The up and down career of comedian, improv star, and impersonator Wayne Brady has recently experienced good and bad news. He’ll become the host of a new FOX television show, beginning July 11, at 9:30 and also showing July 12, at 8:30pm.
Don’t Forget the Lyrics, is a karaoke style show featuring a studio band and a monitor which displays the words. According to TV Squad, The music and words will stop, leaving the contestant hanging to complete the song correctly. Fox says there are nine songs to sing correctly. After completing each set of lyrics, the contestant will be able to take their winnings and leave, or stay and play. Nine correct lyrics in a row win the contestant the opportunity to try for the tenth lyric from a #1 hit. Remembering this lyric could win them as much as a million dollars.
The show is almost a duplicate concept NBC’s Great American Singing Bee.
Wayne Brady’s current splash in the headlines has little to do with his personal life and everything to do with his personal life. On July 2, 2007, Brady’s wife of eight years, Mandy, filed for divorce, according to The Internet Movie Database. The couple had been separated since April 2006. The couple has one child together, four-year-old Maile Masako Brady.
Brady has been featured in many movies, television shows, and commercials. He is probably best known for his role on Drew Carey’s “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and two attempts at daytime talk shows bearing his name. One show won him a daytime Emmy, but failed to last on the air. Brady has extensive experience in drama, and currently stars in a Las Vegas show, “Making Up,” according to The Internet Movie Database (IMDB).
According to aalbc.com, Brady decided early what direction his life would take. At the age of 16 he performed in a school play and was hooked. He went on to perform in “Raisin in the Sun” and “A Chorus Line ” in local theaters. He also suited up as Tigger at Disneyworld for a while.
The African American Literature Book Club reports that Brady enjoys impersonations, and enjoys voice over work in animated films. Brady told the AALBC he is a huge cartoon fan. Speaking of his Brer Rabbit character on the Adventures of Brer Rabbit on the Cartoon Network, he said it took about ten minutes to develop the voice. His premise was an over the top impersonation of Bill Clinton.
When asked how he felt about being compared to Sammy Davis, Jr., Wayne Brady replied, “I am a huge fan of his and consider it a compliment to a degree. But I still think everyone wants to be known as their own person.”
He reported to the AALBC that he loves his job, because it allows him spontaneity and a chance to get in touch with his inner kid.
Don’t Forget the Lyrics seems to be inspired in part by America’s karaoke craze, and in part by viewers’ voyeuristic enjoyment of hearing contestants make a fool out of themselves. Look at the popularity of American Idol shows of contestants who didn’t make the cut.
At least Wayne Brady has the guts to undertake another venture, and the contestants have the guts to lay their reputation on the line for a chance at one million dollars. If you have what it takes, open casting calls will be held in Miami, Nashville, and New York throughout the month of July.
Sources:
“Biography for Wayne Brady,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0103750/bio
“Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” http://fox.com/dontforget/showinfo/
Finley, Adam, “Wayne Brady hosting new lyric challenge on FOX,” TV Squad, June 20th, 2007. http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/06/20/wayne-brady-hosting-new-lyric-challenge-on-fox/
http://forums.prospero.com/foxlyrics/start
“The New Wayne Brady,” http://www.waynebrady.com/
Williams, Kam, “Wayne Brady,” African American Literature Book Club. http://aalbc.com/reviews/wayne_brady.htm
