This Day In Comedy: The Ethnic Encyclopedia of Laughter
496
This Day In Comedy: The Ethnic Encyclopedia of Laughter
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781634242622 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Trine Day |
| Publication date: | 12/03/2019 |
| Edition description: | None |
| Pages: | 496 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.20(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
LADIES & GENTLEMEN ...
On a daily basis (almost) some comedian or comedy event originates. And here they are ...
January
This Day in Comedy ...,
January 1, 1997: HBO's Def Comedy Jam – Aired Its Last Episode!
January 1, 1964: Comedienne, Actress, Adele Givens – Born!
January 2, 1968: Comedian Actor, Writer, Producer, Chris Spencer – Born in Los Angeles!
January 3, 1989: The Arsenio Hall Show – Debuted!
January 4, 1971: Comedienne, Dominique (Witten) – Born in Washington, DC!
January 5, 1906: Comedian, Actor, Fred "Snowflake" Toones – Born in North Carolina!
January 5, 1969: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Robert "Guy" Torry – Born in St. Louis, Missouri!
January 5, 1974: Comedian, Impressionist, Pablo Ridson Francisco – Born in Arizona!
January 6, 1926, Comedian, Actor, Singer, Producer, Writer, "Capulina" (Gaspar Henaine Pérez) – Born in Chignahuapan, Puebla!
January 6, 1979: Comedienne, Actress, Writer, Producer, Cristela Alonzo – Born in San Juan, Texas!
January 7, 1970: Comedian, Actor, Producer, Filmmaker, Doug E. Doug – Born in Brooklyn!
January 9, 1972: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Deon Cole Was Born in Chicago, Illinois!
January 10, 1999: The PJs – Premiered on FOX!
January 11, 1995: The Wayans Bros. – Premiered on the WB!
January 11, 1962: Comedienne, Actress, Game Show Host, Kim Coles – Born in Brooklyn!
January 12, 1996: Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood – Released
January 12, 2000: Next Friday – Released by New Line Cinema!
January 14, 1972: Sanford and Son – Premiered on NBC!
January 16, 1998: Half Baked – Released by Universal!
January 17, 2014: Ride Along – Released by Universal!
January 17, 1957: Comedian, Radio Personality, Author, TV Host, Broderick Stephen "Steve" Harvey – Born in Welch, West Virginia!
January 17th: Comedian, Producer, Author, Historian/Preservationist, Darryl Littleton aka D'Militant – Born in Los Angeles!
January 18, 1975: The Jeffersons – Premiered On CBS!
January 19, 1955: Comedian, Actor, Paul Rodriguez – Born in Mazatlán, Mexico!
January 19, 1971: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, Shawn Mathis Wayans – Born in New York City!
January 21, 2005: Are We There Yet? – Released by Columbia Pictures!
January 22, 2003: Chappelle's Show – Premiered on Comedy Central!
January 23, 1996: Moesha – Premiered On UPN!
January 26, 1973, Comedian, Producer, Activist, W. Kamau Bell (Walter Kamau Bell) – Born in Palo Alto!
January 27, 1942: Comedian, Actor, John Witherspoon – Born in Detroit, Michigan!
January 27, 1940: Comedian, Actor, Composer, Reynaldo Rey (Harry Reynolds) – Born in Sequoyah, Oklahoma!
January 1, 1997
HBO's Def Comedy Jam – Aired its Last Episode!
Produced by rap mogul, Russell Simmons, the series had its original run from July 1, 1992 until January 1, 1997. Based on the formula established at the Comedy Act Theater in Los Angeles, California, the show was originally set to have that club's MC, Robin Harris as host. However, after his untimely death Martin Lawrence was tapped for that role and the show went on to defy all odds. Despite its raw, in-your-face barrage of three Black comedians, it not only became must see TV every Friday night; it also changed the comedy landscape in film and television for years. Relative unknowns before their Def Comedy Jam exposure, comedians such as Jamie Foxx, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker and others dominated the mediums.
The show was criticized for excessive foul language and negative representations of African Americans by letter writers and celebrities like Bill Cosby; at the time known as "America's Dad." However, the public embraced it and it returned on HBO's fall lineup in 2006. The show produced a spinoff called Loco Slam and has been spoofed on In Living Color, Robert Townsend's Townsend Television and Saturday Night Live.
https://youtu.be/QyCiunB6mPo
* * *
January 1, 1964
Adele Givens – Born!
Givens got started entertaining at the age of 8 years old at a house party. She later expanded her audience when she got into stand-up comedy and in 1989 became the Grand Prize Winner of the "Royal Crown Comedy Contest." Givens was the runner up to the "Miller Lite Comedy Search" the following year (losing out to Bernie Mac). She performed on Def Comedy Jam and Comedy Central Presents.
