The Humor Mill

Kevin Hart To Serve As First-Ever NBA All-Star Game Emcee

The NBA continues to innovate with its All-Star Weekend and announced on Tuesday (Feb. 11) that four-time NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP and comedian Kevin Hart will serve as the first-ever NBA All-Star Game emcee.

There will be a star-studded cast of performers hitting the stage throughout the Bay Area’s All-Star Weekend, with the NBA paying homage to San Francisco and Oakland’s roots.

DJ Cassidy is set to lead a Bay Area edition of Pass the Mic Live! featuring E-40, Too Short, En Vogue, and Saweetie at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday (Feb. 16), while Oakland’s own Raphael Saadiq will get the Chase Center crowd warmed up, helming player introductions. Grammy-winning singer H.E.R. has also been tapped to perform at the 74th NBA All-Star Game.

Gelo will be swerving and bending that corner to the Bay, as he’s set to make his live television performance debut on All-Star Saturday Night (Feb. 15) ahead of the 2025 STARRY 3-Point Contest. Fans are going to get a taste of the “Tweaker” madness, which shook up the rap game and debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Jan. 18.

On the anthem front, LAFD firefighter Dennis Rodriguez will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while Brampton native Alessia Cara will handle the Canadian national anthem.

Bay Area resident Larussell is also slated to perform at the Rising Stars Game on Friday night (Feb. 14). As part of the NBA All-Star Concert Series, The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Flo Rida, and 2 Chainz will be performing across the weekend at Pier 48. Tickets are available on the NBA Events website.

As previously announced, Chance the Rapper will headline the NBA on TNT American Express Road Show Fan Experience with a show on Feb. 13 at Pier 48.

Tune into the 74th NBA All-Star Game on TNT on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Dave Chappelle to Receive NAACP President’s Award

Dave Chappelle will receive the NAACP President’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards ceremony on Feb. 22.

Previous recipients of the prestigious award — presented “in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service” — include Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, and Lauryn Hill.

“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” said NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson in a statement announcing the news. “Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress.”

Over the course of his career, Chappelle has garnered critical acclaim as a comedy pioneer, lauded for his groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Chappelle’s Show” and his abundance of standup specials. Among his numerous nominations and awards are five Emmy awards (for his Netflix comedy specials, 2020’s “Sticks & Stones” and 2017’s “Equanimity & The Bird Revelation,” as well as hosting “Saturday Night Live”); six Grammys for best comedy album (adding a win for “The Dreamer,” his 2023 New Year’s Eve Netflix special, to the tally earlier this month); and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which is presented by the Kennedy Center as America’s highest comedy honor.

However, Chappelle has also proven controversial due to his frequent jokes about the transgender community, including in his 2021 Netflix special “The Closer” and “The Dreamer.”

The Image Awards will air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended by 30 minutes to 2.5 hours, with the ceremony also used to drive support for the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the recent wildfires. BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole (JSSK) and WME partnered with LA County and collaborated with local community organizations, including Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which is aimed at protecting homeowners from displacement and preserving the community’s cultural heritage.

Source: Variety.com

Box Seats-The Philadelphia Eagles Win The Super Bowl!

In this episode, we discuss the Super Bowl game where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a rout! We talk about all aspects of the game, and we even talk about the future of both teams.

In other news, we talk about the NBA news from this past weekend, the upcoming All-Star Game, and more!

This episode features comedians Rodney Perry and Dave Anderson.

Watch the latest episode below!

https://www.youtube.com/live/XgAeiEvurvI?si=AtVBpi7XujGt7SBh

Eddie Murphy Joins Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Bad Bunny And More For ‘SNL50’!

Several frequent hosts, including Five-Timers Club members Tom Hanks (who originated the bit back in 1990), Steve Martin, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Simon, Martin Short, and Woody Harrelson, are among the first announced guests for the three-hour, primetime show, airing Feb. 16 on NBC. Also set to appear are Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro and Sabrina Carpenter.

On Feb. 10, NBC announced a second round of guests — namely, almost two dozen current and former cast members. They range from members of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players — Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman — to current star Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving performer in the show’s history. Also appearing are Fred Armisen, Pete Davidson, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig.

More guests will be announced in the days leading up to the special.

The live special will celebrate a half century of SNL sketches and performances and serve as the cap to a blitz of programming on NBC and Peacock about the show’s milestone. (The actual 50th anniversary of SNL’s first episode, incidentally, is on Oct. 11, 2025). Peacock is streaming a four-part docuseries about SNL and on Feb. 14 will host a live concert special featuring a host of musical acts that have appeared on the show. NBC also aired a documentary about SNL music that’s now streaming on Peacock.

‘Love Hurts’ Is A Harmless Action Comedy

Acclaimed stunt and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio, who has worked on action hits such as the “John Wick” franchise, “300,” and “Violent Night,” makes his directorial debut in the action comedy “Love Hurts” from Universal Pictures. Matthew Murray & Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore pen the film’s script, which is toplined by Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose.

Quan portrays Marvin Gable, a realtor working in the Milwaukee suburbs, where ‘For Sale’ signs bloom. However, Gabe has a dark secret that he wants to leave behind. One seemingly normal day, Marvin receives a crimson envelope from Rose (DeBose), a former partner-in-crime whom he had left for dead and who has an axe to grind.

