On This Day In Comedy… In 1961 Comedian, Actor, And Talk Show Host George Lopez Was Born! #GeorgeLopez
On this day in comedy on April 23, 1961, Comedian, Actor, Talk Show Host, George Lopez was born in Mission Hills, California
Deserted by his father at 2 months old and his mother at 10 years old, Lopez was raised by his grandmother and step-grandfather. He forged his stand-up material from race and Mexican-American culture in particular. He made a name for himself with this formula on Latin and mainstream comedy stages. Then after years of ping-ponging successes and failures, Lopez got his career changer.
At the turn of the Century, movie star actress, Sandra Bullock got a thirst for diverse television. She saw a void in Hispanic representation and went to Lopez to do something about it. If she would lend her name and influence to getting a show about Hispanics greenlit, would he star in it? Duh. Not only did George Lopez star in The George Lopez Show, he also co-created, wrote and produced it as well. The show was a huge hit for ABC, which had previously received flack for a lack of racial programming. The show ran from 2002-2007 and was a surprise and sustaining hit when it went into syndication. However, Lopez had some choice words for the network’s president, Steve McPherson, claiming his sitcom had been given the ax to make TV more white again. The George Lopez Show was replaced by Cavemen, a sitcom about cavemen. It was canceled after 13 episodes.
During his time on the sitcom, Lopez took advantage of his increased profile. He was a cast member on HBO’s Inside the NFL. He starred in the Disney Christmas film Naughty or Nice and in the Robert Rodriguez directed The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl. Lopez garnered accolades for his performance in the HBO drama, Real Women Have Curves., receiving the Audience Award for 2002. He was honored with the 2003 Imagen Vision Award, the Latino Spirit Award and was selected as Time magazine’s “Top 25 Hispanics in America” in 2005.
Also during the taping of The George Lopez Show, its star had a medical emergency. Doctor’s informed Lopez that his genetic condition now required an immediate kidney transplant. In stepped his wife, Ann to provide the much-needed organ. Lopez took this life saving blessing to his sitcom in an episode highlighting the threatening affliction.
In 2009, following a couple of years of guest starring and road work, Lopez was back in front of a television audience in a night-time talk show, Lopez Tonight on TBS. His show ran for a year undisturbed until 2010 when it was moved back in the time slot so Conan O’Brien’s show could premiere and occupy Lopez’s time frame, a move Lopez himself supported. In 2011 Lopez Tonight was cancelled, the same year Lopez and Ann’s divorce became final.
In 2014 George Lopez signed up to star in a sitcom for FX called Saint George. Under the network’s agreement, a new show had to hit a certain ratings threshold in its first 10 episodes to get a back order of an additional 90. Saint George wasn’t so blessed and got canceled in 2014.
In March of 2016, TV-Land debuted the sitcom, Lopez.
George Lopez has stretched his tentacles creatively. He has co-written his autobiography. He’s hosted award shows, appeared at the 2009 Inaugural celebration, and has received many humanitarian awards. All during that time he’s also toured as a top standup comedian.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1961 Comedian, Host, And Producer Byron Allen Was Born! #ByronAllen
On this day in comedy on April 22, 1961, Comedian, Producer, Byron Allen Folks, better known professionally as just Byron Allen was born on this date in Detroit, Michigan
Allen began doing stand-up comedy as a teenager. His interest in show business began during his childhood when he would accompany his mother to NBC studios in Burbank where she worked as a publicist. At age 14, Allen put together his first stand-up routine and began appearing on an amateur night at comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area. Comedian Jimmie Walker saw Allen’s standup act and was so impressed that he invited the 14-year-old comedian to join his comedy writing team alongside promising young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman. At age 18, Allen made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Allen holds the distinction of being the youngest standup comedian ever to have performed on the show.
Watching Allen’s network television debut were the producers of NBC’s Real People, who were so taken with his comfortable, relaxed style that they made him an offer the very next day to co-host the show.
While Allen was getting his feet wet as a television personality, he was also learning the ins and outs of television production. The business of advertising and syndication, he learned in the trenches by personally calling station owners, programming directors, and advertisers, one-by-one, and market-by-market from his dining room table.
