Guy Torry Issue Sept 2015 by Frank Holder

Volume 3 Issue 5 September 2015

Brings Back

Exclusive:

Red Carpet Pics: &

The Comedy Underground

Founder /Publisher Frank Holder

Associate Publisher/ Graphics Art Editor Bernadette Holder Executive Assistant To The Publisher Latyara Plain

Chief Financial Officer Brien Kelley

Chief Operations Officer/ Circulation Editor Kevin Layne

Editor-At Large Sacre Wills

Senior Head of Sales Tom Maxwell

Star Spotlight Editor Antonia Andullerro

Columnists

Tony Spires Peppur Chambers Darryl Littleton Antonia Andullerro Kevin Williams

Movie Reviews

Michael DeQuina

Photographers This Issue

Frank Holder Arnold Turner Steve Capers Chris Purnell Frank Rivers Larry Busacca Moses Robinson Eric Charbonneau Timothy Hiatt/Getty Getty Images Wire Images

Pictured here is actor Morris Chestnut on the red carpet at world premiere of Screen Gems' latest film The Perfect Guy for a special screening at The Writers Guild Association in Hollywood. Photo: Unknown

This Issue

Guy Torry Latyara Plain Michael Hubbard Charles Gooch Phil Barner Scott Matthews Roger King Amber Brashear Shannon Pezzetta Sampson Crouppen Darrin Leverett Arnold Turner Brien Kelley Dusty Kuskie Tony Spires Peppur Chambers Darryl Littleton Antonia Andullerro Michael DeQuina Lolita Tracey Brailey Also a very special thanks to all of the interns who are coming on board. For anyone who’s name we didn’t mention (your name just slipped our mind momentarily) we apologize as your work is greatly appreciated!

Pictured here are actors Terrence Howard & Taraji P. Henson on the red carpet of the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards in Culver City. Photo Frank Holder

humormillmag.com The content of this Magazine is copy written (2009-’10) by The Humor Mill Magazine, DBA Holder Publishing, LLC. and may not be reprinted or retransmitted or reproduced without proper credit given to its origin.

Guy Torry Brings Back Phat Tuesdays After 20 Years! Photo Shoot Photographers Elsy Pochron Gervel Sampson Make Up/Stylist Ruby Mays

Creative Director Frank Holder Location: Loft, Los Angeles

Style With Photo Shoot: Model Yoursie Thomas Photographer Frank Holder Creative Director Sean Simpson Stylist/Makeup Bernadette Holder Location: Burbank, CA Style With Photo Shoot: Model Anica Barbosa Photographer Frank Rivers Stylist Sioni Monteiro Pictured here is actor Laz Alonso on the red carpet premiere of TV One’s new season of Lexus’ Verses and Flow in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

Guy Torry News

For this new issue Lebron James and Kanye West make the news as both are trying new ventures in comedy! Plus there is new about Starz’ Survivor’s Remorse, BET’s new venture in comedy with a show from Brandy, news of the comedian who bowed OUT of The Black & Brown Comedy Get Down Tour, and more news!

Movie Review

This issue we check out the new film that many folks wouldn’t do too well at the box office- The Perfect Guy! As with the past films just released in the past several weeks, this black film did very well at the box office. But the question remains; how was the new Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy, and Morris Chestnut film? In this issue we take an in depth look at comedian Guy Torry and his venture Phat Tuesdays! We talk to Torry about his comedy career and the life span of his venture and how it ended up coming back to Los Angeles! We also talk to him about why he With a new turn at the style section, we decided to end Phat Tuesdays years ago and why he thinks nowtake a look at several different people; with much stiffer competition- is a good time to bring it back. Will comedian Yoursie Thomas and actress Phat Tuesdays come back and stay in the LA market? Will it be a Anica Barbosa! Both are rising stars in national tour? Will the show eventually be filmed for television? All their own fields and we wanted to take of these questions and more are answered in the new article! the time out to highlight their work! Let’s see what they both have in the near future!

Style

Star Spotlight

For this month’s star spotlight we take a look at a person who truly climbed up from nothing in the entertainment industry to become one of the hottest producers in Hollywood; Issa Rae! The once YouTube star with a series known as s Awkward Black Girl as well as Ratchet Piece Theater, The "F" Word, and The Choir has now branched off to a new TV series and a deal with HBO. With that being said, we take a look at the career of this young starlet and her rising star!

TechTalk

In this issue, like everything else, we are going against the grain. With that being said for this issue we take an extended look at the new Mercedes Benz concept car that has the entire industry talking as the car of the future; The Concept IAA. There is a movement going on and we take a look at the car of the future!

Pictured here is actor/rapper Tip "T.I." Harris as he attends the world premiere of Marvel's "Ant-Man" at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo by Jesse Grant/ Getty Images for Disney

Pictured here is comedian Ricky Harris at Mo’ Betta Mondays at The Improv in Hollywood after his performance. Photo: Frank Holder

Mail If you are new to the magazine (and many of you are) here is a quick sample of each article in the magazine. You can take a quick glimpse and if you like it, please check out the article. If you love it forward it to a friend!

Interview With Comedian Jay Stevens By La Vance Lining, Sr.

Again here is a another new article by a new writer out of the South as he gives you a refreshing interview with Christian comedian Jay Stevens! Stevens really is on his grind as he is a radio host, an entrepreneur, and a rising star! The comedian from Cleveland, Ohio is making heads turn with his comedy as he is the talk of the Christian circles. Anyway, our writer has a chat with Stevens as he discusses his rise, his new business and his take on the comedy landscape.

The Heat In The Streets By Frank Holder

The New York fashion show just ended a week ago and the hottest talk of the whole show that anyone was talking about was the brand new kicks Kanye West was wearing- The Adidas Yeezy’s – 750 The Boast- in BLACK! We have the details on the hottest sneakers ‘cause they are in this new issue!

Pictured here is Steve Harvey on stage at the 2015 Ford Neighborhood Awards Hosted By Steve Harvey at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images

Mark Wahlberg and Adrian Grenier seen at Premiere of ‘Entourage’ held at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, CA. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Warner Bros./AP Images

Pictured here is comedian Roy Wood Jr. at Mo Betta Mondays at The Improv in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

Rick Rossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Newest Album; Black Dollar By Keith Nelson Jr

Is the new Rick Ross Album titled Black Dollar a hit? Is the new venture bringing gangsta rap back? Check out the latest review of the album and tell us your thoughts!

Uproar Entertainment Makinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Comedy Happen! By Darryl Littleton

Our writer and comedy historian is back with another great history lesson in what happened in comedy with the company now known as Uproar Entertainment. Our writer fills you in on their groundbreaking venture in the comedy world while filling you in on the history they were making at the time. As expected, Littleton does his homework. Check out the article for a quick history lesson!

Pictured here is comedian Chastity Washington backstage at the taping of the second season of The Comedy Underground at The Alex Theater in Glendale, CA. Photo: Frank Holder

This Month’s Daily Humor!

Here is a segment from our website where we post daily segments. This feature is strictly comedy and titled Today’s Daily Humor, and on the site we feature something funny daily. Well, this feature for the issue is for our App readers as they will be able to view our funniest picks of the month here. Take a look and see who we picked this month!

Waiting For The Rebirth By Peppur Chambers

As usual, the very cerebral writer Peppur Chambers takes us on a wild journey this month- except this time the journey takes us on her personal trip across the country. From her move to New York from Chicago to her move to Los Angeles we hear her voice- loud and clear! The thoughts of this writer has you feeling that you are in her shoes, and boy do those shoes move! This time she even takes us overseas!

Labors Of Love By Tony Spires The Comedy Doctor

As usual, The Comedy Doctor is back in his office! With that being said The Doctor decides to take us on a journey of his ‘Labor Of Love’ and it’s a journey! We see what he means when he states about his past ‘journeys’ but most importantly we LEARN something about it! Another great article from the Doctor and we must say this month HE IS IN!

