The lengthy, difficult historical past of males donning attire in Hollywood goes again a long time. It has been a straightforward money seize, significantly for black comedians, from Martin Lawrence to Eddie Murphy. Few have made fairly as a lot cash as Tyler Perry. Shannon Sharpe argues that he would do the identical if he was cashing Madea’s checks.
Tyler Perry shouldn’t be the primary man to make a film dressed as a lady, however he’s in all probability one of many first to make a billion-dollar franchise off it apart from RuPaul. Unlike RuPaul, Tyler Perry is a straight man, so the choice to don a gown and wig comes with lots of scrutiny, particularly from the black neighborhood. Actor Katt Williams has traditionally been vital of dressing up as a lady for laughs. Actor Brandon T. Jackson outright claims it destroyed his career.
However, Tyler Perry has caught by the character of Madea. With her on the forefront of his movie and tv empire, Perry has change into a media mogul. He’s bought a large manufacturing studio down in Atlanta the place he shoots all of his work. Marvel movies are even shot there. He additionally has a partnership with Netflix, which has change into the brand new dwelling for lots of his properties. The streaming big additionally satisfied him to deliver Madea out of retirement after he tried to place the character to relaxation.
Rickey Smiley just lately stopped by Shannon Sharpe’s present, the place they mentioned actors who’ve dressed up as ladies for laughs. Smiley has a personality named Bernice Jenkins that he’s well-known for. Smiley says that these portrayal work as a result of the characters are primarily based on ladies all of us “grew up with.” When Sharpe requested Smiley about Tyler Perry, Smiley remembers taking pictures a pilot with Perry and Niecy Nash years in the past earlier than Madea took off. Even then, Smiley remembers Perry having a brilliant clear imaginative and prescient of what he wished and admits he’s not shocked by his success.
Smiley argues that Tyler, Martin, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams, and all different comics who’ve donned a gown for a task do it out of the love of comedy. Shannon jokes that for a billion, he’d put on a bikini.
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