On this day in comedy on February 6, 1957 Comedian, Director, Actor, Writer, Producer, Robert Townsend was born in Chicago, Illinois
After honing his skills at Chicago’s X Bag Theatre; The Experimental Black Actors Guild and studying at Second City, Townsend got his start in comedy at The Improv. He moved to New York to further his education with the Negro Ensemble Company. Then following a string of small stereotypical parts (Cooley High, Monkey Hustle, American Flyers, Streets of Fire, Ratboy) and finding rare fulfillment as an actor (he did A Soldier’s Story with an predominantly black cast and was chest-fallen when he discovered that might be the only one he would make in his entire career) Townsend co-wrote (with Keenen Ivory Wayans) and directed Hollywood Shuffle. This parody of how it is for minority talent in Tinsel Town put the struggling entertainer on the map. The film, financed with Townsend’s own funds from acting and his credit cards, was a low budget risk and major box office success. A star was born.
Robert Townsend’s initial success allowed him to pursue an aggressive agenda of black projects. He directed Eddie Murphy’s Raw. He did Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime for HBO featuring unsung comedians at the time such as Paul Mooney, Franklyn Ajaye, Robin Harris and Damon Wayans, to name a few. Townsend co-starred with Denzel Washington in The Mighty Quinn. His next theatrical release was The Five Heartbeats, an enduring musical focusing on the trials and tribulations of a fictional 60s R&B singing group. He made Meteor Man; about a black super hero with limited powers. He returned to television with his own variety show on Fox, Townsend Television and a few seasons later he created his own sitcom for the WB; The Parent ‘Hood. He directed B*A*P*S with Halle Berry, Carmen: A Hip Hopera with Beyoncé and 10,000 Black Men Named George; also Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy; a documentary on the history of black comedy, Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, Holiday Heart, Bill Cosby 77 and others.
Robert Townsend won the Cable ACE Award for Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime and he was the Programming Director for the now defunct Black Family Channel.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on February 5, 1961 Comedian, Actor, Timothy “Tim” Meadows was born in Highland Park, Michigan.
A student of radio and television in college, Meadows got started in improvisational comedy at the Soup Kitchen Saloon and in show business performing in The Second City troupe. Chris Farley was also a member; which was Meadows first contact with his destiny. A short time later he became a cast member on NBCs long running hit sketch show, Saturday Night Live and went on to be its longest running cast member for a record 9 seasons (until Darrell Hammond broke that record years later). Meadows played a lot of characters: Michael Jackson, O. J. Simpson, Erykah Badu, Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey, but it was his signature persona that got made into a film.
The Ladies Man was extremely popular on a sketch show like SNL. In the theater it bombed. Even though the character of Leon Phelps: a horny radio talk show host prone to say whatever inappropriate thing he wants seemed a natural for audiences always on the hunt for shock value, this flick didn’t jolt them enough. Regardless, it was but a minor setback for Meadows. He’d made a lot of friends at Saturday Night Live over the years and they showed it by keeping their alumni buddy working. He made appearances in Mean Girls (a Tina Fey film), The Coneheads (Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Larraine Newman), It’s Pat (Julia Sweeney), Wayne’s World 2 (Mike Myers), The Benchwarmers (Rob Schneider), Trainwreck (Bill Hader) and Grown Ups 1 & 2 (Adam Sandler).
Meadows let friends pay him any time to perform, but he also worked for others. No need to feel bad for the guy because over his career Meadows was a regular on The Michael Richards Show, Lil Bush, The Bill Engvall Show, Glory Dance, and Mr. Box Office. He co-starred on the NBC sitcom, Marry Me. He appeared in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Meadows had recurring roles on Help Me Help You, Living with Fran, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Life & Times of Tim, Suburgatory and Bob’s Burgers. He’d pop up on The Colbert Report and guest starred on One on One, Everybody Hates Chris, The Office, Reba, According to Jim, Lovespring International, Funny or Die Presents, 30 Rock, The Venture Bros, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Goldbergs and The Spoils Before Dying.
