Catch Wednesday’s episode of Comedy Central’s Broad City, and you may spot a familiar face lounging in the back of a nightclub, sharply dressed in an all-black suit.
Who? In the words of Abbi Abrams: “That is Blake Gr-i-ffin. He plays for the N-B-A!”
Although the star forward has been absent for more than half of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2015-2016 season, recovering from injury and now serving a four-game suspension, he’s still found a way to be productive—on camera, that is.
No. 32 will be making a cameo appearance as himself, following in the footsteps of well-known guest stars such as Hillary Clinton, TonyDanza, Susie Essman and Vanessa Williams in the show’s third season.
Check out this sample of his acting chops (warning: NSFW content).
Blake Griffin. Sidelined? Perhaps. Aromatic? Always. Idle? Never.
Source: The Bleacher Report
Troubled comedian Katt Williams will be charged for sucker-punching a teen at soccer game last week, Atlanta’s WSB-TV reports.
The 42-year-old comic was caught on video throwing a punch at 17-year-old Luke Wash after the two got into a verbal altercation during a game in Melrose, Fla.
Wash then tackled Williams to the ground and put him in a chokehold before the crowd on hand broke up the fight.
It’s unclear what sparked the original argument, but Williams apparently told the Georgia teen to “come to the side” of the field to hash things out, according to the boy’s uncle.
“I was like, wow, that’s him,” Cedric Wash told The News Friday. “Why is my nephew in a grown man’s face.”
AP
Later that same day, Williams wanted to meet up with the boy again to square off for a second time, Cedric Wash said.
“My nephew told me after the altercation happened, Katt Williams went on Instagram and he told Luke to meet at the same spot so they can fight again.”
Williams then appeared to recount the throwdown to the audience at his Barclays Center show on Friday.
“Even though we’re the same size, you’re a little boy; I’m a grown-a– man,” Williams said in a fan-recorded video. “I just want you to have a bloody mouth so you can have that lesson later — that that’s what happens when you say slick s–t to grown a– men.”
The comedian also clarified that he had thought Wash was 19.
Williams is currently facing charges from three different arrests in recent weeks, including allegedly assaulting a pool store employee and for reportedly attacking his own bodyguard.
Source: NY Daily News, Atlanta’s WSB-TV
On this day in comedy on March 19, 1951 Actor, Dancer, Fred Rerun Berry was born in St. Louis, MO
Berry was best known as ‘Rerun’ from the ABC sitcom, What’s Happening!! (1976-1979). He was a breakout character. With his red beret and suspenders the Rerun was immediately identifiable and this notoriety made Berry a millionaire by the time he was 29 years old.
Fred Berry had cut his show business teeth as a break dancer with The Lockers from Los Angeles. The popular troupe appeared on Saturday Night Live, Soul Train and toured internationally. This appeal led to television. Berry’s chubbiness was perfect for his cuddly character, but once What’s Happening!! went off the sir Berry found he had been typecast and that getting work would be difficult. So he embraced his Rerun alter ego and appeared in commercials and made personal appearances as Rerun.
Typecasting wasn’t Berry’s only problem. He also fought drug addiction and alcoholism. So when the show was revived as What’s Happening Now!! Berry was glad to return. That joy was short-lived. As with What’s Happening!! Berry didn’t feel he was getting paid what he deserved, since to him people watched the shows mainly to see him. So in both cases he stalled in contract re-negotiations and he walked. In the latter case he walked after one season.
The remainder of Berry’s life was spent trying various ways to maintain his celebrity. He was a preacher at a Baptist church. He was a public speaker. He made appearances in low budget films and music videos. He even toured with the UniverSoul circus as Rerun. The man stayed active until he passed away on October 21, 2003 in Los Angeles, California while recovering from a stroke.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on March 18, 1990 Comedian, Actor, Robin Hughes Harris died in Chicago, Illinois, 1990
Discovered by ventriloquist, Richard Sanfield washing cars for a rental agency, Harris was encouraged by the recording and touring artist to consider comedy. Harris gained experience opening for Sanfield and auditioned to be a regular at Hollywood’s World Famous Comedy Store in 1980. Owner, Mitzi Shore told him his act was “too Black” and so he went to where that was an asset not an insult. He was approached by then struggling promoter, Michael Williams and a partnership was formed. On September 5, 1985 Williams opened the first black comedy club in Los Angeles, The Comedy Act Theater and Harris was his host.