Marvin is unexpectedly reintroduced to a perilous environment characterized by merciless hitmen, betrayals, and chaotic open houses that can swiftly escalate into violent confrontations. The presence of his estranged brother further complicates his situation; the volatile crime lord Knuckles, portrayed by Daniel Wu, commands a formidable gang and actively seeks to capture Marvin. As the situation’s urgency escalates, Marvin is compelled to confront the decisions that have haunted him and fully reconcile with a past he has yet to address.

After winning an Oscar, I was curious about Ke Huy Quan’s first lead role, especially with his rising popularity. “Love Hurts” turned out to be the perfect project for him. Quan showcases his everyman charm and enjoys the role. Whether engaging in a fight scene, trying to sell a house, or interacting with co-workers, he embodies the kind of character that Jackie Chan would have played in the late nineties or early 2000s. One of the most enjoyable aspects of his character’s journey is that he doesn’t rely on plot armor; he takes hits just as much as he delivers them.

The supporting cast also has fun with action tropes. Ariana DeBose is more than a damsel in distress, while Marshawn Lynch and Mustafa Shakir have scene-stealing moments as hitmen. Furthermore, it’s always good to see Cam Gigandet and Daniel Wu in a genre picture.

Kudos to the director for keeping the runtime short, as a film like this could easily overstay its welcome. Additionally, some cheesy dialogue moments may earn a grimace from some moviegoers. However, the action sequences, particularly in the third act, had me rooting for our lead.

Every so often, a film requires you to shut off your brain, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the ride. “Love Hurts” is one such movie.

Final Grade: B

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By Derrick Dunn

Kym Whitley Lands In ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ As The Golfer’s Friend

The titular golfer played by Adam Sandler in the Netflix sequel Happy Gilmore 2 has a new support system.

Actress Kym Whitley has joined the cast of director Kyle Newacheck‘s comedy feature that is set to premiere later this year on the streamer. Filming wrapped in December on the movie that sees Sandler reprising his role as the long-driving phenom that he originated in Universal’s 1996 film Happy Gilmore.

Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Ben Stiller are among the performers returning from the original film, while new cast additions include Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie, and Travis Kelce. Also reprising his role from the first movie is Dennis Dugan, who directed the original Happy Gilmore and executive produces the sequel.

Returning to produce Happy Gilmore 2 are Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Robert Simonds, and Jack Giarraputo. Sandler and Herlihy wrote the screenplay for the sequel after having penned the original script.

Whitley is known for roles on series including The ParkersThe NeighborhoodTwentiesThe Upshaws, and Act Your Age, along with voice parts on The Boondocks and The Cleveland Show. She is currently in residency at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas until later this month, and she and Sherri Shepherd co-host the podcast Two Funny Mamas, which has been nominated by the NAACP Image Awards.

Sandler and Whitley previously shared the screen together for the 2020 Netflix movie Hubie Halloween, and she also appeared in Netflix’s 2023 Eddie Murphy-led comedy You People.

Whitley is represented by Innovative Artists.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Box Seats-Jimmy Butler FINALLY Gets Traded- To Golden State!

In this episode, we discuss the HUGE trade of Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors! We also talk about all of the other trades that happened and the ripple effect throughout the NBA!

And, since it’s almost time for us to look at the Super Bowl we look at the things that may work for a team that may win the game!

Starring comedians Rodney Perry and Daniel Dugar!

All of that and more! Watch the latest episode above!

Irv Gotti, Murder Inc. Founder Who Worked With Ashanti and Ja Rule, Dies at 54

Irv Gotti, a noted record executive, music producer, and entrepreneur best known as the founder of Murder Inc. Records, has died, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The cause of death is as yet unknown.

Rising to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Gotti played a key role in hip-hop and R&B records of the time, working with artists like Ja Rule, Ashanti, and DMX, each of whom saw massive commercial success. His signature production style blended hip-hop beats with melodic hooks, influencing a wave of rap and R&B crossover hits. Among them: the multi-platinum “Always On Time” by Ja Rule featuring Jennifer Lopez, and Ashanti’s “Foolish.”

Before launching Murder Inc., Gotti worked as an A&R at Def Jam, where he helped bring DMX, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule to the label, which was considered one of the most successful imprints of Universal Music. Under the moniker DJ Irv, he produced the song “Can I Live” from Jay-Z’s 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. Later called The Inc., Vanessa Carlton signed with the label and Gotti co-produced her 2007 album, Heroes and Thieves, with Rick Rubin and Third Eye Blind’s Stephan Jenkins.

Gotti’s career faced setbacks in the mid-2000s due to an FBI investigation into alleged ties with drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. Though ultimately acquitted, the case damaged Murder Inc.’s reputation. In recent years, Gotti had reinvented himself, expanding into television with the creation of BET’s Tales, an anthology series blending hip-hop and storytelling.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Will The Warriors Land Kevin Durant Again Before The Trade Deadline?


In this episode, we discuss the hot rumors that suggest that Kevin Durant will land back in Golden State, plus all of the other hot trades around the NBA!

Since it’s Super Bowl week, we also take a look at the upcoming game between the Philadephia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, and more!

Watch the latest episode of Box Seats featuring comedian Maurice Smith above!

Luka Gets Traded To The Lakers!


In this episode, we discuss the news of the HUGE trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis! Lots to discuss about THAT! Plus there’s an NBA Player under federal investigation, and we discuss the news of the outcome.

We also talk about the news that the NBA Commissioner floated to change the game, and the latest trade rumors, and more!

Watch the video above!