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)

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.

Trashy yet entertaining

Loved it!! This was quite ridiculous, but completely enjoyable. I hope that you Do another one.

HILARIOUS and Un Woke!

I loved this! if you're Black or you're from Los Angeles, this is absolutely for you!

I listen to this while I was cleaning the house over several weeks and it made everything go quickly and was quite fun.

Really wild soap opera plot, really funny improv

Some of the best improvisers in the world enter the insane world of soap operas and tv dramas. Get ready for anything! #ThisWasFun

Hot Mess!

I loved it! There was so much going on and it was a fun listen. Definitely worth the credit.

Thoroughly enjoyable

If you're looking for an entertaining listen to unwind to, where you can just relax and take it all, then I highly recommend this Audible Original.

While the characters and plot are entirely over the top, the high production values meld this into a smooth listening experience allowing the listener to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

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.

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!

So funny!! It was like watching a TV show!!

I hope they make more!!! Ms. Fox and the others did a great job and the commercial breaks....HAHAHHHA This book is just to funny!

Hilarious

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