The Humor Mill

On This Day In Comedy… In 1997 ‘B*A*P*S’ Was Released By New Line Cinema

 

On this day in comedy on March 28, 1997, B*A*P*S was released by New Line Cinema

Directed by Robert Townsend and written by Troy Beyer, B.A.P.S stars Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle-Reid as Decatur, Georgia waitresses trying to come up.   They want to open the first combination beauty shop / soul food joint and go to make a music video in Los Angeles, California to raise the money.    Since we are talking about Halle Berry (no matter how ghetto they tried to make her look); they instead wind up in Beverly Hills at a sick old millionaire’s mansion helping his butler (Ian Richardson) take care of him and living the life of Black American Princesses (thus the title).

However, the girls are ghetto.   They’re not skanks. So, once they see how other gold-diggers are trying to financially abuse the old rich guy (Martin Landau), they decide to pump the brakes themselves and look after him on the real.  Of course, when he finally dies he leaves them half his money. So, they were ghetto, but not ‘ignant’.

B.A.P. S. features comedians Bernie Mac, Faizon Love, Rudy Ray Moore, Pierre and Anthony Johnson.  It was panned by critics and audiences were too enthusiastic either. The film grossed a grand total of $7,338,279 on a $10 million budget, but we are talking about Halle Berry.   She got nominated for Best Actress by the Acapulco Black Film Festival.

By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton

www.darryllittleton.lol

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On This Day In Comedy… In 2015 ‘Get Hard’ Was Released By Warner Bros.!

 

On this day in comedy on March 27, 2015, Get Hard was released by Warner Bros.

This buddy comedy starring Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell was the directorial debut of Etan Cohen.    The critics savaged it, but as usual, what do critics know when it comes to popular taste. The film about an accused white-collar criminal tutored by a guy who said who spent time behind bars raked in $90.4 million domestically, $21.3 million internationally for a worldwide total of $111.7 million on a $40 million budget.

Ferrell plays a hedge fund manager with an ideal life.    He’s engaged to his boss’ daughter and has a bright future.   He’s cheap which is evident by the two-dollar tip he gives his car washer, (Hart), but during a party Ferrell is arrested for embezzlement and given 30 days to get his affairs in order before going to prison for 10 years.   He freaks out. Cutting off his ankle monitor, he tries to swoop up his fiancée to run away with him, but the cops bust him again and as they’re taking him away he asks Hart how did he deal with prison? Of course, Hart would have to know – he’s Black.   Hart is also crafty. He makes a deal to instruct Ferrell on how to survive for $30,000. Deal!

The normally scary, Hart puts the unsuspecting and scared Ferrell through the rigors of penitentiary life.   He peppers sprays him, mad dog faces him, gets him into fights at the park and has a mock prison riot to toughen him up (where Ferrell gets stabbed in the forehead with a homemade shiv).   Thinking his once future father-in-law is on the up and up Ferrell tells him he’s getting help and he’ll be okay. That was the wrong thing to say to the actual embezzler. Ferrell’s almost pappy thinks Ferrell is onto him and tells his hit man to take care of Ferrell immediately.  

Meanwhile Hart has been convinced that Ferrell is no criminal and certainly not tough, so they go in another direction.   Hart tells Ferrell he has to learn how to give head or be killed. They even go to a gay hang out, but Ferrell can’t go through with the fellatio.  So, Hart tries to get Ferrell into his cousin’s gang, so he’ll be protected in prison. No luck. They try a white supremacist gang, but Ferrell is not a convincing racist and they try to kill him thinking he’s a cop.   With time running out they figure it was the father-in-law. They get his computer records and have him dead to rights. Ferrell’s fiancée was also in on it and the hitmen are about to handle him and Hart when the US Marshals show up because Ferrell’s ankle monitor went off.    After a short hitch behind bars for having an unregistered gun (Ferrell had it hidden up his butt – “kestering”) he is released without incident. His almost pappy didn’t fare as well in the joint. Speaking of – in the end, Hart gets his carwash business and Ferrell gets his life back.   Yay!

