On this day in comedy on June 1, 1961, Comedian, Actor, Host, Mark G. Curry was born in Oakland, CA
Once Curry had put in time as an up & coming stand-up comedian on the Bay Area circuit in rough clubs and bars like The End Zone and Sweet Jimmie’s, he was ready for the visual mediums where cameras captured if you were really funny or not and kept it on record. His first outing was the Martin Lawrence film debut, Talkin’ Dirty After Dark in 1991. It must’ve impressed the right people because 1992 became Curry’s breakout year.
A year after his first film Mark Curry found himself doing two television shows. He took over as host on the syndicated hit, Showtime at the Apollo. At the same time his ABC sitcom, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper premiered. On that show Curry played a retired NBA baller who is now a substitute teacher when he is not teaching gym. During and following Cooper’s successful 5 season run, Curry appeared in the motion pictures, Panther, the Fanatics, Switchback and Armageddon; also guest starred on Living Single, the Jamie Foxx Show and Martin.
After the turn of the century things kept rolling. Mark Curry had a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show. He played Carey’s boss. On the Holly Robinson-Peete vehicle, For Your Love, he played a doctor and hosted the Comedy Central show, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush. Curry did movies for the Disney Channel and a few seasons later he hosted Animal Tails and then Coming to the Stage.
In 2006 tragedy struck. While doing laundry (the butler must’ve been off that day) Mark Curry was burned over 20% of his body when an aerosol can accidently fell behind a water heater and exploded. During a lengthy recuperative period, excruciating pain and being placed in a medically induced coma for several months, Curry contemplated suicide. It was the intervention of fellow comedians, Sinbad and Bill Cosby that kept Curry’s mind right and put him back on track. He got it together and went back to work.
In November 2008 Mark Curry returned with a stand-up routine on the Comedy Central special, Laffapalooza hosted by Tracy Morgan. The following year, Curry found himself as host of FoxxHole Live on Satellite Radio sirus. He toured with Earthquake, Sommore, Tony Rock and Bruce, Bruce under the title, “The Royal Comedy Tour” followed up with “Sommore’s Standing Ovation Comedy Tour” featuring Tommy Davidson and Bill Bellamy. Curry co-starred opposite Sheryl Lee Ralph in the Bounce sitcom, One Love and had the role of Marcus on the Scott Baio comedy series, See Dad Run for Nick at Nite for 2012-2015.
Mark Curry has appeared in music videos and continues touring as a stand-up comedian.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on May 31, 2002, Undercover Brother was released by Universal Pictures
Eddie Griffin stars as the title character that was created by John Ridley. Undercover Brother has but one purpose – stick it to the Man. Based on the hit Internet sensation, the film centers on the renegade’s recruitment into B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., an organization formed specifically to stick it to the Man. Seems the Man has been trying to make blackness look bad and has a mind-altering drug floating around the hood. It makes black leaders and celebrities in the community go all coon and somebody has to put a stop to it.
Griffin infiltrates the Man’s criminal organization, but soon loses himself as he is under the influence of a deadly white woman (Is there any other kind?) sent by who else? The Man. Before long, Undercover Brother is an out & out Tom. Despite the pigment of his skin – he’s been converted into a white boy. It takes a bold, soul sister to get him back in touch with his blackness and B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. has one of those. Griffin is back to black and the white girl follows him to that side. She’s a traitor to her own (Surprised?). In a climatic plot to get James Brown to coon Griffin disguises himself as Brown and blows the case wide open (as they say in movie review speak) and goes off into the sunset with the sistah.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Undercover Brother was well-received by the critics. It won a Black Reel Award for Best Film Song and one for the film itself by the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards. The movie featured Chris Kattan, Dave Chappelle, Chi McBride, Gary Anthony Williams, Neil Patrick Harris, Aunjanue Ellis, Denise Richards, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Noseworthy and James Brown. Written by Michael McCullers and co-executive produced by Ridley, the music was provided by Stanley Clarke. On a budget of $25 million Undercover Brother earned $41.6 million.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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Starz, a Lionsgate company announced today that Avan Jogia (Shaft, “Tut,” “Ghost Wars”) has been cast in the lead role of Ulysses for “Now Apocalypse,” the recently greenlit, straight-to-series comedy from creator and executive producer Gregg Araki (Kaboom, Mysterious Skin).
Jogia will play “Ulysses,” a recent transplant to Los Angeles, who is struggling to find his place in the world. Something of a thrill seeker, Ulysses admits that he’s always had an attraction to and fear of the unknown and is plagued by recurring nightmares, which he believes are a portent for a vast, sinister conspiracy.
Jogia recently wrapped Shaft for New Line opposite Samuel L. Jackson as well as the independent feature The Artist’s Wife opposite Bruce Dern and Lena Olin. Jogia previously starred opposite Sir Ben Kingsley in the epic retelling of “Tut” for Spike TV. He appeared in the independent feature The New Romantic, which won Best New Film at SXSW and also wrapped shooting the independent film Paper Year. Jogia appeared in two films featured at the LA Film Festival this past year – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which he stars as ‘Puck’, and A Year Of Spectacular Men. Jogia also starred in The Drowning alongside Julia Stiles and Josh Charles, with Bette Gordon directing.
Jogia appeared in two independent films at Sundance Film Festival, I Am Michael co-starring opposite James Franco, and Ten Thousand Saints co-starring alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Ethan Hawke and Asa Butterfield.
Jogia directed his own short film, Of Dogs And Men and will direct Door Mouse, his first full-length feature film next year. Jogia was recently featured as one of the faces for the Kenzo fashion brand and walked in two Dolce and Gabbana shows last year. Jogia recently shot an editorial piece with Annie Leibovitz and Grace Coddington that will appear in Vogue.
