever appear on the iconic “Def Comedy Jam,” as well as for her hilarious appearances on “The Tonight Show” (NBC) and “Crashing” on HBO.

Gina self-produced three separate one-hour Stand Up Specials, “Skinny B*tch,” “Laughing To America,” and “Ticking Boxes,” two of which are currently streaming on Netflix. Her fourth stand-up special is also streaming on Netflix, as part of The Stand Ups, season 2, and is garnering rave reviews on the network.

She is also regularly featured on Comedy Central as the British Correspondent on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.” Gina is also an in-demand voice artist.

Gina has voiced characters in various animations, including Keisha in the British cult hit, “Bromwell High” and “Gravelle” in the latest movie from the makers of “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run,” “Early Man”! She can be currently heard playing a starfish called Gareth, on the Children’s ITV show, “The Rubbish World of Dave Spud” (UK).

Gina has performed for audiences not just in Europe, the US & Australia, but she is in fact, a highly sought-after comedian in Asia, making numerous sold-out appearances in Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

It’s a wonder she found the time to pick up her fourth award in a row for “Best Comedian” at the recent Black Entertainment & Comedy Awards (UK).

Gina has performed numerous times at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Toronto.

Feature films appearances have included “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Mr. Inbetween,” and she has also appeared on the West-End stage in “The Vagina Monologues.”

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