Vanessa Williams dishes on her latest acting role and new music. Russell Simmons and Donte Clark share an inside look at their film Romeo is Bleeding. And comedienne Allison Moore serves up a fresh dose of laughter.
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Efrem: SECONDS AWAY
ON "STUDIO 5"...
*
Efrem: VANESSA
WILLIAMS REVEALS A RETURN
TO THE RECORDING STUDIO.
NOW I SEE WHY YOU
WANTED TO BE ALONE.
Efrem: AND SHARES THE
HEART OF HER LATEST ACTING
ROLE.
PLUS...
*
Efrem: BEHIND THE
SCENES OF THE POWERFUL
DOCUMENTARY, "ROMEO," WITH
A HIP-HOP PIONEER.
I UNDERSTAND YOU LOVED
THIS FILM IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS
FILM?
ALSO AHEAD...
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU'RE
NOT ALLOW TO SAY AH, AFTER
YOU DO COMMUNION.
Efrem: COMEDIENNE
ALLISON MOORE SERVES UP
THE FUNNY IN "STUDIO 5,"
STARTING NOW.
*
Efrem: AND WELCOME TO
"STUDIO 5."
WE'RE GETTING TO THOSE
STORIES IN JUST A BIT.
BUT LET'S GET STARTED WITH
YOUR WEEKLY COUNTDOWN OF
THE FIVE MOST UPLIFTING
HEADLINES IN THE WORLD OF
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS.
HERE ARE THE FIRST TWO.
AT NUMBER FIVE...
WHOOSH, AND THAT'S THE
GAME!
Efrem: ...FUNNY MAN
JIM CARREY DELIVERS AN
INSPIRING MESSAGE.
AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE
THIS ROOM IS FILLED WITH
GOD.
AND I ADMIRE YOU.
Efrem: ADDRESSING A
ROOM FULL OF FORMER
INMATES, HERE AT "HOME BOY
INDUSTRY," A
LOS ANGELES-BASED
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
SUPPORT AND JOBS TO FORMER
PRISONERS AND GANG
MEMBERS.
AND ULTIMATELY I
BELIEVE THAT SUFFERING
LEADS TO SALVATION.
Efrem: AT NUMBER
FOUR...
SHE'S MY MOM.
Efrem: PRINCE WILLIAM
AND PRINCE HARRY REOPEN UP
ABOUT THEIR MOTHER IN A
NEW TV DOCUMENTARY.
THE FILM'S DIRECTOR SAYS
THE PRINCES WERE EAGER TO
CELEBRATE HER LIFE, GOING
THROUGH PHOTO ALBUMS THAT
HAD BEEN SHUT FOR 20 YEARS
AFTER SHE WAS KILLED IN A
CAR ACCIDENT.
THE FUTURE KING OF ENGLAND
WAS ONLY 15 AT THE TIME,
AND HARRY, ONLY 12.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THE TWO OF US HAVE SPOKEN
ABOUT HER AS A MOTHER.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE
NAUGHTIEST PARENTS.
Efrem: AND NUMBER
THREE IS JUST MOMENTS
AWAY.
VANESSA WILLIAMS IS A
SINGER, ACTOR, AUTHOR,
SINGER AND PRODUCER.
SHE JOINS US VIA SATELLITE
IN JUST A MOMENT TO TALK
ABOUT HER LATEST PROJECT,
BUT FIRST, THIS
INTRODUCTION TO THIS
WEEK'S "STUDIO 5"
INTERVIEW.
LUCILLE TELLS ME YOUR A
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER?
Efrem: VANESSA
WILLIAMS IS MORE THAN A
TRIPLE THREAT.
THE STAR OF THE BROADWAY
STAGE, TELEVISION, AND
SCREEN, IS ALSO A SINGER,
AUTHOR, FASHION DESIGNER,
AND MOTHER OF FOUR.
OUR NEW MISS AMERICA IS
VANESSA WILLIAMS.
Efrem: SHE GAINED
RECOGNITION AS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WIN
THE MISS AMERICA TITLE
MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.
BUT SCANDAL FORCED HER TO
RETURN THE CROWN WITH ONLY
WEEKS LEFT IN HER REIGN.
MY PARENTS WERE THERE
FOR ME.
THEY DIDN'T CAST JUDGMENT.
THEY SAID, OKAY, WE LOVE
YOU AND WE'LL GET THROUGH
THIS.
Efrem: WITH THAT
LOVE, VA VANESSA'S LIFE AND
CAREER HAVE BEEN A STEADY
RISE.
