Katt Williams - another ghettofabulous victim

So my sister made me aware that one of the current top stand-up comedians was just arrested. If you haven't heard about this, it was Katt Williams (real name Micah Williams) - again.

Now I realize that Williams did a great thing in adopting 7 children - all from the U.S., because as he said on the Tonight Show

"I got my kids right here, I didn’t have to go to Africa to do it. Amazingly enough, there are needy kids right down the street."

I do respect that, and I can imagine that he has many of the same problems that drove Jon & Kate Gosselin crazy, on-going in his own home.

I can understand why he chose to follow his dream of being a comedian, instead of following-up a chance for higher education. Understand, not respect.

And I'm as happy that his career has come together, as I am for almost any entertainer. But none of this excuses the fact that Katt Williams is ghettofabulous. And that's all he his. Thus I was not surprised by his arrest for buglary.

I'm sure I will be told how unfair I am. ok. Doesn't change a thing. Because I just notice that every entertainer that uses the ghettofabulous theme as a means of making their money, winds up arrested for something stupid. Often.

Now it could be that Williams needs to be medicated or otherwise under medical care. But I don't know. It's hard to connect a burglary and a need to speak to a shrink. Especially when, to all apparent sources, Williams and his family are not about to starve.

Maybe I should feel bad. But honestly, I think its the karma of being ghettofabulous coming back at him. Like it does to everyone that follows that ill-conceived line of thinking.

Bill Cosby given the Mark Twain Prize

There are but a few comedians that have had the ability to entertain the masses for more than just a moment. They are people whose names can be remembered by gerations, across the globe. To these few, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is given.



Bill Cosby recieved this honor yesterday, at an event filled with stars and fans. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Sinbad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Rita Moreno, and many others were on hand to celebrate the gift of humor that Cosby has shared with us all for decades.

Without a single curse, without a need to be ghettofabulous, Cosby has acheived greatness and opened doors for all that have come after him. There would be no Martin, no Lining Single, no In Living Color, and on without Cosby and I Spy. There would be arguably be no Tyler Perry without The Cosby Show. His footprints cover movies, television, and stand-up comedy.



Many may not realize it, but back in the 80's as the Cosby Show was shocking Hollywood that an African American family could be successful and funny, and America would flock to it in droves, Dr. Bill Cosby had the chance to buy NBC - and turned the deal down. Just having such an option is remarkable. In fact I only can recall one other star that was capable of such a feat, Dezi Arnaz (who oddly enough was also a person of color).

These days Dr. Cosby may be covered by the media mostly for his comments about our society, and Black culture. It's an insight that is both piercing and accurate. No statement ever causes more discussion and complaint than the absolute truth. But I believe he has earned the right to chide the very same people that he joked with through out their formative years.



For all these reasons, I am glad to know that Dr. Bill Cosby has received the Mark Twain Prize. Because it is his ability to communicate with us, in humor and abject gravity, that defines what he was and is today. Like Mark Twain he has used the American language and culture to inform, educate, and unify us. As I said, few can ever hope to acheive such great levels, and when they do we should take note.

Keep an eye out. The tribute will air on PBS on November 4th. It will surely be worthy of watching.

Wayne Brady is back

You do recall who Wayne Brady is right? If you don't you really should.

He is one of the most talented performers working today. While most have only seen him on television in re-runs of Whose Line Is It Anyway, it is that program that presents how diverse this entertainer is.





But don't think he is only a comedian. As the above skit presents, he can sing. So well in fact that he was nominated for a Grammy.



Brady has done Broadway, appeared on multiple television shows,and several movies as well. He is a great entertainer, in the old meaning of the term. He is not a superstar, he is not an idol or mega-actor. He just provides the audience a show worth watching. Which is rare these days.

In fact how many entertainers do you think could spontaneously break into song and sound half this good these days.



So he is back on television. But I think that the venue is truly a waste of his abilities. he will be showcasing the new Let's Make A Deal. A cute show for sure, and few can do it like Monty Hall, but hardly worth of the talent that Brady embodies.

Adding to the difficulty is the fact that this revamped prize show will be replacing Guiding Light. The soap opera has been running for 5 decades, and it's loss will definitely have some negative reaction. Which says nothing of the fact that this is CBS we are talking about.

Still anything that gets Wayne Brady more exposure makes me happy. Though I'd love to see him doing something more involved.

But if you think he doesn't realize the fickle nature of Hollywood, just watch this skit done after his talk show was canceled.

3 times and Ron White is out

Bad news for fans of comedian Ron White. The latest comedy album Behavioral Problems will be the last. That makes three hit albums for him and he feels that's as close to perfection as he will get.

I tend to agree with his grandfather who said (in White's retelling)

"That boy has a lot of quit in him."

Somehow I don't believe this will be like the final performances of Cher, Jay-z, Barbara Streisand, and other entertainers that keep coming back. Ron White just won't make another album. But that does not mean we won't be able to enjoy his comedy.

