Jamie Foxx is in early negotiations to star in STX Entertainment and the Jim Henson Company’s raucous comedy The Happytime Murders, which will combine live-action and puppetry made so famous by the Henson family. The project, which is expected to get an R-rating, will be directed by Brian Henson.
The story follows puppet stars of an iconic TV show The Happytime Gang who are some of the biggest celebrities around. But off-camera, the family-friendly cast leads the kinds of lives that would make a tabloid writer blush. When the Happytime Gang stars begin to be mysteriously murdered, two mismatched detectives – one a type-A, take-no-prisoners human with a secret and the other a crass, hard-drinking puppet with a connection to one of the victims – must put aside their differences to stop the killings and catch the culprit, all the while trying to resist the temptation to murder each other.
The screenplay is by Todd Berger & Dee Robertson, and Erich and Jon Hoeber (Red and Red 2).
Source: Deadline
On this day in comedy in April 13, 1999 Life was released by Universal Pictures.
Starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, Life is the second time the duo worked together and the last time Murphy did an R-rated film. The film dealt with two mismatched men thrown together by bad circumstances. Joined by perception they’re both accused of murder when they’re in the wrong place (a back alley) at the wrong time (after a man is killed) and get pinned with a crime that gets them sentenced to life in prison in the South; meaning a life of hard labor.
The story of Murphy and Lawrence is told by an old inmate (Obba Babatunde), who spent many of those years with them. He weaves the tale about how they were reluctant allies trying to initially get out through court appeal. That is until Lawrence tries to gain his freedom without including Murphy, who Lawrence views as a component to drag him down. Before entering prison Lawrence was on his way to get a job working for a reputable bank. Murphy was a small time hustler. For his betrayal Lawrence loses his girl (Sanaa Lathan) on the outside trying to help him. She leaves him for the lawyer working on his appeal. So life it is. That’s when Lawrence decides to join Murphy in his schemes to escape through not-so-legal methods.
The years pass slowly. During their stay the pair meet various inmates who die one by one over the years including prison staff (Nick Cassavetes, Erik Begnal, Brent Jennings). The survivors grow old together, through escape attempt after attempt, punishment after getting caught after punishment. Then one day they are old enough to be assigned to work for a local big shot (Ned Beatty) as domestic help in his home. All is well until the bigshot goes hunting with another visiting bigshot, who turns out to be the murderer responsible for their incarceration. A confrontation occurs and the old murderer is killed by the bigshot in defense of his workers. A pact is established between the three. The bigshot would release them the next day, but he died and it was back to prison for them.
As the story is told two young inmates (Heavy D, Bonz Malone) are burying two bodies. They think it must be Lawrence and Murphy who reportedly were burned up in a prison fire. The old narrator smiles knowingly. That’s because those two old rascals (90 years old each) had escaped and the final scene has them taking in a live game at Yankee Stadium after so many years of denial from such a basic treat. Now we all smiled.
Life was directed by Ted Demme and written by Robert Ramsey & Matthew Stone. The cast consisted of comedians: Bernie Mac, Guy Torry, Miguel A. Nunez, Jr., Anthony Anderson; actors: Bokeem Woodbine, Clarence Williams III, Michael Taliferro and Barry Shababa Henley as well as musical legend, Rick James.
Life received mixed reviews and was considered a box office failure. On a budget of $80 million Life grossed $75,576,029 worldwide. Regardless it was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, an Academy Award for Best Makeup and won a BMI Film & TV Award for Most Performed Song from a Film.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in 1965 comedy Comedian, Actor, Writer, Director, Joey Medina was born in the Bronx, New York.
Medina has called himself his own job fair. He worked in fields ranging from Domino’s Pizza to police officer (because girls like men in uniform) to boxer (where he won state championship), but it was comedy that kept his interest. It was the fact it entered his life when he was in the rare position of having no job. He also had no home at the time because his wife had kicked him out of it. So he sought solace at Laff’s Comedy Club in Tucson, Arizona, but instead of just a few laughs to forget about his miserable life, Medina found a new life. He observed the comedian on stage and thought – I can do that. . . and he did.
