“Martin Lawrence Presents 1 Amendment Stand-up” Season ... - Starz

“Martin Lawrence Presents 1 st Amendment Stand-up”Season FourTHE COMEDIAN LINEUPAnguz BlackBrooklyn MikeBuddy LewisChalantCharles WaldenChris ‘KID’ ReidCortney GeeDarius BradfordDeon ColeDick GregoryDon ‘D.C.’ CurryEsau McGrawGary OwenGuy TorryHope FloodJames HannahJoe ClairJonathon GatesKier SpatesLester BarrieMark VieraMichael Blackson aka African King of ComedyNikki CarrRay LipowskiRich VosRickey SmileyRob StapletonRonnie JordanSpecial KTALENTTuRae

THE COMEDIANSAnguz BlackHometown: Norfolk, VirginiaCredits: “Martin Lawrence Presents 1 st Amendment Stand-up” (Season 4)Brooklyn MikeHometown: Brooklyn, New YorkCredits: “Chappelle’s Show,” “The Jon Stewart Show,” “Comedy Central,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,”“Comic View,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “SNAPS,” “Hard Rock Live,” “Uptown Comedy Club,” “The ComedyFactory” (produced in Holland)Additional Information:Graduated from Shaw University with a B.A. in Criminal JusticeBuddy LewisHometown: Gary, IndianaCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” Woo, Beverlyhood, House Party 4: Down to the Last MinuteAdditional Information:Graduated from Howard University with a study emphasis in Microbiology. He is also a contributing staff writer to“Comedy: The Magazine.” Upcoming films include Big Stan, Group Therapy, Black Dynamite, Robosapien:RebootedChalantHometown: San Juan, Puerto RicoCredits: Double Take, Foolish, My Baby’s Daddy, JAG, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “City Guys,” and hastoured with comedians Eddie Griffin and Jay Anthony Brown.Additional Information:Chalant also focuses on acting and producing. He is currently transitioning more into the production sideof film and television.Charles WaldenHometown: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Apollo Comedy Hour,” “KevinHart’s One-Mic Stand”Chris ‘Kid’ ReidHometown: Bronx, New YorkCredits: “Martin,” “Sister, Sister,” “It's Showtime at the Apollo,” “Your Big Break,” “Real Time with BillMaher,” “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,” “Celebracadabra, ” House Party and sequel films HouseParty 2 and House Party 3, Class Act, He Got Game, The TemptationsAdditional Information:Chris is an actor, comedian, and musician, best known as one-half of late-1980s/early-1990s hip hopmusical duo “Kid 'n Play.” The hip hop duo released three albums and starred in a series of popularHouse Party films. While in “Kid ‘n Play,” Chris was particularly noted for his extreme hi-top fadehairstyle.

Cortney GeeHometown: Cleveland, OhioCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” Jamie Foxx ShowAdditional Information:Attended Youngstown State University and Grambling State University with a study emphasis inCommunication. Cortney Gee has been performing stand-up comedy for 18 years. He is currently writinga novel.Darius BradfordHometown: St. Louis, MissouriCredits: “Comic View,” “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” TheWay We Do ItDeon ColeHometown: Chicago, IllinoisCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N’ Out” and “Nick Cannon Presents: ShortCircuitz”, “Comedy Central’s Laffapalooza,” Barbershop and Barbershop 2Additional Information:Attended Philander Smith College. Deon was a finalist in NBC's “Stand-Up for Diversity” showcase andhe won BET's Robin Harris Award for most original comic.Dick GregoryHometown: St. Louis, MissouriCredits: Film credits include One Bright Shining Moment, The Hot Chick, Children of the Struggle,Panther, Sweet Love, Bitter. Gregory has authored and contributed to several books including hisautobiography, “Code Name Zorro: The Murder of Martin Luther King Jr. (1971),” and “Callus On MySoul: A Memoir (2003).” He has released several comedy albums including In Living Black and White,Dick Gregory Talks Turkey, Dick Gregory Running for President, Caught in the Act, The Best of DickGregoryAdditional Information:Dick Gregory is recognized as a comedy legend and Civil Rights activist. Gregory took part in the CivilRights Movement and continues to use his celebrity status to draw attention to such issues assegregation and disfranchisement. He is noted as one of the comedians who helped break the racialbarriers within American comedy. Gregory attended Southern Illinois University on a track scholarshipand served in the United States Army, where he launched the start of his comedy career. He has beenperforming comedy at a national level since 1961.Gregory announced to the world that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer and refusedtraditional chemotherapy medical treatment. With the assistance of some alternative medicine experts,he put together a regimen consisting of a custom diet, vitamins, exercise, and modern devices. Thisresulted in reversing the Cancer to the point where today he is 100% Cancer-free. He founded HealthEnterprises, Inc., a company that distributes weight loss products. He is married to his wife Lillian andhas ten children.

