On this day in comedy on June 29, 1988, “Coming to America” was released by Paramount Pictures, 1988.
Reuniting Eddie Murphy and director John Landis, the comedy is about African crown prince, Akeem Joffer, from the fictional nation of Zamunda, who comes to the United States in the hopes of finding a bride. The film co-stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos.
Following a negative press screening in New York, Paramount cancelled all press screenings of the film. Their concern proved to be unfounded as the film was a commercial box-office success, both domestically and worldwide, grossing $288,752,301, making it the highest earning film that year for the studio and the third-highest grossing film at the United States box office.
“Coming To America” was nominated for two Oscars: Best Costume Design by Deborah Nadoolman Landis and Best Makeup by Rick Baker. The soundtrack featured the hits “Coming to America” by The System and “Come into My Life” by Laura Branigan and Joe Esposito which were released as singles. “That’s the Way It Is” by Mel & Kim became a top ten hit in the UK.
It seemed the only downside was the 1990 Buchwald v. Paramount civil suit. Humorist Art Buchwald claimed the film’s idea was stolen from his 1982 script treatment; a treatment Paramount had optioned from him, with John Landis attached as director and Murphy as the lead, but after two years in development, the studio dropped the project in 1985. Then in 1987, Paramount began working on Coming to America based on a story by Murphy. Buchwald won for breach of contract and settled out-of-court.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 28, 1996, The Nutty Professor was released by Universal Pictures
This was considered an Eddie Murphy comeback film. It wasn’t the first or the last. After his first slump; the unholy trilogy of The Distinguished Gentleman, Beverly Hills Cop III and Vampire in Brooklyn, Hollywood was ready to remove Murphy’s name plate from his studio parking space until the 1963 Jerry Lewis remake got made. Hollywood had to be quiet until the next slump from the mega-star.
In this updated version Murphy plays the portly Professor Sherman Klump, a genius with a weight loss formula. It makes him develop a slim, toned, wild and crazy alter ego who gets the unknowing Klump in plenty of real time trouble. Originally based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Klump’s dilemma is that the alter ego, once controllable, takes over. The climax occurs when Klump regains his life and banishes the thin man.
The Nutty Professor co-starred Jada Pinkett, Dave Chappelle, Larry Miller, James Coburn, Jamal Mixon, John Ales and Montell Jordan as himself. Eddie Murphy displayed his versatility by playing his entire family; his father, mother, grandmother and brother as well as a Richard Simmons parody character. The film deservedly won an Oscar for Best Makeup. Tom Shadyac directed, and Jerry Lewis was one of the executive producers.
The critics loved the film and so did the ticket-buying public. On a budget of $54 million, The Nutty Professor earned $273,961,019 at the worldwide box office. Murphy even received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. The comeback was complete, and the string of flops was over; that is until Showtime, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, I-Spy, Daddy Day Care, The Haunted Mansion . . .
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 28, 1932, Comedian, Actor, Noriyuki “Pat” Morita was born in Isleton, CA
Morita has the distinction of starring in the first American network sitcom focusing on an Asian lead character (Mr. T and Tina). The year was 1976 and the network was ABC. The show didn’t last, but that wasn’t on Morita. He’d proven himself back in 1975 with a featured role as Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi on the hit sitcom, Happy Days, starring Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. Prior to that he was Ah Chew, Lamont Sanford’s friend on the NBC blockbuster sitcom, Sanford and Son in 1974. He played that role until 1976.
However, before all that Morita got his start telling jokes for customers at his family’s restaurant after World War II. This was following years wrapped up in body casts and undergoing one spinal operation after another. When he was finally released from the hospital at age 11 he was whisked to an internment camp to join his family. Not much to laugh at, but Morita, now known as Pat, kept it pushing. He worked as a data entry clerk for the state until he went into stand-up in the early ‘60s. They called him The Hip Nip. He played night clubs and was a member of the improv troupe, The Groundlings.