Pictured here is comedic actress Yvette Nicole Brown on the red carpet of the special comedy show for actress comedian Kim Coles who at the time officially announced her engagement! The special comedy show took place at The Comedy Union in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is Executive Producer of Black-ish Kenya Barris and his daughter at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is singer and actress Brave Williams on the red carpet for Tony Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comedy & dinner benefit during BET Awards weekend in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

To All Of Our Readers, Hey Family! Like I said a couple of months ago, there is a lot of work to do- and lots of it is still on going! As I stated then, we launched a internet urban comedy radio station and to my surprise the station has taken off faster than anticipated. With several shows and more coming, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a joy to see the brand expand in that area. Anyway, the new venture of the month is to start the process of going LIVE while we broadcast the radio shows and as we add more sections of this magazine to the radio shows, show those live shows as well. With that being said, you will see the magazine grow as there are some new staffers coming on board to assist in the growth (and to my surprise they are taking on a lot of the duties!). Finally, we have been building something special for the month of November and that seems to be happening! So stay with us, watch us grow and spread the HUMOR!

Frank Holder

Publisher Humor Mill Magazine

Pictured here is the comedian known as Sommore on stage after her performance at The Ontario Improv. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is comedian Bill Bellamy after a special comedy performance at The Improv in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

Mill Magazine: The Humor Mill: Wow! AN issue featuring The Plastic Cup Boys! That issue was very nice and I loved it because after see Kevin Hart in concert I never knew who those comedians were but I found them funny too! It seemed like they came in and left very fast and since I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use my phone I never got a chance to remember who they were to look them up after the show. But thanks to your issue I got the proper introduction! Thanks Humor Mill! Tracey Ellis, Philadelphia Ed NOTE: You are very welcome! Thanks for reading and please tell your friends!

John Cho attends as Paramount Pictures presents the Los Angeles premiere of "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ AB Images)

Pictured here is comedian and producer Royale Watkins at Bill Bellamyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th Birthday Celebration at The W Hotel in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is actor Garrett Morris as he attends the world premiere of Marvel's "AntMan" at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Mill Mag: Humor Mill: I wanted to send over an email because your latest issue of The Plastic Cup Boys was very good. I usually don’t write but I wanted to write in to you because I enjoyed the new magazine and I loved the insight into each comedian. I was a little bit disappointed when I didn’t see anything on Kevin Hart but I quickly got over it. I am now a fan of this magazine and I look forward to reading your latest! Lois Taylor Los Angeles, CA

ED NOTE: Thank you for the compliments! We purposely didn’t have Kevin Hart because everyone now knows who he is. Humor Mill! Great issue! I loved the feature on the comedians, the fashion and the videos! It is great to see au urban publication with a lot of positive articles and more instead of ratchet stuff that’s being fed into everyday lives. Keep up the EXCELLENT work! UNKNOWN

CORRECTIONS FROM THE LAST ISSUE!

There were too many to name in every issue, but thanks to your letters we know about all of them!  If you want to send us an email about the articles or your thoughts, all you have to do is send us an email to info@humormillmag.com for all of your comments. Some of these emails and other correspondence may be printed right here in these pages!

Pictured here is Usher as he performs at the 2015 Ford Neighborhood Awards Hosted By Steve Harvey at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images

L-R: Gerald “Slink” Johnson, Charlie Murphy, Corey Holcomb and John Witherspoon It official; Black Jesus is on for another season! With the news, the Facebook page of the show published a photo with the caption "Your prayers have been answered," suggesting the obvious. A year ago, Adult Swim did order a second season of its then new Aaron McGruder series, Black Jesus, but given how long it's been since that announcement, many fans apparently wondered if it was indeed returning for a second season. In season 1 McGruder's live-action "Jesus" finds the son of God living in present day Compton, CA, on a daily mission to spread love and kindness throughout the neighborhood, with the help of his small but loyal group of downtrodden followers. Gerald "Slink" Johnson stars as Black Jesus, Charlie Murphy, Corey Holcomb, John Witherspoon, Kali Hawk, Andra Fuller, Antwon Tanner, Andrew Bachelor, Angela Gibbs, and Valenzia Algarin round out the starring cast.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian According to several reports, it seems that rapper Kanye West is extremely interested in getting the roast treatment from Comedy Central! The funny thing is, these same reports also state that he wants to get roasted along with wife Kim Kardashian — which would make them the first couple to ever receive the roast treatment. All of this comes on the heels of Kanye witnessing how much buzz surrounded Comedy Central’s Roast of Justin Bieber, so sources have stated that of course, Kanye wants the same. We will see! Comedian Katt Williams has announced his new Conspiracy Theory tour, a jaunt that will have a "minimum" of 50 dates. The comedian has revealed the first 12 dates beginning in South Carolina next month, with more to be unveiled in the near future. Williams told Rolling Stone, "The conspiracy conversation is a conversation that we are all familiar with. We know that there are conspiracies out there, but this is a conversation that encompasses a lot of things that aren't being discussed other places. That's the basis for all conspiracy theories: the fact that there is hidden information out there." Williams added, "This is probably going to go down as one of my finest works, just because it's a collection of forbidden topics that we can't seem to get answered."

Katt Williams

Pictured here is comedian and actor Tony Rock on the red carpet for Tony Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comedy & dinner benefit for the My Rock Foundation during BET Awards weekend in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

With the successful return of Survivor’s Remorse it is no surprise that the official announcement came a couple of weeks ago that the Starz Show will be returning for a third season! Created by Mike O’Malley, who is set to return as showrunner for the upcoming round, the basketball comedy is executive produced by LeBron James, and stars Mike Epps, Tichina Arnold, Jessie Usher, Erica Ash, RonReaco Lee, and Teyonah Parris.

L-R/T-B: LeBron James, and stars Mike Epps, Tichina Arnold, Jessie Usher, Erica Ash, RonReaco Lee, and Teyonah Parris

Trevor Noah

Ronny Chieng

Desi Lydic

Roy Woods, Jr.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah officially announced that Ronny Chieng, Desi Lydic and Roy Wood Jr. will be the newest correspondents to join the team under new host Trevor Noah. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah premieres on Monday, September 28 at 11:00 p.m. on Comedy Central. Chieng, Lydic and Wood will be joining the team’s existing roster of talent, including Jordan Klepper, Hasan Minhaj, Jessica Williams, Lewis Black, John Hodgman, Al Madrigal, Aasif Mandvi and Kristen Schaal.

Pictured here is actor Paul Rudd as he attends the world premiere of Marvel's Ant-Man at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Pictured here are actors Robbie Jones (of Tyler Perry’s Temptation) and Sinqua Walls (of Power fame) on the red carpet premiere of TV One’s new season of Lexus’ Verses and Flow in Hollywood. Photo: Frank Holder

A couple of weeks ago, during a quick interview with Oakland's news station KTVU, Cedric The Entertainer dropped some news that many around the comedy world had been talking about; Mike Epps is off the Black And Brown Comedy Get Down Tour for several months while filming the new Richard Pryor biopic. The tour currently stars Ced, Eddie Griffin, DL Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy.

L: Cedric the Entertainer R: Mike Epps

The animated series Da Jammies is back and now on Netflix! Da Jammies follows five kids from the “Suburbs” who attend a Performing Arts middle school and meet up with a slew of fun and creative characters. The 3D animation is simplistic but well done helping it to offer up something that feels fresh without trying to overcomplicate it. They have crafted a series that looks to let the story and music do the work instead of trying to force each joke on the viewer. The music is not only a part of these characters storylines, but their lives and featured front and center with each episode. They have brought together a diverse group that helps to keep the show relatable to everyone of all ages whether you care about the hip hop culture or not. In addition to the fun songs that play off of classics and originals they bring some creative writing to the mix that makes for some funny stories and recognizable names in hip hop with some fun twists. The show features an impressive voice cast including Aulsondro ‘Novelist’ Hamilton, William ‘Dolla’ Chapman, Danielle Nicolet, Alisa Reyes, Anderson Johnson Jr., Darius McCrary, Kel Mitchell, Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, Kurtis Blow, James Avery, Jamal ‘J.Naught-T!’ McCants and more.