Like most dedicated entertainers, when not in front of the camera Tim Meadows returns to his roots and continues to perform improv on stages all over the world.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on February 4, 1983 Comedian, Actor, Writer, Hannibal Buress was born in Chicago, Illinois
It can be said that Buress is not the corporate type. When he wrote for old school network NBCs Saturday Night Live in 2009, he left in 2010. That same year he got a job writing for the NBC sitcom, 30 Rock and quit after 6 months. He seemed to work better with the looser constrictions of cable which became evident by his relationship with Comedy Central. He appeared on The Awkward Comedy Show special for them. He did stand-up on Live at Gotham and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show. Buress released his second album, (His first was My Name is Hannibal from 2010) Animal Furnace in 2012. Comedy Central did it as a special and he did an hour-long comedy special for them called Hannibal Buress Live from Chicago in 2014. He’s on the series Broad City, co-host The Eric Andre Show and has his own show Why? With Hannibal Buress. All on Comedy Central.
This is not to say Buress is exclusive to Comedy Central. He has also been seen on Louie and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell (FX), Lopez Tonight and Conan (TBS), Late Show with David Letterman and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS), Jimmy Kimmel Live!(ABC), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) and Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC).
However, what put Buress on the map for many non-comedy aficionados was his bit about Bill Cosby that went viral after being in his set for six months. The routine about the legendary comic dubbed “America’s Dad” and his past rape allegations in the face of his better than thou posture took on a life all its own as woman after woman emerged to either reiterate claims of drugging and sexual abuse or level never-before-leveled claims against the iconic comedian. It was a media circus and Buress was at the center of the controversy. But being a stand-up comedian meant Hannibal Buress had the distinct advantage of dissecting the situation on stage and incorporate in as part of the act that got him into that vortex in the first place.
Hannibal Buress has won Chicago’s Funniest Person Award (2007), the Best Performance in a Host Stand-Up/Sketch Comedy Program Series (2011) and the American Comedy Award (2012).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on February 3, 2009 Diary of a Tired Black Man was released
This independent film was the brainchild of talented writer/director, Tim Alexander. Using a documentary style Alexander tells his story of a black man in a long term relationship who finally grows tired of the constant drama and seeks happiness by making his exit. However, he finds out that leaving a drama-filled relationship does not end the drama. For instance when he comes to his former opulent home to pick up his daughter for his visitation he is ridiculed by his ex-wife’s girlfriends for being a weak ni**a. He has to remind them that in the 7 years he and his wife were together he never messed with white women and he is the one who bought the house and all the furniture in it and pays his alimony on time. So he is not a weak man. He is a tired one. Then he points out that the complaint they all have is that all black men are weak yet none of them have any man.
Alexander’s mixing of comedy, drama and interviews makes for an interesting film. The theme is familiar, but seldom has it been played out so frankly and universally. The problems this man faced are not exclusive to black men and not exclusive to just men. There are many tired women of all races coming home to dysfunctional pairings and a film like this can wake up all viewers to cut your losses and seek happiness before it’s too late.
Diary of a Tired Black Man stars Jimmy Jean-Louis as James, the tired black man. Paula Lema plays is wife who is prone to go off and runs him off. The film also features Natasha M. Dixon, Kimmarie Johnson and Alexander as himself.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 31, 1843 The Virginia Minstrels debuted the first Minstrel Show
When unemployed white entertainers Dan Emmett, Billy Whitlock, Dick Pelham and Frank Brower got together to figure out what to do next, they had no idea they’d start a national movement. Minstrelsy became the biggest organic American art form to that date. Administering blackface and red lips had taken place before by solo acts and blackface singers, but what made this collaboration special was now the antics would be specialized by a group. There would be elaborate costumes, choreographed routines and most importantly there would be a catchy name for this troupe – The Virginia Minstrels or Virginia Serenaders (if the first one wasn’t catchy enough for you).
In no time the gimmick caught fire. Their try out was in the pool hall of New York’s Branch Hotel. That show was free and when nobody threw anything at them or complained they asked for money for the next show; their grand premiere. That performance took place at the Chatham Theatre and was the official kick-off of the Minstrel Era. They were a smash hit; flailing about the stage with over exaggerated dialects and degrading songs – the crowd couldn’t get enough. They were immediately booked into the Bowery Amphitheater for a long run and from there The Virginia Minstrels were off on a tour of the East, North and South.