HER LATEST ACTING ROLE IS
A TALK SHOW HOST IN THE
SERIES "DAYTIME DIVAS."
YOU'RE THE MOST ALPHA
WOMAN OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHY I WROTE ABOUT
YOU IN MY BOOK.
YOU DID?
YOU DID.
IT IS BEYOND FLATTERING.
Efrem: VANESSA, WHAT
IS IT THAT ATTRACTED YOU
TO THIS VERY INTERESTING
AND UNIQUE CHARACTER?
WELL, IT IS ACTUALLY
MAXINE ROBINSON.
AND STARR JONES NAMED MY
CHARACTER AFTER MAX
ROBINSON, WHO WAS THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ANCHOR ON TV BACK IN THE
DAY.
SO IT WAS KIND OF A
TRIBUTE TO HIM.
BUT IT IS ALSO THE FACT
THAT SHE WROTE IT WHEN SHE
WAS RECOVERING FROM HEART
SURGERY.
THE DOCTOR TOLD HER SHE
WAS GOING TO LOSE SOME
BRAIN CELLS, OBVIOUSLY
WHEN HER HEART WAS OUT OF
HER BODY, AND THEY WANT
TODWANTEDTO MAKE SURE SHE EXERCISED
HER MIND.
SO SHE WROTE A FICTITIOUS
BOOK ABOUT A DAYTIME TALK
SHOW.
SO THE NAME OF OUR TALK
SHOW IS CALLED "THE LUNCH
HOUR."
I PLAY MAXINE ROBINSON WHO
IS THE PRODUCER AND STAR
AND CREATOR OF THE SHOW.
AND SHE HAS FOUR CO-HOSTS.
ONE IS AN EVANGELIST, ONE
IS A YOUNG PULITZER PRIZE
WINNING JOURNALIST, ONE IS
A CHILD STAR, WHO IS NOW
DEALING WITH SOBRIETY
ISSUES, AND YOU KIND OF
WORK THROUGH WHAT PEOPLE
KNOW AS THEIR REALITY BUT
WHAT WE BRING IS THE DRAMA
TO OUR OWN REALITY ON "THE
LUNCH HOUR."
Efrem: I LOVE EVEN
THE VERY BEGINNING, WHERE
WE FIND YOU IN THE
HOSPITAL IN A SUPPOSED
COMA FOR A LITTLE BIT.
[LAUGHTER]
Efrem: BUT, ALSO, THE
HEART OF YOUR CHARACTER --
YOU REALLY SEEM TO HAVE A
TAKING TO ONE OF YOUR
CO-HOSTS WHO IS
STRUGGLING.
WHAT IS IT, YOU THINK,
THAT ATTRACTS MAXINE TO
THAT PARTICULAR CHARACTER?
I THINK BECAUSE MAXINE
NEVER HAD CHILDREN.
SHE HAS A SON WHO'S SHE'S
ADOPTED, SEAN, WHO ALREADY
HAS ONE OF OUR CO-HOSTS
PREGNANT, WHO IS ALSO
MARRIED TO SOMEBODY WHO IS
RUNNING FOR SENATE.
SO THAT'S ONE DRAMA
ITSELF.
I THINK THAT BECAUSE SHE
DOESN'T HAVE CHILDREN,
THAT SHE ACTUALLY GAVE
BIRTH TO, SHE HAS AN
AFFINITY TO BE A MENTOR.
AND I THINK FOR SOME
REASON SHE FEELS SORRY,
AND SHE FEELS VERY
PROTECTIVE OF THE
CHARACTER KIBBY, WHO IS
PLAYED BY CHLOE BRIDGES,
WHO WAS A CHILD STAR, IS
REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT
IN HER 20s IN THE WORLD,
AND STRUGGLING WITH
DEPENDENCY ON DRUGS AND
ALCOHOL.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE'VE
SEEN PLAY OUT IN OTHER
PEOPLE THAT WE REALLY KNOW
IN THE MEDIA.
AND I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS
THEM AND SHOW KIND OF THE
REALITY OF THE STRUGGLE OF
DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE,
TRYING TO HOLD ON TO YOUR
JOB BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO,
BUT YOU NEED TO AS WELL.
Efrem: I KNOW RIGHT
BEFORE THIS INTERVIEW
BEGAN, MY STAGE MANAGER
TELLS ME THAT I SAW
VANESSA WILLIAMS LAST YEAR
IN "RICHMOND AT THE JAZZ
FESTIVAL."
YOU DO SO MUCH I FORGET
YOU ARE A SINGER.