Danielle Nicolet

Kel Mitchell

Aulsondro ‘Novelist’ Hamilton

William ‘Dolla’ Chapman

Tragil & Dwayne Wade attend the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation Gala in Chicago. Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation

L-R: Brandy Norwood, Dorian Missick, Tory Devon Smith, Haneefah Wood Southland alum Dorian Missick, Tory Devon Smith (The Get Down), Haneefah Wood (Freedomland), Ignacio Serricchio (The Wedding Ringer) and Jaylon Gordon (The Good Book) round out the cast of BET Networksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new multi-camera comedy series titled Zoe Ever After starring and co-executive produced by Brandy Norwood. Production is underway in Atlanta for premiere in January. The show centers on Zoe Moon (Norwood), a newly single mom stepping out of the shadow of her famous boxer ex-husband Gemini Moon (Missick) while trying to balance dating, motherhood, a complicated relationship with her ex and finally fulfilling her career dream of starting a cosmetics line. Gordon plays her 8-year-old son Xavier; Smith is ValentĂŠ, her fashion-forward and fun assistant; Wood plays Pearl, her publicist and best friend; and Serricchio is sexy contractor Miguel.

L-R: Amber West, Lil Rel Howery, David Alan Grier, Loretta Devine NBC's summer comedy series lineup has had a stellar summer so far, with The Carmichael Show which kicked off a 6-episode run at 9pm a couple of weeks ago. The Carmichael Show is inspired by star Jerrod Carmichael's relationships with his say-anything contrarian father, therapist-in training girlfriend, everhustling brother and mother, who is always, always, always right with Jesus. Amber West, Lil Rel Howery, David Alan Grier, and Loretta Devine co-star. NBC reports the show drew 4.8 million viewers overall making it the most-watched summer comedy series debut on any of the Big 4 networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) since 2007, when Creature Comforts drew 6.1 million viewers for CBS - a span covering 12 summercomedy launches.

Pictured here is R&B singer Carl Thomas outside of the red carpet at the 2015 BET Awards at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Photo: Frank Holder

L-R: Mikes Epps, Richard Pryor, Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy, Lee Daniels After talking about this project for over a year, its official; The Weinstein Company is ready to greenlight the Richard Pryor biopic. Along with Mike Epps in the title role of Richard Pryor, the new cast additions are; Oprah Winfrey will play Pryor’s grandmother, who ran a brothel and raised the iconic comic there; Eddie Murphy will play Pryor’s father, Leroy “Buck Carter” Pryor, and Kate Hudson is set to play Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor. Lee Daniels, who worked with Weinstein and Winfrey on the blockbuster Lee Daniels’ The Butler, will start production in March, after wrapping up the second season of his hit FOX series Empire. The script is by Bill Condon and Daniels’ Empire collaborator Danny Strong, and Bruce Cohen and Jennifer Lee Pryor are deeply involved in the process as producers. There are compelling storylines that will create interest in this film beyond Pryor’s barrier-breaking accomplishments on the standup stage, on TV and in the movies with his politically charged, blue humor. Winfrey is very particular in the roles she plays–The Butler and Selma were the last two–and it is unexpected that she will play the brothel owner Marie Carter, who raised Pryor in a house of ill repute, where her own daughter and Pryor’s biological mother worked.

According to reports we hear actor and comedian Jamie Foxx is in talks to board Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver opposite Lily James and Ansel Elgort. Foxx is set to play a crime boss who coerces a young, talented getaway driver to work for him. Elgort pays the driver, who relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best. He must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom. Foxx is currently filming Baran Bo Odar’s Sleepless Nights, where he stars as a cop with a connection to the criminal underworld scours a nightclub in search of his kidnapped son. The film is based on the 2011 French film Nuit Blanche.

Lily James

Ansel Elgort Jamie Foxx

Comedian Kevin Hart announced a massive International World tour on the heels of his hugely successful domestic tour of the same name. The WHAT NOW? TOUR is kicking off in the UK on January 20, 2016. A full list of tour dates is below. Hart is one of comedy's biggest stars with a celebrated and award-winning career that has seen the talented entertainer become one of the industry's most important and influential voices. In 2015 Kevin starred in Screen Gem's smash hit, The Wedding Ringer, which took in over $80 million internationally, and in March 2015, starred opposite Will Farrell in. In 2016, Kevin will star in Ride Along 2, the highly anticipated sequel to last year's $150 Warner Bros. Pictures' Get Hard million international blockbuster. With this new tour Hart will give his fans the opportunity to see him live overseas, including firsttime stops in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland and South Africa.

WHAT NOW? TOUR

1/20/2016 – Manchester @ Manchester Arena 1/22/2016 – Dublin @ 3Arena 1/23/2016 – London @ Wembly Arena 1/24/2016 – London @ O2 Arena 1/25/2016 – Oslo @ Spektrum Arena 1/26/2016 – Stockholm @ Friends Arena 1/27/2015 – Berlin @ O2 1/29/2016 – Malmo @ Malmo Arena 1/30/2016 – Amsterdam @ Ziggodome 1/31/2016 – Antwerp @ Lotto Arena

2/2/2016 – Singapore @ Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre 2/3/2016 – Perth @ Perth Arena 2/5/2016 – Melbourne @ Rod Laver Arena 2/6/2016 – Brisbane @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre 2/7/2016 – Sydney @ Allphones Arena 3/26/2016 – Cape Town @ CT ICC 3/28/2016 – Durban @ DBN ICC Arena 3/30/2016 – Johannesburg @ The Dome

Adult Swim Greenlight’s

Brings Back

Over 20 years ago an young comedian from St. Louis named Guy Torry was trying to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, but he realized it wasn’t as easy as he first thought. Big brother Joe had made a name for himself nationally by being the second host –after Martin Lawrence -of the insanely hit HBO series Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam on HBO, and Guy just knew he could do the same. The problem was- as he quickly learned- the opportunity wasn’t the same as his older brother’s and maybe, just maybe, he had to find another way to break through in Hollywood. To make matters worse, his move to Hollywood wasn’t anywhere near as smooth as he thought it would be. Landing a role in a film or television wasn’t easy either, but due to his earlier appearance on Def Comedy Jam, he did manage to land several small roles in such shows as Family Matters and Martin. While Torry was on this journey he realized that the movie producers and talent scouts who were casting for these shows and films all wanted the next “hot” comedian, but the problem was they weren’t really going out to see any of the new hot, young, black comedians on stage in Hollywood. Torry knew that in order for him and several of his fellow comedians that needed to change. So, he did his research, and he asked around and before you know it, The Comedy Store allowed Torry to open what eventually became known as Phat Tuesdays.

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“…I created Phat Tuesdays because there was a lack of industry presence in LA scouting talent… so I went to the Comedy Store to ask if I could showcase some of my friends and they said ‘yes’…”

Photographers for this cover story Elsy Pochron, Gervel Sampson Story- Frank Holder

How easy could opening up a night in Hollywood be for an up and coming star? Well, as it turned out it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy at all. Torry learned first hand of the struggles of what life would eventually become by trying to be a local promoter, along with all of the back biting and back stabbing among his fellow comedians. But despite it all, Torry held his head up high and was able to create excellent opportunities for many rising stars. Comedians like Nick Cannon, who at that time was a teenager trying to just get on stage somewhere, was given stage time, along with Chris Tucker, Cedric The Entertainer, Mike Epps, Kevin Hart, DL Hughley, Chris Spencer, Red Grant, Melanie Comarcho, Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nique, and many, many, more. Finally there was a place for these comedians to be seen on THIS side of Pico (a street in L.A.) since no one was going in the hood to see anybody. With the comedians hitting the stages, it opened the door for producers, filmmakers and agents looking to cast Comedians a place to scout new talent. Prime example; Chris Tucker was seen on stage performing at Phat Tuesdays and studio execs and producers of the film The Fifth Element (who were unsure of casting Tucker in the role) knew right away that they were going to cast him in that film after seeing his performance on stage. If you know the history of Phat Tuesdays, there were tons and tons of these types of stories coming out of The Comedy Store, and there is not enough space to tell you all of them.