Mr. Allen’s foray into television production began in Los Angeles in 1993 when he founded Entertainment Studios with the launch of his first series — Entertainers with Byron Allen—a weekly, one-hour series profiling the current stars of film and television.
Entertainment Studios produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 32 television series, making it the largest independent producer/distributor of first-run syndicated programming for broadcast television globally.
Among the company’s top programs are Emmy-winning Cars.TV, Emmy-nominated America’s Court with Judge Ross and We the People With Gloria Allred,[1]Comics Unleashed, Comedy.TV, Beautiful Homes & Great Estates, Pets.TV, Recipe.TV, Career Day and The Young Icons. His company also made its first foray into scripted programming, producing two weekly primetime sitcoms that are slated to debut in September 2012: The First Family[2] and Mr. Box Office.[2]
In 2009, Allen became the first television entrepreneur to own and launch a portfolio of six 24-hour HD television networks simultaneously. The six networks include Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, Recipe.TV, Cars.TV, ES.TV, and MyDestination.TV.
Jay Ellis Of HBO’s ‘Insecure Fame To Executive Produce New Comedy Series Titled ‘Hard Medicine’! #HBO #Insecure #JayEllis
The season will consist of eight, 10-12 minute episodes, with a new episode being released each week.
Hard Medicine centers around the quirky medical doctor of a low-income health clinic, who must maneuver between demanding corporate heads, outlandish patients, and her wacky but loyal staff all in an effort to keep the community’s haven of health care afloat.
Nicole Slaughter is Dr. Moore, the sometimes awkward but loved lead doctor, who constantly faces opposition from corporate heads who want the clinic gone for good. Celeste Turner is Rose, the manager of the clinic. Creator Melissa Eno Effa is Clarissa, the rough-around-the-edges but loyal receptionist, Jeff Hunt is Jason, a nurse, and Ashley Narvaez is the nurse assistant.
Source: Shadow & Act
‘Queen Sugar’ Renewed On OWN Network And Ava DuVernay Inks Expanded Harpo Deal! #QueenSugar #OWN #AvaDuVernay
Koury Angelo/Ava DuVernay
The always-in-demand Ava DuVernay is staying put at OWN, securing a third season for her critical darling Queen Sugar. The network announced a renewal for DuVernay’s family drama on Wednesday morning, timed to a new deal with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films.
The expansion of their current partnership finds DuVernay in a first-look deal at Winfrey’s production shingle for TV and digital media. Harpo Films, which co-produces Queen Sugar with Warner Horizon Scripted Television, is also on board DuVernay’s recently announced Netflix limited series — Central Park Five.
“I’m so proud of Ava and her ability as a filmmaker to challenge the status quo and push for inclusiveness onscreen and behind the camera,” said Winfrey, CEO of both OWN and Harpo Films. “I love, love, love the work we have been able to create so far. I am looking forward to developing many more meaningful projects together.”
Queen Sugar‘s renewal was something of a given. It regularly ranks among the top five most-watched series on cable and continues to bring critical praise. But the timing of Harpo Film’s deal with DuVernay represents a bit of future-proofing over at OWN. Tyler Perry, the creator of the network’s top-rated dramas and comedies, recently announced a new overall deal at Viacom that will take him away from OWN in 2019. (His shows will stay on through 2020.) Just 24 hours before news of DuVernay’s OWN deal, prolific producer Will Packer inked his own first-look TV deal at OWN.
Winfrey is co-creator of Queen Sugar, the Louisiana-set drama that heralded DuVernay’s expansion into television. Since the series’ successful launch in 2016, DuVernay has also released Oscar and Emmy-nominated documentary 13th, filmed Disney’s upcoming tentpole A Wrinkle in Time and started work on Central Park Five. (She is set to write and direct the five-part series, which will tell the story of the five young black men wrongly convicted of murder in 1990.)