Circa 2000, Givens, Mo'Nique, Sommore and Miss Laura Hayes toured as the "Original Queens of Comedy" and taped a concert film. Both were huge successes. Adele Givens has appeared in the films, Beauty Shop and The Players Club. Givens has guest-starred on The Hughleys, Moesha, The Parkers, Martin, Tracey Takes on ... and The Steve Harvey Show. Adele Givens went into semi-retirement to care for her ailing husband, Tony, when he needed a liver transplant (which was supplied by a donor named Jessica), but upon his recovery Givens returned to her sacred public duty as a national headliner.
https://youtu.be/TGi-ihN4EDA
* * *
January 2, 1968
Chris Spencer – Born in Los Angeles, California!
Spencer got his start in comedy during the Black Comedy Boom of the early 1990s and developed his act at the Comedy Act Theater and other L.A. and Hollywood clubs. It was his omnipresence on stages which led to his initial film credits. He was prominently featured in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood from the Wayans clan. Spencer played a militant with an insatiable love for white women. His other movie appearances include All About You, The Sixth Man, Two Can Play That Game and Postal.
Chris Spencer got his public notoriety from his stint as the host of Quincy Jones' late-night talk show, Vibe, launched after The Arsenio Hall Show was off the air and the landscape was ripe for a successor. Several personalities threw their reputations in the ring: Magic Johnson, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Jones with Vibe. None of those other programs lasted long, but Vibe was interesting because Spencer never wanted to do it and when he did the producers never fully had confidence in their handpicked star. It wasn't long before Spencer was replaced by Sinbad and an even shorter time span for Vibe to be cancelled. However, the setback didn't stop the dissed host from finding his place in the sun.
The multi-talented Spencer moved on to other projects, becoming one of the most sought after writer / producers in Hollywood. He was instrumental in the creation of Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out (where he was also a writer). He co-created Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart and White Famous with Buddy Lewis. He has written and produced projects for Will Smith, Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, Taraji P Henson and Jamie Foxx, as well as lending his penmanship to the Emmys, BET Awards, MTV Awards and Image Awards.
Spencer's televised credits in front of the camera include Being Mary Jane, The Jamie Foxx Show, Half & Half, Soul Food and Cuts. He's also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Show, The Chris Rock Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, Lopez Tonight, Just For Laughs Gala Special and had his own Showtime Comedy Special entitled The Other Chris. So Touche.
https://youtu.be/-xXlm-uxqvs
* * *
January 3, 1989
The Arsenio Hall Show – Debuted!
Hall has the distinction of having two separate late-night shows named after him (not that he even tried to find another title). The first one debuted on January 3, 1989 and took the world by surprise; changing late night's approach and demographics. Once that tsunami subsided Hall came back years later under the same name. That second effort was produced by Tribune Broadcasting and distributed by CBS. It was short lived (September 9, 2013 – May 30, 2014); plagued with poor writing, a changing attitude towards late-night shows and middling support from the media (Brian Williams famously did not mention Hall when listing hosts on the late-night programming grid). That second effort is not Hall's legacy.
The revolutionary late-night talk show created by Hall was known not only for its Black host, but its embrace and influence on pop and hip-hop culture. For decades other late-night entries were the bastion of safe, pre-slumber fare. Hall's show introduced acts like Bobby Brown for more of a late-night party feel. If you were in bed it wasn't for sleeping. Hall had 1992 presidential hopeful Bill Clinton on, who, in a single moment of cool, broke out his saxophone and jammed with Hall's house band known as his "Posse." If you didn't vote for Clinton at least you thought about it. The Arsenio Hall Show had his signature "dog pound" of fans barking at the host. He had labels for sections of his audience. He had things that make you go, Hmmmm. His introduction had a long sustained "O" as he stood in the shape of a giant "A." It had style. It was cool. People talked about it the next day. In short, the show was an event.
The initial show was produced by Arsenio Hall's company, Arsenio Hall Communications. After the seasoned stand-up had a run as the warm-up comedian and co-host for Paramount's Solid Gold dance series, Hall served as host for 13 weeks on FOX's late-night talk show as a replacement for the fired Joan Rivers. Hall was a hit in the slot and before FOX knew it Hall had made a deal with Paramount for his own late-night show; a show that appealed to a younger audience and sponsors.
The Arsenio Hall Show looked like there was no end in sight and it was in for a run as long and comfortable as the gold standard,The Tonight Show. Then all of a sudden the planets in the late-night universe began to collide. First Jay Leno snagged The Tonight Show hosting gig over at NBC leaving presumed heir to the Johnny Carson seat, David Letterman, publicly embarrassed. That didn't last long. Letterman wiped the egg off his face and jumped over to a delighted CBS. The one who was not delighted was Hall, who now had to watch CBS affiliates either drop his show or move it to an inconsequential time slot in favor of the golden boy, Letterman. Well, at least Hall had his FOX affiliates, or so he thought. They had instructions to move or drop Hall in favor of the new Chevy Chase late-night talk show. Now Hall was screwed because, even though the Chase show lasted only 5 weeks, most of those FOX affiliates didn't reschedule Hall.
