More diversity in late-night comedy
Wendy Williams interviews NFL player Terrell Owens on her late-night talk show (AP Photo by Anders Krusber)
George Lopez during a fundraiser in Beverly Hills (AP Photo by Matt Sayles)
The television late-night comedy talk show lineup has been more diverse this fall. There have been minority hosts popping up all over the late-night talk show scene.
“The Mo’Nique Show” premiered this fall on the BET network and “The Wendy Williams Show” premiered on the Fox and BET networks.
Mo’Nique began her career as a stand-up comedian. She eventually became an actress and has a major role in the upcoming film “Precious,” which was produced by Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
Mo’Nique’s late-night show caters to a hip hop audience, while Williams’ show has a broader appeal because her celebrity guests are from all walks of life.
Comedian Wanda Sykes’ new late-night talk show will premiere Nov. 7 on the Fox network, and George Lopez’s show “Lopez Tonight” will debut Nov. 9 on TBS.
This is the most diversity I’ve seen in late night comedy. Kudos to those networks for making an effort. However, I’m still waiting on NBC, ABC and CBS to diversify their late-night schedule.
Whether those shows listed above will see long term success is unknown. The last minority to have a successful late-night talk show was Arsenio Hall. His show ran from 1989 to 1994.
Comedian Mo’Nique says she was molested by her brother
In the October issue of Essence magazine, comedian and actress Mo’Nique reveals that she was sexually molested by her older brother when she was 7-years-old.
She said her brother would lure her in the bathroom using candy, and he molested her four times during a 4-year period.
The sad part is that she said her parents really didn’t do much when she told them what was going on.
In the article Mo’Nique said, “My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I’ll never forget my mother saying, ‘If it’s true, it will surface again,’ and I remember thinking, ‘Why would I lie? Why is there even an if in this?’ I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening.”
Mo’Nique’s brother eventually served 15 years in prison for molesting another girl.
She said her brother so far has showed no remorsed. She said, “He still acts like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help.”
I know this was a difficult subject for Mo’Nique to come forward and talk about, and she should be commended for coming forward and telling her story to let other victims know that they are not alone.
Hopefully, her brother will get some help. Either he seeks lifelong treatment, or he should be locked up for the rest of his life.
Mo’Nique is best known for “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “The Parkers” “Phat Girlz” and most recently “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” starring Martin Lawrence.
Tim Henley
