Key and Peele ....Back Again and SMART....words By Raymond Tyler

I like comedy.

PERIOD!

Not Black Comedy, White Comedy, Dark Comedy....to make a long explanation short....there are two kinds of comedy to me....Good and Not Good.

In the same day I can enjoy Sanford and Son, Seinfeld, Monty Python and Eddie Murphy's Raw.

They all have elements of intelligence and revolution.

With that being said, I watched the pilot episode of Key and Peele some years ago and dismissed it as watered down version of Chapelle show.

For most of the time that Dave Chappelle has been off Comedy Central his show has still garnered the highest ratings even with out new shows being produced.

Back to Key and Peele.

There new season premieres ironically the same week as another "black show" Black-ish (on ABC) which has had very mixed reviews with in it's target audience. (No surprise , try and get the millions of Black folk in America to even agree that President Obama is Black or not muslim.)

Whatever short comings I may have found with the pilot episode have gone after seeing the promo clip of preparing a black family for a gay wedding. This skit is one of the most intelligent and truly funny moments I have witnessed in TV history.

The skit captures the essence of a black family (how I believe mine would re act) asking questions about a "gay wedding."

After 3 years I am ready to give Key and Peele another look...with this skit...they earned

 

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Blackish Review of The Pilot Words By Raymond Tyler

Let me say that because of the lack of depth in the current offering of programs that feature people of color I wanted to love and embrace ABC's new comedy Blackish.

First I want to like anything on TV that does not show grown black women acting like mean girls waiting to go to prom and throwing liquor on people.

Second, I believe ABC wants people to love Blackish too. Evidence in the fact that it premiered opposite their (ABC's) number one show Modern Family.

Although catch the follow article where I chronicle ABC's past sins with great black shows they had in the past.

When it comes to the new show Blackish I give the first episode a B minus.

Here's what I thought of Blackish.

• The opening was better than expected. As a person that has been the first black and only black at places like The America Red Cross and Atlantic City Weekly, you always feel like you are under a microscope. And those are the good times. I definitely identified with the scene where Anthony Anderson imagines a safari tour coming down his street and saying his family was "mythological".

• I recognized the different family members. I knew the wife that seems to be concerned with the money rather than the well being of her husband. I recognized the teen ager wanting to play hockey to fit in at school.
• I loved that the wife was not more concerned with the money and the teenager had a master plan behind playing hockey.

Here's what I didn't love.

• Blackish could have a little stronger writing.
• After watching The Middle and The Goldbergs and Modern Family I was about "family-ed" out. That being said, giving the individuals on Blackish some serious character development can really make the show sharp. 5 years ago I would have said they have too many characters on the show but that doesn't seem to hurt The Big Bang Theory on CBS which seems to increase its cast each year. The large cast works on ABC's The Middle (a show I love) and CBS's Big Bang because the characters have defined personality that makes them appealing.
  Right now... Anthony Anderson and Tracey Ellis Ross's characters are written and directed as parents with as much flavor as June and Ward. At times the looked like they were almost reading lines. Now Laurence Fishbourn as the grand dad does bring a lot of personality to his role.
• If Blackish is going to survive among the 3 very strong comedies that ABC has on Wednesday...the show will have to forge its way out of the shadows of those comedies and find a way to shine on its own. I have faith the people involved can do it.

As actors I love Anthony Anderson and Tracey Ellis Ross and I pray that Blackish not only works for them, but will bring some other great black actors to the small screen in guest roles. I also hope that CBS and NBC will join in and green light some shows with Black, latino and Asian casts. There are a lot of stories to tell and deeper realities to show.

WATCH BLACKISH WITH THE FAMILY.

Years ago when I was a kid we watched Good Times and then talked about what we just saw.
Infact with many episodes of Good Times we never stopped talking about those shows.
I hope and pray that Blackish has that kind of impact on people moving forward.

Raymond Tyler is a poet, freelance writer and motivational speaker.

