Keenen Ivory Wayans: “I Want to Do Stand-up Again”

http://www.bet.com/news/c...again.html

Damn, I almost came reading this...

Keenen Ivory Wayans, a visionary trailblazer in comedy and professional springboard for his siblings, helped change what America finds funny.

The director, writer and producer is responsible for creating the groundbreaking sketch comedy TV show In Living Color and the films I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and the first two installments of the Scary Movie franchise. The 55-year old eldest brother of Damon, Kim, Marlon and Sean is now back on the small screen as a guest actor on TV Land’s sitcom Happily Divorced, which stars Tichina Arnold (check your local listings).

BET.com chatted with Wayans about his plans to return to stand-up along with another comedy legend — Eddie Murphy — and why In Living Color 2.0 has been shelved indefinitely.

Tell us a bit about the character you play on Happily Divorced.

I play a guy who dated Tichina Arnold’s character. I left her jilted and have come back 20 years later to rekindle our relationship. After we’re hot and heavy again for about a week she doesn’t hear from me. So she thinks I did it again. Then, she goes to my place to cuss me out only to find out I … well, I don’t want to tell you what happens next.

We'll have to tune in. It’s been over ten years since you’ve acted on television. What brought you back?
People I know who are working on Happily Divorced — like Tichina and [consulting producer] Yvette Lee Bowser — I’ve known them forever and I love and adore them. They asked me if I would do it and I said yes. Tichina was saying how she’s worked with every single person in my family except me, so we had to make the circle complete. It was a good time. It was a great opportunity for me to get some of the rust off and see if I want to perform again.

Your nephews now have a new BET series, Second Generation Wayans, produced by Marlon. Will you be apart of it?
Well, I’m involved in it if they need me. When they went to do this show it initially was going to be all of us producing. But I said to Craig and Damien, “This is your thing and you’re doing this to establish yourselves, so you all don’t need me.” They don’t really need Marlon either [laughs]. But Marlon is there in case they need him. They’re doing their thing.

It’s been reported that the In Living Color reboot is no longer moving forward. What happened?
That’s on hold right now. My feeling was that the bar was set so high; if we couldn't reach it then it was best to just leave it. I don’t feel like we can reach that bar right now.

Were you having trouble finding the next Jim Carrey or David Alan Grier?
In Living Color was like catching lighting in a bottle, all the elements came together and the comedy gods blessed it. You have to wait for that blessing, you can’t make that. We went out and we looked at talent, and there were some great people. But like I said, I just didn’t feel like beyond doing a great pilot that we had five years of material and characters that we would need for the show.

You gave a very touching speech at the Eddie Murphy: One Night Only tribute special last year. As a director, what kind of worthy film project would you like to see him in?
All the fans want to see Eddie Murphy get back and they can’t really put [their] finger on what it is. Eddie is great when he is playing the joke on someone versus the joke being on him. He is better active than reactive. In all Eddie’s best movies he’s the guy who comes in and turns the world upside down versus his world getting turned upside down.

That's an interesting take on his work. What upcoming projects do you have planned?
Actually, Eddie and I talked after the special about doing stand-up again. So that’s something that I want to do. Continue that conversation with him and kind of egg him on. I’m definitely going to do it.

You and Eddie Murphy are going to do stand-up concerts?
Not together, but it will be like both of us getting on stage again to have fun. We want to get our smiles back and reignite that spark. Stand-up is a really fun medium to play in and keeps you sharp and funny. And if you’re not doing it because you’ve got to make money, it’s a really great creative form. For he and I both, I just think it would be something really fun to do at this stage in our careers and see what comes out of it.

That would be a major comedy event. Eddie hasn’t done stand-up in 26 years. Will you have to persuade him to do it?
No, Eddie’s ready. We said we’re going to give ourselves two months to write, get back in touch and see if we’re serious or not. My brothers and I have been talking about doing a Wayans Brothers tour that would be me, Damon, Sean and Marlon. If I were to do it, that would be my agenda. With Eddie, if he wanted to do his next concert movie I would love to be there as a friend and be a sounding board to help him put it together. Whatever creatively we decide to do, it will be a fun conversation.

Wow, so when can audiences expect the stand-up return of Eddie Murphy and Keenen Ivory Wayans?
Now, if either Eddie or me really got serious, nothing would happen for at least a year. [Laughs] Nobody would want to film anything that we come up with in two months.

[Edited 1/7/13 20:51pm]

Well from what I read, it's really not set in stone yet and "still in talks". So I won't believe it until there's an Official announcement made.

