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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 27 september 2017
Russell Simmons talks ‘Def Comedy Jam 25’ and series return

By SANDY COHEN who she is,” he said. ries back for a third go in
AP Entertainment Writer The 90-minute special inter- November: “All Def Come-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rus- sperses clips from the origi- dy” will have a six-episode
sell Simmons says not much nal series with live appear- run on HBO, he said.
has changed for black ances by a slew of come- The anniversary special is
comics since he created dians, including Lawrence, like an entree and a retro-
“Def Comedy Jam,” the Underwood and Cedric spective leading into the
early-’90s HBO series that the Entertainer, along with new season, Simmons said.
introduced Martin Law- Steve Harvey, Tracy Mor- “It really inspired me and it
rence, Bernie Mac, Sheryl gan, Craig Robinson, D. L. reminded me of all these
Underwood, Cedric the En- Hughley, Katt Williams and movies in development
tertainer and many other Dave Chappelle. and all these people who
comics to national TV au- A de-facto host of the spe- should be working.
diences. It was a weekly cial, Chappelle hilariously Some are famous from ‘Def
showcase for edgy and went off-script during the Comedy Jam’ and they
outrageous comedians at taping earlier this month at tour in the black commu-
a time when “The Cosby the Beverly Hilton Hotel. nity but haven’t crossed
Show” and its (then) righ- “There’s a white-suprema- In this Aug. 5, 2017, file photo, Tiffany Haddish attends the Black over, which is the case with
teously wholesome star Bill cist starter kit at Target. Let Girls Rock! Awards at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in almost every stitch of black
Cosby was the mainstream me get some tiki-torches Newark, N.J. comedy,” he said.
face of black comedy. and khaki pants, I’ve got Associated Press “So it reminded me how
TV’s “gatekeepers” still something going on next ed people to be: on TV, not we are,” said Hughley, who excited I am to do a new
tend toward “the most ac- week,” he said before at your job.” hosted the second itera- chapter of ‘Def Comedy
cessible, easy-to-digest” spontaneously leading the The show allowed black tion of “Def Comedy Jam” Jam.’ There are so many
black entertainers, Sim- crowd in the “black na- comics to “be unapologet- in 2006. underserved comedians
mons said, but he’s newly tional anthem,” ‘’Lift Every ically and unflinchingly who Simmons is bringing the se- who deserve a break.”q
inspired after making “Def Voice and Sing.”
Comedy Jam 25 ,” a cele- “You can leave this in,
bration of the series’ come- too,” Chappelle said. “It’s Residente leads Latin Grammys
dians and cultural impact a reunion. I was drinking
Simmons said “pretty much nominations with 9 nods
that premieres Tuesday on backstage.”
Netflix.
“I’m very excited after look- all” of Chappelle’s off-
ing at the rough cut,” Sim- script run made it into the By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
mons said in an interview final edit. Associated Press
last week. “I really believe Rising star Tiffany Haddish NEW YORK (AP) — Puerto
that people are going to said “Def Comedy Jam” Rican rapper Residente’s
have a great time watch- provided an outlet for fe- first solo album post-Calle
ing and it will revive a few male comics that didn’t 13 has received a lead-
careers.” exist elsewhere. She got her ing nine nominations for
He especially wants that for break on the show in 2008. this year’s Latin Grammys,
Adele Givens, an original “It was an opportunity including for record, song
“Def Comedy” performer for an uninhibited female and album of the year.
who Simmons said “never comic to say whatever she Colombian sensation Malu-
got a break in Hollywood.” had to say,” Haddish said. ma follows him with seven,
“This time around, maybe “Let’s be honest, that’s Shakira’s comeback gath-
somebody will see her for where you want uninhibit- ered six, and Juanes, Mon
Laferte and producer Kev- In this June 16, 2017 photo, file photo, singer-songwriter Rene
in Jimenez ADG received Perez Joglar, also known as Residente, poses for a photo during
Rickles’ series featuring celeb five nominations each, the an interview in Mexico City. Associated Press
Latin Recording Academy
interviews to debut online announced Tuesday. The watched on YouTube with fourcade, Shakira and Da-
announcement was de- over 3.8 billion views since nay Suarez.
NEW YORK (AP) — A digital layed by nearly a week af- its January release, was The record of the year list
series starring late comedy ter last year’s devastating produced and directed by is comprised by a diverse
legend Don Rickles will de- earthquake in Mexico and Carlos R. Perez and high- group of artists, genres and
but online Monday. hurricanes Irma and Maria, lights the color and beauty collaborations that include
The 13-episode show “Din- which have devastated of now devastated Puerto Residente’s “Guerra,” ‘’Am-
ner with Don ,” produced the Caribbean.This year’s Rico, which was hit by a arrame” by Mon Laferte,
by AARP Studios, features ceremony could provide Category 4 hurricane, Ma- featuring Juanes; Shakira
Rickles interviewing celebri- Juanes with the opportu- ria, less than a week ago. and Maluma’s “Chantaje”,
ties such as Jimmy Kimmel, nity to break his record tie Ten acts are vying for al- “El Ratico” by Juanes with
Snoop Dogg , Robert De with Calle 13: Both acts bum, song and record of Kali Uchis, Jorge Drexler’s
Niro and Martin Scorsese In this image released by have won 21 awards each. the year, unlike the tra- “El Surco,” Maluma’s “Feli-
at his favorite restaurants in AARP Studios, Don Rickles, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yan- ditional Grammy Awards ces Los 4,” Blades’ “La Flor
left, and Snoop Dogg listen to
Hollywood. Rickles, known music during an appearance kee’s megahit “Despacito” where five nominees com- De La Canela,” Alejandro
as the grandmaster of in- on Rickles’ 13-episode series got four nominations: re- pete. Album of the year Fernandez’s “Quiero Que
sult comedy, died in April “Dinner with Don.” cord and song of the year, nominees also include Ru- Vuelvas” and Ricky Mar-
of kidney failure at age 90. Associated Press as well as best urban fusion/ ben Blades with Roberto tin’s “Vente Pa’ Ca,” also
AARP said the series was January. performance for its remix Delgado & Orquesta, An- featuring Maluma.
Rickles’ final project. It will be available on with Justin Bieber and best tonio Carmona, Vicente The Latin Grammys will air
They began shooting in No- the AARP’s YouTube short form music video for Garcia, Nicky Jam, Juanes, live on Univision on Nov. 16
vember 2016 and ended in channel.q its clip. The video, the most Mon Laferte, Natalia La- from Las Vegas.q