“… What people don’t realize is that where black comedians have to do comedy at are places where you can lose your life… And a lot of times we are not welcome in the mainstream clubs…”

Pictured here is comedians Tommy Davidson and Cedric The Entertainer at Bill Bellamy’s th 50 Birthday Celebration at The W Hotel in Hollywood.

but we can say at that point in time in the early 90’s, when Def Comedy jam was making stars, it was a reality that you could see any of them at Phat Tuesdays and eventually see them on screen or TV. As with every great story, there is always a final chapter as these things come to an end. Phat Tuesdays was rapidly moving along but the work of running the club and trying to maintain a rising career was finally taking its toll on Torry. He knew he had created a pivitol location for rising stars and since there was nothing like it in Hollywood, he fought hard to keep it open. But alas, he finally relented and passed the torch of the venue to someone else and finally just focused on his career. Now fast forward twenty years later since the grand opening of the comedy nightclub, Phat Tuesday is coming back to Los Angeles. This time the market is completely different; there are other promoters in Hollywood who have taken the torch and have created their own lane- some of which are direct descendants of what Torry spawned. From Chocolate Sundaes at The Laugh Factory, Mo’ Betta Monday’s at The Hollywood Improv, to All Def Digital’s Comedy Show, the landscape is completely saturated. Torry now faces the challenge of working with these promoters to create opportunities while also trying to keep a balance for others in the marketplace. There is even a new wrinkle he didn’t have to deal with when he first launched; social media! As you already know, when Torry launched there was no such thing as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of these types of platforms, so now he has to create the balance of working with the local promoters and making sure his new Phat Tuesdays is still hot as it was on social media. As everyone knows now, social media can either make or break your new venture. Anyway, we got a chance to sit down and discuss all of these things and what’s the plans moving forward for Phat Tuesdays with Torry and he made some very interesting point about the comedy landscape and how he plans on bringing back his venture with a new twist. (See the interview at the beginning of the story)

“… Phat Tuesdays was important (when it launched) because we could go to a mainstream club (The Comedy Store) and we didn’t have to deal with ager or stress and still be seen…”

Pictured here is R&B singers Cee Lo Green and V Bozeman backstage at the new First Fridays at LA Live at The Nokia Theater. Photo: Frank Holder

This Weeks Star Spotlight focuses on actor, writer and producer Issa Rae, born January 12, 1985. She hails from Potomac, Maryland but calls Southern California home. She’s a Stanford University alum and the daughter of a successful doctor. Her resume screams smart visionary with an eye for specifics leaving no room for reversing her vision - even if it means declining offers from networks. She’s currently signed to UTA, meanwhile trying relentlessly to conceptualize her ideas in hopes of getting picked up by a major television network. She grew up going to an all-white school in Maryland until her family relocated to Los Angeles where she ended up in an all black school. She was known as a black girl who talked and acted white which totally contradicted the typical black girl stereotypes that she was “supposed to” fall under. Because of her early childhood experiences a visionary was born. Rae went on to create an online comedy series called Awkward Black Girl which received an award for best web show and has reached over 20 million views on You Tube. She’s made the Forbes 30 under 30 Entertainment list leaving her wondering why her comedy web series was so successful on YouTube but not as successful in trying to transition to TV. She’s not seeing eye-to-eye with network execs and her pitches are constantly being modified and her ideas become completely reversed from the origin and conception of what she’s trying to offer mainstream television. Awkward Black Girl is based on what it felt like to be the only black girl in Maryland and then to transition to a black community where she was ridiculed for not being black enough. Those experiences and feelings manifested into her ideas for possible TV shows and many web series ideas. The basic focus is on stereotypes in the black community that target women and shed a light on behaviors that she can’t relate to. She’s like a white girl trapped in a black girl’s body. This has given her the podium to voice all the things that “she should be” that she’s actually not. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl was her best-selling memoir expressing that for her - black television was a connection to black culture, colloquial speech and tradition, as she was only acquainted with white vernacular. She’s had complications trying to pitch to different networks like HBO and ABC, coming close to working with Chris Rock and even Shonda Rhimes but their direction was different. Networks want seasoned directors and producers. The objective is to create something the network deems as substantial which will increase the chances of being picked up and that’s where Rae fell into the rookie category. The complexity associated with white Hollywood executives is a hardship especially when you’re trying to give black women a different voice other than, loud, angry and stereotypical. My hope is that Issa Rae gives us something distinctive, something Hollywood hasn’t seen yet. I’m counting on her to break down barriers and construct a new trademark in media… because we’re long overdue and we deserve it. On behalf of myself and the HumorMill Magazine we hope to see more of Issa Rae and her comedic and clever storytelling. But in the meantime I’ll continue to admire her reluctance to compromise her vision.

Comedian Alex Scott and Host Naomi Scott

L.P. On the Scene Dallas 2013

Comedian Alex Scott and Host Naomi Scott

L.P. On the Scene Dallas 2013

By Darryl Litteton

And unlike many clubs you don’t have to be a marquee name to get your talents recognized. Since the Black Comedy Boom subsided many have tried to re-create the magic. “Def Comedy Jam” and BET’s “Comic View” both famously attempted failed reboots to lackadaisical results. Def had been a comedy revelation; a show on Friday nights that people either stayed home to watch or taped and peeped as soon as they got back from the club (alone or not). “Comic View” had mesmerized audiences twice a day, five days a week with a wide array of comedic talent; some actually talented, some not so much.

Once the doors were opened Uproar Entertainment committed itself to recording and promoting today’s most talented comedians. They seek them out. Comedy talent is scouted at comedy festivals throughout the country (where Uproar gives a recording contract to the winners). Their roster includes comedy powerhouses like George Lopez, Brian Regan, Margaret Cho, Dana Gould, Doug Stanhope, Richard Jeni, Bobby Collins, John Pinette, Alonzo Bodden, Pablo Francisco, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and Scott Kennedy.

The era was revolutionary and the lightening that was caught in a bottle in the early 90s had shot back out into the stratosphere to never return to the same spot. Black Comedy has been in a nadir ever since. Some say it’s over; evidence being that most of the major black comedians blanket their acts with mainstream verbiage and dilemmas and not the bedrock of black comedy – the black experience. There’s also the uncomfortable fact that many headlining black comedians often opt to use white openers to soften the blow, but that also underexposes other deserving black talent of being seen by the very audience that would comprise their fan base. So as far as the genre, the teeth have been taken out of the beast.

They feature the classic comedy recordings from such notables as Jonathan Winters, LaWanda Page, Slappy White, Shecky Greene, Marsha Warfield and Rich Little, not to mention the legendary comedy albums of National Lampoon featuring many of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live.

Defanging never took place at Uproar Entertainment. The 30 year old label has consistently put out hard hitting comedy; catering to those fans who like it the way it was intended. Race never mattered. They let everyone offend. If your stand up is in-your-face and uncompromising they just might have a place for you; that is if you’re funny as well because Uproar’s name is justified. The finished product they release has been meticulously produced after being recorded at some of the top comedy venues in the nation, so the artist comes off to their best affect.

Uproar also recorded up-and-comers Tyler Boeh, John Moses, AJ Finney, Andrew Norelli, and Kabir Singh. This year alone they brought the equipment in to lay down tracks for Nikki Carr (“Last Comic Standing”), Tobe Hixx, Travis Simmons, Alfred Robles, Rain Pryor and yours truly with my latest recording of the aptly titled “Too Raw For Mainstream”. This was my second go around with Uproar. When I had the privilege of recording my first one “Am I Lying?” I was part of a wave of urban comedians that included Shang, Al Toomer, Melanie Comarcho, Marquez, the Greatest and Evan Lionel. So Uproar has always been a big proponent of black comedy. Why not? The man who founded Uproar is also the man who found Richard Pryor.

David Drozen, Uproar’s founder and CEO, discovered Richard Pryor in early 1970 when he caught his act at the Comedy Store and signed him to his first recording contract for the legendary comedy label Laff Records. At the time David was a partner at the label. His father, Louis Drozen owned a jewelry store on Broadway & 5th in downtown Los Angeles (Muhammad Ali posed in front of it famously back when he was Cassius Clay). One day somebody came up with the idea that Louis should put a record rack in his jewelry store and sell albums. Drozen Sr. took it a step further when he went out and caught the act of Leroy, Skillet and LaWanda. That trio were a raw comedy act with no reps. Louis decided to record them and form his own label to do it. Why should he sell the records of others when he could sell his own? Laff Records was born. Laff Records specialized in comedy records with naked women on the front cover where they'd put stickers over their nipples. It also featured old Sophie Tucker knock-offs, like Belle Barth and Pearl Williams, belting out raw and/or suggestive material and songs. It was the label of black acts such as the aforementioned LaWanda Page, Leroy & Skillet. Redd Foxx came over after a tumultuous relationship with Dooto Records as did Richard & Willie and Rudy Ray Moore. Marsha Warfield recorded for Laff and so did Slappy White, Dap Sugar Willie, Jimmy Lynch, Wildman Steve, Reynaldo Rey and Jimmy Thompson. They were raw, unapologetic party record artists not only pushing the envelope but putting a foot up its ass. Oh, and let’s not forget Richard Pryor. David Drozen and Richard Pryor worked together for 15 years and 12 record albums, including the classics “Craps After Hours”, “Are you Serious”, “Super Nigger”, and “Black Ben the Blacksmith.” Chris Rock called “Black Ben the Blacksmith” the best comedy album ever produced! Of the 12 Pryor albums David produced for Laff, 6 were nominated for Grammy’s including the Grammy winner “Rev. Du Rite.”