Joey Medina’s credits are expansive. Besides appearing on multi-cultural standup comedy showcases, such as BETs Comic View and Que Locos! he toured internationally entertaining US troops. Medina financed his first film, El Matador using credit cards and favors. It won best film, directing and acting awards at the 8th Annual East L. A. Chicano Film Festival. His Showtime special Joey Medina: Taking Off the Gloves was also highly acclaimed. He toured with the Original Latin Kings of Comedy (with Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, George Lopez and Alex Reymundo) and released his comedy CD, suggestively titled, Below the Belt.
Medina build a solid track record as a prolific producer. He’s overseen almost a half dozen films by using the philosophy learned from his first endeavor – sell to a distributor first – then make the film. He’s also produced, Latin Palooza for television as well as producing, writing and hosting SiTv’s Circumsized Cinema. He produced and directed Cholo Comedy Slam and hosted his own morning radio show in Los Angeles, for station KXOL 96.3FM.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on April 10, 1968 Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, Orlando Jones was born in Mobile, Alabama.
After getting turned onto entertaining by playing a werewolf in a haunted house in high school, Orlando Jones graduated and got serious. He and fellow comedian, Michael Fechter formed a successful production company, Homeboy’s Productions and Marketing, with Michael Jordan being one of their clients. From there Jones got a writing gig for NBC’s A Different World and a small part on the sitcom as well. He next formed a relationship with the new Fox network. Jones wrote for Roc, appeared on Herman’s Head and co-produced The Sinbad Show. Though audiences might best remember him as one of the original cast members on Fox’s sketch comedy show, MADtv.
With limited sketch comedy experience, Jones relied heavily on his comedy writing and producing skills to cement his stature. He created memorable characters (Dexter St. Croix, Reverend LaMont Nixon Fatback) and provided spot-on impressions (Danny DeVito, Eddie Griffin, Ice Cube). After two seasons he left to do movies and racked up an impressive resume of comedies as well as dramas (In Harm’s Way, Sour Grapes, Woo, Office Space, Magnolia, Drumline, The Replacements, Bedazzled, Double Take, Biker Boyz, The Chicago 8 and more).
Despite big screen achievements, Orlando Jones never strayed far from television. A series of commercials for 7 Up put Jones on the national map for over two years and he took advantage of it. He hosted an HBO special, got his own talk show, guest starred on popular sitcoms (The Bernie Mac Show, Girlfriends, Everybody Hates Chris) and had a leading role on an ABC crime drama. He’s appeared in documentaries (Looking for Lenny), done voice-over work for cartoons (The Boondocks, Yuletide in the ‘hood, Father of the Pride, The Adventures of Chico & Guapo, King of the Hill) and performs stand-up nationwide.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on April 9, 1979 Actress, Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New Jersey.
Pulliam began her career at the age of nine months. She was featured in a Johnson & Johnson national print ad for baby products. At the age of three she appeared on Sesame Street in the challenging role of “Keshia”. However, she is best known as Rudy Huxtable, the baby girl on NBC’s smash hit 80’s sitcom, The Cosby Show from 1984-1992. During that fruitful period, she made her big screen debut in The Last Dragon in 1985 and in 1986 Pulliam became the youngest actress ever nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on The Cosby Show.
Keshia Knight Pulliam was not just relegated to being known only as little Rudy. She appeared in commercials and guest starred on other television shows. She was seen in the films, Polly, Polly Comin Home, Beauty Shop (with Queen Latifah) and Madea Goes to Jail. In 2002 she won the celebrity version of Fear Factor. She was big on winning celebrity versions of shows because she won the celebrity version of The Weakest Link, too. She’s done music videos (Chingy’s “One Call Away” and Tank’s “Can’t Make You Love Me”) and plays (Donald Gray’s The Man of Her Dreams). In 2007 Pulliam returned as a regular TV star in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne playing the part of Miranda Lucas-Payne.
In VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Kid Stars, Pulliam ranks #19 and she has three NAACP image Awards (House of Payne) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on April 8, 1998 The Players Club was released by New Line Cinema.