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School Dazed...Why Nicki Minaj SHOULD be Sppeaking at Her Old School Words By Raymond Tyler

Well it seems rap star Nicki Minaj will NOT be going back to school this September.
According to her twitter feed the principal at the high school from which she graduated declined her offer to speak to students.
I usually support teachers and principals but here's my little list on why Nicki should have been allowed to speak (although I would not use her stage name in the any way at a public school.)

1. Everyone should offer to go back to their high school to speak and volunteer.
For whatever reasons we all can't be Nicki Minaj, however we can all go back and help the students that are sitting in the seats we were in.
Her appearance may have inspired not just the students but the parents and her adult fans to get more active in the community and in education.

2.She Could Have Challenged The Students.
Imagine what would have happened if she challenged students to graduate and then offer several opportunities.

She could offer a graduate or graduates opportunities to work on her staff as assistants or summer interns.

She could have offered opportunities to work in the studio or even record.
All types of wonderful chances to work with "Team Nicki" but get that diploma.

Lastly, she could/should have challenged the graduating class of 2014 to come back and create opportunities for students in the future.

In fact you may have some youth that will now never come back.

3. Let The Students Decide.
Many people that have never shaken hands with Nicki Minaj have problems with her.
Granted I would not want her giving my niece life advice but my niece is 6 years old, not 16.
At 16 young people are just learning who they are and deciding what kind of adults they want to be and high school is a dress rehearsal.
Students in high school I found are more perceptive than we give them credit for.
So letting them hear Nicki speak not a bad idea. Letting students on stage to party with Nicki? Terrible idea because teens are impulsive.
Allow the students to hear what Nicki has to say.
The students need to hear from many voices. Our youth are smart enough to decide what parts of a person's life inspires them and what parts do not. That will be true whether the guest speaker is Nicki Minaj , Michelle Obama and any other speaker.

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The Light To Sponsor Several Performances at The Alternative Soul Old School Festival On August 31st

The Little Wellness Arts Channel.com, The Atlantic City Beat.com, are presenting a one day family festival and reunion on Sunday August 31st.
Right now the location is secret but it will be at an out door venue that will offer kick ball and volleyball for kids and kids at heart that want to play.
There will be food.
There will be workshops.

As usual with The Alternative Soul Brand there will be once in a life time performances.

From The Light's Roster of Easy Stars...we'll be welcoming to the stage....

 

Miss April "CHOCOLATE GIRL" Williams a silky smooth vocalist with passion and power!

 

The Farmer Boyz bring two generations of hip hop and showmanship together for a show that should not be missed!

 

 

Spinning The Classic will be DJ Troubleman

from 96.1 FM WTTH The Touch's Back In The Day Café

and 91.7 FM WLFR's Wayback Machine.

 

JBleu will be on hand to share new music from her dynamic new CD.

 

Other presenters already confirmed include Hesh's Fitness Presentation from LIFE STUDIOS.

And poetry from Professor Donnetrice Allison of Richard Stockton College, music from ARGO, a Gospel Finale featuring the music of 4:19 and more.

 

If you would like to audition to be a part of The Festival, Volunteer, Donate or Become a Sponsor?

Please contact Raymond Tyler at 609-453-8851 or
RaymondCTyler@gmail.com

 

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Spike Lee's Inviting You Back To Brooklyn For A Celebration of The 25th Annivesary Of DO THE RIGHT THING!

Join Me TOMORROW at the Block Party celebrating the 25th Anniversary of DO THE RIGHT THING. I'll be taking pictures and signing autographs. It is all going down on the single block where the film was shot 25 years ago on STUYVESANT AVE between LEXINGTON and QUINCY in DO OR DIE BED-STUY from 12 NOON to 6PM. Take the J train to the MYRTLE AVE stop or the A/C train to the UTICA AVE stop and walk on STUYVESANT up to QUINCY and LEXINGTON. We will have DJ OOO Child, DJ Parler, MICK, DJ Spinna and DJ Scratch spinning and Special Surprise Guests.- Spike Lee (via his facebook)

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The Sports Page Light: The Sixers People Problems...words By Coach Karim

The Philadelphia 76er's and their fan base has always had the same problem.