The watershed was “Craps After Dark”, Richard Pryor’s Laff Records maiden voyage. Interesting story behind that project. Seems that when Drozen went to pick up his brilliant new comedy discovery at his apartment to go shoot the album cover, Pryor was so coked up David had to put Rich over his shoulder and carry him down the stairs. All you have to do is look at the album cover and you can see that yayo glare. Now you would think based on this mutually beneficial relationship these two would’ve been bosom buddies. They weren’t even friends. Strictly business. The main reason being Pryor’s coke habit. Drozen has recounted many times how countless lines of cocaine would be passed back and forth in front of him and he never took a snort. This, he felt, made Pryor distrustful of him and he might have even felt Drozen was judging him. That, plus the fact David Drozen was not black. Drozen recalled that after Pryor set himself on fire freebasing that Drozen called the hospital to offer blood. Jim Brown, Pryor’s good friend, hung the phone up on him. No blood from a white man. So not exactly friends, but buddy love wasn’t needed to make great comedy albums and they did do that. That fact is David Drozen procured most of the talent that signed with Laff Records. So when Laff disbanded and went into bankruptcy in the mid80s due to changing trends and internal conflicts, David opened the doors to Uproar and some of the best established and up & coming talent has swung them open time and time again. With an unparalleled eye for comedic talent, David Drozen is responsible for discovering many of today’s great comedy talents, producing their very first comedy albums and igniting their comedy careers. Under his leadership Uproar Entertainment is makin’ comedy happen! Who’s next?

Comedian Alex Scott and Host Naomi Scott

L.P. On the Scene Dallas 2013

The good folks over at Adidas are no strangers to creating eye-catching style. From their apparel to their footwear, and much more in between. Well today they are back today with a look at the all new adidas Originals Yeezy 750 Boost “Black”. The sleek new kicks come rocking a bold new look that is definitely sure to set off a fury in the footwear world. The new adidas Originals Yeezy 750 Boost “Black” come rocking an all black appeal, and was recently confirmed in an interview with Power 105.1 Breakfast Club.

Word is that the black Yeezy’s will drop during the Fall or Winter. The unique creations are certainly something to add to your collection, and something definitely dope! Check out the outstanding new creations in the image up top and speak your mind on it after the jump. Stay tuned, more from Kanye and Adidas coming very soon! Colorway: /Cobalt-Black-Cement Grey Style Code: Unknown Release Date: Unknown Price: $Unknown

with Yoursie Thomas Photos: Frank Holder

An industry veteran, Yoursie Thomas has been on the comedy circuit for nearly two decades and has entertained audiences in most parts of the world. In fact, he has performed with a veritable who's who list of comedians, including, among others, Dane Cook, Robin Williams, Andrew Dice Clay, Russell Peters, Kat Williams, Mike Epps, and Bobby Lee. Thomas is also a popular entertainer as part of the United States Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program, having delighted the United States troops with his unparalleled humor in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Amsterdam, Korea, Japan, and other countries in between. Additionally, Thomas has appeared on Latino Laugh Festival, BET's Comicview, and has guest appeared on Foxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MADtv.

He counts the crazy and corky Jim Carrey, the late master of comedic short liners Rodney Dangerfield, the late, bright, and radiant George Carlin, and the incomparable Richard Pryor to whom he has been compared, among his comedic influences. Thomas is currently spending his spare time perfecting his comedic skills. Writing and impromptu performances are his recipe for composing perfection. He is actively cultivating the next generation of comics by mentoring young, upcoming comedians. His humor is adventurous and fresh, entertaining a wild range of audiences from the adolescent crowd to sophisticates in search of a humorously fun evening. Given the energy and commitment Thomas already dedicates to his craft, it is clear that the best is yet to come from this inspiring talent.

Pictured here is comedian Alycia Cooper on stage at the taping of the BET upcoming comedy show tentatively titled Pretty Funny! The show was filmed at The Hollywood Improv. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is the comedian known as Capone-The Gangsta Of Comedy backstage at the taping of the second season of The Comedy Underground at The Alex Theater in Glendale, CA. Photo: Frank Holder

Anica Barbosa

with Photos: Frank Rivers

ANICA A. BARBOSA is an exotic beauty who hails proudly from her native homeland of the Cape Verdean Islands. She is the second of 6 children who grew up in a small country that still resembles a serene paradise full of rich and natural culture. Raised with strict Cape Verdean beliefs and traditions would provide her with a solid foundation to shape her into the woman she is today. Full of dreams and worldly curiosity, Anica longed to see what the world was like outside of her small native humble paradise. At the tender age of 13, she was given a life changing opportunity to relocate with her family to the United States, Boston, Massachusetts. Being the first generation of the women in her family to ever read or write, she focused on education knowing it was a way to venture outside her tight knit culture. By maintaining high grades Anica earned a high rank in ROTC, scholarships to camps such as NAI Flight Training in the prestigious Tuskegee University in Alabama as a teenager. She went on to getting aviation certified and further achieving a BS in Business Management at Bridgewater Sate University in Bridgewater Massachusetts. At an early age she fell in love with martial arts which she used to stay disciplined, strong, focused and to keep moving in a positive direction.

Moving from Boston to Los Angeles in 2004, Anica was in search of her inner artist. With her lifelong passion for entertaining and performing she saw the chance to break free from being a local hometown performer and the only life she knew and pursue her dream on a bigger scale. Los Angeles has since provided her an outlet to explore her talents with both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Life as an Actor/Model in Los Angeles has opened doors to working with other amazingly talented artist and allowed her lifelong dreams to come true. Anica has a special connection with children and is passionate about mentoring them and she strives to touch their lives in many positive ways. Her passion for children drove her to seeking custody of a deserving young boy. This sacrifice being the most challenging thing she has ever done, it was also the most rewarding and through this she realized she wanted to dedicate her life to helping children on a much larger scale. She wanted to be the voice for young girls all over the world and be a role model to show them that one can always strive for and accomplish anything regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or background, all it takes is dedication and the belief of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self. Anica stays grounded by being environmentally conscious and volunteering on her spare time. She loves animals and making time to help others is mandatory in her lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey. She is passionate about all that she approaches and her energy is exciting and contagious. She magically wins the hearts of the children she mentors and the people she encounters throughout all areas of her life. She also spends time getting involved with her community by volunteering at the local food banks, The Red Cross, Boys & Girls clubs and homeless shelters throughout the city. She loves to enjoy herself by immersing in the outdoors where life is most virileâ&#x20AC;Ś among her favorite activities are bike riding, hiking, traveling, running, cooking and exploring new and exiting things. Anica looks forward to more opportunities in the film/television industry and will continue to create a strong platform for her voice to be heard. When asked what fuels her she insists it is her passion to achieve success not only for her but everyone her life touches.

If you happened to see this past season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and thought Wanda Sykes looked amazing, or if you happened to see Cee-Loo Green in NBC’s The Voice, then you just happened to see some of the amazing work done by Okera Banks. Okera Banks has established herself as the stylist and costume designer of choice by celebrities and corporate executives in the industry. Possessing a body of work that ranges from TV, film, music, sports to red carpet appearances and photo shoots, Banks has cleverly grown her brand to include her namesake clothing line Okera Banks, the OTG “on the go” Essentials Collection. The must have pieces for the modern day woman. A native of Washington, D.C., but raised in Charleston, SC, the vivacious and personable Banks earned a dual degree in Fashion Design, Merchandising and Marketing from Clark Atlanta University. Prior to completing her education, her fashion ambition led her to New York to intern with Mirabella, a leading fashion publication. As an assistant fashion editor, Banks absorbed American and European fashion elements, which fed and sustained her interest in up-and-coming trends, leading fashion designers, textures, and accessories. Upon completing her studies, Banks relocated to Los Angeles and quickly became part of the trend-setting fashion world. Banks’ transition to designer was natural and organic. Her current work as a designer is evidence of her versatility and Avant-garde spirit. You can currently see her designs on clients that include Cee Lo Green, Mel B, Angela Bassett, Christina Milian, Viola Davis and Nelly. Banks has been recognized for her unique style intervention, making numerous entertainers and high level corporate executives picture-perfect such as, Anthony Anderson, Mary J. Blige, Bill Bellamy, Larenz Tate, Kathaleen Madigan, Garcelle Beauvais, mophie, Herbalife I nternational, to name of few.