ANY NEW MUSIC COMING FROM
YOU?
I WOULD LIKE TO GET INT
STUDIO AND START SOME NEW
MUSIC.
IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
I'LL GET TO, AND THEN I
GET SIDE TRACKED.
I PROMISE I'VE GOT TO DO
IT WITHIN THE NEXT -- BY
YEAR'S END, I'M GOING TO
WORK ON SOMETHING.
I PROMISE.
Efrem: YOU HEARD IT
FIRST HERE ON "STUDIO 5,"
VANESSA WILLIAMS IS
GETTING INTO THE STUDIO
BEFORE THE END OF THE
YEAR.
THAT'S RIGHT.
Efrem: THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
THE WORK YOU DO.
YOU ARE A TRUE
INSPIRATION.
OH, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
Efrem: STILL AHEAD ON
"STUDIO 5"...DONTE CLARK
USES WRITING AND POETRY TO
RISE ABOVE A DEADLY TURF
WAR IN RICHMOND,
CALIFORNIA.
HIS STORY IS NOW THE
SUBJECT OF A POWERFUL
DOCUMENTARY WITH RUSSELL
SIMMONS BEHIND IT.
IT IS A WAY TO GET THE
VOICELESS TO SAY SOMETHING
AND EVERYBODY TO HEAR IT.
AND IT IS A WAY TO GET THE
VOICES TO HEAR THEMSELVES.
Efrem: AND WELCOME
BACK.
IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO
THE COUNTDOWN OF THE BEST
IN UPLIFTING ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS.
HERE IS NUMBER THREE.
AT NUMBER THREE...
TAKE THREE.
Efrem: ...DISNEY
ANNOUNCES THE CAST FOR ITS
LIFE ADAPTATION OF
ALADDIN, AND ALONG WITH
WILL SMITH IS NAOMI SCOTT
AS PRINCESS JASMINE.
* YOU'RE STARING AT ME
*
Efrem: SCOTT MAY BE
BEST KNOWN FOR PLAYING THE
PINK POWER RANGER, BUT SHE
IS ALSO A RECORDING ARTIST
AND WORSHIP LEADER.
*
Efrem: WHO SHARES HER
FAITH AND PRAYERS FOR
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
> AT NUMBER TWO...WE'VE
SEEN JUSTIN BIEBER ROCKING
OUT TO "HILLSONG YOUNG AND
FREE" RECENTLY POSTING
THEIR SINGLE "FALLING INTO
YOU," AS HIS FAVORITE
SONG.
WE MENTIONED IT TO THE
BAND MEMBERS WHO PAID
"STUDIO 5" A VISIT ON
THEIR AMERICAN LEG OF
THEIR "YOUTH REVIVAL"
TOUR.
> HOW DOES IT FEEL TO
HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT
CHAMPION THE MUSIC THAT
YOU'RE PUTTING OUT?
I THINK IT IS REALLY
COOL THAT SOMEONE AS
INFLUENTIAL AS HIM IS
MAKING A STAND FOR JESUS.
AND THE FACT THAT HE IS
INTO WORSHIP MUSIC AND
INTO MUSIC PLATFORMS TO
GET THE MESSAGE OUT ABOUT
WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE
HAS DONE, AND IT'S JUST AN
HONOR.
Efrem: AND THAT
LEAVES ONLY ONE MORE IN
THIS WEEK'S COUNTDOWN.
WE'LL GET TO IT IN JUST A
MOMENT.
> AND THIS NEXT STORY
WILL MAKE IT WELS IT WELL WORTH
THE WAIT.
RUSSELL SIMMONS IS A
PIONEER IN THE HIP-HOP
WORLD.
HE IS NOW BEHIND A
MASTERFUL DOCUMENTARY
ABOUT THE LIFE OF A YOUNG
POTE WHO USED HIS WRITING,
AND EVEN SHAKESPEARE, TO
TOUCH YOUNG PEOPLE AND
CURB GANG VIOLENCE IN
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.
HERE IS YOUR FIRST LOOK AT
"ROMEO IS BLEEDING."
MY MAN FROM RICHMOND,
CALIFORNIA.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR DONTE!
[CHEERING]
I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT
THE TIMES WHEN MY POPS WAS
IN JAIL, AND MOM DIDN'T
KNOW HOW WE WAS GOING TO
EAT.
UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND
ME...
Efrem: POST DONTE
CLARK IS THE CENTER OF
THIS MASTER FULLFUL
DOCUMENTARY.
[RAPPING]
* YOU TELL ME
Efrem: JASON VALDEZ
DIRECTS THE FILM.
