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April 17-23, 2013
michiganchronicle.com
Reflections By Steve Holsey
Controversy Brad Paisley, country superstar, has sure stirred up a hornet’s nest with his new song, “Accidental Racist,” featuring a guest performance by, surprisingly, rap superstar (and actor) LL Cool. Talk about two very different genres! That’s a good thing, though. And by the way, they are friends. In case you haven’t heard the song, it is about a White man and a Black man sharing views on one of our country’s most delicate subjects. Paisley sings words like, “I’m just a White man comin’ to you from the southland, tryin’ to understand what it’s like not to be. I’m proud of where I’m from, but not everything we’ve done, and it ain’t like you and me can rewrite history. “Our generation didn’t start this nation. We’re still pickin’ up the pieces, walkin’ on eggshells, fightin’ over yesterday...I try to put myself in your shoes, LL Cool J and Brad Paisley. and that’s a good place to begin. But it ain’t like I can walk a mile in someone else’s skin.” LL raps in response, “Now my chains are gold, but I’m still misunderstood. I wasn’t there when Sherman’s March turned the South into firewood. Feel like a newfangled Django, dodgin’ invisible white hoods. So when I see that white cowboy hat, I’m thinkin’ it’s not good. I guess we’re both guilty of judgin’ the cover, not the book. I’d love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air.” And on it goes and, yes, sometimes what is said is likely to make many (perhaps most) people uncomfortable. But ultimately, the song is about two people from different backgrounds communicating with honesty. All of this made me think of something one of the all-time favorite philosophic writers, the late Sydney J. Harris, once expressed in one of his syndicated columns, “Every race has much to be proud of and much to be ashamed of.” While many may view “Accidental Racist” as being overly simplistic, the fact remains that bitterness only hurts the person feeling that way. It’s toxic. The past has a great effect on the present, and ignoring seldom makes anything go away. But life is too short to wallow in bitterness. As LL Cool J put it during an interview last week, “Don’t be bitter, be better.” Neither artist regrets having recorded the song — and they shouldn’t because it is what they were feeling. USHER really embarrassed himself recently on national TV when he said “Nashville is a state.” But that is not the likable star’s first nationally televised blunder. A while back he performed McFadden & Whitehead’s No. 1 hit from 1979, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” on a television special. One line goes, “We’re gonna get ourselves together, we’re gonna polish up our act.”
Usher
But Usher sang, “...We’re gonna polish up our back”! And to make it worse, he was motioning as though he was rubbing his back with a towel! Exactly how does one “polish up their back”?! Andre 3000 (of OutKast) and Beyoncé have recorded a song together, a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” to be featured in a movie, a new version of “The Great Gatsby,” scheduled for May release. IT SEEMS strange — and proves how time flies — that there are now “oldies but goodies” shows featuring five or more rap stars who peaked “back in the day.” An example is the show coming to the Fox Theatre next month, featuring Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte the Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, Whodini, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Rob Base. And speaking of rap, the group De La Soul (remember “Me, Myself and I” from 1989?) is celebrating their 25th anniversary. That includes “Get Away,” their first new album in nearly a decade. Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Morris Taye Diggs Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan and Harold Perrineau were among the stars
See Reflections Page D-3
By Steve Holsey
I
t would be difficult to ima gine anyone not knowing who Byron Allen is because he has been a consistent presence on television for several decades. He was practically a kid when he was part of the ensemble cast of “Real People” that aired on NBC from 1979 to 1984. It was essentially a comedy talk show, one that spotlighted people with unusual hobbies and occupations. The program was “on the road,” so to speak, but sometimes the guests would come to the studio.
Byron Allen Former Detroiter made a name for himself in television...independently
That show was in prime time, but Allen is usually seen on late-night TV. Among his latest programs is “Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen.” Comedy is his forte, and he does stand-up, but he is equally as well known as a television producer who works apart from the networks. That is a major challenge, but it makes it possible for Allen to be the one to call the shots. “IF YOU look at the history of TV, the independents are the ones who’ve made the breakthroughs,” he said. “They are the ones who have to go the extra mile to do shows that cut through.” Among the popular independently produced shows, past and present, that he cited, which are or were aired via the networks, are “Entertainment Tonight,” “Oprah,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Judge Judy” and “Star Search.” Allen explained why operating independently is even more of a challenge today, even a daunting one, than it was, say, 20 years ago. “With the increasing media consolidation, it’s become tougher for independents to get shows on the air and keep them on the air,” he said. “But we really want the independents to continue to shine. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Don’t think sprints. Think marathon.” BYRON ALLEN FOLKS was born on April 22, 1961 in Detroit although the family had relocated to Los Angeles by the time Allen had reached his teens. He had a natural inclination for comedy and as a teenager began doing stand-up. His mother worked as a publicist for NBC, located in Burbank. She would regu-
larly take young Byron to the studios with her which further piqued his interest in show business. One of his favorite activities was going on the “Tonight Show” set when no one was there and sitting behind Johnny Carson’s desk, envisioning himself hosting a show of his own. Allen got his first break, surprisingly, from comedian Jimmie Walker who had seen Allen’s standup act. Although he (Allen) was only 14 at the time, Walker asked him to join the comedy writing team he was a part of, as were Jay Leno and David Letterman. LATER, at age 18, Alllen made his television debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” That was a huge breakthrough, and Allen has the distinction of having been the youngest stand-up
comedian to ever appear on “The Tonight Show.” His clean, non-racial jokes (in the “observational comedy” category), pleasant personality, relaxed style and fresh good looks made him a natural, and an instant hit. Amazingly, the very next day he was offered a job as one of the co-hosts of a new NBC program, “Real People.” But Allen didn’t want to just perform. He wanted to produce television shows as well. “It all started from the dining room table,” he quipped. From there he called television station owners, programming directors, advertisers and others. He wanted to know everything, including how syndication works. In 1993 he founded his own company, Entertainment Studios, and soon launched “Entertainers With Byron Allen.” The weekly, one-hour show featured interviews with a virtual who’s who of show business. Entertainment Studios grew dramatically. Today the company produces, distributes and sells advertising for over 30 series and is the world’s largest producer/distributor of first-run syndicated programming. Among Allen’s shows are “Comics Unleashed,” “The First Family,” “Cars.TV” (Emmy winner), “America’s Court With Judge Ross” (Emmy nominated), “Mr. Box Office,” “Justice For All With Cristina Perez” and “Who Wants to Date a Comedian?” Allen, who is married and has two daughters, wouldn’t deny it if you referred to him as a workaholic. But it feels good, the results are gratifying and he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.