I saw Hannibal a few months ago at Jokes N Notes.  The thing about Jokes N Notes is that a lot of comics come through to test out new material so sometimes, they bomb.  Hannibal didn't get side splitting laughs that night and I'd almost written him off.  Then, yesterday morning, on the drive to work, I heard him again on Chicago Public Radio's 848 and they played a few clips from his act.  I had to reconsider my opinion because he had me giggling all the way to work. 

Interesting comic, well known in Chicago and is playing this week at Zanies http://www.zanies.com/ in Vernon Hills

Find out more about him at http://www.myspace.com/comedianhannibal

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I went to High School with Paul. A true Comedic Poetic Genius!  Enjoy and afterwards learn more about him at http://www.myspace.com/paulmabon

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Nathan Hale is a very good friend of mine and former junior high and high school classmate (Go Whitney Young Dolphins!!!).  This weekend, his movie Dirty Laundry opens in New York and Los Angeles.  It opens in other select cities nationwide (including Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore) December 28th.  DIRTY LAUNDRY is a modern-day prodigal son story with a twist. It follows magazine writer Patrick, masterfully played by Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break, Soul Food), who seems to have the "perfect life," until one day there is a knock at the door. On the other side stands a secret that brings him face to face with the traditional southern family he hasn't seen in over 10 years. 

The cast includes a colorful array of character and comedic actors including Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale) as "Evelyn", Jenifer Lewis (Antwone Fisher Story, Castaway) as "Aunt Lettuce", Terri J. Vaughn (Daddy’s Little Girls, Steve Harvey Show) as "Jackie", Sommore (Queens of Comedy, The Parkers) as "Abby", Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty) as "Daniel" and Director Maurice Jamal as "Eugene"

DIRTY LAUNDRY is the winner of the 2006 American Black Film Festival Audience Award for "Best Film" and "Best Actor - Loretta Devine."

GENRE: Comedy
RATING: PG-13
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes

You can view the trailer on YouTube and, this weekend, if you're in New York you can see this film at Clearview Chelsea 9 Theater at 260 West 23rd Street (b/t 7th & 8th) or if you're in LA you can see this film at the Mann Beverly Center Cinemas (Inside Beverly Center) at 8522 Beverly Boulevard.  

More information on the film can be seen at www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com.  Please help support this Great Independent Film!

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Seth Meyers

Chicago goes with improv like wine goes with cheese. Or maybe Old Style with Sloppy Joes. Anyway, the 10th annual Chicago Improv Festival opens a week of improvisational, sketch, and standup comedy performed by local and national entertainers. The fest holds panel discussions about, you guessed it, improv and sketch comedy, with some well-known names as speakers. Seth Meyers of SNL's Weekend Update and members of the Upright Citizen's Brigade are among the many random funny folk performing at this year's festival. A party follows each night's activities, with a chance for fans to rub elbows with their favorite (or least-favorite) performer.

Mon 4.23 @ 7pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater 77 E Randolph St - 312.744.6630

The festival continues through Sun 4.29

For the Full Schedule or to Buy Tickets go to:  http://www.chicagoimprovfestival.org/web/shows.php

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Watching The Funniest Movie I've Seen This Lifetime!!!  I can't even describe it without bursting into Hysterical Laughter.  A Definite Must See!!!!!

Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Widescreen Edi

★★★★★

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Ahem (brushing off soapbox before making my noble ascent)

I read a Great post by my neighbor Musicchick2 regarding the use of the word Nigger (or Nigga)… Bitches…and other Terms of EnFearment…(but particularly Nigger) in a comedic, fun kinda way

You know what I saw once?   An episode of The 3 Stooges where they end up in BlackFace!  Remember Shemp? (Sometime during the course of World War I, Moe and Shemp formed a blackface vaudeville act which disbanded for a brief period when Shemp was drafted into the army. In 1917 Shemp and Moe took their comedy act back to the boards and played on both the Loew's and RKO circuits, managing to work for the rival outfits through a ruse: They played a blackface routine for RKO and a whiteface one for Loew's. They continued with their stage appearances through 1922. Shemp jokingly recalled the blackest moment of his life as the time he was working blackface in a minstrel show and the manager skipped with the payroll and the cold cream. Reference here. )

Bert Williams Black Man in BlackFace

Did you know that even Blacks had to dress in BlackFace to perform for White Audiences?? 

BTW:  I still use the term Black  instead of African Americans…I also use the word Conk when referring to perming my hair. 

Used to be a time when Whites making fun of Blacks was…Funny.  

And then… the tides turned. 

Not sure when it happened…(I’m still a youngin) but I’m thinking late 60’s early 70’s due to the Great Comedic Forces of Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor

Which makes me think of one George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley)…who used the word Honky with a Great Amount of Frequency.   And I even once remember Weezie Jefferson saying to George “Nigga Please!” ….on National Television y’all!!!

The Jeffersons

 
Some say that his "use of the word Honky added a familiar, less offensive tone to the word, which caused some acceptance of the term when used in the appropriate company."  Interesting….you can even buy a T-Shirt with him saying the phrase “Shut Up Honky”…but not one of Weezie saying “Nigga Please!”

You know what’s “funny” now?  Blacks making fun of Whites AND Everybody else including other Blacks.  I always wonder…if a white person laughs at a Black person telling a joke about White culture/nuances…are they laughing because it’s funny…or out of nervousness...or even shameful (subconscious) obligation…after all, Whites spent a lot of years laughing at those Minstrel shows…and a joke is a joke…right?  And one good turn deserves another….right? 

Martin Lawrence on Racism

You know what’s Not “funny” now?  Whites making fun of Blacks.  Unless it’s a Black Person in WhiteFace…..Yes there is always The Exception.

Eddie Murphy - White Like Eddie

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I Love Lucy

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