Get Hard also features the talents of Craig T. Nelson, Alison Brie, T. I., Edwina Findley, Shad Gaspard, Paul Ben-Victor, Ron Funches and Jimmy Fallon and John Mayer as themselves.   Christophe Beck composed the music. The screenplay was done by Jay Martel, Ian Roberts and Etan Cohen from a story by Martel, Roberts and Adam McKay.

By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton

www.darryllittleton.lol

Check out this clip:

 

Craig Robinson Joins Robert Downey Jr. For The Live Action-Animated Film ‘The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle’

On social today, Robert Downey Jr. announced the entire cast for Universal’s live action-animated hybrid The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle which is due out on April 12, 2019. Pic is currently shooting in London.

New to the cast are: Oscar winners Marion Cotillard and Octavia Spencer, Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani, Emmy Award winner Rami Malek, Craig Robinson, John Cena, Carmen Ejogo and Frances De La Tour who will all provide voiceovers.

Playing live action roles are Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Harry Collett and Jim Broadbent.

Previously announced cast members include Downey, Jr., Ralph Fiennes, Emma Thompson, Tom Holland and Selena Gomez.

The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle is based on the character from the 1920s series of children’s books by Hugh Lofting.

Stephen Gaghan directs from his screenplay, with an earlier draft by Tom Shepherd. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum produce for their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films alongside Susan Downey for Team Downey. Roth/Kirschenbaum Films has been behind such family blockbusters as Alice In Wonderland, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Maleficent.  Susan Downey’s credits include the Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Judge and The Brave One. Executive Vice President Jon Mone and Creative Executive Lexi Barta will oversee production for Universal.

Cotillard is represented CAA and Adequat; Spencer is represented by WME and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein; Malek is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP; Robinson is represented by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham LLP; Cena is represented by ICM Partners; Nanjiani is represented by UTA, Mosaic and Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams; Ejogo is represented by WME and Anonymous Content; de La Tour is represented by APA, Independent Talent Group in the U.K. and Simmons & Scott Entertainment.

Robert Downey Jr

✔@RobertDowneyJr

I am most pleased to announce the stellar voice cast joining me on . @ItsRamiMalek @octaviaspencer @kumailn @selenagomez @MrCraigRobinson @carmenejogo @TomHolland1996 @RealFDLT @JohnCena

Source: Deadline

Sheryl Underwood Set To Co-Host The Daytime Emmys With Mario Lopez!

CBS once again is leading the pack with 76 Daytime Emmy nominations, with the most going to The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful. ABC’s General Hospital and NBC’s Days of Our Lives also received several nominations (26 and 25 nominations, respectively) for the annual ceremony that honors the best in daytime TV.

Mario Lopez of Extra and Sheryl Underwood of The Talk are set to host the non-televised awards ceremony, which will take place Sunday, April 29 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Southern California. The Creative Arts ceremony will be held two days earlier.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Eileen Davidson – Ashley, The Young and the Restless
Nancy Lee Grahn – Alexis, General Hospital
Marci Miller – Abigail, Days of Our Lives
Maura West – Ava, General Hospital
Laura Wright – Carly, General Hospital

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Peter Bergman – Jack, The Young and the Restless
Michael Easton – Finn, General Hospital
John McCook – Eric, The Bold and the Beautiful
Billy Miller – Jason/Drew, General Hospital
James Reynolds – Abe, Days of Our Lives

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Marla Adams, – Dina, The Young and the Restless
Camryn Grimes – Mariah, The Young and the Restless
Susan Seaforth Hayes – Julie, Days of Our Lives
Elizabeth Hendrickson – Chloe,The Young and the Restless
Mishael Morgan – Hilary, The Young and the Restless
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood – Steffy, The Bold and the Beautiful

