Showtime Network Jumps Deeper Into Urban Comedy With Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival

After the very successful tapings for the Showtime network this past year with Shaq's Comedy All-Stars Produced by Codeblack Entertainment, (which featured DL Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Melanie Comarcho, Red Grant, DeRay Davis, Kevin Hart, Aires Spears, and Rickey Smiley just to name a few) we just discovered that the Showtime network is about to make a more concentrated effort in the urban comedy space.

One case in point is the line up of the Laugh Out Loud comedy tapings this weekend which feature comedians Chris Spencer, Flo Roderiguez, Edwin San Juan, Russell Peters and Nema Williams (and several others who we have yet to discover). The tapings are to be held this weekend beginning on Friday at 10:30 PM with Chris Spencer's taping at the El Portal Theater in Hollywood. Stay tuned right here for more details!

Questions or comments? Please email us thehumormill.info@gmail.com

Photo above of Chris Spencer by Tim Alexander

Today We Remember Richard Pryor

December 10th marks the fourth year anniversary of the death of one the most brilliant comedians to ever grace the stage, Richard Pryor. He did for stand up comedy what Michael Jackson did for music, surely incomparable by today’s standards. It was the summer of 1982, my freshmen year in college, when I first saw “Richard Pryor’s Live on Sunset Strip.” It was by far one of the most incredible performances I had ever seen. After all these years I am still laughing. The mark of a true comedian is that the laughter doesn’t cease because the show ends, it has the power to supersede time and space and keep you laughing for years to come, positively Pryor. He was no doubt a comedic trailblazer whose indelible markings are still seen in the comedic landscape. Jerry Sienfield called Pryor, “ The Picaso of our profession.” It was only natural that his comedic genius made it to the big screen in such memorable performances as "Brewster’s Millions", "Stir Crazy", and "Silver Streak" because the stage alone could no longer hold him. His incredible talent did not go unnoticed and his work garnered him One Emmy, five Grammy Awards and two American Academy of Humor Awards. Truly the world paused at his passing.

By Yvonne D. Gregge

Here is a portion of Richard Pryor's performance from his stand-up film titled Richard Pryor: Live on Sunset Strip filmed in 1982 in Hollywood, CA.

Ice Cube Brings New Comedy Series To TV With Are We There Yet?

This just in; it looks like Ice Cube is branching out to TV with a very successful film franchise that he has under his belt- The Are We There Yet? franchise, and it looks like it is moving along with his production partner Matt Alvarez (of Cube Vision Productions).

We hear the duo is producing with a substantial series commitment from the TBS Network. Besides the TV series beginning development, we hear that Cube Vision and Ice Cube is hard at work bringing back the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter to the big screen. More on this story as it develops.

Questions or comments? Please email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com

Mike Epps To Get Never Faded AGAIN?

It’s been a real busy year for comedic actor Mike Epps. First, he just wrapped production on the film Lottery Ticket (also starring Ice Cube, Brandon T. Jackson and Bow Wow), plus he starred in The Janky Promoters (another film starring Ice Cube, and Little JJ). He also hosted the 3rd Annual BET Hip Hop Awards, and he launched several music videos for his hip hop venture titled Funny Bidness.

But that’s not all; The biggest news for Epps the past couple of months has been the heat of his stand-up comedy DVD titled Mike Epps: Under Rated & Never Faded which was filmed in Detroit. We just discovered that the Showtime network has stated that the special has posted some serious numbers, more than they have seen in a while.

But the news does not stop there; we also just discovered that on the heels of those hot numbers for the network Mike Epps is about to re-visit the stage again and about to film another comedy special. No word yet on if it’s going to go straight to DVD, or if it’s for a network special but we are sure the details are going to surface soon.

Next up for Epps is the film titled Liberty City: The American Dream with new actress Hazel D'Jan.

Questions or comments? Please email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com

NBC Stand Up For Diversity Showcase After Party

In its sixth consecutive year, NBC is proud to present another groundbreaking year of Stand-Up for Diversity. Through this initiative comedians of diverse backgrounds have been launched to new career milestones. Each year NBC selects 3-5 cities across the country and holds both auditions and live showcases of the top diverse talent from that area. At the end of the search a handful of comedians are brought back to Los Angeles to showcase for key industry players at NBC Universal and industry-wide. Many of the comics from last year's Best of Stand-Up for Diversity showcase signed with top Hollywood agents and met with the entertainment industry's leading casting directors and executives.

So we caught up with the Showcase at the Comedy Store. during their after party. Please check back here for more details on the latest news and info on the Showcase.

Questions or comments? Please email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com

The PIMP 247 Red Carpet

Here is the Red Carpet of the new crime drama series ever to be shown on TV "PIMP-24/7", which is a new one-hour series starring actor Gary Sturgis (Daddy's Little Girls), Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill) and newcomer Coley Speaks. Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Trae Ireland (Zane's Sex Chronicles), Shawn Richardz and Ken Lawson (The Parkers) round out the cast in this riveting, sophisticated drama which centers on a well-spoken, educated pimp who lives undetected by his suburban neighbors, while trying to protect his young nephews who are quickly becoming drawn into the procuring lifestyle. Stay tuned for which network the show will be broadcast on soon.