Morita’s work in front of the camera began in 1967 with a part in the Julie Andrews comedy, Thoroughly Modern Millie. From there he appeared in a succession of comedies (The Shakiest Gun in the West, Evil Roy Slade, Every Little Crook and Nanny, Where Does it Hurt? Cancel My Reservation). He also had a recurring role on the Alan Alda television comedy, M*A*S*H. Morita played a South Korean Army Captain.
Once Mr. T and Tina was abruptly canceled in ‘76, Morita performed his Happy Days character of Arnold on the sitcom, Blansky’s Beauty’s in 1977. He revived the character again on Happy Days in 1982. In 1984 Morita gained movie stardom as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi in the Karate Kid. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to star in three sequels as well as Karate Dog in 2004.
Morita stayed busy. In 1987 he starred in Ohara for ABC. Another short-lived show, but Morita hardly noticed. That same year he wrote and starred in the World War II film, Captive Hearts. He starred in the Nickelodeon series, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo and Talk to Taka. He had a recurring role on The Hughley’s and guest starred on Married With Children. Morita did animation voice-overs (Mulan, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Robot Chicken) and music videos (Alien Ant Farm’s “Movies”). Until his passing on November 24, 2005 in Las Vegas of kidney failure, he was busy working on independent films, industrials and feature length motion pictures (many released posthumously).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 27, 1970, Comedian, Actor, Ahmed Ahmed was born in Helwan, Egypt
When it’s said Ahmed was born in Egypt it sounds very exotic. Truth is he was one month old when his parents moved him to Riverside, California. Things didn’t get exotic until he moved himself to Hollywood when he was 19. That’s where he went to kick his stand-up and acting career into gear. He became a regular at the World-Famous Comedy Store; getting much needed exposure and plenty of looks by industry.
Ahmed’s film credits include Virtuosity, Executive Decision, Swingers, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, The Onion Movie and Iron Man. He has guest-starred on Roseanne, JAG, Girlfriends, Tracey Takes On . . . and popped up The View and Punk’d. He was also a regular on Sullivan & Son. His other televised comedy appearances include I Am Ahmed Ahmed, Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Night in the Heartland, Hey Hey It’s Saturday and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. On those he played himself, even though throughout his career Ahmed has played characters named Ahmed three times.
Ahmed Ahmed was seen in the PBS documentary, “STAND UP: Muslim American Comics Come of Age”. He also appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. In 2004 Ahmed attended the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and won the 1st Annual Richard Pryor Award for ethnic comedy. He’s known for the “Axis of Evil Comedy Tour” and the “One Arab, One Jew, One Stage Tour”, where he and Rabbi Bob Alper performed together right after 9/11 until 2004 in the name of unity and interfaith harmony.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 26, 1998, Dr. Dolittle was released by 20th Century Fox
This PG-13 movie marketed as a family film was based so loosely on the Hugh Lofting children’s book series that the only thing used was the name and the skill of the lead character. In this second filmed version (the first starred Rex Harrison in 1967 and bombed miserably), Eddie Murphy plays the title role of a guy who can not only understand when animals talk, he can talk back to them and they understand him. The fact he’s an actual doctor makes this just slightly less weird to the people in his life.
The plot revolves around Murphy, who as a child (Raymond Matthew Mason / Dari Gerard Smith) knew he had the gift to communicate with animals, but his father didn’t care for his son sniffing the backsides of humans as way of saying hello and had an exorcist The plot revolves around Murphy, who as a child (Raymond Matthew Mason / Dari Gerard Smith) knew he had the gift to communicate with animals, but his father didn’t care for his son sniffing the backsides of humans as way of saying hello and had an exorcist The plot revolves around Murphy, who as a child (Raymond Matthew Mason / Dari Gerard Smith) knew he had the gift to communicate with animals, but his father didn’t care for his son sniffing the backsides of humans as way of saying hello and had an exorcist exorcise the gift outta him. That traumatic experience leaves the young Murphy with no memory of being so awesome and he grew up to be bland like most. Then one day a standard issue movie bump on the head causes the adult Murphy to regain his gift and it freaks him out. At first he thinks he’s crazy, but after he befriends a dog, who turns him onto a suicidal tiger, who Murphy tries to save along with any animal that needs saving and he’s caught giving CPR to a rat, his business partner thinks he’s crazy. That suspicion gets Murphy committed to an insane asylum.