WHAT WAS IT THAT DREW YOU
TO THIS STORY?
THE SHORT ANSWER IS
DONTE.
DONTE IS JUST ONE OF MY
FAVORITE ARTISTS,
POINTBLANK, PERIOD.
HAVING ACCESS TO ONE OF MY
FAVORITE ARTISTS WHEN
THEY'RE JUST AT THE
BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY
IS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A
FILM-MAKER.
OVER YEARS, I STARTED
TO READ MORE AND INVESTED
INTO DIFFERENT FORMS OF
WRITING.
AND THEN ROMEO & JULIET
CAME BACK AROUND.
WHEN I READ IT, IT WAS,
LIKE, THAT'S ME.
THAT'S MY LIFE.
THAT'S OUR LIFE.
WE CAN TAKE A
SHAKESPEAREAN PLAY AND
REWRITE IT AND MAKE IT
FILT RICHMOND.
Efrem: IT WAS A
FIVE-YEAR JOURNEY MAKING
"ROMEO IS BLEEDING," AND
IT TOUCHED RUSSELL
SIMMONS, THE FILMS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER.
ALTHOUGH ALL OF THIS IS
GREAT AND EXPRESSIVE AND
INNOVATIVE, THIS
PARTICULAR THING APPEALED
TO ME, YOU KNOW, AS A
WAY -- SILENCE IS GOLDEN.
MUSIC IS GREAT, BUT
OPERATING THROUGH SILENCE,
THAT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL
THING.
YOU GET TO SAY THINGS
MAYBE A LITTLE DEEPER THAN
WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY IF THE
MUSIC IS PLAYING.
WE WERE BOTH INSPIRED BY
THE SAME POET TO BE A
SPOKEN WORD.
SO WE BOTH SEE THIS
TRANSFORMATIVE PROPERTY,
THIS THING THAT REALLY
SPEAKS RIGHT TO THE CORE
OF HIP-HOP AND SPEAKS
BROAD TO EVERYONE.
IT'S A WAY TO GET THE
VOICELESS TO SAY SOMETHING
AND FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR
IT.
AND IT'S A WAY TO GET THE
VOICES TO HEAR THEMSELVES.
MY LITTLE BROTHER, HE
WAS HEADED THAT WAY, MAN.
IT WAS REALLY EASY TO SEE
IT.
IT'S NOT ONLY IN HIS BLOOD
LINE TO BE THAT.
I HAVE EIGHT BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.
NOT TOO MANY OF US
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,
ESPECIALLY MY BROTHERS.
THEY'RE ALL IN THE STREETS
AND IN JAIL.
MY POP USED T TO TALK TO ME
THEN.
AND THEN HE ENDED UP GOING
TO JAIL.
I WAS PROBABLY 10 OR 11,
AND EVERYBODY GOING TO
SCHOOL HAD NEW SHOES, AND
I HAD TO HAVE SOME, TOO.
Efrem: YOU SAID
SOMETHING THAT VIOLENCE IS
NOT GOING TO STOP.
THIS IS BEYOND FLESH.
IT'S SPIRITUAL.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
WHAT DROVE THAT STATEMENT?
GROWING UP IN A VIOLENT
COMMUNITY, CONSUMING A
CULTURE THAT WAS VIOLENT,
AS FAR AS THE RAPPERS THAT
I LISTENED TO, AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS
NOT JUST ENTERTAINMENT
BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING
IN MY LIVING ROOM AND MY
KITCHEN.
SO I WAS, LIKE, THIS IS
WHAT IT IS.
AND THEN ONCE I WAS
PURSUING TO BE THAT, I
WAS, LIKE, NAH, I THINK I
WANT TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
I WANT TO WRITE TO UPLIFT
MY COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO STOP THE
VIOLENCE IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND I REALIZED THE MORE I
RESEARCHED AND READ, I
REALIZED VIOLENCE HAS BEEN
AROUND SINCE THE
BEGINNING.
ALL OF THESE WARS OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES FOR
WHATEVER REASONS, AND I'M,
LIKE, MAN -- I CAN SAY I
WANT TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE,
BUT VIOLENCE IS THE WORDS,
BY TELLING SOMEBODY YOUR
STUPID OR NOT WORTH
ANYTHING, AND THAT'S A
VIOLENT ACT.
WHAT I MEANT BY THAT IS IF
WE'RE SPIRITUAL BEINGS, IT
IS MORE THAN WHAT I DO TO
YOU PHYSICALLY.