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING
Wally Kurth – Ned, General Hospital
Chandler Massey – Will, Days of Our Lives
Anthony Montgomery – Andre, General Hospital)
Grek Rikaart – Kevin, The Young and the Restless
Greg Vaughn – Eric, Days of Our Lives

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS
Reign Edwards – Nicole, The Bold and the Beautiful
Hayley Erin – Kiki, General Hospital
Cait Fairbanks – Tessa, The Young and the Restless
Olivia Rose Keegan – Claire, Days of Our Lives
Chloe Lanier – Nelle, General Hospital

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR
Lucas Adams – Tripp, Days of Our Lives
Rome Flynn – Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful
Tristan Lake Leabu – Reed, The Young and the Restless
Casey Moss – JJ, Days of Our Lives
Hudson West – Jake, General Hospital

OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST
Wayne Brady, Let’s Make a Deal
Chris Harrison, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!

OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
Family Feud
Jeopardy!
Let’s Make a Deal
The Price Is Right
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

OUTSTANDING LEGAL COURTROOM PROGRAM
Couples Court With the Cutlers
Divorce Court
Judge Judy
Judge Mathis
Justice With Judge Mablean
The People’s Court

OUTSTANDING MORNING PROGRAM
CBS Sunday Morning
CBS This Morning
Good Morning America
Today

OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS PROGRAM
Access Hollywood
Daily Mail TV
E! News
Entertainment Tonight
Extra

OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE TALK SHOW HOSTS
Kit Hoover and Natalie Morales, Access Hollywood Live
Dr. Mehmet Oz, The Dr. Oz Show
Larry King, Larry King Now
Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron, Pickler and Ben
Steve Harvey, Steve

OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE TALK SHOW
The Chew
The Dr. Oz Show
Larry King Now
Megyn Kelly Today
Steve

OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT TALK SHOW HOSTS
Harry Connick Jr., Harry
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, Live With Kelly and Ryan
Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley, The Real
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Megan McCain, Paula Faris and Jedediah Bila, The View
Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler and Sheryl Underwood, The Talk

OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT TALK SHOW
Ellen
Live With Kelly and Ryan
The Real
The View
The Talk

 Source: Entertainment Weekly

 

LL COOL J Launches His Exclusive New SiriusXM Channel “Rock The Bells Radio” On March 28th

       Photo Credit: Peter Yang
SiriusXM announced today that entertainment icon LL COOL J will launch his new SiriusXM classic Hip-Hop channel on March 28 entitled LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio.”
The channel will feature a wide range of classic hip-hop content, music, interviews and in-depth retrospectives curated and presented by LL, as well as other innovators of hip-hop music, including Ice Cube, Stetsasonic, Eric B. & Rakim, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, Kool Moe Dee, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Ultramagnetic MCs, Too Short, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Canibus, Wu-Tang Clan, Run-DMC, Brand N
ubian, De La Soul, Black Moon and Ice T.
“Rock the Bells Radio” is allowing its audience to look at and listen to classic Hip-Hop through the lens of our current culture and music.
LL says, “If you wanna be a fly on the wall in the world of Classic Hip-Hop, SiriusXM’s ‘Rock the Bells Radio’ is for you. It’s where fans can come and be immersed in the music, the culture, the energy and the history of Classic Hip-Hop.” LL continues, “We’re gonna have great artists, legendary artists, lyricists, superstars, sex symbols. This is the place to be if you want uncut, raw, pure, classic Hip-Hop, but there’s one catch-it’s strictly for O.G.’s.”
To help launch the channel, a special invitation-only roller skating event will take place on Wednesday, March 28 at World of Wheels in Los Angeles. The “Rock the Bells Radio” launch will be hosted by LL COOL J along with the acclaimed DJ Z-Trip; a live broadcast of the event will air at 7pm PST/10pm EST on “Rock the Bells Radio” SiriusXM Channel 43!
“Rock the Bells Radio” is named after a combination of one of LL’s hit tracks, “Rock the Bells,” and the title of the groundbreaking, debut album it came from, “Radio.” “Rock the Bells Radio” will air on channel 43, available on satellite radios, the SiriusXM app and other connected devices.
The channel logo for LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” was created by the acclaimed and influential American contemporary street artist, Shepard Fairey, famous for creating the iconic Barack Obama “Hope” poster during the 2008 presidential campaign.
“We couldn’t be more excited that LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” channel will launch live from our special Los Angeles event. SiriusXM was at the forefront of the classic hip-hop format, and with LL on board, it makes the channel that much more compelling,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “With both the channel and this unique event, LL will be taking SiriusXM listeners on a hip-hop journey that can’t be found anywhere else. For listeners looking for the origins and influences of today’s burgeoning hip-hop culture, they need only turn to LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” to hear it. LL will make the channel feel as current and alive as today’s music with stellar presentation, surprising programming choices, and new cuts from classic artists.”
LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has achieved great success crossing into multiple mediums. A Kennedy Center Honoree, two-time GRAMMY® Award winner, recording artist, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur and philanthropist, LL displays his wide range of talents with every project.
LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” is the latest SiriusXM channel created with iconic and leading artists, including Diplo’s Revolution, Eminem’s Shade 45, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio, The Beatles Channel, Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, Garth Brooks’ The Garth Channel, Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Roadhouse, Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Radio, Tom Petty Radio, Pearl Jam Radio, B.B. King’s Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Siriusly Sinatra, and Ozzy Osbourne’s Ozzy’s Boneyard.
SiriusXM subscribers will be able to listen to LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells Radio,” channel 43, on SiriusXM radios, and those with streaming access can listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, Amazon Alexa devices, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go towww.SiriusXM.com/streaming to learn more.