While in the padded room Murphy gets in touch with his inner disdain for talking animals and upon his release he wants nothing to do with any of them including the suicidal tiger who still hasn’t offed himself yet. Well, Murphy’s youngest daughter thought it was cool her dad could talk to animals and tells this to her grandfather; the same guy that hired the exorcist. Murphy overhears this and hooks up with the dog, so they can save the tiger. Of course, they do, with the help of all available animals who thwart the attempts of the authorities to stop Murphy. The climax being the tiger just needed an operation to ease some pain, it was a complete success and Murphy is a hero who nobody thinks he’s crazy.
Dr. Dolittle co-stars Ossie Davis, Raven-Symone, Kyla Pratt, Kristen Wilson, Peter Boyle, Oliver Platt, Jeffrey Tambor, Richard Schiff, Paul Giamatti and Pruitt Taylor Vince; with vocal talent provided by Chris Rock, Norm MacDonald, Ellen DeGeneres, Jenna Elfman, Albert Brooks, Gilbert Gottfried, Hamilton Camp, Julie Kavner, John Leguizamo, Jonathan Lipnicki, Brian Doyle-Murray, Paul Reubens and Garry Shandling.
Written by Larry Levin & Nat Mauldin and directed by Betty Thomas, Dr. Dolittle received mixed reviews from the critics, but plenty of love from the public. On a budget of $70.5 million, the film grossed $144,156,605 domestically and $150,300,000 abroad for a worldwide box office take of $294,456,605 and that was enough to justify four sequels: Dr. Dolittle 2, Dr. Dolittle 3, Tail to the Chief and Million Dollar Mutts.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 25, 1947, Comedian, Actor, James Carter “Jimmie” Walker, Jr. was born in The Bronx, New York.
Walker initially got into show business through radio. Thanks to the federal program, SEEK (Search for Education, Evaluation and Knowledge) he was able to get into radio engineering at station WRVR and later became a radio personality on R&B station KAGB 103.9 FM in Inglewood, California. He got started in stand-up in 1969 and following appearances on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and The Jack Paar Show, Walker was plucked up by a casting director to be in the next big Norman Lear sitcom for CBS.
Good Times was an instant hit and earned Walker 2 Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. A spin-off from Maude (which was spin-off from All in the Family) the show was about Florida Evans, a maid married to James Evans, a chronically unemployed father of three: a teen-age daughter, a young militant son and a buffoon. The part of J J didn’t start off that way, but once producer John Rich latched onto the catchphrase “Dy-no-mite”, he mandated Walker utter it at least once an episode; the die was cast. The eldest son of the Evans clan stole the show with his increasingly over-the-top antics and before long the two stars and many in the black public turned against the tone of the character, the show and by association – Walker. There were defections and in its waning days the smash about a struggling black family in the projects turned into the JJ show as Walker and a skeleton cast held things together before they completely fell apart and Good Times was canceled.