[Edited 1/8/13 4:32am]

would be cool

Just saw Marlon and Craig a few weeks ago down here.

Things are looking up.........way up.

MaxiMPact said:

Oh Happy dayz................ Love the Wayan brothers. WHITE CHICKS is the best movie EVA

I could watch White Chicks all day long! (And not just the movie either!)

It's my 2nd favorite flick of ALL TIME! (The Godfather is still number one.....but not by much!)

Visionnaire said:

MaxiMPact said:

Oh Happy dayz................ Love the Wayan brothers. WHITE CHICKS is the best movie EVA

I could watch White Chicks all day long! (And not just the movie either!)

It's my 2nd favorite flick of ALL TIME! (The Godfather is still number one.....but not by much!)

BAsking in the ambience....................Basking in the ambience...............my little choclate mahnnnnnnnnnnnn...........

I think Im gonna have a Bitch Fitt.........

I surely hope so.

I'm interested in seeing how a 51-year-old Eddie Murphy will do his stand-ups.

Interested in a 54-year-old Keenen too.

Both of them got a lot of stories to tell lol

Timmy84 said:

I surely hope so.

I'm interested in seeing how a 51-year-old Eddie Murphy will do his stand-ups.

Interested in a 54-year-old Keenen too.

Both of them got a lot of stories to tell lol

Both haven't done stand up since the late 80s, besides a short 2 week stint Keenen had in 1999 for some casino.

Yeah, I'd really like to see what Eddie would come up with and how he would deliver it, because he doesn't seem to be even a little bit of the guy who used to do that gig. Even in interviews he's like, super chill and laid back, kind of quiet. Not sure I can picture that guy doing stand up.

Cerebus said:

Yeah, I'd really like to see what Eddie would come up with and how he would deliver it, because he doesn't seem to be even a little bit of the guy who used to do that gig. Even in interviews he's like, super chill and laid back, kind of quiet. Not sure I can picture that guy doing stand up.

Eddie was shy in his interviews when he was doing stand up regularly but yeah I doubt he'd have the same energy that he did though who does?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

I surely hope so.

I'm interested in seeing how a 51-year-old Eddie Murphy will do his stand-ups.

Interested in a 54-year-old Keenen too.

Both of them got a lot of stories to tell lol

Both haven't done stand up since the late 80s, besides a short 2 week stint Keenen had in 1999 for some casino.

They need to exercise the kinks out of their armor, I think.

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Both haven't done stand up since the late 80s, besides a short 2 week stint Keenen had in 1999 for some casino.

They need to exercise the kinks out of their armor, I think.

It will be much easier for Keenen to come back to stand up. Firstly, he's not possibly the most famous stand up comic ever. Secondly when he was doin stand it wasn't heavily documented. I think once he started to get known in the late 80s, he may have already hung up his mic.

It would be possible for Keenen to work smaller clubs and people not even blink an eye, not with Eddie. All eyes will be on him.

Robert Townsend recently returned to stand up and it didn't cause an uproar. This was like 2-3 years ago though, not sure if he kept at it.

I've been tryin to find info on when exactly Keenen stopped, can't find it on the web anywhere.

Does anybody know if Chris Rock still does the comedy circuit? I thought he did from time to time, but now I think I'm wrong about that. Anyway, if he does it, Eddie could do it. People would get used to it pretty fast because the set wouldn't change drastically from night to night. Once it was "out there" he'd be able to work on it, change things up a bit at a time.

Cerebus said:

Does anybody know if Chris Rock still does the comedy circuit? I thought he did from time to time, but now I think I'm wrong about that. Anyway, if he does it, Eddie could do it. People would get used to it pretty fast because the set wouldn't change drastically from night to night. Once it was "out there" he'd be able to work on it, change things up a bit at a time.

Rock is always doin stand up. Rock is famous and can work small clubs, because he's always workin. It's not out of the ordinary. Rock may take a year off from time to time (his last special was Kill the Messanger in 08 and I seen a clip of him late last year in a club), but not 26 years. Murphy hasn't done stand up since the Raw tour ended in 1987.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Cerebus said:

Does anybody know if Chris Rock still does the comedy circuit? I thought he did from time to time, but now I think I'm wrong about that. Anyway, if he does it, Eddie could do it. People would get used to it pretty fast because the set wouldn't change drastically from night to night. Once it was "out there" he'd be able to work on it, change things up a bit at a time.