The Virginia Minstrels were pioneers. They popularized enduring folk songs such as “Jimmy Crack Corn” and “Old Dan Tucker” and thanks to their success, black minstrel troupes sprung up during the Civil War and enjoyed equal if not greater success than their white counterparts. The era ended in the late 1920s even though there were still stubborn individuals going around in public settings beyond that period with smeared on blackface, painted on lips and looking utterly ridiculous for all to see. #TedDanson
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on January 30, 1951 Actor, Director, Charles Stanley Dutton was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
The first act of Dutton’s life was a bumpy one. For starters he dropped out before finishing middle school and became an amateur boxer. His ring name was “Roc”, but after a street fight resulted in a boy being killed at the hands of Dutton he had to trade in his name for numbers. Dutton was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to serve 7 years. Once he got out he was right back in after being hit with another 3 years for being caught with a deadly weapon. It was during that second stretch that Dutton had his epiphany.
Charles Dutton got thrown into solitary and accidentally grabbed a book of black playwrights as his reading material for the six day stint. When he emerged he petitioned the warden to start a drama group. The warden agreed only if Dutton went all out and got his GED. Proving he was a renewed man, Dutton did not only that, but he also went on to get a two year degree from Hagerstown Community College in Maryland. After he got out Dutton attended Towson State University and Yale School of Drama.
Though Dutton got initial work as a dramatic heavy on Broadway (winning a Theatre World Award and receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor), it was comedy for which he is most remembered. Prior to getting the part of Roc Emerson, the junkman with a plan on Roc, Dutton was making a good living playing cops and attorneys. Then Fox decided he was perfect for their sitcom and Dutton hit his mark for 72 episodes. Roc was a hit for the new network and Dutton got to stretch his talents and move into directing (later winning a Best Director Emmy for HBOs The Corner). The show was also notable for using stage trained actors and broadcasting the episodes live in the second season.
Once Dutton got into the swing of the Roc shooting routine he jumped into high gear. He made movies: Alien 3, Rudy, Get on the Bus, Crocodile Dundee II, Menace II Society, Cry, the beloved Country, A Low Down Dirty Shame, A Time To Kill and Cookie’s Fortune. He guest starred on multiple television series (The Sopranos, The Practice, Without a Trace, The L Word, House, My Name is Earl). He won awards (Outstanding Guest Actor Emmys in 2002 & 2003).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bournefranchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.
For Jason Bourne, Damon is joined by Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones, while Julia Stiles reprises her role in the series. Frank Marshall again produces alongside Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate Entertainment, and Greengrass, Damon, Gregory Goodman and Ben Smith also produce. Based on characters created by Robert Ludlum, the film is written by Greengrass and Christopher Rouse. www.jasonbournemovie.com
For the new episode of our STAND UP spotlight, check out the comedian known as Shang performing at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood!
Please note this is parental advisory edition;
Tony Award Winner Ben Vereen has joined the cast of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as Dr. Everett Scott.
He’ll play the ex-science teacher now working for the Bureau of Investigation looking into UFOs and ends up at the castle while searching for his nephew, Eddie.
Vereen joins a cast that already includes Laverne Cox (as Dr. Frank-N-Furter), Victoria Justice (as Janet), Ryan McCartan (as Brad), Adam Lambert (Eddie), Reeve Carney (Riff Raff), Staz Nair (Rocky), Annaleigh Ashford (Columbia), Christina Milian (Magenta) and Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter, who returns as the show’s Criminologist Narrator.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is from Fox 21 Television Studios and The Jackal Group. Lou Adler and Gail Berman, along with Kenny Ortega, will serve as executive producers.
Ortega will also direct and choreograph.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” remake is set to air fall 2016 on Fox. The two-hour event is a reimagining of the cult classic, which is celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history. One of the most popular films of all time, it still plays in movie theaters around the world.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” follows sweethearts Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bizarre castle. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous flirtatious alien mad-scientist, is holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” – a man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.
Source: Shadow & Act