WATCH: The Humor Mill Review Of ‘Roxanne Roxanne’ On Netflix

Here’s another new review of a new film, except this time we review a film on Netflix! The new film we review is Roxanne Roxanne, which is a biopic of the life and time of 80’s rapper Roxanne Shanté.

The film stars Nia Long, newcomer Chanté Adams as Roxanne Shante, Mahershala Ali, Elvis Nolasco, Kevin Phillips and Shenell Edmonds. The film revolves around the life of rapper Roxanne Shanté, and was screened in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

The quick synopsis; The most feared battle emcee in the early 1980s in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenager from the Queensbridge projects. At the age of 14, Roxanne Shanté was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend, as she hustled to provide for her family while defending herself from the dangers of the street.

Whoopi Goldberg Joins Tiffany Haddish In Tyler Perry’s New Comedy Titled ‘The List’

Whoopi Goldberg will star with Tiffany Haddish, Tika Sumpter and Omari Hardwick in Tyler Perry’s comedy “The List.”

Perry is directing and producing from his own script. Paramount Players has already set a Nov. 2 release date for the film.

Perry made the announcement on ABC’s talk show “The View,” which Goldberg has moderated for more than a decade.

Haddish will portray a wild woman who gets released from prison and reunites with her sister, played by Sumpter. Sumpter’s character is in an online relationship with a man that may be “catfishing” her.

Paramount Pictures launched Paramount Players in June, with veteran producer and executive Brian Robbins in charge. Robbins is working with Viacom’s Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and BET to generate projects, while the new division focuses on contemporary properties.

In October, Paramount Players acquired rights and set a Jan. 4, 2019, release date to the psychological horror movie “Eli” — its first film to go into production. It also tapped Taraji P. Henson to star in “What Men Want,” a gender-bending remake of the Paramount comedy “What Women Want,” and announced deals last month for a Gucci Mane biopic with Imagine Entertainment and a movie version of bestselling author David Arnold’s upcoming young adult novel “The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.”

Goldberg is one of the few actors to have won an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.

Source: Variety

Actress DuShon Monique Brown Of NBC’s ‘Chicago Fire’ Passes Away!

