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Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics Volume 3 [review]

When you title something as lofty as "American's Funniest Comics"... please deliver. I'm not saying I'm the funniest muthafucka in the land, or even in my house (my son owns that distinction), but some of the comics put me to sleep faster than Tylenol PM. Jamie Foxx's Laffapalooza is a beautiful thing: give funny cats the shine that mainstream America doesn't. I love it, but the shit can be hit or miss - basically, you can SEE why some comics aren't hot. On this, the 3rd installment of Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics, we get some great highs, and some snooze-inducing lows.

The first thing that got me was how dated this DVD was. This got released recently, but Cedric The Entertainer's opening monologue referenced songs like "The Whisper Song" and whatnot, which, if you peep his act on a regular basis, he likes to stay current when talking music and such, esp. on today's music. Just struck me as odd. That rolled onto Donnell Rawlings, aka "I'm rich, bitch!" or Ashy Larry to the Chappelle Show fans, when he talked about Chappelle going to Africa. You just KNOW his current routine speaks nothing about Chappelle (although I did like the bit about him paying for everything - until Dave bounced). Dude is one of those guys who, when he is in character, he is funny as HELL! Ashy Larry? Dude on Mad Real World? The list goes on... but his comedy is just kind of bland. He relies too much on the screaming and whatnot to be as funny as he can be. Other peeps you might have heard of include Wild'n Out's Spanky Hayes, who was funny but not someone I would go pay to see. Maybe I'm just used to see him buggin' out, but his stand-up routine just seemed kind of like the ramblings of ya boy who had a bit too much herb at the party. Esau McGraw is a dude I saw on the latest season of Def Comedy Jam, and his eccentricities kill me. His whole style up on stage, from the random blazer thrown on top of the t-shirt to his mannerisms play like he is a dude who isn't too bright/kind of slow, but knows what the fuck is going on (almost like a modern-day Stepin Fetchit), but I hadn't realized I saw him before until he went through his bit about his girlfriend saying fucked up shit while he slept ("I hate you Esau! Die Death Bleed Eat Yo' Lips, Bitch!")... I saw the whole bit before, but it still killed. The last dude was the illest, though. Willie Barcena is a Mexican guy who just ran with some of the most hilarious shit, in this fucked up, chopping off the ends of his words type of speech. So raw... put it like this. My wife hates most new comedians (last dude I turned her onto was Katt Williams, who she loves); she was in the room while I watched this, and didn't laugh once. She put down her book and bugged out for his entire routine. Dude was just on point. Definite highlight of the show.

The other guys, straight up? Wack. David Arnold was ridiculous - he spoke about not working, but then had x amount of "office place" jokes. The white dude, Louie Katz? I couldn't tell you one of his jokes - just didn't hold my attention @ all. Tony Sculfield is a dude I see on Comic View all the time, and he just looks grimey, like he should be on the block with about 30 dimes bags in his pockets. Really predictable comedy, too... like I really though you STOPPED smoking weed, dog. Oh, and I think it's kind of bugged that Jamie Foxx's face is on this, but he's nowhere to be found. I don't wanna say it looks like they're trying to use his likeness to market it, but...

In any case, fans of Urban comedy should be into this. Loads of social commentary, from relationships to drug abuse to music. Some raw talent on here, some missteps, and hell - we even have Mexicans and Canadians on here! In all seriousness, though, the Laffapalooza concepts is a beautiful thing... maybe when volume 4 drops, it will have some better talent.

rock the dub gives Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics Volume 3 a 2.5 out of 5 stars. The funny bits are as hilarious as the unfunny bits are boring. The thing is, we got more of the latter than the former.

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