“There is fresh air and room to roam,” DuVernay said in a statement. “There is an artist-driven atmosphere and an intention to share stories that nourish. There is a spirit of inclusivity and imagination moving at all times. This is the new era of OWN. I’m thrilled to continue to collaborate with Ms. Winfrey as we expand the scope of our storytelling. And I feel fortunate to be a small part of this network at such a wonderful time in its evolution.”
As for the current season of Queen Sugar, one that sees DuVernay again enlisting an all-female directing staff with several TV newcomers, OWN also announced that actors Michael Michele, Roger Guenveur Smith and Beverly Todd will formally join the series in recurring roles this summer. (Directors Garrett Bradley, Liesl Tommy and Christina Voros are also confirmed to direct season two episodes.)
DuVernay is repped by CAA and attorney Nina Shaw of Del Shaw.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Kendrick Lamar Tops Nominations On MTV’s VMAs! #KendrickLamar #MTV #VMAs
MTV is continuing to eliminate gender-specific awards categories with its 2017 VMA nominations.
MTV has also added one of the new Movie & TV Awards categories to the VMAs, recognizing, in the best fight against the system category, videos that inspire viewers to fight injustice.
“Great acting is great acting, no matter what the gender or non-gender,” MTV, VH1 and Logo general manager Amy Doyle told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year of the Movie & TV Awards eliminating gender-based distinctions for its acting awards. She said the impetus for that change was the MTV audience “uniformly rejecting obsolete labels and embracing fluidity.”
“It really was a cultural statement,” Doyle added of the Movie & TV Awards change. “And it really is reflective about the audience’s views and when you look at the culture as a whole, you had a man against a woman running for president [last year]. It just felt like a dated construct for a category.”
Kendrick Lamar scored the most VMA nominations, with eight mentions for his video “Humble.” Katy Perry and The Weeknd landed the second-most noms with five each.
In a first, the VMA nominations were revealed Tuesday on Instagram Live via a group of stars from the social-media platform, including Bretman Rock, Ariel Martin (Baby Ariel), DC Young Fly, Andrea Russet, Chantel Jeffries, Ricky Dillon, StassiBaby, Jay Versace and Nate Garner.
Fans can vote for the winners in eight categories, including artist and video of the year and best collaboration, at vma.mtv.com.
In the best new artist category, fans can vote via Twitter bot by direct messaging MTV starting Aug. 18, with the top two artists revealed during the VMA preshow, airing at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, Aug. 27. Those two finalists will compete in a live Twitter hashtag vote with the winner announced during the main telecast. Nominees for the socially voted category, best song of the summer, will be announced at a later date.
The 2017 MTV VMAs will air live from The Forum in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, Aug. 27.
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records) (Jennifer Kennedy)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Red Barbaza)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Tatyana Ali, Malcolm Jamal-Warner Land In USA Crime Comedy/Drama ‘Olive Forever’! #TatyanaAli #MalcolmJamalWarner #OliveForever #USA
Tatyana Ali and Malcolm Jamal-Warner have been tapped to star in a crime comedy-drama airing on USA Network.
They’ve been cast as series regulars alongside Christian Antidormi and Emily Rudd in Olive Forever.
The show will follow Olive (Rudd), a high school student con artist beyond her years. She’s a savvy foster student who has a tough exterior, when on the inside, she’s just a girl looking for a home.
Ali will play Olive’s foster mother, described as a “quick witted” and “tender” community college professor. Warner will play her foster father, also a community college professor who will provide her help when she needs it most.
Most known for her role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali was last seen in a guest-starring role on American Koko and the short-lived BET series, Zoe Ever After. She also had a recurring role on The Young and The Restless a few years back.
Warner, most known for The Cosby Show, will star in the upcoming ABC series, Ten Days in the Valley and is a recurring character Sneaky Pete and Major Crimes. He also recurred as Al Cowings on the award-winning miniseries, American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1999 ‘The Boondocks’ Made Its National Syndicated Debut! #TheBoondocks #Comedy #ComicStrip
On this day in comedy on April 19, 1999, The Boondocks made its national syndicated debut
The original syndicated comic strip was created by animator, Aaron McGruder. It began as a daily for the online music site Hitlist.com in 1996 and then on The Diamondback. The latter paid McGruder $30 per strip; a boost from the usual compensation of $13. The high wages weren’t the problem with The Diamondback. They omitted running the strip and refused to run an apology after making it look as though it was McGruder’s fault. So, he pulled The Boondocks from The Diamondback in 1997, the same year it made its first appearance monthly in the hip hop magazine, The Source. It wasn’t long before the popular strip was scooped up by Universal Press Syndicate and became a coast-to-coast hit. Satirizing popular culture and racism The Boondocks is seen from a black point of view.