However, before those times ceased to exist, Walker got busy. He released a comedy album titled, “Dy-no-mite!” on Buddah Records. He co-starred in the Sidney Poitier directed theatrical comedy, Let’s Do It Again along with Bill Cosby and John Amos (the father on Good Times). Walker also starred in the TV movie The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened with James Earl Jones. His other film credits include Rabbit Test, The Concorde: Airport ’79 and Airplane. He starred in two other sitcoms; the short lived, At Ease (1983) and Bustin’ Loose (1987). Jimmie Walker hawked product on commercials, guest-starred on sitcoms and yukked it up on game shows. He later went back on radio with his right-wing brand of conservative comedy, wrote his autobiography, “Dy-no-mite! Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times – A Memoir” and continues to tour as a stand-up comedian.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 24, 1979, Comedian, Actress, Writer, Producer, Director, Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Raised by Hindu parents from India, Kaling didn’t fit the typical mold. She was a student of Latin from the time she was in the 7th grade, who studied the classics at Dartmouth and got into comedy via an improv troupe around campus. With thirst for the creative and a hunger to move forward, she created a comic strip for the college’s paper while working as an intern on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in playwriting, Kaling moved to Brooklyn and did stand-up. She toured with future Office castmate, Craig Robinson as well as solo, but gave up stand-up because of the time required for the craft. Besides the house MCs were always mispronouncing her last name of ‘Chokalingam’ and making fun if it which is why she changed it to ‘Kaling’ in the first place (the change of Vera to Mindy came from her parent’s desire for her to have a nice, perky American name and since Mork & Mindy was on TV . . .). Anyway, instead of grinding it out in comedy clubs and on the road she took a job working as a production assistant on the psychic show, Crossing Over with John Edward; a gig she hated, but hey – she was in New York. That upside proved advantageous when she had a surprise Off-Broadway hit in the form of a play she co-wrote/co-starred with college friend, Brenda Withers, called Matt & Ben. It was a project they penned to entertain themselves about a fantasized version of the relationship between famous screenwriting buddies Matt Damon (Withers) and Ben Affleck (Kaling) and how they came to write their Academy Award-winning script Good Will Hunting. Time magazine named it one of the “Top Ten Theatrical Events of the Year.”
Fortune kept grinning Kaling’s way soon after when a spec script she’d written landed her the job that opened the doors. Producer, Greg Daniels thought Kaling a fresh, original voice and hired her to help him adapt the British hit comedy, The Office into an American version. At age 24 she attacked the assignment with gusto and by the time the sitcom wrapped, Kaling had written over 20 episodes (as the only female on the staff) making her the most prolific writer from that staff and earning her multiple Emmy nominations. On camera she had established herself as a new pioneering comedy face in the role of office employee, Kelly Kapoor.
All this Office success led to a few well-deserved perks. At the end of season 7, Kaling resigned for season 8 with a stipulation she’d get full Executive Producer credit. She also made her directorial debut and a development deal for a future project which she exercised following the cancelation of The Office. That future project came to be known as The Mindy Project; where she acts, produces and writes. It originally aired on Fox and was picked up by Hulu once Fox cancelled it.
Surprisingly Kaling recites more than her own words. She made her acting film debut in The 40-Year Old Virgin. Other movies have included Unaccompanied Minors, License to Wed, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, No Strings Attached, The Five-Year Engagement and This is the End. On the small screen she guest-starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Muppets (as herself). She did voice work on Wreck -It-Ralph, Despicable Me and Inside Out and figured with so much going on she’d write her memoirs; which she did in 2011 and then a second autobiographical tome in 2015. That’s not all – she wrote a blog under the name Mindy Ephron (imagining herself as a long-lost Ephron sister) because she’s trippy like that.
It’s her level of trippiness that’s propelled Kaling into the circle of reliable and emerging industry darlings. Throughout her career Mindy Kaling has received numerous award nominations; taking home three SAG Awards, two Gracie’s, an Asian Excellence Award, a Critic’s Choice Television Award, A Satellite Award, plus a Reader’s Choice Award. In 2013 Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 23, 1968, Comedian, Actor, Corey Holcomb was born in Chicago, Illinois
Known for his caustic wit and brutal honesty when it comes to contemporary relationships, Holcomb got started in comedy with the assistance and encouragement of established comedian, Godfrey. He gained a grassroots following through appearances on standup based shows: Def Comedy Jam, Comic View, Wild ‘n Out and Last Comic Standing. He performed on Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam and released several comedy specials (Corey Holcomb: The Problem is You, Comedy Central Presents: Corey Holcomb and Corey Holcomb: Your Way Ain’t Working).
