On this day in comedy on January 18, 1975, The Jeffersons premiered on CBS
Created by Michael Ross and Bernie West and developed by Norman Lear, The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history. A spin-off of Lear’s cultural milestone, All in the Family, The Jeffersons centers around George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford), an upwardly mobile black couple who worked their way out of the working class section of Queens, New York as neighbors to the Archie Bunkers and into a deluxe high rise apartment in Manhattan. This was accomplished through George’s expanding dry cleaning business and the show’s success was built on great writing, acting and appealing to the times.
When The Jeffersons premiered America was in its post-Civil Rights period and all things seemed possible for those who that struggle meant to benefit. The Jeffersons showed that if you give a black man the same financial opportunities as a white man he could end up just as petty, bigoted and greedy as his Caucasian counterpart. George Jefferson was basically a black Archie Bunker. His wife, Louise was no dingbat, but embodied the solid wife of unwavering morals despite how much money came into her life. They had a maid, Florence (Marla Gibbs), who was also black and talked back. Their neighbor, Mr. Bentley (Paul Benedict) worked at the UN as a translator and when the bachelor came home he needed George to walk on his back to keep his spine aligned. The Jeffersons also had a son, Lionel, who had a girlfriend, Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), who had a white father and black mother (Frank Cover and Roxie Roker). Plus, there was a tip happy doorman, Ralph (Ned Wertimer) and George’s mother (Zara Cully) who felt George was too good for everything; especially Louise. Outside of his mother, wife and son, George disapproved of these people and that kept the comedy going for 253 episodes.
The Jeffersons was consistently in the Top 30 of the Nielsen ratings. Even when it was canceled, the news came as a shock to the cast. Many of them heard about getting the axe through a newspaper article or by a friend telling them. This was particularly upsetting because the end was so much different than the beginning when everybody was so accommodating. Lear had written the part of George Jefferson specifically for Sherman Hemsley and eventually waited until Hemsley finished his theatrical obligations before introducing him as the character on All in the Family. That wait took four seasons.
At one point another actor was tried, but the chemistry between Carroll O’Connor (Archie Bunker) and actor Avon Long (the “first” George Jefferson) didn’t work; according to O’Connor and they put the physical George back on the shelf. Undaunted, Lear slid George Jefferson into the conversation by writing in George’s brother, Henry Jefferson (played by Mel Stewart) and when George Jefferson was finally ready for his close-up, the character of Henry disappeared. The show also had to adjust to a new Lionel when actor Mike Evans left the show after the first season and was replaced by Damon Evans, who was in turn replaced by Mike Evans until Lionel and Jenny were written out of the show (stated reason – marital problems).
The show used the frank language of the 1970s including “nigger” and “honky”. George called Tom and Helen Willis “zebras” and everybody called George “short”. This was not a politically correct sitcom (until the latter seasons). It spawned one spin-off; Checking In starring Marla Gibbs, but it checked out after only 4 episodes and Gibbs was right back in her apron on The Jeffersons. The theme song, Movin on Up was composed by Jeff Barry and Ja’net Dubois, who also sang the theme with a gospel choir.
During its 11-season run The Jeffersons received 13 Emmy Award nominations for acting with a 1981 win for Isabel Sanford for Best Actress. She was only the second black actress to win this honor (the first was Gail Fisher for Mannix in 1970).
The Jeffersons aired its last episode July 2, 1985.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 17, 2014, Ride Along was released by Universal
This buddy flick stars Ice Cube as a seasoned cop and Kevin Hart as a high school security guard trying to get his approval, so he can marry Cube’s sister (Tika Sumpter). The veteran flatfoot’s not having it. He doesn’t feel Hart is worthy, so he takes him on a ride along to see what Hart’s made of. At the same time Cube is trying to catch a ring of smugglers (of passports, not opium, diamonds, coffee grounds, etc.) and will stop at nothing to get them. This means a lot of action: car chases, shoot outs, face slapping, hysterical screaming, multiple subduings, little folks flying through the air, things being destroyed by grenades, double dealings, back stabbings, leg shootings, people being hit in the head with frying pans and a little Michael Vickery.
Based on a story by Greg Coolidge, Ride Along was directed by Tim Story and produced by Cube, Will Packer, Matt Alvarez and Larry Brezner. The cast also includes John Leguizamo, Jay Pharaoh, Bruce McGill, Gary Owen, Bryan Callen, Jacob Latimore, David Banner, Gary Weeks, Dragos Bucur and Laurence Fishburne.
The critics turned in mainly negative reviews for the film. The public positively loved it. It not only made $153,262,184 from a $25 million budget (breaking all existing box offices opening records for the month of January), but spawned a sequel (Ride Along 2) less than two years from the original’s release.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 17, 1957, Comedian, Radio Personality, Author, TV Host, Broderick Stephen “Steve” Harvey was born in Welch, West Virginia
For Steve Harvey it was comedy or bust. After stints as a boxer, mailman, autoworker, insurance salesman and carpet cleaner, Harvey got into standup in 1985 at Hilarities in Cleveland, Ohio. It wasn’t overnight stardom. He was homeless for years; sleeping in his car when a gig didn’t provide a hotel room for the night and showering at gas stations.
