The Hills of Baldwin

By: Jordan Black, Wayne Brady, Vivica A. Fox, Nyima Funk, Daniele Gaither, Phil LaMarr, Gary Anthony Williams, Cedric Yarbrough

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

[Contains explicit content] Lust. Lies. Lotion. These are...The Hills of Baldwin! 

Featuring an all-star, all African American cast from the hit improv troupe The Black Version, this completely improvised, unscripted, and utterly unwoke soap opera takes place in Baldwin Hills - aka the black Beverly Hills - where wealthy CPAs live next to big-time rappers and NBA superstars. A place where no money scam is too short and no weave is too long. Now, sit back and listen as we take you to the lavish lifestyles and the perfect pettiness of The Hills of Baldwin.

Meet the Bourgeois family, the most wealthy and powerful clan of conniving schemers in all of Baldwin Hills, CA. High above Los Angeles in their palatial mansion, the Bourgeoises bask in luxury and vie for control of the Fine Swine skincare empire. Dark secrets from the past bubble up to the surface, and before long somebody winds up dead. Who is getting stabbed in the back? Who is doing the stabbing? What other secrets will refuse to stay buried?

It’s like Empire, Real Housewives, and The Young and the Restless mixed together, but with even more drama, cattiness, and absurdity...and without a script! The cast of The Black Version (the long-running improv show from the legendary Groundlings Theatre) jumped into the studio without a road map or a safety net to make up an entire soap opera on the fly and off the chain. Pop some champagne and some popcorn, because it’s poppin’ off on...The Hills of Baldwin!

Now featuring a special bonus chapter! Enjoy a live performance of The Hills of Baldwin, performed by a full cast of improvisers. Tune into chapter 11 for the live show from SF Sketchfest!

Featuring the voices of these talented improvisers: 

Jordan Black (Community, Ballers)
Nyima Funk (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Key and Peele)
Daniele Gaither (MADtv, The Thundermans)
Phil LaMarr (MADtv, Futurama, Samurai Jack)
Gary Anthony Williams (Malcolm in the Middle, The Boondocks)
Cedric Yarbrough (ABC’s Speechless, Reno 911!, BoJack Horseman)

With special guest Wayne Brady (Let’s Make a Deal, Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

Narration by Vivica A. Fox (Empire, Set It Off)

PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Produced by Jordan Black, Millie Jefferson, Morgan Jones, and Tyler Dorson
Editing and sound design by Tyler Dorson and Nick Stargu
Recorded by Matt Brousseau
Executive producer Morgan Jones
Special thanks: Will Rogers, Jessica Mozes, Michelle Postelle, Beverly See, Matt Beagle, David Bobrow, Dan Dion, and Molly Bolten
Presented by Audible Originals, Audible Comedy, and The Black Version

©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC

Critic Reviews

“[The Black Version] consistently sells out its Monday night slot at the Groundlings Theatre - L.A.’s most legendary improv venue. It helps that the cast is a comedic A-team.” (Rolling Stone)

"Black and his cast take particular joy in luring audiences into certain racially familiar situations and then, in a flash, flipping them on their head.” (LA Times)

Hilarious

I love this. I haven't laugh this hard in a long time! I hope there will be a sequel.

Hilarious

it was eventful and hilarious and well worth listening to. Definitely an excellent Escape from our current issues.

Excellent!

This was hilarious! I wish this was a lot longer. The cast was great and this was one of the funniest performances I have heard in a very long time. I hope they continue this series and I will definitely listen to this again. I would give this ten stars if I could!

Funny as hell!!!😀😂

Great and funny. Awaiting the next book . I will recommend this book to friends.

HILARIOUS!!! YOU WILL BE LAUGHING IN PUBLIC

PLEASE MAKE A SEQUEL!!!!!!! this is so funny, I was not expecting this. pleasantly surprised

So LA!

The ensemble's characterizations were spot on. It's a parody yet it reminds you of folks you know. The narrator was great at channeling the audience reaction to the plot twists(basically wtf?). I'm looking forward to the "next" season.

Offers a great laugh

At first the story line seemed a bit out there but as you continue to listen, you grow to like the twists and turns it offers as a soap opera. Really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for next season!

This data was too funny!

I really enjoyed it because it was just full of laughs.....jpkes....a bit of naughty too 😉 I hope Audible does a season 2.

Unrefined in all the right ways

This is definitely improvised! Every performer went for it too. I can understand why some won’t like it but because it’s all unscripted, I completely get it. I hope they renew this for another episode and bring everyone back. My favorite characters were Spammo, Krim, and Frimpt. Hahaha! Not even sure that’s how their names are spelled.

Very funny. Keep it up audible!

The Best Book With Drama Ever!!!

Amazing book and around ever chapter is a hilarious comedy scene. This book is my favourite...is there anymore like this in a series???! I listened to it like 3-4 times.

Loved and re-played it a number of times!!

Really funny stuff, hope they make season 2. I need more of the hills lol

Laugh out loud hilarity

This was a great light listen. Truly funny, it didn't take itself seriously at all. The Voice actors were great, I can't imagine how many takes they must have needed for some scenes. I would have to do what I was doing sometimes to just laugh. I hope there's another series!

Hilarious!

This was The funniest thing I've listened to! The fact that it's all improv is unbelievable. I didn't stop laughing, wish there was more! Bravo!

I could not get past the introduction.

I had no chance to get into the story because I hated it from the get go. Sorry. not for me.

Very Funny

Really enjoyed this production, very funny and very rude.
I hope they make another series.

Just listen and try to understand 😂

I really hope it will be renewed for season 2 I don't know what I was expecting but it was funny and I need more

Stupidly funny

I didn't wanna like this....it seemed really corny. But it's hilarious. Made my work day fly by with fits of giggles

Brilliant

Outrageous and uproarious fun. Great improvisation. Had me laughing out loud. Well worth a listen

awful

Could have been so much better it wasn't improvised. A real shame for a black show