“Now Apocalypse” follows Ulysses and his friends Carly, Ford and Severine, who are on various quests pursing love, sex and fame. This surreal coming-of-age comedy series explores identity, sexuality and artistry, while navigating the strange and oftentimes bewildering city of Los Angeles. Between sexual and romantic dating app adventures, Ulysses grows increasingly troubled as foreboding premonitory dreams make him wonder – is some kind of dark and monstrous conspiracy going on, or is he just smoking too much weed?
Executive producing with Araki are Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, “The Knick”) and Gregory Jacobs (Magic Mike XXL, “Red Oaks”). All 10 half-hour episodes are co-written by author and Vogue.com sex columnist, Karley Sciortino, creator and host of “Slutever” on Viceland. Sciortino also serves as a consulting producer.
Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV and SVOD rights to the series. Lionsgate retains all international and domestic distribution and home entertainment rights.
Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna and Manager of Original Programming Kathleen Clifford are the Starz executives in charge of “Now Apocalypse.”
Actress Vivica A. Fox will bring her talents to the Girls Night Out for Laughs, comedy event, speaking from a woman’s perspective on Friday, June 22nd, at The Orleans Hotel & Casino located at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas.
The all-star female cast will have you laughing from start to finish and wanting more from a woman’s perspective. The event is produced by David LLC & MKY Group in a joint effort to showcase a woman’s point of view.
“This is the type of event you’d want to bring your sister, mother, aunt, girlfriend or girl next door who needs a night out for fun and entertainment. It’s an event for women by women”. Explains Vivica A Fox.
On Las Vegas June 22nd, the lineup consists of Cocoa Brown (Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse), Melanie Comarcho (Def Comedy Jam 25, Katt Williams Tour & Martin Lawrence Tour), Dominique (NBC’s Last Comic Standing, OWN’s Herliarious & Black Jesus), and Just Nesh (Star of Kevin Hart’s of the City, Def Comedy Jam) with DJ Lucci (DL Hughley’s Daughter) on the turntables.
Actress Vivica A. Fox will also be heading to Houston on June 23rd, to The Arena Theatre located at 7326 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77074.
On Houston June 23rd, the lineup consists of Cocoa Brown (Tyler Perry’s For Better of Worse), Vanessa Fraction (Barber Shop & Dish Nation), Dominique (NBC’s Last Comic Standing, OWN’s Herliarious & Black Jesus), Just Nesh (Star of Kevin Hart’s of the City & Def Comedy Jam) along with Houston native Jennifer Jermany and DJ Lucci on the turntables.
Special musical guest will be Yo-Yo, a hip hop recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Much of her music has advocated for female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop.
Legendary actress and businesswoman Vivica Fox will also make several additional appearances and meet and greet in support of her new book.
Watch the trailer below;
Comedian Kevin Hart just broke a milestone record by selling one million tickets to his “Irresponsible Tour” in less than six months. Because his international tour sold every single show do date, he added over 100 cities to the mix, which is how he established this insane record. He became the first U.S. comedian to sell such a large number of tickets in such a short period.
On Friday, he announced on his Instagram, “All I can say is WOW. My fans are literally the dopest people on the planet. My goal was to make this tour my biggest and best tour to date and I will be damn if it’s not happening. Making the world laugh is a priority….Let’s gooooooooo people!!!!! I love y’all for this….. #irresponsibletour #comedicrockstarshit.”
Kevin Hart has worked hard for over a decade now, but in the past few years, he’s been killing it. Aside from six comedic tours (“His last tour ‘What Now?’ became the highest grossing comedy tour ever, when it sold more than 600,000 tickets and made $35 million in less than one month,” per reports Hartbeat Productions), he has also starred in multiple films, and even landed music deals.
Ziggy Marley is developing a biopic on his late father Bob Marley, who popularized reggae music.
The Paramount Pictures film is in the early stages of development with no director, writers, or producers attached.
Bob Marley, a native of Jamaica, began performing in 1963 with The Wailers then went solo in 1974. He died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. With songs that contained a strong sense of spirituality, he sold more than 75 million records worldwide. His notable hits included “Stir It Up,” “Get Up, Stand Up,” “Buffalo Soldier,” and “Redemption Song.”
Ziggy Marley was born in 1968 to Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He headed the group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers with his siblings Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, and Stephen Marley when he was 11 years old. Ziggy Marley won best reggae album at the Grammy Awards last year and has earned seven other Grammys, including one for best children’s album for the animated children’s series “3rd & Bird.”
Ziggy Marley has released a total of 15 albums, with his most recent, “Rebellion Rises,” launched last month. He has his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide, and publishing company, Ishti Music. He also created the graphic novel “Marijuanaman.”
Marley is repped by WME. The news about the movie was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
Source: Variety
Willy Wonka, the charismatic confectionary extraordinaire that was first introduced in the Roald Dahl novel Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, has seen many reincarnations on the big screen.
The character was most notably portrayed by Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971, followed by Johnny Depp in 2005.
Now, fans of Roald Dahl’s books and films based on his books might have to get used to a new actor inhabiting the role.
According to Collider, Donald Glover is reportedly on the shortlist to play the titular role in the new Willy Wonka movie commissioned by Warner Bros. The Atlanta writer and actor is reportedly one of the few stars on the shortlist to star in the film.
Other actors on the list include Justice League star Ezra Miller and Ryan Gosling. The film, slated to be helmed by Paddington director Paul King, is rumored to be a prequel of sorts that will explore the chocolate maker’s origin story.
Source: Shadow & Act, Collider