Harvey got a break in 1990 when he became a finalist in the Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search. That got him his job as host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo. That televised showcase got him his deal to do his first sitcom, Me and the Boys in 1994 on ABC. His second sitcom was on the WB, The Steve Harvey Show aired from 1996 to 2002 and was a top show in black households.
Steve Harvey’s popularity translated when he toured as one-fourth of The Original Kings of Comedy. The quartet of Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Harvey and D L Hughley (Guy Torry was the fourth member and host before leaving to do a TV show and was replaced by Hughley) toured; packing in history-making crowds and setting off a trend that hit other subgroups in comedy, such as The Queens of Comedy, The Original Latin Kings of Comedy, The Latin Divas of Comedy, The Kims of Comedy, Blue Collar Comedy Tour, etc. The pinnacle is when the foursome was recorded by Spike Lee for his concert film in 2000.
The former boxer was out for a knockout. Harvey had his own syndicated radio show. He released his comedy DVD, Don’t Trip, He Ain’t Through With Me Yet and a hip hop and R&B CD. He authored books: Steve Harvey’s Big Time (also the name of a variety show Harvey hosted on the WB from 2003-2005), Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man and Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find and Keep a Man. He’s hosted award ceremonies (including Miss Universe), appeared in films, launched a clothing line, launched a dating website, hosted Family Feud, hosted a self-titled daytime talk show and co-founded The Hoodie Awards (a show recognizing deserving businesses in the black community) along with partner, Rushion McDonald.
Steve Harvey is an 11-time NAACP Image Award winner, a 3-time Daytime Emmy Award winner and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 17, 1959, Comedian, Producer, Author, Historian/ Preservationist, Darryl Littleton aka D’Militant is born in Los Angeles, California
Darryl Littleton began his comedy career writing for The Tom Joyner Morning Show and soon afterwards became a regular at the World-Famous Comedy Store adopting the stage name, “D’Militant” for his slicing wit and incisive social and political commentary. He was D. L. Hughley’s exclusive writer when Hughley hosted BET’s Comic View and as writer/producer penned material for subsequent hosts Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore and Don DC Curry. His writing extended to columns for Comedy the Magazine and The Humor Mill. Littleton was also a commentator for NPR.
As a stand-up, Darryl Littleton’s on camera credits include The Parent Hood, Townsend Television, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, Comedy Central’s Make Me Laugh, Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, Telemundo’s Loco Comedy Jam and Byron Allen’s Comic’s Unleashed. He has toured Europe and Asia performing for the US military and as the host of Katt Williams’ Its Pimpin, Pimpin Tour (the highest grossing national comedy tour that year).
Littleton took his love of comedy and wrote books on the subject. His first, Black Comedians on Black Comedy, chronicles the history of African-American comedy. It’s taught in universities and was made into the documentary, Why We Laugh by director, Robert Townsend. Littleton served as executive producer for the project. He has also published Pimp Down: The Rise & Fall of Katt Williams (2011), on 21st Century fame and media scrutiny, Forefathers (2012), the story of the American Revolution told from a black perspective, Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady (2012), the history of female comedy which he co-wrote with his wife / comedienne, Tuezdae Littleton, How to Be Funny: The Essential Comedy Handbook; a tutorial on the art of laughter and How 2 Play Whitey, a collection of hilarious stories on stereotyping.
Darryl Littleton is the first African- American on the advisory board of the Comedy Hall of Fame. He has toured the nation as a public speaker lecturing on the historical and social significance of comedy. To that end, Littleton produced Black & Blue: The Laff Records Collection, a compilation of classic party records from Redd Foxx to Marsha Warfield. As “D’Militant” he’s released two comedy albums (Am I Lying?!, Too Raw for Mainstream), has won numerous comedy awards including the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition and ABC’s America’s Funniest People and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his Comedy Hal of Fame produced documentary, Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 16, 1998, Half Baked was released by Universal Pictures
Half Baked is a stoner comedy about the saga of four lifelong friends and their love of weed. From the time they first get high together as middle schoolers, it was all good. Then tragedy strikes while one of the potheads goes on a standard munchies run and is arrested for killing a diabetic police horse with sweet snacks. It’s now up to his posse to get him out of the pokey before he gets poked. Fortunately, one of the pals works as a janitor at a place where they test marijuana. Voila! The 3 amigos would steal the weed, sell it and bail their friend out. It’s going to take a lot of dope slinging (the bail is 1 million, but they only have to come up with $100,000), but they’re up to the task. Plus, along the way there’s romance and hallucinating.
Directed by Tamra Davis from a Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan script, Half Baked stars Dave Chappelle, Harland Williams, Jim Breuer and Guillermo Diaz. It also features the talents of Clarence Williams III, Tracy Morgan, Rachel True, Tommy Chong, Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Jon Stewart, Bob Saget, Laura Silverman, Steven Wright, Stephen Baldwin, Neal Brennan and Janeane Garofalo.