Plans are still moving forward for the Ron White Show. This will be a new show on Comedy Central, featuring White discussing the various news headlines from across the nation. He will be focused on the middle of the nation, as always, and of course he will give his unique brand of storytelling to the mix.

On top of that White will continue to cross the nation, or at least the mid-West, doing live performances. He has been on the road about 50 times a year since 1986, and plans to continue. In his own words

"The live show is staying real steady. That's not true for everybody, so I'm happy about that. People don't have the disposable cash that they did."

Just don't expect him to keep the old jokes coasting along. He feels that comedy isn't a song. The joke won't work if you know the punchline. Which I agree with. And that makes his live performances really worthwile, since you will now be getting stuff that you won't see or hear elsewhere. That's worth the price of admission.

Ron White makes a move with Comedy Central

Good news for fans of comedian Ron White. For some time now White has been the least seen member of the Blue Collar Comedy troup. Which is a shame as the man is just funny.



It’s simple observational average joe funny. Unlike Larry the Cable Guy it does remain above elementary school intelligence, but White’s style is a far cry from say Dennis Miller or even the lightning pace of Dennis Leary. Though you can’t be surprised from a man who has a nickname of Tater Salad.

And in following his comedic style, with a uncharacteristic flurry of extra work, White will be launching a new comedy show on Comedy Central. A half-hour a week will be dedicated to The Ron White Show.

The exact nature of the show is still unknown. It will focus on stories about the American heartland. How that will happen is what boggles my mind. But I would expect that this will succeed, as have his specials.

So be prepared, the Tater Salad movie just might be down the road.

Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac - gone too soon

The past few days have been very sad on so many fronts. There was the surprising car accident that put Morgan Freeman into the hospital with a broken arm and shoulder. Then the Olympics were marred with the murder of an American father-in-law of the Men’s Volleyball Team coach. And now there is the back to back news of the sudden deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

This is a difficult week for many, and I offer my condolences to the families of all that are suffering.

Bernie Mac was just a few months short of being 51. Born in the South side of Chicago, he raised himself up from early childhood tragedies of losing his mother and the absence of his father. Though he started his comedy career in his teens, it was not until he was 32 that his career flourished. The perseverance that allowed him to follow his dream took him through a difficult road – at one time leading him to work for UPS and as a furniture mover. Yet it was this aspect of everyday struggles that helped to shape his comedy and give him an appeal that was as wide as the nation.

While I may not been the greatest fan of Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (his given name) in his stand-up comedy, I was among the millions that enjoyed his acting in movies as diverse as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Get on the Bus, Life, Ocean's Eleven (and it’s2 sequels), What's the Worst That Could Happen?. Even more people were able to learn of his ability in his television show, The Bernie Mac Show, in which he received 2 Emmy nominations, 2 Golden Globe nominations, and 7 NAACP Image Award nominations (of which he won 4) all for best comedic actor.

This says nothing of the fact that Bernie Mac was a father. While his fame came towards the end of his life, he raised a daughter with his wife that graduated from college with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. That daugheter is married and made Bernie Mac a grandfather.

He was too young to leave us all.

Isaac Hayes was also a young robust 65. He first came to national attention in the 1960’s and has never been far from the ears of the nation, even if many had no idea it was him. He was a writer, singer, musician, composer and producer of multiple albums, leaving an indelible mark in music that still is reflected to this day. He received the first Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category for his soundtrack to the film SHAFT as well as 3 Grammy Awards. But that was not the only source of his fame.

From the 1970’s on Isaac Hayes could be seen on television and in movies. Some of his most notable mvoie characters included is possibly most famous – the Duke of New York from Escape From New York. But he was as comfortable in a comedy (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka) as in sci-fi (Johnny Mnemonic).

Of course his television roles were equally as diverse. He appeared on The Rockford Files, The A-Team and Miami Vice before he captured a role on one of the most popular television programs for the modern generation of kids South Park – where he voiced Chef.

But all of these accomplishments should be no surprise as Isaac Hayes was a man of diverse abilities. Like Bernie Mac, he lived through the death of his parents and being raised by his grandparents. He was poor in his youth, and picked cotton for a time. Yet he sang for his church since he was 5, and taught himself how to play 4 instruments - piano, electronic organ, flute and saxophone.

Isaac Hayes was also like Bernie Mac in that he too was a family man. Hayes had 12 children, and had 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Considering all of his accomplishments Hayes still found time for humanitarian work. He was involved with Youth for Human Rights International and One Campaign among others. In fact he was made an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district in 1992 for his humanitarianism.

All of this and the fact that Hayes had suffered from a stroke earlier in his life.

He too has gone from us too soone.

But I want to emphasize something about these public men, something that I am sure can be said of Todd Bachmann as well. They all gave of themselves and helped to improve the world we all live in. Their struggles and accomplishments are testament to the things we all can achieve in our lives.

From being poor, to losses in youth, to struggles in work we each can rise up and become the dreams we have, and help others to live out their dreams – or just live better lives.

I am sad today because of their losses, but I am also happy knowing that these men gave us all something that has enrichened our lives. Again I give my condolences to their families and friends.