The strip was plagued with controversy. McGruder was unyielding in his attacks on black culture and many of its absurdities. Targets such as BET music videos, Whitney Houston’s drug problems, Larry elder, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and politicians were ripe for ridicule. McGruder spared no none. The chief protagonist was the character of Huey, a pint-sized radical in a little boy’s body. He was too young to have learned how to bite his tongue. He and his brother Riley were moved out of South Side Chicago to a neighborhood surrounded by white folks. They’re with their World War II veteran grandfather who thinks Huey is too militant and Riley is too materialistic (he wants to be a gangsta). They live next to an interracial couple and their mixed and mixed up daughter, Jazmine, who likes Huey. There’s a standard issue friend of Huey’s named Michael who’s just as crazy as Huey, but with a dash of humor. Rounding out the principle characters is Uncle ruckus, a blatant Uncle Tom who hates everything Black (including himself) and loves everything white (including Ronald Reagan). The teachers and the principal have a similar dilemma – they love white, but fear black and rely on old stereotypes (some from Blaxploitation flicks) to figure out how to handle the two Black brothers.
During its run, other artists helped illustrate The Boondocks to keep things on schedule as McGruder’s schedule became more and more crammed with commitments, but he always had his hand in the final product. Nevertheless, internal battles came to a head when McGruder put the strip on a six-month hiatus so he could work on the TV version. The Boondocks premiered as a fully animated cartoon on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim in late 2005. McGruder made his announcement in early 2006 about th temporary suspension. Well, after seeing some papers run provided reruns and others opting to move onto other strips, Universal Press cut their losses and informed papers that they shouldn’t count on a timely return and they canceled The Boondocks September 25, 2006.
On This Day In Comedy… In 2013 ‘Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie’ Made Its Theatrical Debut
On this day in comedy on April 18, 2013, Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie made its theatrical debut, distributed by 20th Century Fox
This cartoon version of legendary stoner comedians Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong was directed by Branden and Eric D. Chambers. The full-length film was written by Cheech and Chong and starred their voices. It was released on Blue Ray five days later and is their only film on that format.
Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie is a collection of their famous album routines in animated form. Classics such as Sgt. Stedanko, Afghanistan, Earache My Eye, Ralph & Herbie, Trippin’ in Court, Acapulco Gold, Dave’s Not Here, Sister Mary Elephant, Let’s Make a Dope Deal and others all get the drawn-up treatment. Tying them all together is a cartoon body crab desperately trying to get high off Tommy Chong’s THC ridden scalp.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1965 Martin Lawrence Was Born! #MartinLawrence #Standup #Comedy
On this day in comedy on April 16, 1965, Comedian, Actor, Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was born in Frankfurt, West Germany
Martin Lawrence almost became a boxer. He was a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves contender and was eyeing a professional career until an eye injury put a stop to those plans. His plan B turned out to be suitable for some of those same principles he’d learned in boxing and it wasn’t long before Lawrence knocked out some obstacles and chalked up an impressive record.
He found his gym in New York at the Improv. His first big bout was on the CBS competition show, Star Search. He fought his way to a title bout, but he was robbed. Didn’t matter. He got a good look and landed a part on the ABC rebooted sitcom, What’s Happening Now!! After it was canceled he played journeyman comedian/actor until he got another break in Spike Lee’s big screen smash hit Do the Right Thing. Lawrence was now in demand. He appeared in House Party (which became a franchise), Talkin’ Dirty After Dark and Boomerang.