Half Baked is a cult classic taking in a box office gross of $17,460,020 on a budget of $8 million.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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Jenifer Lewis is already a riot … but add a crazy circumstance plus an amped up fan and the interaction is pure gold.
While at the NAACP Image Awards HH chatted with the black-ish actress about her experience with racism in Hollywood. Lewis, who is a legend in La La Land, was giving us an animated answer about how she didn’t have time to worry about losing roles because of her skin color, that is until a fan excitedly interrupted her. Not once, but twice!
Ms. Lewis handled the situation like a pro — but also added a side of shade — and the whole encounter ended up being funny as h*ll!
Source: Hip Hollywood
BET Networks announced the nominees and host of “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS.”Comedian and actor Michael Blackson will host this first-of-its-kind awards show that celebrates the very best (and worst) in social media over the past year. Executive produced by Mike Epps, the social media extravaganza will be filmed LIVE on Sunday, February 11 at 10 PM ET/ 7PM PT in Atlanta. From favorite celebrity follows, to the biggest memes, hashtags and trends of the year, this one-hour event will cover all of the most memorable and talked about social media moments that flooded 2017 timelines.
Blackson also known as “The African King of Comedy” has been entertaining audiences all across the country and around the globe for more than a decade. From his gut-busting stand-up comedy on BET’s Comic View to the scene-stealing performance in the Ice Cube film Next Friday, Blackson continues to bring the LOLs to fans on his social platforms with his one-of-a-kind comedy sketches and humor.
Cardi B, OffSet, Jess Hilarious, Lil Uzi Vert, Duckie Thot, Tami Roman, Tyrese, Salt Bae, the ‘roll safe’ meme are just a few of the nominees up for an award. Who will trend to the top? The power is in the viewer’s hands! Go to BET.COM/SOCIAL to select the five (5) nominees that should make it to the final round for consideration and potentially taking the title in categories such as “Clapback,” “Social Hustle” and more! First round of voting closes Sunday, January 21 at 6 PM EST. The second round of voting featuring the top (5) nominees chosen in the online voting categories opens on Tuesday, January 23 at Noon EST.
The categories for round one of “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” online voting are:
ISSA WAVE:
Gone are the days of record sales reigning supreme! To be the most influential social artist, you need streams, likes and views — these bubbling artists nabbed all 3. Now the question is, who’s wavy enough to take the crown?
SOCIAL HUSTLE:
#BookedAndBusy! These influencers are the definition of “no days off.” From sliding onto our timeline and into our hearts, all while securing the bag, that’s a true hustler mentality. Vote now for your favorite!
LMAO!:
Social media is the new frontier of comedy and these nominees always keep us laughing 24/7. From their hilarious posts to their ability to pick us up when we’re down, these nominees take the cake for best social media comedians. Who served up the best kiki?
CLAPBACK:
If you troll, they’re trolling back! Internet beef is nothing new, but when these nominees let loose, the whole world notices. From clever reads to snatching edges, these nominees are known to put people back in their place. Whose clapback game was the strongest?
BEST PODCAST:
Pop in your headphones, you’re in for a treat. These podcasts are the voice of the people, and we want to know which one is your favorite!
MOOD AF:
Let’s celebrate the memes and gifs that came out of nowhere, took over our timelines and showcased clever moods, shade and subs we didn’t even know we needed.
BAEWATCH:
These power couples epitomize #relationshipgoals and we’re here for it! Rep your favorite couple and vote below!
Produced by BET Networks, “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” is executive produced by Mike Epps, Kyra Robinson and Eric Conte.
LOS ANGELES – January 17, 2018 – Celebrating his 30-year anniversary in comedy, veteran comedian Eddie Griffin takes to the stage in the hilarious new special EDDIE GRIFFIN: UNDENIABLE, premiering on SHOWTIME on Friday, February 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on-air, on demand and over the internet. Filmed at the Berklee Performing Arts Center in Boston, Massachusetts, Griffin offers his prolific and entertaining point of view on the state of the world, tackling politics, racism, relationships, religion and humanity as a whole. Ultimately reflecting on his long-standing career, he pays tribute to close friends and late comedians Charlie Murphy, Bernie Mac, Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor (among others) with flawless impersonations. With his quick wit and animated delivery, Griffin does not mince words in this comedy event.
Griffin started his career on stage as a dare when he was a teenager and has continued to build his fan base worldwide. The Kansas City native had been voted “Class Clown” three years in a row when his cousin dared him to get on stage at a local comedy club. He was given only a few minutes to impress the audience but ended up successfully performing off-the-cuff for 45 minutes and was hooked, purchasing a one-way ticket to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. Griffin’s career leaped from the stage to the screen with nearly 50 credits to his name, including starring roles in the feature filmUndercover Brother, John Q (with Denzel Washington) and the upcoming feature, A Star is Born with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, as well as his own television series Malcolm & Eddie.