The club became the place to be on Thursday –Saturday and Harris was the man to see. His old school style and rapid fire insults (he talked about patrons on the way up the stairs to the bathroom and on the way back down as well as anybody wearing something dumb or saying something stupid) and ad-libs (not to mention signature routines; most famous being Bebe’s Kids) made him the talk of Los Angeles and soon Hollywood. Major Black celebrities would talk about Harris during so many outings with their non-black reps that they wanted to see him. When they were told he didn’t perform in Hollywood (the usual showcase city) the industry types made caravan trips down to the hood to see him. And what they saw made dollar signs jump in their eyes.
Robin Harris was soon in the movie making business. He debuted in Keenan Ivory Wayans, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. He played Kid’s (of Kid & Play) father, Pops, in the original House Party (he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Independent Spirit Awards). He appeared briefly in Eddie Murphy’s Harlem Nights. His next role and some say his most memorable was as Sweet Dick Willie in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Harris was part of a trio of bench sitters commenting on what goes on in the neighborhood. The only thing missing was the dominoes. He was then seen in Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, starring Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes playing the part of night club comedian, Butterbean.
Television also came calling. Harris was pegged to be the host of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. It was rumored CBS had a show in the works to star Harris and fellow L.A. comedy mainstay, Reynaldo Rey. There was also the film The Last Boy Scout to co-star Harris and Bruce Willis, but on March 18, 1990 the avalanche of a career ended. Robin Harris died of a heart attack after a sold out show at Chicago’s Regal Theater. He was only 36 years old, but he spawned what came to be known as the Urban Comedy Boom.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on March 17, 1927 Comedian, Recording Artist, Actor, Dancer, Musician, Filmmaker, Rudolph Frank Moore (aka Dolemite) was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Moore was known as the “Godfather of Rap” based on his numerous comedy albums featuring dirty rhymes and jokes. He went by the stage name of Dolemite, a character in his films who was part-pimp, part gangster.
Moore got his start as a preacher in Milwaukee. He expanded his flair for entertaining as a dancer / singer in nightclubs, known by the name of Prince DuMarr. His Army buddies changed that name to the Harlem Hillbilly when Moore shipped out to Germany as part of their entertainment troupe. He sang country songs with an R&B feel. He also got turned onto comedy. Once out of the Army he moved to Los Angeles, got back in nightclubs and got discovered. Dootsie Williams recorded Moore’s songs under 5 different labels from 1955-1962. In 1959 Moore recorded his first comedy album, Below the Belt, followed by The Beatnik Scene (1962) and A Comedian Is Born (1964). He was making a living, but not living it up.
Then came Dolemite. He’d heard stories about the character from a guy while Moore was working at a record store in 1970 and decided to become that character for his own persona. He recorded the comedic tales in natural settings; like his own home with friends over drinking and getting high as Moore told jokes, sang songs and did nasty rhymes. He was an instant hit.
Moore was one of the titans of “party records”; recordings labeled XXX by most of their distributors. Many of these albums were sold under the table at record stores and had to be given to the patron in a brown paper bag so the suggestive covers of naked women were obscured. In rapid succession Moore released Eat out More Often, This Pussy Belongs to Me and The Dirty Dozens.
It was through those recordings that he was able to finance his first film, Dolemite (1975). That low budget hit became known as one of the greatest Blaxploitation films of all time and spawned sequels: The Human Tornado, The Monkey Hustle, Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil’s Son-in-Law and The Return of Dolemite. . Moore was ghetto fabulous and traveled extensively as Dolemite as his stage act and his fans adored him. He could do no wrong with them. On the road his merchandise sales often tallied more than the fee he received to perform.
Moore remained active throughout his career. His popularity endured as rap artists; especially Snoop Dogg credit rap to Moore. It was his raw edged rhymes accompanied by music in the background that lent itself to his pioneer status. Even in his later years he was so revered rappers sought his collaboration on their tunes and he’s featured in many from Big Daddy Kane to 2 Live Crew.
Rudy Ray Moore was prolific. He released over 30 records, appeared in almost 20 films and lent his talent and expertise to other artists until he passed away on October 19, 2008 in Akron, Ohio from complications of diabetes.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On This In Comedy on March 15, 1980 Sanford premiered on NBC!