DuShon Monique Brown, known for her role as Connie, Assistant to Chief Boden, on NBC’s Chicago Fire, died Friday. The Cook County medical examiner’s office tells The Chicago Tribune that Brown died shortly afternoon at St. James Olympia Field Hospital. A cause of death is not yet known.

Brown had played the key recurring character since the series launch in 2012. “The Chicago Fire family is devastated to lose one of its own,” executive producer Dick Wolf said in a statement provided to Deadline. “Our thoughts and prayers are with DuShon’s family and we will all miss her.”

She previously recurred as Katie Welch on Fox’s Prison Break and recently guest-starred on Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams for Amazon.

Brown, a Chicago native, was a longtime theater actor before segueing to television, having performed at the Goodman, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, Drury Lane, MPAACT and Pegasus Players in Chicago. Her other TV work also included guest spots on Empire and Shameless.

In an interview last year with the website Hidden Remote, Brown said that when she was first cast in the role of Connie on Chicago Fire, “my character didn’t even have a name. She was a noun. She was Secretary and it was a one-liner. What was exciting was [I] was auditioning for a Chicago show, but it was also the possibility that she could maybe develop into something.”

On This Day In Comedy… In 2003 ‘Wanda At Large’ Premiered On FOX!

 

On this day in comedy on March 26, 2003, Wanda at Large premiered on FOX.

Created by and starring comedienne, Wanda Sykes, this sitcom ran for two seasons.   It was initially a 6-episode interim show for Fox. The premise was Sykes is a standup comedian doing correspondence work for a political talk show.   She’s not particularly their cup of tea and her bosses (Ann Magnuson and Phil Morris) barely tolerate her and her antics. While trying to ignore them, Sykes juggles her domestic life with her sister-in-law (Tammy Lauren) and her two kids (Robert Bailey, Jr. and Jurnee Smollett).

The show was set in Washington, DC and premiered after Fox’s mega-hit, American Idol.     Following a second season renewal and a decline in ratings, Wanda at Large was moved to the Friday night death spot of 8:30 pm and aired its last episode on November 7, 2003.

Wanda at Large was nominated for the BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Show.   Wanda Sykes received nominations for Best Actress by the BET Awards, Teen Choice and Satellite Awards.

By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton

www.darryllittleton.lol

Check out this clip:

 

On This Day In Comedy… In 2005 ‘Guess Who’ Was Released By 20th Century Fox

 

On this day in comedy on March 25, 2005, Guess Who was released by 20th Century Fox

This comedy remake of the classic Sidney Poitier film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, stars Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher and Zoe Saldana.     Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan it tells the story of a Black father who discovers his daughter is in love with a white guy.   Mac (the Black father) doesn’t like it. He tries to take Kutcher (the white guy) to a hotel, but they’re all full and so he allows Kutcher to sleep in his basement and to make sure he stays there Mac sleeps with him.   Meanwhile, Mac is having Kutcher investigated to dig up some dirt to discredit him in Zaldana’s (the daughter) eyes.

The occasion of Mac and Kutcher ever meeting is Mac’s 25th wedding anniversary.   Zaldana wants to surprise the family with her engagement announcement.   It was such a surprise that Mac ends up running Kutcher off by exposing him as a liar.   Turns out Kutcher quit his job and didn’t tell Zaldana. Busted trust, but when Mac finds out that the reason Kutcher quit was because his boss didn’t approve of interracial relationships, he tracks him down and brings Kutcher back to Zaldana.   And cut!

Written By Peter Tolan and Jay Sherick, Guess Who got mixed reviews.  The cast, which also included Sherri Shepherd, Hal Williams, Judith Scott, Kellee Stewart, Ronreaco Lee, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Niecy Nash and Mike Epps, got positive notices, but by 2005 the topic of interracial love was hardly the searing hot button it was in 1967 when the original was made.  Regardless, on a $35 million budget the film grossed $68,915,888 domestically and $32,950,142 internationally for a grand total of $101,866,030 worldwide.

By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton

www.darryllittleton.lol

Check out this clip:

 

 

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