More “Bang!” for Your Buck

Old-school photos of John Witherspoon can make you laugh out loud. The Detroit-born comedian and character actor started off as a model, working his wide lapels for all they were worth in the Sixties. Now he’s better known as the fashion-plate father from Eddie Murphy’s Boomerang (wherein his mushroom-lined jacket...

By Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

August 30, 2007

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Old-school photos of John Witherspoon can make you laugh out loud. The Detroit-born comedian and character actor started off as a model, working his wide lapels for all they were worth in the Sixties. Now he’s better known as the fashion-plate father from Eddie Murphy’s Boomerang (wherein his mushroom-lined jacket spawned the catchphrase “You gotta co-ordinate”) and Ice Cube’s unabashedly flatulent pops in the Friday franchise. When he isn’t working on his soon-to-be-released rap CD or recording voiceovers as Granddad on the hit Cartoon Network Adult Swim series The Boondocks (new season is coming in October) Witherspoon is hitting comedy clubs across the country.

“I work 40 weeks out of the year! I work too much!” he declares in a recent phone interview. “Back in the day, I used to open for Richard Pryor. And we spent every weekend at the Comedy Store. Back in those days, that was our life. Redd Foxx, David Letterman, Jay Leno ... we were always there working on our acts.” Witherspoon’s act has been honed by cacophonous cackles from some of the world’s most famed comedians, and he’s looking forward to returning to the Miami Improv. In between making audiences laugh from August 30 to September 2, he might be spotted on the sand. “I like to walk along South Beach and check out all the cutie pies,” the lovable lug admits. Tonight’s shows take place at 7:45, 10:00, and midnight. Tickets cost $26.75, plus there’s that two-drink minimum. Call 305-441-8200, or visit www.miamiimprov.com. For all things John Witherspoon, visit www.bangbangbangbang.com. “Remember: Three bangs is a porn site. But four bangs is me,” says Witherspoon.
Aug. 30-Sept. 2

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