Culture Surfing

Its been five years since Eve released an album, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been busy. The multi-talented rapper and actress has cameoed on several chart-topping songs, flexed her acting chops in a few films and had a successful television series “Eve,” which ran for three seasons on UPN. Earlier this year, Eve appeared along side Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page as a roller derby girl in Whip It.

Tonight marks Eve’s return to the small screen with a guest role on Fox’s hit high school musical dramedy “Glee.” On the show, Eve plays Grace Hitchens a rival glee club coach at a reform school for girls. Eve, who’s currently on a club tour in Dubai, answered questions from the press about the success of “Glee” and her role on the show. The “Glee” episode “Hairography” airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Tell us about your character on the show and how she fits into Sue’s plan to destroy the glee club.
Well, in this episode you actually see her as an administrator and she definitely gets approached about getting rid of the glee club at the school but you basically see her being a teacher and administrator for these reform school girls. You see her take the girls to the school and see them do this “Bootylicious” number, which kinda blows the competition away. It’s a real funny episode.

What songs, if any, will you personally be singing in this episode?
I won’t be singing at all actually. I don’t sing. Which is fun. It was really fun to just sit back and watch other people sing. I was kinda like the choir director that was pretty cool.

Continue reading “Speakeasy with … Eve” »

(Photo courtesy Fox)

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Starting this weekend, uninhibited Hispanic stand-up comedian George Lopez and equally controversial African-American comedian Wanda Sykes make their late night debut challenging the status quo of what Jay Leno refers to as “the parade of nine white men.”

On Saturday, November 7, FOX will premiere The Wanda Sykes Show making Sykes the first black woman since Whoppi Goldberg to have a late night show on network television. Similarly, on Monday, Nov. 9, TBS will air Lopez Tonight that establishes Lopez as America’s first Hispanic late show host.

Late night talk has had its share of minority hosts however. The Arsenio Hall Show, The Chris Rock Show, The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show, The Magic Hour added color to the talk circuit on and off from the mid ‘90s until the untimely cancellation of Rock’s show in 2000. Recently BET put Blacks back on the late hour schedule with the launch of actress/comedian Mo’Nique’s late night show in early October.

The Wanda Sykes Show format resembles that of her former boss’  – HBO’s The Chris Rock Show a combination of skits, on-the-street segments and spirited panel discussions. It’s no surprise Sykes chose this format considering she won an Emmy award as a writer on the show. Always busy, audiences may best know her from the canceled Fox series, Wanda at Large and sidekick roles as Barb and herself in The Old Adventures of Christine and Curb Your Enthusiasm respectively.

Yet Sykes is no stranger to controversy. She became both the first African-American woman and openly LGBT person to perform as entertainment at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner earlier this year. Her set garnered national attention when she responded to Rush Limbaugh’s comment of hopes the Obama administration fails, with “I hope his [Limbaugh] kidney’s fail.”

Fox’s Saturday night slots have rarely had a stronghold in major late night programming. Their previous shows – the long running sketch comedy show, Mad TV and quirky TalkShow with Spike Feresten’s garnered consistently low ratings that resulted in their cancellation this year. Sykes’ show replaces the 11pm to midnight time slot previously held by MadTV, making Sykes’ major competition NBC’s long-standing and popular Saturday Night Live. Therefore the likelihood of Skyes’ show grabbing a significant hold on late night audiences could be a challenge.

Crediting late night maverick Arsenio Hall, George Lopez says he wants to bring the party back to late night. According to TBS, Lopez Tonight is an informal, casual environment for guest to engage with the audience and experience. “It’s time to get back to the kind of show that is fun for everybody to watch,” says Lopez. “There are enough heavy things going on every day that you should be able to sit down late at night, have a drink, relax and enjoy a party on television.”

Lopez who is probably America’s leading Hispanic comedian is known for his every man style of humor. With three HBO comedy specials under his belt including his most recent Tall, Dark and Chicago, he made history creating and starring in the sitcom George Lopez that ran for six seasons on ABC.

Lopez was lucky enough to land a 4-night-a-week spot, giving him a stronger possibility to compete with the majors and minors of late night; but his biggest upcoming barrier may be his time slot as well. Lopez is set to premier Nov. 9 on TBS at 11 p.m., a slot that vies with popular late night Comedy Central programs The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Colbert Report as well as the cult favorite The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

All things considered, it’s impossible to applaud the network’s courage to air these new shows without examining how race could affect their success. The scrutiny against and lack of diversity among Sykes, Lopez, and also Mo’Nique are also possible obstructions that may prevent them from breaking big. Either way  – whether set up for failure or bound for glory, Sykes and Lopez will go down in television history and could possibly be the ratings booster their networks are hoping for to combat recent decline in ratings for late night viewing.

The Wanda Sykes Show. Premieres Sat., Nov. 7, 11pm – 12 Midnight (EST) on FOX.

Lopez Tonight. Premieres Mon., Nov. 9, 11pm – 12 Midnight (EST) on TBS

(Sykes photo courtesy of Fox Television, Lopez photo courtesy of Turner Broadcasting)

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BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER: Chloe reboots CTU

When Tony’s bad, he’s very very bad.

Stand idly by your FBI vehicle, and he’ll put a bullet in your face. Rub him the wrong way, and he’ll suffocate you with a motel shower curtain. Question his motives and he’ll get, well, moody. (Cara, upon seeing Galvez’s lifeless body: “I’ll assume that was necessary.” Tony: “Don’t start with me. I’m not in the mood.” Me-ow!) All cattiness aside, Tony stepped further into that deep, dark place this week, and seemingly closer to the mental point of no return. As viewers, we’d be remiss to continue hoping for his redemption. Even if he did snap out of his Tony the Terrorist phase, there’d be no one left to vouch for him. Once you kill the head of FBI, burn the President, and lie to Jack, whooo boy are you a goner.

With Tony so committed to the Dark Side, I doubt he’ll make it past season seven. The action’s snowballing toward a big finish now that we’re down to the last four episodes and I think it’s likely that Tony will be taken out of the picture. For good this time, soul patch and all.

Continue reading “‘24:’ Episode 20, 3-4 a.m.” »

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