The final death-knell came when Hall booked Louis Farrakhan. The die had already been cast, with affiliate defections, but when Nation of Islam's polarizing leader sat down for an interview the mainstream media declared the questions soft and the scheduling of such a figure questionable and offensive. Hall stood by the interview and was soon off the air. The last episode aired on May 29, 1994.
The Arsenio Hall Show won two NAACP Image Awards for Best Series (1993 & 1995) and two Emmy Awards (1990: Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special and 1993: Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series).
https://youtu.be/8fJB1Uxuj6o
* * *
January 4, 1971
Dominique (Witten)– Born in Washington, DC!
In a profession dominated by men, Dominique is known as "The people's champ." That moniker came from her regular segment on The Tom Joyner Morning Show, but it applies to the love her fan base has for her. She's one of them; just good old folks. That type of comedy capital is priceless. It translates and has people rooting for you. It did, when her co-workers at the Brentwood Postal facility encouraged her to take up stand-up comedy. It did, when scouts from HBO's Def Comedy Jam sought her out and booked her on their career-changing show, prompting her to relocate to New York. It also did, when Tracy Morgan first saw Dominique and made her his opening act.
Once in the door she roamed around the house known as comedy. Dominique appeared on Last Comic Standing, Herlarious (the OWN network), Black Jesus on Adult Swim and her big break on the surprise hit, Chappelle's Show. That Comedy Central phenomenon catapulted it's host, (Dave Chappelle) and cast of regulars (Charlie Murphy, Donnell Rawlins, Bill Burr, Dominique) to cult status. That not only made Dominique a household face, it put her in the position to knock out audiences with her brand of brutally honest comedy as a major personal appearance attraction worldwide.
https://youtu.be/Fa7kWc3JShg
* * *
January 5, 1906
Fred "Snowflake" Toones – Born in North Carolina!
Toones was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history of any race. He appeared in over 200 motion pictures in a career that spanned from 1928-1951. His specialty was westerns and he worked for acclaimed directors such as Preston Sturges and with noted cinema stars like John Wayne, Bruce Bennett, Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges, just to name a few. His characters often went by Toones' stage name of "Snowflake," but many times he went uncredited.
Fred Toones was part of the old studio system, which meant he was a victim of old-Hollywood stereotyping. Toones' cubbyhole was mostly that of the domestic. He played a porter over 50 times. He also played janitors, elevator operators, doormen, bellhops, stable grooms, valets, butlers, cooks and bartenders. In six of his films Toones portrayed a shoeshine man. The irony of this was the fact that not only did Fred Toones play shoeshiners in the movies, he actually ran a shoeshine stand at Republic Studios.
Some would consider Toones a poor man's Stepin Fetchit, but that characterization would be inaccurate. In the over 200 films Toones made he was only credited in 73 of them. As an uncredited actor those roles were considered bit-player work and he was paid as such. Stepin Fetchit made only 53 films, but he was paid well for all of them. So, even though they played the same roles, Stepin Fetchit became the first Black millionaire movie star and Fred Toones shined shoes on a studio lot.
Fred Toones died on February 13, 1962 in Los Angeles, California.
http://dai.ly/x23dfiv
* * *
January 5, 1969
Robert "Guy" Torry – Born in St. Louis, Missouri!
Torry got his start in comedy in college, then once out, he went to Hollywood. His brother, Joe Torry, had already made the journey and was a successful host of The Comedy Act Theater when Guy arrived. Going by the stage name of Guy T, the younger Torry dug right in and honed his skills as a regular at the popular club. He took his talents and knowledge to The World-Famous Comedy Store and created the institution known as "Phat Tuesday" in 1995. This was the night Black Hollywood was celebrated; on stage in the way of comedians and, out in the audience, in the way of crowds. Celebrities of the moment came to see the celebrities of the future and Torry was the ringmaster. This phenomenal night lasted for a decade, but during that time Torry stayed busy elsewhere.
Guy Torry showed up a lot on the small and big screen. He first appeared in Family Matters, then Martin (he also wrote for the show and for Moesha). Then he got a role in the UPN sitcom, Good News. That didn't last long, but so what? He made movies; Don't Be A Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Life, Trippin, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Harbor, and his stand-out role as a convict who converts the racist protagonist (Edward Norton) in American History X.
As a stand-up, Torry found success on the road. He toured the civilized world and returned to do Def Comedy Jam (his brother was the host of that too) and killed it. He was seen on Comedy Central and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Then Guy Torry became the host of the first outing of the Original Kings of Comedy in 1998. The other comedians were Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac. Torry left after that first run to star as a detective in the UPN action series, The Strip. That show didn't last long, either. Oh well, he could always do radio, charities, tours, celebrity roasts, film documentaries, guest star on sitcoms, etc., etc., etc.
https://youtu.be/C-7_x64kE1w
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "This Day in Comedy"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Darryl Littleton & Frank Holder.
Excerpted by permission of Trine Day LLC.
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