Chris Rock & Martin Lawrence New Film Creating New Controversy Amongst Media Outlets

We just discovered that the first official trailer for the new Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence film titled Death at a Funeral has just been released online and we seem to have a little controversy brewing amongst the media already.

First we have to state the facts of the movie in case you haven’t hear about it; Death at a Funeral is a remake of the 2007 British movie of the same name, Death at a Funeral which stars Rock and Lawrence, as well as Tracy Morgan and Kevin Hart just to name a few and takes place at a funeral ceremony that turns into a debacle of exposed family secrets and misplaced bodies. Now add all of that with a family twist.

Several media outlets have contacted us to suggest that the film is extremely racist amongst other things, and that they will report this as so. Some outlets have already launched their opinions as such, but we will reserve that right until we have seen the film. After all no one has screened the film yet, only the trailer. To us, it’s a bit difficult make any informed decision based on this few-minute trailer so let’s just wait and see. In the meantime here is the trailer;

VH1 Jumps Into Housewives Genre With New NBA Wives Series

We just discovered from the VH1 network that they are preparing to launch a new series, patterned almost exactly after The Atlanta Housewives, titled Basketball Wives. It seems as if this is the new genre now, after the success and spin-offs of all of the Housewives titled shows.

Anyway, the eight-episode half-hour series will show the wives and girlfriends of players Shaquille O'Neal, Eric Williams, Antoine Walker, Jermaine O'Neal and Udonis Haslem's. (We ask why are girlfriends on the show?)

We also hear that Shed Media is producing the series, with co-star Shaunie O'Neal also earning an executive producer credit, even though we recently discovered that she recently separated from her NBA All-Star husband Shaquille O’Neal. How this will affect the show will remain to be seen since the majority of the show was filmed before the break-up.

"Having been around these remarkable women for several years, I have always recognized that behind every NBA star is a strong, exceptional woman, one who must deal with the unique challenges of being married to the game as well as the player," said Shaunie O'Neal.

The series premieres March 15, 2010.

Who's Got Jokes? To Announce Winner This Saturday!

After battling through 8 grueling weeks of harsh celebrity judges, pies in the face, “yo mama” jokes and more, finalists and Vegas natives D’Lai and J Reid will learn which of them will walk away with bragging rights and their very own TV One comedy special during the series finale of Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes on Saturday, December 12 at 10 p.m. EST.

Viewers will decide the final outcome by voting online or via text message for their favorite comic between now and Wednesday, Dec. 9, then watch the finale on Saturday night to see who will take home the “Who’s Got Jokes” comedy title.

Host Bill Bellamy, co-hosts Rodney Perry and Tommy Ford provide ringside commentary and referee the action. Special celebrity performances from R&B bad boy Bobby Brown and sultry R&B newcomer Teirra Marie. From now until Wednesday, Dec. 9, viewers can cast their votes for the champ by texting or online:

www.tvoneonline.com
Text Jokes DLai to 31452
Text Jokes JReid to 31452

Questions or comments? Please email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com

The Comedy SEEN so far for this week...

New Issue-Comedy's Hottest Dynamic Duo!

Here is the latest issue of The Humor Mill Magazine featuring comedian and actor Bill Bellamy and Executive Producer Ralph Farquhar as they discuss the upcoming season of Who's Got Jokes? and more. Plus we have the latest info on Katt Williams, Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy and more! All of the latest in comedy and entertainment news right here!

Bill Bellamy & Ralph Farquhar Interview- Comedy's Hottest Dynamic Duo!

We interview comedian and actor Bill Bellamy and Executive Producer Ralph Farquhar as they discuss the upcoming season of Who's Got Jokes?. Check out the interview as they both tell you their thoughts about how the show rolls out and how much fun it was putting the show together. Plus we discover how they both came together to create one of the most powerful urban comedies on television!

Katt Williams Briefly Detained At Wal-Mart In Georgia!

Here is a video of the latest incident involving Katt Williams where a local news agency has reported that Williams was arrested AGAIN and detained at the local Wal-Mart in Georgia after a run-in with a patron in the store. Williams' had his semi-truck searched and he claims many of his items in the truck where destroyed by the police during their search. Williams was later released after the search.

Questions or comments? Please email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com

Brooklyn's Finest Movie Trailer Released!

Cop movies usually come in a set flavour. You've got your grizzled veteran a week away from retiring. Your otherwise honorable plod who has to go crooked to provide for his family. And the undercover type who gets in a little too deep. But with Brooklyn's Finest, you get them all blended together like a street-flavoured policeshake!

The trailer for Antoine Fuqua's latest is now online at Apple and does indeed feature every one of the archetypes listed above. Richard Gere's the burned-out lifetimer counting the minutes until he can start fishing, Ethan Hawke's the man trying to keep his big family happy and Don Cheadle is the cop whose loyalties are shifting from his comrades to former prison buddy/drug kingpin Wesley Snipes.

The three officers all find themselves caught up with the NYPD's attempt to clean up a notorious housing project and, over seven days, are all tested in various dangerous ways.

Fuqua made his name with Training Day, so he knows how to make a solid cop drama - and it's hard to argue with that cast. Just don't blame us if you suffer from gritty crime overload...
James White