Don ‘D.C.’ CurryHometown: Denver, ColoradoCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Comic View,” Next Friday, Friday After Next,“The Steve Harvey Show”Additional Information:Attended Bishop State College with a study emphasis in Accounting. D.C. got his start at an open micnight; the club ran out of comedians, he volunteered to perform and has been performing for 18 years.He won the coveted title of “Comedian of the Year” by winning the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition,of which he is now the perennial host and was a series regular on ABC’s “Grace Under Fire.” During thefall and winter of 2006, D.C. starred in the national touring stage play “Casino,” and also starred in theGospel musical “If You Won’t Tell, I Won’t Tell.” D.C. is also a restaurant owner in Atlanta, Georgia. He iscurrently in the process of launching a health awareness tour.Esau McGrawHometown: Kansas City, MissouriCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “Jamie Foxx Presents: Big Black Comedy #1,” Chicago PulaskiJones; performed as “Sunny” in the feature film Idlewild, starring Andre Benjamin and Antoine Patton ofOutkast.Gary OwenHometown: Cincinnati, OhioCredits: “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Comic View,” Daddy Day Care, Little Man, Rebound, Held Up,CollegeAdditional Information:Gary served in the U.S. Navy and was chosen for the prestigious Presidential Honor Guard. Gary laterbecame a military police officer at the Naval Installations on Coronado Island in San Diego. During thattime, he embarked on his true calling - stand-up comedy. One night while hanging with his servicebuddies, Owen worked up the nerve to perform at a nightclub. After only a year of doing stand-up, hewas named "Funniest Serviceman in America." San Diego's African-American community embraced him,and he went on to win the "Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego" contest.Guy TorryHometown: St. Louis, MissouriCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “Comedy Central,” American History X, Life, Trippin’, Ride,Runaway Jury, Don’t Say a Word, Introducing Dorothy DandridgeAdditional Information:Attended Southeast Missouri State. Guy has been performing stand-up comedy for 17 years andcontinues his acting career on television and the big screen.Hope FloodHometown: Los Angeles, CaliforniaCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “Comedy Central,” Baby BoyAdditional Information:Hope is the Owner/CEO of the non-profit organization, A Nickel of Hope, Inc.

James HannahHometown: Chicago, IllinoisCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “Cedric the Entertainer Presents," "My Wife and Kids," "TheSteve Harvey Show," "P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Jamie Foxx's Laffapolooza,” “ComicsUnleashed with Byron Allen”Additional Information:James has been performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years. He is currently a member of the WritersGuild of America and has written for television shows such as "The Steve Harvey Show," "My Wife &Kids," "Cedric The Entertainer Presents," "The Big House," "Chris Rock's "Never Scared," and "TylerPerry's House of Payne." James has rewritten two major film releases, Cooking 4 Luv and Spinderfella,which are both are currently in production.Joe ClairHometown: Seat Pleasant, MarylandCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” host of “BET’s Rap City,” TrainRide, High FreakquencyAdditional Information:Graduated from Morgan State University with a B.A. in PsychologyJonathon GatesHometown: Boston, MassachusettsCredits: “Comic View”Additional Information:Jonathon has been performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years. He coaches a semi-pro football team.He is involved in a philanthropic cause entitled, “Man-up Movement,” which motivates men to take astand against violence within the inner-city.Kier SpatesHometown: Houston, TexasCredits: “Comic View,” Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage, and had opened for comedians Nephew Tommyand Steve Harvey.Additional Information:Attended Prairie View A&M University with a study emphasis in Mechanical EngineeringLester BarrieHometown: Chicago, IllinoisCredits: “Def Comedy Jam: More Allstars,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Comic View,”Additional Information:Attended University of Southern California with a study emphasis in Communication. Lester is a Pastorof a small Sunday morning Ministry. He also teaches 4 th grade elementary school.Mark VieraHometown: New York, New YorkCredits: “30 Rock”

Michael Blackson aka African King of ComedyBirthplace: Ghana, West AfricaCredits: “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Comic View,” “Showtime at the Apollo,” NextFriday, Repos, Internet DatingNikki CarrHometown: New York, New YorkCredits: “Comic View,” various “BET’s Top 25” commentary shows, “Martin Lawrence Presents 1 stAmendment Stand-up” (Season 4)Ray LipowskiHometown: Chicago, IllinoisCredits: “Comic View,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,”“White Boyz in the Hood,” “The Funny Spot”Rich VosHometown: Plainfield, New JerseyCredits: “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comedy Central,” “The View,” “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” “JimmyKimmel Live,” “American Dreams,” “Opie and Anthony”Rickey SmileyHometown: Birmingham, AlabamaCredits: “Comic View,” “The Way We Do It,” guest presenter on the “2001 NAACP Image Awards,” FridayAfter NextAdditional Information: Rickey Smiley has been working the comedy circuit for the past sixteen yearsand it has paid off. Rickey continues to establish his comedy career using “clean” comedy. He is devotedto church and in involved in charities such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Rickey can currentlybe heard every weekday on Dallas' 97.9 The Beat radio station.Rob StapletonHometown: Bronx, New YorkCredits: “Comedy Central,” “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Def Comedy Jam”Ronnie JordanHometown: Atlanta, GeorgiaCredits: “Comic View,” “P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy”Additional Information:Attended University of West Georgia with a study emphasis in Television and Radio Broadcasting.Ronnie has been performing stand-up comedy for eight years. In addition to comedy, he produces musicbeats and has enjoyed cooking since the age of five.

Special KHometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in Decatur, GeorgiaCredits: “Comic View,” “Robert Townsend's, ‘Partners in Crime,” “Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes,”“Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” “Martin Lawrence Presents 1 st Amendment Stand-up” (Season 4)Additional Information:Special K has been performing stand-up comedy for over 10 years. He is the author and self-publisher ofthe book entitled,"100 Problems, 100 Solutions - Solving Life's Problems Shouldn't Take All D*mn Day(2005).” He is currently the head comedy writer and has a feature role on the nationally syndicated"Rickey Smiley Morning Show.” He is also the featured comedian on the nationally syndicated radioshow, "Two Live Stews." He has been selected to play the lead role in an upcoming independent filmentitled, Strip-Off.TALENTHometown: Mount Vernon, New YorkCredits: “Comedy Central,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “SNAPS,”“98.7 KISS FM Wakeup Club,” Sunset Park, Brotherly Love, A Brother’s Kiss, FulgaziTuRaeHometown: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaCredits: “Soul Comedy Café,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comic View,” “The Funny Spot,” “Robert Townsend's,‘Partners in Crime"Additional Information:Attended Temple University. TuRae has been performing stand-up comedy for 15 years and involved asa community activist.