The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, August 12, 2011 2 coverstory Crockett comedy New sketch comedy series takes on pop culture By Rosalyn Stevens TV Media wit and an edgy take on pop culture, a new series on Fox is set to tickle your funny bone this fall. “In the Flow with Af- fion Crockett,” executive pro- duced by award winner Jamie Foxx, will air a special one- hour premiere on Sunday, Aug. 14 on Fox. Crockett, once a dancer on G “Soul Train,” gained attention when he appeared in the sketch and improv comedy series, “Nick Cannon Pres- ents: Wild ‘n’ Out.” After just eight appearances in 2007, Crockett went on to gain more fame through YouTube, using a series of short broad- casts or “webisodes.” This av- enue has become more com- mon -- stars Rebecca Black and Justin Bieber both got discovered after their You- Tube videos went viral. Prior to his YouTube fame, Crockett had only had a small taste of stardom by having small roles in “Curb Your En- thusiasm,” “NYPD Blue” and 2008’s “Welcome Home Ros- coe Jenkins,” starring fellow comedian Martin Lawrence. Lawrence, as it turns out, is also a Russell Simmons dis- covery. Luckily for Crockett, hip- hop mogul Russell Simmons et ready for the new television hot spot for hilarity. With a sharp was one of those watching YouTube. Simmons and Crockett became partners in the online series, “Hustles with Russells.” Crockett’s on- line presence is said to have created a cult following, en- couraging Fox executives to give the show a try. And with executive pro- ducer Foxx at the helm, “In the Flow” is expected to fol- low in the footsteps of the legendary “In Living Color.” Alumni from that series in- cludes Jim Carrey, a comedic gem who’s made his way into our hearts as the Cable Guy, and Ace Ventura, Pet Detec- tive and many other roles. Crockett has often been called “the next Jim Carrey” because of his dedication to physical comedy. Other “In Living Color” alumni include the Wayans brothers, Marlon and Shawn, who made a name for them- selves with their 1995 parody flick, “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.” Mu- sician and actress Jennifer Lo- pez, comedian Chris Rock and comedic actor David Alan Gri- er also made a number of ap- pearances on the show. “In the Flow” will likely fol- low that vein, taking shots at the ever-changing and often eyebrow-raising elements of today’s popular culture. Paro- dies of movie trailers, TV com- mercials -- like the ShamWow Affion Crockett and Jamie Foxx in “In the Flow With Affion Crockett” spot that lead to fame for spokesman Vince -- and the often laughable predictability of music videos are just a few samples of what can be ex- pected when this series hits screens across the nation. With the rise of reality televi- sion, and questions leading to what is considered reality to- day, the comics are sure to have no shortage of topics. “In the Flow” is scheduled to air its hour-long debut on Sunday after the network’s cornerstone Animation Domi- nation block, but it will nestle into its official time-slot a week later when “The Cleve- land Show” bumps “In the Flow” back half an hour. Network officials said audi- ences will be treated to a star- filled cast throughout the sea- son, with guest appearances by popular figures from all walks of stardom. Hip-hop idol Snoop Dogg, musician Chris Brown, NFLer-turned- sports-commentator Michael Strahan, “Glee” star Harry A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 Shum Jr. and Crockett’s old friend Simmons himself are just a few of the names on the slate this year. Sketch comedy has been a big part of our television his- tory for years, dating back to 1951, with the launch of “The Goon Show” featuring a young Peter Sellers, known to many as the greatest comedi- an of all time. Following the success of that series, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” ap- peared in 1969, introducing audiences to many sketches that have lived on for well over 50 years and will likely stick around for years to come. Just the mere mention of Elderberry leaves some Monty Python followers in stitches, recalling one of the troupe’s famous sketches, marking just how influential this brand of comedy was. In 1975, the longest run- ning sketch comedy series, which continues on today, was born. “Saturday Night Live” has become a breeding ground for top-notch comedi- ans, and it continues churning out talent pool year after year. For nearly 40 years, audiences have been tuning in to what “SNL” has been putting out, week after week. Some of the best known comedians with roots in “SNL” today include Martin Short, late-night host Conan O’Brien, actor and comedian Will Ferrell, as well as Tina Fey, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers of “Austin Powers” fame. Chirstopher’s Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I really like Christine Baranski, who plays Diane on “The Good Wife.” What can you tell me about her? A: The daughter of the editor of a Polish newspaper in Buffalo, N.Y., and the granddaughter of actors in the Polish theater scene, Christine Baranski was born on May 2, 1952. She studied acting at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York and it wasn’t long before she was appearing on Broadway. She’s had her biggest success there, but she’s been appearing on TV as well along the way. Her breakout TV role came in the 1995 sitcom “Cybill” (named for its topline star, Cybill Shepherd). She played the comically uninhibited Maryanne Thorpe, Cybill’s best friend and partner in debauchery. Baranski won an Emmy for the role and got a coveted hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live,” proof that she’d made it as a TV star. A few failed or short-lived sitcoms followed, as well as quite a few TV movies, including the two popular “Eloise” movies released in 2003. Her role in “The Good Wife,” which premiered in 2009, has proven to be a welcome re- turn to successful series television. On top of stage and television, she’s also had a successful film career as well, including a role in the hit 2000 Jim Car- rey adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and the 2008 big-screen version of “Mamma Mia.” A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town.