Additionally, Banks has been featured on E! Online, CNN, The Style Network, OK Magazine and VH1. Banks also joined the ranks with fashion bible Cosmopolitan Magazine, and became one of the Cosmo recommended stylist for Los Angeles. Banks’ personal views regarding the fashion industry are simple: "For me, style is all about what makes you feel comfortable, confident and sexy; whether you're on set, walking the red carpet, or simply on the go.” She also adds, “The key lies in building trust with your client so that you're creating a look and designing an image that enhances their overall persona." This philosophy inspired Banks’ to create Okera Banks OTG Essentials, a clothing line geared towards women of all walks of life. Chic, light, comfortable, sexy and essential pieces every woman can wear but cannot live without. Banks is undoubtedly a hot pick among celebrity stylists and designers; and she’s generating buzz and intriguing audiences both domestically and abroad. Banks’ warm persona coupled with her business savvy and fashion expertise, is certain to solidify her as a leading industry standard, fashion expert, and designer of choice for years to come! We got a chance to talk to Okera about several of her projects- so check out the interview!

Brown Bettie Knows Best ~I may not be funny, but I sure know what is.

It’s funny how sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you have to simply let go so that you can be whole again. When I moved to New York from Chicago in my late twenties, I wanted to shed the identifying labels with which I’d been lovingly bestowed: I was “Megan’s roommate” or I was “The Chicago Luvabull” or I was “The Track Star”. I often found myself wanting to shout, “Hey, I’m Peppur! I’m more than those things”. Perhaps back then my voice may not have been loud enough to speak up for myself; perhaps I didn’t know myself fully in order to do so. Or, there’s this: sometimes people want to see you as they see you and either you have to show them something different or you simply have to move on. Back then, I wanted to jump into the swift stream that was New York City and swim with many different fish, become influenced by them and move within a different type of swirl. So I did. I allowed myself to dive in and swim in deep, cold, unfamiliar waters or coast along the top of warm clear water; always moving, moving, moving with the rushing current. I was swept up into something that sometimes was me and sometimes wasn’t. After five years of being swept away in New York, I felt a shift again. While swimming with all sorts of fish in all types and depths of water, I’d accumulated floaters full of information and developed a new sense of self. By the time I moved to Los Angeles, I wanted to walk on water and feel as though all that I’d learned in New York would buoy me to greatness; sort of like skiing on floating suitcases of my knowledge. I was in my thirties and I wanted to skip and fly on the water. To be above water. Living. I’ve now been in Los Angeles for ten years. I haven’t always managed to stay above water. There has been sinking; there has been drowning; there has been being knocked over by tidal waves. And, at times, of course, there has been frolicking on the beach under warming and baking rays of the replenishing sun.

I’m in my forties now. I’m writing this contemplative missive from Prague. I’ve been in Europe on a workcation for a little over a month. The other day I was telling a friend I feel like this experience, or at least what I want from this experience and being in Europe, is something similar to needing a baptism. I want to be washed of routine thoughts and actions that have become habits; I want to accept something new that will unlock inner strengths, talents and thought processes that will expose a deeper, more meaningful me; I want to be touched by an angel, which at this point, will need to be my inner light. I’m ready to come to the water. I’m ready for the rebirth. I’m ready because I think I’m finally learning, and I hope that you are too, that as we drift and sail through the open waters of life, that sometimes we have to become our own beacon, and simply shine. Peppur (www.peppurchambers.com) is an actor, writer and creator/performer of Harlem’s Night Cabaret performed by the sultry, sassy, sophisticated and sometimes funny, Brown Betties. Her debut novel, “Harlem’s Awakening” is now available on BlackHillPress.com. She’s also created the awardwinning webseries, “The Brown Betties Guide: How to Look for Love In All The Wrong Places” based on her book of the same title. www.brownbetties.com Email her at peppur@brownbetties.com or follow her on Twitter @BrownBettie. But really, go buy Harlem’s Awakening!

While we English-speaking folk call it the Frankfurt Motor Show, our German friends call this week's biannual confab the Internationale AutomobilAusstellung, or IAA. At first glance, then, you might think Mercedes-Benz named its Frankfurt concept, the Concept IAA, after the show it'd debut at. But, the Concept IAA isn't named for the show. It's actually an abbreviation for Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile, and it's very aerodynamic indeed. I'm not a watch person. Haven't worn one regularly since high school (I'm 33 years old now), and have never been enamored with the likes of Rolex or Longines. But the Apple Watch is, of course, much more than a mere time teller, and the company expects to sell a lot of these things to people like me -- you don't build a $700 billion company selling niche products, after all. The question is: Why would someone like me want one? This four-door coupe can transform, while moving, from its sedan-like design mode to an ultra-sleek, gas-powered fish of a car. This aerodynamic mode has a drag coefficent of just 0.19. That's sleeker than a Tesla Model S, and it ties the rating of the General Motors EV1 electric car. In fact, it's very nearly as aerodynamic as the Volkswagen XL1. The IAA can transform automatically at 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 miles per hour) or via the press of a button. When it enters an aerodynamic mode, eight segments at the back of the car extend out, adding over 15 inches to the overall vehicle length, effectively extending its already tear-dropped-shaped tail. And that's just the most visible aero aid. At the front of the car, flaps in the bumper extend out nearly an inch, while there's a smaller extender in the back bumper. These serve to keep air away from the wheel arches, where turbulence can become an issue. Of course, Mercedes has thought of this, too, fitting "Active Rims" that "alter their cupping from 55 mm to zero," whatever that means.

There's even an active aero aid inside the front bumper, where a louver extends backward by 2.3 inches to smooth out the air traveling underneath the car. Outside of its super-slippery mode, the IAA is a relatively handsome four-door coupe, featuring the kind of plunging roofline that wouldn't look out of place on the company's pioneering CLS-Class. The interior is certainly worthy of the CLS, too. It's home to gorgeous white leather and touch-based controls, and in general, looks very luxurious. Mercedes' dogged pursuit of aerodynamics does not mean that the Concept IAA is some gutless ecomobile. Under the skin is a gas-powered, plugin hybrid system that produces up to 279 horsepower and allows the sleek sedan to hit 155 mph. Its all-electric range is based, of course, on what mode its body is in. It's most impressive in aero mode, where it will cover 41 miles on a single charge. Switch over to design mode, and that figure drops slightly to 38.5 miles. Check out the official gallery up top and the full press release down below. And of course, stand by for much more on the Concept IAA as our Frankfurt Motor Show coverage continues.

Chaunté Wayans is one of the “second generation” of Wayans with her uncles being Keenan, Marlon, Damon and Shawn. Her mother is screenwriter Elvira Wayans. Wayans’ comedy often revolves around her experiences since coming out of the closet, and overcoming an addiction to alcohol and drugs. Since working as a stand-up, she has toured nationally with Russell Peters, Katt Williams, David Alan Grier, and her uncles Marlon, Shawn, and Damon Wayans. Wayans just completed filming a cameo in Marlon’s film “Fifty Shades Of Black.” On TV, she was a featured cast member on MTV’s hit show “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out” and also appeared on TLC’s “Trading Spaces.” Most recently, she appeared on Bounce TV’s Off the Chain and NickToon’s animated series ThugaBoo. She can also be seen in the Katt Williams special “Kattpacalypse” and in the films “Hollywood Misconceptions” and “Dance Flick.”

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Shlongs are uniquely colored to say the least. Comedian Christina Galston gets in your face with some advice on how to handle a hard situation as a modern-day Marilyn Monroe with some advice that you just have to see! Watch Shlongologues: The Web Series - episode 8: colored and tell us what you think!

