Reviving Tommy Davidson

The funky urban Nineties sketch comedy show In Living Color was a springboard to fame for a number of its stars. But for every Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx there’s a David Alan Grier or Tommy Davidson -- an equally talented comedian whose breakthrough moment hasn’t yet arrived. Davidson made...

By Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

January 5, 2006

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The funky urban Nineties sketch comedy show In Living Color was a springboard to fame for a number of its stars. But for every Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx there’s a David Alan Grier or Tommy Davidson -- an equally talented comedian whose breakthrough moment hasn’t yet arrived. Davidson made a memorable impression among the Wayans siblings with his riotous impersonations of Sammy Davis, Jr. and Spike Lee. After the variety show ended, he turned in terrific performances alongside other soon-to-be superstars like Halle Berry in 1991’s Strictly Business, Chris Rock in CB4, and Jada Pinkett Smith in the unfortunate romantic comedy Woo. Davidson took a powerful dramatic turn in Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, but since then, he has floundered in projects that don’t make proper use of his comedic talents: Plump Fiction? Funky Monkey? Juwanna Mann? C’mon, Tommy! Davidson will prove his hilarious worth with a four-night stint at the Miami Improv.
Jan. 5-8

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