Redd Foxx left his hit NBC show, Sanford & Son in 1977 and went to ABC to do a variety show that only lasted 4 months. Since they were in the basement in network ratings, NBC jumped at the chance to get Foxx back in the role of Fred G. Sanford and so Sanford was born. It aired minus Demond Wilson (who refused to return) and lasted two shortened seasons. The show was a mid-season replacement in the 1979-80 season and the 1980-81 season.
The ill-fated incarnation centered around Fred and his new partner, Cal (Dennis Burkley), a Southern white guy with a big heart and gut who Lamont had worked with on the Alaska Pipeline and who he sent to stay with Fred. Aunt Esther and Rollo were still around, but that was the only magic left from the first time we met Fred Sanford.
The show was yanked and retooled, showing back up with Rollo and many of the other new characters. This retooled version was scrapped faster than some of the junk in Sanford’s yard. Sanford went off the air July 10, 1981.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On This Day In Comedy on March 14, 1966 Actress, Elise Neal was born in Memphis, Tennessee
Neal had formal training as a ballet dancer, but an unrelated injury plunged her into musical theater, where she found success touring once she left college. Her ease of manner jettisoned her into commercials and a relocation to Los Angeles, California, where she got busy. Neal danced in music videos (Chubb Rock’s “Just the Two of Us”, Father MC’s “Lisa Baby”, Black Sheep’s “Strobelight Honey”, Dannii Minogue’s “This Is It”), worked on a soap opera ( Loving), primetime series (Hangin With Mr. Cooper, SeaQuest 2032), guest starred on sitcoms (Family Matters, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single, The Steve Harvey Show, The Wayans Bros.) and appeared in films (Malcolm X, How to Be a Player, Money Talks, Rosewood).
The role that put Neal on the comedy radar was that of Yvonne Hughley, on the D L Hughley sitcom The Hughleys. This was a show that traveled; starting on ABC; where it did a two season tenure, it was moved to UPN for its final two seasons. While playing straight lady to Hughley’s punchman, Neal appeared in the motion pictures Scream 2, Restaurant, Mission to Mars, Brian’s Song and Paid in Full. She was also featured in Aretha Franklin’s “A Rose is Still a Rose” video.
Once The Hughleys ceased production, Elise Neal branched off into recording and producing. Her production company received a development deal with Mandalay Bay Entertainment to provide a variety of projects including fitness and lifestyle programming as well as musical content. Her soundtrack single, “I’m Down Baby” came from her 2007 film, 4 Life. Other films included K-Ville with Anthony Anderson, Ransom Games, Playas Ball, and Hustle & Flow. She did the sitcoms, Belle, The Soul Man, the Real Husbands of Hollywood and the reality show, Hollywood Divas on TV One.
Neal has been nominated for three NAACP Image Awards, a Screen Actor Guild Award, a Black Reel Award and she won as part of Best Cast for Hustle & Flow at the Young Hollywood Awards.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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Hoping to build on the success of podcasts such as pop culture phenom Serial, Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions and Larenz Tate’s TateMen Entertainment are partnering to produce Policy Kings, the first scripted audio series from digital audio ad sales company AudioHQ.
Originally conceived by TateMen Entertainment, Policy Kings is a 10-episode audio drama written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (A History of Violence). The series, which will launch in fall 2016, chronicles the lives of the players in Chicago’s “policy” numbers games of the 1940s and illuminates the self-sustaining African American community of Bronzeville. The numbers game or policy racket was an illegal lottery played mostly in poor neighborhoods. It swept Chicago’s black community in the 1940s and was eventually taken over by the mafia. Kc Wayland’s Wayland Productions (audio series We’re Alive) will handle physical production.
Cinema Gypsy, which Fishburne runs with longtime manager and producing partner Helen Sugland, is producing ABC’s hit comedy series black-ish and the upcoming six-hour Nelson Mandela miniseries Madiba for BET Networks.
TateMen Entertainment, toplined by partners Larenz, Lahmard and LaRon Tate, most recently produced the indie Beta Test, currently in post‐production, and wrapped principal photography on the feature Deuces, alongside Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Productions.
Fishburne, Tate, TateMen Entertainment, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Olson and AudioHQ are repped by Paradigm, which brokered the deal alongside attorneys Nina Shaw and Jeff Finkelstein (Cinema Gypsy Productions) and John Meigs, Jr. (TateMen Entertainment).
Source: Deadline