Lawrence really showed what he could do when he was selected to host Def Comedy Jam on HBO. It was an instant hit and Lawrence was now TV’s latest champ. He not only defended his title week after week he went into another division when he got his own self-titled sitcom which was a giant hit on Fox. Lawrence followed in the tradition of playing multiple roles in a project. He did it on Martin, performing as his female neighbor, Shanaynay and other assorted characters. While doing the sitcom, Lawrence wrote, starred in and directed A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
When Martin ended, Lawrence went back to the big screen in a string of hits: Nothing to Lose, Bad Boys (another franchise) Life, Blue Streak, Big Momma’s House (also became a franchise), Wild Hogs, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and Death at a Funeral. In 2014 Lawrence partnered with another TV standard bearer, Kelsey Grammer on the show Partners.
Despite his early brand of raunch (he’s banned from life from appearing on Saturday Night Live after making over the top remarks about female genitalia and hygiene) he’s done family content. Lawrence did the voice of an animated character in Open Season and starred in Disney’s College Road Trip.
Martin Lawrence has released two stand up albums and several specials. A multiple acting award nominee, Lawrence has won two NAACP Image awards and a BET Icon Award.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1990 ‘In Living Color’ Premiered On FOX! #InLivingColor #FOX #Comedy
On this day in comedy on April 15, 1990, In Living Color premiered on Fox
The relationship between Fox network and the Wayans family started off fine. Following his back-to-back box office successes of Hollywood Shuffle and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Keenen Ivory Wayans was approached to do a show for the network. He said he wanted to create a variety sketch comedy show. They said fine. He said he wanted black cast members. They said fine. Then when the show blew up based on the formula set up by Keenen and his co-creator, brother, Daman Wayans, Fox wanted to step in and run the creative side and to the Wayans that wasn’t fine.
In Living Color was a golden goose for Fox. Kicking off with a quick snappy welcome from Keenen the show featured the Fly Girls, a group of house dancers choreographed by Rosie Perez and that was a spring board for the careers of Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Anne Inaba. The sketches showcased the talents of Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Jim Carrey, Kim Wayans, Tommy Davidson, Kim Coles, Shawn & Marlon Wayans, Kelly Coffield and T’Keyah Crystal Keymah. Jamie Foxx came on the third season. An amazing cast which created indelible characters such as Homey D. Clown, a fully made up circus dweller with a nasty attitude; The Homeboys Shopping Network, two thieves selling boosted goods on public access TV; Ugly Wanda, Jamie Foxx as a disgusting chick; Venus D’Milo, Jim Carrey as a disgusting chick; Fire Marshal Bill, Jim Carrey as a disgusting fire marshal with the catchphrase, “Lemme show ya something” and Men on Film, two flamboyantly gay movie critics.
Wayans dream of a variety show had to include musical acts. There were plenty. Live performances were rendered by Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Public Enemy, Kris Kross, Eazy-E, Tupac, Mary J. Blige,3rd Bass, Father MC, En Vogue, Us3, Gang Starr, MC Lyte, Onyx, Arrested Development, Leaders of the New School and Jodeci. There were guest stars and recurring players: Rodney Dangerfield, Chris Rock, Marc Wilmore, Barry Bond, James Brown, Peter Marshall, Ed O’Neill, Reggie McFadden, Sherman Hemsley and Biz Markie. The show also had powerhouses behind the scenes: a solid comedy writing headed up by Paul Mooney and Heavy D and the Boyz performed the opening theme.
From the very first show, In Living Color was praised for its rawness, inventiveness and edgy point of view. For two seasons, it enjoyed immense popularity and public adoration. That’s about the time the tampering comes in and Fox was no different. With a proven winner in their laps they decided to stand up for their right to do the show their way. Big mistake. In those latter seasons, executive interference was too much for the Wayans and they walked. The once brilliant television landmark went off the air on May 19, 1994.
Over its five-season run, in Living Color amassed 2 Image Awards (Outstanding Variety Series. Outstanding Comedy Series), a PGA Most Promising Producer in T0elevision (Keenen Ivory Wayans), A People’s Choice Award, a Primetime Emmy and a TV Land Award for Groundbreaking Show.