Rock is always doin stand up. Rock is famous and can work small clubs, because he's always workin. It's not out of the ordinary. Rock may take a year off from time to time (his last special was Kill the Messanger in 08 and I seen a clip of him late last year in a club), but not 26 years. Murphy hasn't done stand up since the Raw tour ended in 1987.

OK, cool. I thought Rock was out there regularly.

Yeah, it would be CRAZY for Eddie at first. Maybe for a few months, six months, whatever. But eventually the crazy would mellow. Folks got a short attentions span these days. If he was really serious about it, about going out and working his act until it was razor sharp again, I think he could do it. If he's just planning on writing a set and going big from the jump, I'd be a bit more apprehensive about it.

Comedy is hard work - all the guys who are great at it say so. Eddie just doesn't seem the like guy who would want to go out and work the act for year before he films a special anymore. Even if his paychecks have gotten smaller he can still do 1-3 movies a year without working very hard and put some good money in the bank.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Cerebus said:

Does anybody know if Chris Rock still does the comedy circuit? I thought he did from time to time, but now I think I'm wrong about that. Anyway, if he does it, Eddie could do it. People would get used to it pretty fast because the set wouldn't change drastically from night to night. Once it was "out there" he'd be able to work on it, change things up a bit at a time.

Rock is always doin stand up. Rock is famous and can work small clubs, because he's always workin. It's not out of the ordinary. Rock may take a year off from time to time (his last special was Kill the Messanger in 08 and I seen a clip of him late last year in a club), but not 26 years. Murphy hasn't done stand up since the Raw tour ended in 1987.

The one thing I admire about Chris Rock is that he never forgets his calling. He's a comedian first and foremost. Just because he hasn't done an HBO special in four years doesn't mean he hasn't stopped doing stand-up. Same with Dave Chappelle, who's been in it for about 25 years himself (he first did stand-up at 15 if I recall). Eddie just wanted more money and like Pryor, he kinda forgotten his roots.

Cerebus said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Rock is always doin stand up. Rock is famous and can work small clubs, because he's always workin. It's not out of the ordinary. Rock may take a year off from time to time (his last special was Kill the Messanger in 08 and I seen a clip of him late last year in a club), but not 26 years. Murphy hasn't done stand up since the Raw tour ended in 1987.

OK, cool. I thought Rock was out there regularly.

Yeah, it would be CRAZY for Eddie at first. Maybe for a few months, six months, whatever. But eventually the crazy would mellow. Folks got a short attentions span these days. If he was really serious about it, about going out and working his act until it was razor sharp again, I think he could do it. If he's just planning on writing a set and going big from the jump, I'd be a bit more apprehensive about it.

Comedy is hard work - all the guys who are great at it say so. Eddie just doesn't seem the like guy who would want to go out and work the act for year before he films a special anymore. Even if his paychecks have gotten smaller he can still do 1-3 movies a year without working very hard and put some good money in the bank.

In that article, Keenen said to also look out for a Wayans Brothers Tour. That would be something to see.

Keenen

Damon

Shawn

Marlon

And maybe he can get back with Eddie for a Black Pack Reunion Tour

Murphy

Keenen

Robert Townsend

Arsenio

Paul Mooney

Or, I'd like to see this one too.

Murphy

Chris Rock

Damon Wayans

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

They need to exercise the kinks out of their armor, I think.

It will be much easier for Keenen to come back to stand up. Firstly, he's not possibly the most famous stand up comic ever. Secondly when he was doin stand it wasn't heavily documented. I think once he started to get known in the late 80s, he may have already hung up his mic.

It would be possible for Keenen to work smaller clubs and people not even blink an eye, not with Eddie. All eyes will be on him.

Robert Townsend recently returned to stand up and it didn't cause an uproar. This was like 2-3 years ago though, not sure if he kept at it.

I've been tryin to find info on when exactly Keenen stopped, can't find it on the web anywhere.

Yeah that's true. It'll be a huge spotlight on Eddie to see if he can succeed again.

Keenen returns to the small screen tonite.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

good news, that!

I would love to see the both of them back onstage doing their thing. I think if Eddie went the "Damon Wayans" route and talked about his kids, life, other celebs, etc he might pull it off.

Fagas staring at my ass. AIDS on your lips....etc. etc. I'm interested to see how a tranny chaser gets away with telling those sorts of jokes now that he's been outed.

I actually saw this episode of "Happily Divorced" with Keenen in it...I think he did well, he sure looked FIONE as hell dayum! He sure has been taking care of his body! But the show itself is corny and not really all that funny IMO. Great to see him back in the limelight.

[Edited 1/11/13 4:30am]