Ice Cube made his directorial debut in this comedy starring LisaRaye, Bernie Mac, Faizon Love, Jamie Foxx, Terrance Howard, Charlie Murphy, Alex Thomas, A. J. Johnson, Dick Anthony Williams, Monica Calhoun, Tiny Lister, Adele Givens, Michael Clarke Duncan and John Amos.
The story is centered on LisaRaye, who narrates. She tells how as a young, single-mother-to-be she had a put-your-foot down argument with her father and moved out of the house. She subsequently got a job as a shoe store employee barely making ends meets. Then she meets up with a couple of girls who set her straight. Why be that sexy and not get paid for it? She needs to be stripping.
LisaRaye reluctantly gets into the stripping game, working at the Players Club and pulling in undeclared cash. It’s all good until her younger cousin gets a job stripping. This relative is soon doing more than stripping. She’s getting drunk and doing private parties. LisaRaye knows how wild those private parties can be from personal experience and tries to warn her cousin, who doesn’t want to hear it. She’s going where the money is. All the while the club owner, (Bernie Mac) has his own problems. He owes $60,000 to a gangster and his time is up. He’s beat up and thrown into the trunk of his car. If two crooked cops hadn’t shown up and arrested him that would’ve been it. Once Mac is out of jail retribution takes place on both sides.
During all the club drama, LisaRaye seeks some normalcy by dating the DJ. She discovers that her cousin has been tricked into doing a private party thinking there would be other strippers there. It turns out she is the only stripper and she ends up beaten and raped by the guest of honor who was told she was “that” kind of girl. LisaRaye and the DJ (Jamie Foxx) go to see her and then proceed to the club where Foxx holds a gun on the two strippers who got LisaRaye’s cousin ambushed while LisaRaye fights one of them furiously. After beating her down and quitting, LisaRaye knocks the other in the jaw as she and Foxx exit. Their timing is perfect, because just then the gangster and his henchmen shoot up the club and destroy it.
The epilog is that the cousin gets a job at the shoe store then moves back home to live with her mother. LisaRaye and Foxx are a happy couple (He’s a top DJ on the radio station and she’s a reporter). Bernie Mac was killed by the gangsters. The two strippers that got beat down go work at a new strip club and Bernie’s henchmen go to Freaknik.
On a budget of $5 million, The Players Club grossed $23,047,939 domestically and $213,546 internationally for a worldwide box office take of $23,261,485.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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Johnny Guitar Watson, one of the music industries most beloved guitarist was silenced by a massive heart attack in Yokohama, Japan on May 17, 1996 while in the middle of one of his GRAMMY nominated songs “Superman Lover”. Now it’s time to celebrate his legacy after 20 years, the 1st Annual Johnny Guitar Watson Heart for Music Foundation Celebration will be held on May 17, 2016 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles at 8 PM.
The star-studded celebration will be co-hosted by Phil Morris (Love That Girl) and Kiki Shepard (Live at the Apollo), directed by Iona Morris, written by David Ritz, and Musical Direction by Gemi Taylor. Special guest appearances include; Cedric the Entertainer and Marla Gibbs. Musical performances by Lenny Williams, Barbara Morrison, Doyle Bramhill II, YoYo and her crew, Crystal/Penni, Martin Kimbers (Color Me Bad) and his son Ashley, and many other great performers.
The Red Carpet Event Begins At 7pm and Show Time at 8pm, with a VIP Reception immediately following the event, featuring an exhibit of artifacts belonging to the late Great Johnny Guitar Watson.
Watson’s daughter, actress, writer, producer Virginia Watson said, “After 20 years, I decided that the time had come to take the legacy of my father and find a way to help people in his name and keep his legacy alive, so The Johnny Guitar Watson Heart For Music Foundation came to be.”
Johnny Guitar Watson was A Musicians Musician, A Mentor, Teacher, Trend Setter, and an Innovator in Rock & Roll, R & B, Jazz, Funk, and Rap! He made his mark in these genres with unforgettable style. Even after his passing his music is still reaching the masses through samples, covers and sync uses. His latest collaboration is with Kanye West on his new CD The Life of Pablo.