Holcomb played the mediums. He guest-starred on sitcoms: Everybody Hates Chris, Half & Half, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and had a regular role on Black Jesus. His film credits include Dance Flick, Like Mike, Baggin’, Who’s Watching the Kids, Think Like a Man Too and The Wedding Ringer. He provides the voice of Robert Tubbs on The Cleveland Show and has his own internet show, The Corey Holcomb 5150 Show.
By Darryl “D’Militant Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 22, 1970, Comedian, Actor, Writer, Freddy Soto (Alfred Soto, Jr.) was born in El Paso, Texas.
Soto broke into comedy at the top: he was a limo driver for the legend, Richard Pryor. Before long he was on his way downhill – he became the doorman at the World-Famous Comedy Store. Next thing you know he changed up again. Soto became a national headliner.
Things moved fast. Soto toured with Pablo Francisco and Carlos Mencia as “The Three Amigos” in 2001 and 2002. He cranked out two comedy specials; one for HBO the other for Comedy Central. Soto appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also had a role in the Adam Sandler film, Spanglish. Everything was going fine and then tragedy struck.
Freddy Soto died on July 10, 2005. He had performed a set at the Laugh Factory, went to a friend’s house, fell asleep and never woke up. Four months later, the coroner’s report stated the cause of death was a combination of alcohol, fentanyl (a morphine-like substance) and Xanax. He was 35 years old.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 22, 1954, Comedian, Actor, Freddie James Prinze, Sr. was born.
Born Frederick Karl Pruetzel in New York City, the Puerto Rican / German was raised in a mixed neighborhood and took those diverse experiences to the stage as a comic. Prinze dropped out of school in his senior year, altered his Germany heritage to Hungarian and introduced himself to audiences as a “Hungarican” in New York comedy clubs like Catch A Rising Star and The Improv. He adopted the stage name of “Prinze” as a compromise to his original wish moniker of being the “King of Comedy”. Since that title was already taken (by Alan King) he settled for being known as the prince.
1973 was the year of Freddie Prinze. He made a memorable appearance on Jack Paar’s Tonite as the show was making its swan song and at the end of that year Prinze made history on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. After his rousing stand-up set he was bestowed with every young comedian’s dream – he was invited to sit down on the couch and chat it up with Johnny. Wow!!! This was on his very first appearance. He knocked it out of the park on The Midnight Special right after that and the industry took notice.
Freddie Prinze was cast by NBC to star in their new sitcom, Chico and the Man. His co-star was veteran entertainer, Jack Albertson. The show was another NBC hit and Prinze was another NBC star; that carried perks. Prinze was hired numerous times for The Dean Martin Roasts (Muhammad Ali, Sammy Davis, Jr.), starred in the TV movie, The Million Dollar Rip-Off and since they liked him NBC signed Prinze to a five-year deal worth $6 million. He also dropped his comedy album, Looking Good, during this time.
The career side of Freddie Prinze’s life was outwardly ideal and it was assumed his personal life was as well. He was rich, had a new bride and a healthy baby son (future actor Freddie Prinze, Jr.). What wasn’t known outwardly was that Prinze suffered from depression and was addicted to drugs. This put a strain on his erstwhile perceived storybook existence and the marriage ended abruptly following an arrest (Prinze was driving under the influence of Quaaludes). So, with his wife and child out of his life Prinze sunk further into a depressed funk and on January 28, 1977 he put a revolver to his head and committed suicide; dying 33 hours after the fatal wound. He left a note behind blaming no one but himself. He also left an unfulfilled promise and a legacy of brief comedy brilliance.
The life and times of Freddie Prinze have been explored in a book (The Freddie Prinze Story) and film (Can You Hear the Laughter? – the Story of Freddie Prinze). In 2004, the Hollywood Walk of Fame recognized his contributions with a star for Prinze on Hollywood Boulevard.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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