As usual, we are out and about in the world of comedy and this is what we got a chance to see in the past week. Enjoy!

Black Dynamite Gets Animated!

We just discovered that the comedy action film Black Dynamite, the blaxploitation spoof that was released earlier this year, is about to jump into the animation world as it is going to the Cartoon Network. We also discovered the film has been keeping up its pace of world-wide acclaim as it’s receiving standing ovations in cities such as the Czech Republic just to name a few.

Black Dynamite (played by actor Michael Jai White), is a muscular and brash former CIA agent with a license to kill, is shaken out of his semi-retirement when his estranged brother is murdered. In response, Black Dynamite unleashes a violent war on drugs to achieve his dream of getting smack off the streets thus making the hood safe again for "an afternoon stroll." His goal, meshing extremely violent means for a surprisingly delicate end, embodies a production that crackles with humor.

Screenwriter, film producer and star Michael Jai White plays the throwback hero Black Dynamite, who beds the ladies and beats the bad guys, with effortless charisma and charm. With his constantly stern expression as he recites one-liners as he creates a hero as hilarious as he is physically imposing.

Anyway, if you missed the film you missed one of the best comedies of the year. But don’t take our word for it; just follow the Awards the film has garnered around the world, as it most recently won its fourth Award this past weekend at an Italian Film Festival titled the Noir Festival. We can’t forget it won the Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle for best film, and several other festivals this past year, all starting from its premiere at the very famous Sundance Film Festival that started the accolades for the film worldwide.

Now after receiving all of this world wide acclaim we hear that there is a strong possibility that the film will have a sequel, but there has been no deal done on that- yet.

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

Precious Makes It Mark As Award Season Begins

Award season has officially begun, and to absolutely no one’s surprise the film Precious has taken center stage as the film to watch. Yesterday as the nominations for the 67th Golden Globes were announced, it was pretty clear that The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. recognized that the film was definitely deserving of a nomination, and decided to give it two. First, new comer actress Gabourey Sidibe, star of the film Precious was nominated in the Best Actress category for a dramatic performance, and for Best Supporting actress, comedian Mo’Nique received a nomination.

Philip Berk, President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association®, announced updated timetable for The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards to be broadcast in HD Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 5-8 PM (PST) and 8-11 PM (EST) live coast to coast from The Beverly Hilton on NBC.

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

Kevin Hart Interview On Humor Mill TV!

We caught up with Kevin Hart as he discusses a couple of his projects, and well, him just being Kevin. Check out this hilarious interview!

The Humor Mill Magazine Christmas Comedy Show

Here are some pictures from our 1st Annual Christmas Comedy Show which was held at The Comedy Union. Special thanks to club owner Enss Mitchell for providing the venue. The Comedy Show was great as it featured performances by Rion Evans, Clayton thomas, Vincent O'Shana, Red Grant, Melanie Comarcho and Tony Rock. The show was hosted by Esau McGraw and there were jokes heard all around. The Party was one of the hottest in years! Stay tuned for our next event coming up soon!

Charlie Murphy's Wife Passes Away After Long Fight With Cancer

Tonight we have some terrible news to report; after battling cancer for over a year the wife of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy has passed away today in New Jersey.

Tisha Taylor Murphy, wife of comedian/actor Charlie Murphy, died in her sleep just several hours ago. The couple married on August 12, 1997 and they have three children: daughter Eva, and son Xavier. Charlie also has another son from a previous relationship.

We want to send out our most heartfelt condolences to the Murphy family during these trying times.

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

Salli Richardson-Whitfield On Humor Mill TV!!!

We caught up with actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield who was most recently seen in the film Black Dynamite and the upcoming film Pastor Brown. Also starring in the hit film I Am Legend with actor Will Smith, we had to ask her about the rampant rumors of the possible prequel to that film. Here Salli answers all of those questions and more right here! Check out the interview!

Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? Winner Is...

In a hard-fought battle between two talented Las Vegas natives, 26-year-old rising star comedian J. Reid, who went up against some serious competition against comedian D'Lai, has emerged victorious as the winner of the TV One comedy competition series Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes?.
Host and veteran comic Bill Bellamy announced the results on tonight’s season finale show.

Showtime's Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival

Tonight we got a chance to swing by the Showtime Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival tapings and we saw a lot of Hollywood come out. Tonight's set featured comedians Red Grant, Chris "Kid'Reid, Thea Vidale and Chris Spencer as they put on a helluva show opening up the second installment of its festival shows, featuring 38 comedians that will premiere on Showtime in 2010 and 2011.

The diverse roster of other comedic performers include Will Durst, Bruce Vilanch, Al Madrigal, Ahmed Ahmed, Joey Medina, Dan Naturman, Eliot Chang, Nema Williams, Sandra Valls and Kira Soltanovich. The shows will be filmed December 9-12 at The El Portal Theatre, located at 5269 Lankershim Boulevard (at Magnolia) in North Hollywood, CA.

So check out the Showtime LOL Comedy Festival as we will be there broadcasting, so stay tuned!

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

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