Johnny had forged many relationships and collaborations with the greats. His work with Frank Zappa and Eric Clapton changed all their lives and set the groundwork for an everlasting friendship. “My father was holding frank’s hand when he passed and all Frank asked for in his coffin were strings from one of my father’s guitars and his Zappa briefcase”, stated his daughter, Virginia Watson. “Thank God for the rappers of the world like Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Kanye West, Redman, Method Man, Dr. Dre, Naughty By Nature, Digital Underground and Kendrick Lamar just to name a few who proudly sampled his iconic music.”
The mission of the JGW Heart for Music Foundation (501c3) is to raise money to acquire musical instruments to put into the hands of our inner city youth, who show promise and focus in real music and then pair them with industry professionals who will mentor them to their musical destination. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help facilitate music studies through after school programs like ARC, LAUSD and Non-Profit after school programs such as YoYo’s School Of Hip Hop.
It is the dream of the Watson children to establish this foundation in honor of their father and to give back to the community something special in the arts that will inspire and support inner city youth and help to keep real music alive! For additional information visit: www.jgwheartformusic.com
Source: Radio Facts
According to sources, we hear that actor and comedian Gerald ‘Slink’ Johnson, probably best known from Comedy Central’s hit Black Jesus will be on a comedy tour starting this weekend!
Sources tell us that the new tour is titled The Live, Laugh, Love, Comedy Tour and will be at Caroline’s in New York April 28th with plans to venture out to several cities real soon.
This story is still developing, so stay tuned!
Bounce TV’s first-ever original drama series “Saints & Sinners” was a smash-hit success on all fronts and the show’s inaugural season finished with a bang Sunday night, April 24 with the shocking finale, becoming Bounce TV’s #1 most-watched program in its nearly five year history.
The eighth episode premiere telecasts Sunday night reached 1.4 million unduplicated viewers. The 9 p.m. ET telecast became Bounce TV’s #1 program ever among total viewers (754,000 Persons 2+) while also posting the highest audience peak of the series to-date (839,000), and setting network records for the delivery of P25-54 (358,000) and Women 25-54 (235,000). The 9 p.m. airing also delivered 480,000 HHs (Households), which drove Bounce TV to its most-watched Sunday primetime ever in P25-54 and W25-54.
Bounce TV also topped BET in HHs (+8%), P25-54 (+38%), W25-54 (+34%), P18-49 (+6%) and total viewers (+21%), marking the seventh Sunday night that Bounce TV beat BET in P25-54, W25-54 and P2+ during the run of the series.
“Saints & Sinners” season one wraps as Bounce TV’s most-watched original series among HHs, P18-49, P25-54, W25-54, and P2+. The series has been renewed for a second season, which will premiere in the first quarter of 2017.
“Saints & Sinners” stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Christian Keyes, Keith Robinson, Clifton Powell, Gloria Reuben, J.D. Williams, Jasmine Burke, Afemo Omilami and Richard Lawson.
Source: Shadow & Act
Michael K. Williams has joined the cast of ABC’s limited series “When We Rise.” Williams, who starred in “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Wire” for HBO and “Hap and Leonard” for Sundance TV, will play African-American community organizer Ken Jones in the project from “Milk” screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
Also joining the miniseries is Ivory Aquino, who will play transgender activist Cecilia Chung.
“When We Rise,” tells the story of the gay-rights movement from its early, tumultuous stages in the 20th century to its enormous strides in recent years. Williams and Chung join a cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg as Pat Norman, the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department; Rosie O’Donnell as Del Martin, co-founder of the first lesbian organization in the country; Denis O’Hare as Jim Foster, openly gay Democratic party organizer; and David Hyde Pierce.
The seven-part series is written by Black, an Academy Award winner for “Milk.” Gus Van Sant, who directed “Milk,” will direct the two-hour series premiere. The two are set to serve as executive producers with Lawrence Mark and Bruce Cohen. Black’s other writing credits include ”Big Love,” “J. Edgar,” and stage play “8.”
“When We Rise” is produced by ABC Studios.