Here is a comedy classic performance of Keenan Ivory Wayans on A&E's Evening at the Improv as it featured his comedy debut performance! This was the beginning of something great as Wayans went on to superstardom as a comedian, actor, writer, director and producer, just to name a few! Now one of the judges of NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Last Comic Standing, Wayans is looking for new ventures and new challenges while always being grounded in comedy.

Pictured here is actor Richard Brooks and friend outside of the red carpet at the 2015 BET Awards at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Photo: Frank Holder

The Perfect Guy Starring: Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut Director: David M. Rosenthal

Not for nothing have Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy, and Morris Chestnut enjoyed consistently prominent careers on all screens for the last couple of decades. Equally capable as they are naturally charismatic, those qualities are just as matched by their commitment to their characters in whatever the context. That professionalism is what strikes most strongly in THE PERFECT GUY, a programmatic thriller that generates its only modicum of suspense and tension through one ongoing question: what will end up being the most generic: the nondescript title, the predictably rote storyline, or the overall pedestrian execution? Lathan is successful lobbyist Leah, who, months after a bitter breakup with her longtime yet oddly noncommittal love Dave (Chestnut), rebounds with what appears to be the title type in Carter (Ealy), an IT expert who quickly wins over the heart of Leah and her parents alike with his charm and devotion. But just as quickly, Leah breaks it off with Carter once he suddenly, randomly erupts into brutal violence in the name of protecting her--after which his loyalty and "love" mutates into possessive, dangerous obsession. With such a tired premise, the lead trio gives what they can. If Chestnut has little room to stretch in his fairly limited screen time and role, Ealy clearly enjoys turning his usual screen persona on its ear and using those trademark eyes to a more sinister effect. Lathan plays more to type as a smart, vulnerable, yet strong-willed heroine, but the relatable shadings she lends every part can only go so far with David A. Rosenthal's textbook, eady-jump-scare direction, and a screenplay (by Tyger Williams, a long way from MENACE II SOCIETY) that is just as strictly by the numbers. No question that last expression, " by the numbers," can apply in a more literal sense, as the psycho lover plot hook is as durably mass audience-appealing and box office-friendly as any for a thriller. But as the endless assembly line of woman-in-peril movies incessantly airing on the Lifetime cable networks prove, being commercial doesn't exactly equate to being clever--and given the talent involved, THE PERFECT GUY is an especially disappointing illustration of that. Grade: C

Pictured here is the comedian known as Precious Hall on stage at the taping of the BET upcoming comedy show tentatively titled Pretty Funny! The show was filmed at The Hollywood Improv. Photo: Frank Holder

cleancomedy@yahoo.com twitter: @comedian4christ

I am excited to feature a comedian from my hometown Cleveland, Ohio the hilarious Jay Stevens! Jay is a young man on the rise in comedy. He has done tons of radio guest spots, hosted his own radio show and he just launched a new business venture, a clothing line entitled “Motivate Clothing.” I have known Jay for the 16 years he has been doing stand-up comedy and have witnessed him fearlessly snatch the microphone and go hard on the stage. As it is with most comics, Jay was a class clown, but also was a good student. Those two things don’t usually co-exist. I can personally attest to the fact that I was the consummate class clown, but all the information retained from reading the whole set of encyclopedia Britannica rarely made it to the paper. Jay has also been married to his lovely wife for almost 20 years (March) who has supported his vision for comedy with no reservations. I have one of those wives as well, they don’t marry you for who you are as much as who you will become. Let’s get to the nittygritty! C.C.C: Jay how did you get started in stand-up? Jay: “I was sitting in church and had just finished making someone laugh, and God spoke to me and said”, “Do you know you can get paid for what you are doing for FREE?” C.C.C: What comedians influenced you? Jay: “I used to say Bill Cosby, but that is no longer an option! I would rather say, Bernie Mack, I used to watch the Kings of Comedy DVD to get motivated before my shows. Bernie was a comedy BEAST!” C.C.C: Who is funny in your family? Jay: “My entire family is LOUD and FUNNY, I have aunts and uncles who could be doing stand-up right now!” C.C.C: I hear you have won comedy competitions and even auditioned for Last Comic Standing.

Jay: “Yeah, I tried out for the 2007/2008 season I didn’t advance, but came back to Cleveland and won funniest comedian in the state of Ohio 2009, and followed that with the funniest up & coming comedian in Cleveland 2011!” C.C.C: That’s awesome work Jay, it takes a hunger comic to keep doing competitions. I had the opportunity to introduce Jay to the Cleveland Improvisation’s longtime manager Lee Herlands, who let Jay work as an emcee and quickly moved him to feature, and he had his first week of headlining May of 2015. Jay now is a regional headliner and will be at the Funny Bone in NewPort, Kentucky in September 2015. Jay Stevens also has a comedy production company J&J Entertainment where he produces comedy shows via his church’s event center New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Jay is a father of 2 daughters and a son in college (who he says is his hero!) he is also a grandfather of one. Jay is an audience pleaser with his crowd work, physicality, and his high energy! Jay also bears a resemblance to gospel icon Kirk Franklin, but Jay works out so much he looks more like Kirk of STEROIDS! Jay produces LOL Sketch Comedy Snippets that you can watch on youtube and via any of his social media pages. Jay is on the move catch-up with him at www.jaystevenslive.com Cleveland still has great comedic talent that is willing to SAY they are from here! Peace & Blessings my Humor Mill Family! Keep living, loving and LAUGHING! Big thanks to Humor Mill Founder/Publisher -- Frank Nitti Holder!

Pictured here is the comedian known as Screwroy Rice on stage at the taping of the BET upcoming comedy show tentatively titled Pretty Funny! The show was filmed at The Hollywood Improv. Photo: Frank Holder

Pictured here is the comedian known as Jamminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jay Lammont backstage at the taping of the second season of The Comedy Underground at The Alex Theater in Glendale, CA. Photo: Frank Holder

By Keith Nelson Jr. Black Dollar has Ross sounding like a trap Farrakhan while struggling to avoid spots of creative complacency common for a rapper with over ten years under his belt. Ross’ last great free album, 2012’s Rich Forever was powered by a 2011 that saw Maybach Music Group enjoy its most commercial success, still to this date. However, Black Dollar has rage pumping through its veins from three years of pushed back albums, internal label fighting and near death shootouts. Ross still has aspirations to be Rich Forever, he’s just decided to do it with the Black Dollar. Black Dollar plays like the narration of Martin Scorsese's classic mobster flick Goodfellas with Ross as Henry Hill, disgraced gangster running away from the mob lifestyle actively trying to murder him while telling his side of the story before he’s rubbed out of history by those same forces. Ross does not snitch on Black Dollar, but it does contain the most detailed lyrics of his inner-workings to date. Take the mixtape intro, “Foreclosure” for instance. A blistering mixture of profound metaphors (“reap what you sew and they talking RE(reap)possession”) and business talk (“the paper gets funny when publishing involved”) with the latter seemingly addressing claims that Ted Lucas, Slip-N-Slide CEO and founder, retained 75% of Ross’ publishing even after Ross left the label. But, it’s the final five bars where all of Ross’ frustrations congeal in a torrential storm of ferocity: “I never met an artist who fully recouped / These the deals the deal dealers wanna deal to you / Young niggas, time to act your wage / Buying belts you seen on other niggas’ waists / Hoes fucking for photos they wanna post online / Whole time, shorty knowing I’m the goldmine / Put her on all he needed was a co sign / Black minks and gloves, nigga, the whole nine / See me on the road, shit, I had to hold mine / You’ll foreclose or fold just for soul (sold) signs”. On “Take Advantage,” a Future-featured song that sounds ripe for the club, he calls Atlantic Records “fake” after mentioning how he had to put up his $2 million bail over his kidnapping charge from this summer. He’s “throwing bricks at the man (demand), we gon make it” because “genocide not in the plans, we gon make it” on the “We Gon Make It.” Then he follows that song with “Bill Gates” where he boasts he put a “100 bricks on the stock exchange” before ending the song with “fuck 100 bricks, flip 100 restaurants.” If there is one thing that has never depreciated over the last three years of commercial failures for Ross is his golden ear for beats and Black Dollar reminds us of this immutable fact. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League laced Ross with an orchestral myriad of hard drums, soft strings and piano keys on “Foreclosure” that sounds like it’d be perfect for the pushed back Maybach Music V. After serving Ross a heatrock on his Mastermind album with “Rich Is Gangsta,” Black Metaphor returns with a simple boom-bap beat mixed to perfection on “We Gon Make It” With Jake One on “Geechi Liberace” and “Money Dance,” Nonstop Da Hitman on “Beautiful Lie” and Key Wayne on “Money & Powder.” Ross assembled a collection of producers known for fleshing out the dirtiest of rap songs.

