Atlanta comedienne Sweet Baby Kita vying to win 'Showtime at the Apollo'

SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO: Contestant Sweet Baby Kita in the all-new “Finale” season finale episode of SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO airing Thursday, May 24 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: FOX. © 2018 FOX Broadcasting.

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO: Contestant Sweet Baby Kita in the all-new “Finale” season finale episode of SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO airing Thursday, May 24 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: FOX. © 2018 FOX Broadcasting.

Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Sweet Baby Kita has been plugging away in the comedy club circuit for a decade awaiting her big break.

That could very well be coming. The Atlanta resident is in the finals to win this season's "Showtime at the Apollo" on Fox tomorrow (Thursday, March 24 at 9 p.m.) hosted by Steve Harvey.

Kita, who will be appearing at Uptown Comedy Corner at the end of the month, won her round that aired in mid-March, cleanly avoiding the dreaded Sandman. She now has a shot at doing a full show at the Apollo. (Of course, she knows the results. This was taped in November.)

She has lived in Atlanta for more than a quarter century, name-checking Freaknik. She said she was in medical billing and customers and colleagues kept saying how funny she was. So she decided to try stand up and is working hard to become the next Tiffany Haddish.

Her first big TV appearance was Kevin Hart's "Hart of the City" on Comedy Central in 2016. That helped her get this gig. Harvey liked her so much, he invited her on his syndicated show in March as well.

She loved being at the Apollo. "They have a wall that so many famous people have signed," she said. "But you can't sign it unless you win." She said she touched names she loved but when she took a picture and had a pen, a security guard ran out and stopped her (even though she was just goofing.).

During the taping, she was most amused by another performer who got booed off the stage complaining afterwards backstage saying it was rigged. She apparently made a horrible cartwheel, too, Kita said. "They really booed. Sandman almost picked her up!" she said.