They want players that reflect Philly's blue collar, sub suburban , Eurocentric view of what a basket ball player should be.

 

You hear stuff that doesn't mean much on the court like "I want a player that plays the game the right way."

Here's the problem with that logic...any basket ball coach that is being honest will tell you there are two great plays...South Pacific and Put The Ball In The Basket.

By the time we discuss NBA level talent...it's about putting the ball in the basket and not so much about whether you would have a beer with this guy...

Truth is most NBA players don't give a rip about fans...and most that do are not the all stars that will turn your team around.

So the first thing I would do as the GM in Philly is explain to the fan base...you can have a team of book scholars from Princeton or we can go out and get some ballers.

I say all this because I see The Sixers about to repeat a mistake they seem to love which is taking the funniest person they can get in the draft.

Since Joel Ebiid injured his foot after injuring his back.
I DO agree this big man is most likely more Sam Bowie than Hakeem Olajuwon.
So I am conflicted about taking him at number 3.

What I am not conflicted about is that no one but Philly and their "blue collar" fans thinks

Dante Exum is a worth a number 3 pick.

 

I have heard all the "he's ready stuff" and it sounds like the snail oil guy trading you your terribly hot property on that busy beach in Miami, for some beautiful ocean front property in North Dakota.

Every time I think about all my Sixer fan friends that bragged that this man

 

Leo Rautins was going to be the next Larry Bird, I get a huge laugh.
Rautins draft and time in Philly was funnier than comic Doug Williams at The Shaq Roast.

Exum is a solid number 10 pick but to take him at 3 when nobody from 4-9 wants him.....that makes as much sense as saying Rautins WAS the next Larry Bird.

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Karyn Parsons from Fresh Prince Of Bel Air ...Asks For The Community's Help On Her New Film Project

Hey, Folks!

 

Today, Sweet Blackberry is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for our third educational, animated film!

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/798791271/the-janet-collins-story-presented-by-sweet-blackbe

 

For all of you who have followed and supported us over the years, I really appreciate all you’ve done to keep Sweet Blackberry (www.sweetblackberry.org) alive.

For those of you who are not as familiar with the organization, Sweet Blackberry's mission is to bring little-known stories of African American achievement to kids through various forms of media, namely short, animated films.

Past films have been narrated by Alfre Woodard and Queen Latifah. And both films have won the Parents Choice Award, Learning Magazine’s Teacher’s Choice Award, and others. Both films had a nice run on HBO and HBO Family.  

Over the next few weeks, I’m really going to need your help.

 

Let me tell you about the exciting story that we are finally going to be able to share…

 

It’s the story of dancer, Janet Collins. She was the first Black soloist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. When she was 15, the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo asked her to join their company (this was 1932!) but they said she’d have to perform in whiteface. She declined, but went on to break down barriers and inspire artists around the world. Today, few people have even heard of her. I think her story of perseverance is a great story for kids. And the image of a real-life Black ballerina for Black little girls – someone strong and beautiful that looks like them – is so important.

Chris Rock has come on board to narrate!

Award-winning children’s illustrator, R. Gregory Christie, is going to illustrate!

 

We have some incredible talents pitching in, but in order to make this happen, I need your help. ANY contribution is appreciated. And if you cannot help with funds, please do what you can to spread the word to family and friends, however possible; social media, emails,…telephone!  :)

 

Check out the campaign. You’ll learn more about Janet Collins and about Sweet Blackberry. And you can take a look at the awesome rewards we have lined up (Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chris Rock, Questlove, The Metropolitan Opera, Misty Copeland, The cast of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and others have all contributed to the cause). Good, fun, unique items and experiences.

 

I’m very excited about this campaign and finally having the chance to share this story. It’s a story that belongs to all of us, yet risks being lost.

 

It’s very important that we start strong, so please do what you can right off the bat, to get us moving up and over that hill!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/798791271/the-janet-collins-story-presented-by-sweet-blackbe

 

Thank you for your support!

 

Much love,

 

Karyn

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