While Ross is in redemptive mode on this mixtape, he’s not a completely changed man. Titling your mixtape Black Dollar and speaking on Black people coming together, owning their own land and becoming a superpower on “Knights of the Templar” enobles Ross message. But, constantly comparing yourself to white symbols of dominance (Bill Gates, Bob Dylan) and confusingly referring to yourself as an “ex slave, proud field nigga” on “Geechi Liberace” dilutes that same message. Also, while rapping over the same Ohio Players sample used for Jay Z and Notorious B.I.G.’s best collaboration, “Brooklyn’s Finest,” Ross and Meek delivered flat performances on “World’s Finest,” disrespectful to such a classic sample. There are moments of what I call “Autopilot Ross” where he sounds as if he’s simply making enough words rhyme to get to the chorus, but those are few and far between on Black Dollar. He’s not “re-selling my soul,” seemingly referring to either his solo artist deal with Def Jam, the Atlantic Records label deal for Maybach Music or why even Slip-N-Slid Records, which curiously still appear on all of his album credits. With Black Dollar, Ross has extended his time as a top tier rap talent, But, how long before the Black Dollars run out?

By Tony “Phruishun” Spires The Comedy Doctor I had another birthday recently. Happy Birthday to me! To the naked eye, it was no different than any other of my "born days," except for the inevitability of - let me put this gently - for my own sake - maturing. I guess now, I'm officially "of a certain age." Not that I haven't been a charter member of that club for a minute already. But this year there's definitely no denying it - no turning back now. And I'm super good with that. When you consider that "dirt nap" alternative most of us will ultimately opt for the vertical, as opposed to the horizontal. The imminent cycle of life will balance everything out in due time. But I digress. I am The Comedy Doctor. Although largely selfproclaimed, I earned that moniker through surviving and still enjoying a lengthy tenure, through hard, often thankless work, personal and professional sacrifice and a modicum of "success" and achievement in comedy. Comedy has been and continues to be a major part of my life. I still have a very keen, albeit offbeat, sense of humor, a highly trained eye for talent and a very strong appreciation for things truly funny.

Here's where being "of a certain age" comes in. You know how our society and especially pop culture works, right? Someone who's respected or considered an authority says that someone or something is hot. Someone else with clout says it, then someone else. It's splattered across all media platforms: traditional, digital, social, new, etc. Before long, they all say it's/they're hot. A short time later they’re or it is the "ish" and the whole world buys in! Is that not how it works?

I certainly have contributed to this phenomenon, although not so much since being of a certain age. Haven't you? Come on. Tell the truth. It's stupid, isn't it? Shakespeare would call it, "folly." What would you call it? Unfortunately, comedy - one of the last vestiges of "keepin' it 100" - has fallen victim to this same madness. We who love comedy know the truth, don't we? Whether it's a silent movie by Charlie Chaplin, a stand up concert by Richard Pryor, Johnny Carson killin' it from the chair, DC Curry tellin' it like it is, or a star-studded "Negro Night" (aka urban night) in Hollywood – we know what funny is, don't we? Only something that's truly funny is… well, "truly funny." No matter the hyperbole, regardless of the numbers, in spite of the media onslaught, there's no substitute for real comedy. My comedic tastes are fairly broad. I find comedy and humor in so many places. Professionally, I find them on stage, on television, Online, in film. I like "Mom's Mabley and Carol Burnett. I like Don Rickles and Derrick Ellis. I like Shelly Berman and I like Earthquake. I like Tim Conway and I like Keisha Hunt. I love Eddie Murphy's Coming To America, Harlem Nights and Trading Places. I cherish Richard Pryor's Which Way Is Up?, Sidney Poitier's and Bill Cosby's Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, and A Piece Of The Action. I love the original SNL and The Not Ready For Primetime Players. John Belushi's breakout vehicle, Animal House was the bomb! The Blues Brothers cracks me up every time. So does the opening line from Steve Martin's The Jerk.

I watch anything that Bill Murray does. He's brilliant to this day. Speaking of brilliant, Don Cheadle is hilarious as the unsavory and delightful Marty Kaan in his Showtime vehicle, House Of Lies. Ice Cube's Friday franchise is classic comedy and many Chris Tucker and Martin Lawrence flicks will always be funny to me. So will Redd Foxx's Sanford & Son. The new Fox comedy series, Empire, cracks me up, too! Hey, wait... Empire's not a comedy, silly! NOTE: I do love me some Empire! I find that being of a certain age lowers my threshold for some things, namely B.S. My tolerance level for it diminishes each year. My ability to see it coming even from around corners - has increased exponentially. Speaking of bovine manure, the broad, mainstream comedies are unwatchable after act 1. They all make early promises the heart of the movies can't keep. They ought to make them short films. I can hear Della Reese’s character from Harlem Nights, referring to someone putting the empty orange juice container back in the refrigerator. “And I had my mouth all ready for some orange juice...!“ These "urban romantic comedies" they're putting out now (and I use the term "putting out" very loosely since they're mostly only on NF) are soooo formulaic. In all fairness, the filmmakers are making what they think “people” want to see – moreover what the distributors will buy (enter Atlanta comedian Rob Haze. “People,” equals Rob and his mama). From the retread actors and their uninspired performances, to the phoned-in plots, to the cardboard characters, to those super-corny music scores that all sound alike... I can't do it, anymore. As a filmmaker, I love the fact that Black-themed films are still in the marketplace. That fact, in and of itself, is a beautiful thing. But I can hear NBA commentator and former player and coach Mark Jackson saying, "Come on guys! You're better than that!" And some of these sitcoms of ours fair no better. I won't mention names of shows or the networks they call home but again, (In my Ed Lover voice, this time, “Come on, son!”). Has it come to this folks? Is this a new incarnation of "the old bait and switch move" or the tried and true "divide" and conquer" con? Like the old Dennis Miller used to say, "I don’t wanna' go off on a rant here but…" The shows are spread out over a handful of gutless, obscure channels, and I’m sorry to

say, many of those shows are as unremarkable as the business models of the networks that give them their near-meaningless existence. No wonder young people don't watch TV anymore! Sorry... but I'm just saying... And I did say, "near-meaningless…“ Okay, so as a Baptist preacher would say, 'I'm about to close." Now, despite what it looks like, I'm not one of those bitter old cats with an axe to grind. I'm just calling it like I see it. Ten years ago I complained that, sure Hollywood uses Black's and other actors of color in their shows. They "cherry-pick" the best ones and put them all - one here and one there - in their mainstream shows and call it diversity. Ooops. My bad. With the exceptions of ABC's Black-ish and the aforementioned Empire, that's still what they're doing, isn’t it? The good news is that we are still making movies and we're still on TV. People are eating. And there is still time to get it right. The paradox is that oftentimes, after putting up the proverbial "good fight" for so long, after being so battered and bruised, movie audition after disrespectful movie audition and after pilot season after disappointing pilot season, even those with the noblest intentions inevitably get sucked into the Hollywood Matrix, forget what they swore not to do (Like Uncle Elroy in Next Friday: “ I know what I said but when I got my check… I was gone!”) and wind up keeping the status quo, business as usual. Or is that irony? I forget... Hey, wait! I remember! It's satire - a form of comedy. ### Tony Spires is a filmmaker (writer/director/producer/ actor), spoken word artist, musician, playwright, event producer, manager, and featured columnist for Humor Mill Magazine. He’s Producing Artistic Director of Full Vision Arts Foundation. Known as The Comedy Doctor in comedy circles, and “Coach Tony” to teens from The Bay to LA, he is perhaps best known as the founder of the nationally reputed Bay Area Black Comedy Competition & Festival: http://www.BlackComedyCompetition.com. Join him on Facebook at: http://www.Facebook.com/TonySpires and follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @phruishun.