Luke James and Tone Bell are in talks to join Universal‘s upcoming comedy film, Little.
The two, along with This Is Us star Justin Hartley, Rachel Dratch and Mikey Day were announced Friday.
They join the Marsai Martin-toplined film, which also has confirmed Issa Rae, Regina Hall and JD McCrary.
The Universal film “centers on a woman who gets the chance to relive the carefree life as her younger self (Martin) when the pressures of adulthood become too much.”
Martin came up with the script idea and will executive produce. Fresh off the Boat writer Camilla Blackett wrote the most recent version of the script, which had earlier drafts written by Drumline writer Tina Gordon and Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver. Oliver wrote the first draft, and all versions are based on Martin’s idea. Gordon is the director.
Will Packer and James Lopez, producers of Girls Trip, are producing through Will Packer Productions along with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris. Josh Martin executive produces alongside Hall, who also executive produces.
R&B singer James has a breakout acting career in progress, beginning with The New Edition Story miniseries on BET. He is currently a series regular on Fox’s Star and appeared in USA’s Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.
Most known for his work as a comedian, Bell has starred in Netflix’s Disjointed and will co-lead the CBS comedy, Fam next year.
Source: Shadow & Act
On this day in comedy on July 1, 1992, Boomerang was released by Paramount Pictures
This Eddie Murphy vehicle was directed by Reginald Hudlin. Murphy plays a womanizing ad executive who meets his match in the form of new colleague, Robin Givens. She gives him the same sex ‘em and diss ‘em attitude Murphy has been dishing out for years and he doesn’t like it, but he’s sprung. Once respected by all, he is now humiliated at work, embarrassed in front of his boys (Martin Lawrence, David Alan Grier) and a disgrace to himself. The absurd part is he’s loved by Halle Berry, but ops for Robin Givens; until he opens his eyes (literally) and takes his ass home to Halle.
Boomerang co-stars Eartha Kitt, John Witherspoon, Bebe Drake-Massey, Geoffrey Holder, Grace Jones, Chris Rock, Jonathan Hicks, Tisha Campbell and Lela Rochon. It was produced by Brian Grazer and Warrington Hudlin with music by Marcus Miller. The screenplay was written by Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield based on a story by Eddie Murphy. On a budget of $42 million Boomerang grossed $131,052,444 at the worldwide box office.
The film was nominated for the BMI Film & TV Award and the MTV Movie Award.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on July 1, 1992, “Def Comedy Jam” premiered on HBO, 1992
Produced by rap mogul, Russell Simmons, the series had its original run from this date in ‘92 until January 1, 1997. Based on the formula established at the Comedy Act Theater in Los Angeles, California, the show was originally set to have that club’s MC, Robin Harris as host, but after his untimely death Martin Lawrence was tapped for that role. The show went on to defy all odds. Despite its raw, in-your-face barrage of 3 black comedians, it not only became must see TV every Friday night; it also changed the comedy landscape in film and television for years. Relative unknowns before their “Def Comedy Jam” exposure, comedians such as Steve Harvey, Jamie Foxx, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker and others dominated the mediums.
The show was criticized for excessive foul language and negative representations of African Americans by letter writers and celebrities like Bill Cosby; at the time known as “America’s Dad”. However, the public embraced it and it returned on HBO’s fall lineup in 2006. It produced a spinoff called Loco Slam and has been spoofed on In Living Color, Robert Townsend’s Townsend Television and Saturday Night Live.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on June 30, 1956, Comedian, Actor, David Alan Grier was born in Detroit, Michigan
Grier has received acclaim since he graduated from the Yale School of Drama. His maiden voyage role was in the Martin Charnin directed Broadway musical, The First. He played Jackie Robinson and won the Theatre World Award. He later performed the role of James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls and was nominated for a Tony Award. Then Grier took his winning ways to film in 1983 and won the Venice film Festival’s Golden Lion Award for Best Actor in Robert Altman’s, Streamers. He was nominated for an Image Award for Damon and Life with Bonnie and a Satellite Award nomination for the latter. He received his second Tony nomination for his performance in David Mamet’s 2009 Broadway production, Race and his third for Porgy and Bess, where he played Sportin’ Life. Grier was also in A Soldier’s Story on stage (to accolades) and again in the Norman Jewison film.
After working with Keenan Ivory Wayans in his theatrical hit, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Grier was hired as a cast member for Wayans Fox sketch show, In Living Color. There, he displayed his comedic chops. He played a variety of characters imagined (the shop teacher Al MacAfee, the bluesman Calhoun Tubbs, flamboyant film reviewer Antoine Merriweather) and real (Al Sharpton, Ray Charles, Clarence Thomas, Ike Turner, Joe Jackson).
Once In Living Color ended, Grier starred in the Preston Episodes, DAG, My Wife and Kids, Dream On and Damon. He had recurring roles where he played a reverend on Martin, the principal on CBS’s Bad Teacher and he hosted Premium Blend on Comedy Central. His film credits include Boomerang, Blankman. In the Army Now, Jumanji, Tales from the Hood, McHale’s Navy, 3 Strikes, Stuart Little, Bewitched Dance Flick and Tyler Perry’s Peeples.
Grier was so multi-faceted he returned to Broadway in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and in 2009 he published the book, Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth. He appeared regularly on Adam Carolla’s Loveline, but was controversially banned under Dr. Drew Pinsky’s regime. He premiered his comedy special, The Book of David: The Cult Figure’s Manifesto on Comedy Central and was a recurring performer on the station’s Crank Yankers. In 2008 Grier hosted Chocolate News, a hilarious spoof on a TV news magazine show. It was raw and offensive, and it was canceled after one season. In the year 2015 he introduced the character of Joe Carmichael on the NBC sitcom, The Carmichael Show; that was the same year he performed in the Live version of The Wiz playing the Cowardly Lion.
Comedy Central ranked the grossly underrated David Alan Grier # 94 on their list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On This Day In Comedy on June 30, 1974, Comedian/Actor, Anthony “Tony” Rock born in NYC, NY
Upon becoming a professional comedian, Tony was chiefly known as Chris Rock’s younger brother. However, that turned around as Tony made a name for himself in a number of projects. At the turn of the century, Rock hosted the game show Can You Tell? for Oprah Winfrey‘s Oh! Oxygen network and was a correspondent for BattleBots on Comedy Central.
Since then he’s made appearances on The Howard Stern Show and The D’Angelo Show; co-starred as Dirk Black on the UPN/CW sitcom All of Us and the Chris Rock sitcom Everybody Hates Chris in the recurring role of uncle Ryan. Tony has also hosted TV One’s, The Funny Spot.
In 2008 Tony starred in his own sketch comedy show called The Tony Rock Project for MyNetworkTV from 2008 to 2009. He starred in Think Like a Man, and hosted Apollo Live on BET. In 2016 Rock took over where many comedy legends left off and hosted the new 21st Century version of Def Comedy Jam – All Def Comedy.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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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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