IT IS ABOUT HOW I THINK
ABOUT YOU MENTALLY, AND
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF
SPIRITUALLY.
IT HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH
FOREVER.
DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU ALL
ENDED UP IN RICHMOND?
EVERYBODY CAME FROM THE
SOUTH.
THEY CAME TO WORK ON THE
SHIPYARDS, MAN.
WHEN WE WAS FREE, BUT
STILL SEEN AS NIGGERS IN
1940s, AND THEY LET US
WORK WITH THEM, BUT WE
COULDN'T LIVE SIDE BY
SIDE.
WE RESTED ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF RICHMOND, NEVER ALLOWED
TO LIVE IN THIS TOWN
BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE
NEEDED THEIR SPACE.
WE WAS IGNORED.
EVEN THOUGH THERE
WASN'T THIS SENSE OF
RACISM THE WAY IT WAS IN
THE SOUTH, BUT, STILL,
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A
SENSE OF SEPARATION AND A
DIFFERENCE.
NORTH OF THE TRACKS,
THAT'S WHERE THEY PUT THE
COLORED FOLKS.
Efrem: WHEN I TALK TO
PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF, WHO
RISE ABOVE DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES, I'M OFF
TOLD THERE IS SOMEONE IN
THEIR FAMILY, USUALLY A
PRAYING GRANDMOTHER, WHO
SORT OF TRA VEILED FORVEILED FOR THIS
TO BE BORN.
WAS THERE SOMEONE PUSHING
AND PRAYING --
MY MAMA.
SHE DID A LOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WAS TAKEN CARE OF.
SHE ENROLLED ME INTO AN
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
CALLED "MAKING WAVES."
IT WAS A TUTORIAL PROGRAM
THAT WILL PREP YOU FOR
COLLEGE.
IT WOULD TAKE YOU THROUGH
FIFTH GRADE THROUGH TO 12.
SHE ENROLLED ME AND MY
BROTHER AND MY SISTER IN
THAT PROGRAM.
SHE WANTED US TO DO WELL.
BUT SHE KNEW WE WERE
SURROUNDED BY THE STREETS.
MY MOM WAS A PRAYING MOM.
Efrem: DONTE HAS A
SPOKEN WORD FOR US A
LITTLE LATER IN THE SHOW.
"ROMEO IS BLEEDING" IS IN
THEATERS JULY 28th.
TRUST ME, THIS IS A MUST
SEE.
> UP NEXT ON "STUDIO
5"...
WHEN WE GREW UP, WE
DIDN'T WATCH COMEDY IN OUR
HOUSE.
Efrem: ...IT'S TIME
FOR A DOSE OF LAUGHTER.
AND SO HE INVITED ME TO
CHURCH.
LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU'RE
NOT ALLOWED TO ANY AH,
AFTER YOU DO COMMUNION.
[LAUGHTER]
Efrem: WELL, THE WAIT
IS OVER.
HERE IS NUMBER ONE IN THE
COUNTDOWN OF WHAT IS NEW
AND NOW IN THE WORLD OF
UPLIFTING ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS.
AT NUMBER ONE...
DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE
MORE OF THIS?
I WOULD SURE LIKE TO GET
UP IN THE PULPIT AND SOUND
OFF TO ALL OF THOSE
SERGEANTS IN THE
CONGREGATION.
Efrem: "STUDIO 5" HAS
SHARED THE SALVATION STORY
OF HOLLYWOOD ICON STEVE
McQUEEN.
AND SO HE TRACKED THEM
DOWN AND SAID, ARE YOU THE
LEONARD THAT PRAYED WITH
STEVE McQUEEN.
I WAS SURPRISED HE DIDN'T
HAVE THE PREACHER WHO LED
STEVE McQUEEN TO CHRIST.
Efrem: AND HE IS
GIVING "STUDIO 5" THIS
EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK.
EVERY SUNDAY WE WENT TO
CHURCH.
I THINK THAT WAS STEVE'S
WAY.
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE
HAD ALL OF HIS QUESTIONS
ANSWERED.
I SAID, EACH ONE OF US
IS DIFFERENT, BUT GOD HAS
A TAILER-MADE PLAN FOR
EACH OF US.
AND HE GRINNED, AND HE
SAID, YOU WANT TO KNOW IF
I'M BORN AGAIN, DON'T YOU?
AND HE SAID, REMEMBER THE
SUNDAY YOU INVITED PEOPLE
WHO WANTED TO RECEIVE
CHRIST?
WHEN YOU GAVE THAT
INVITATION, HE SAID,
THAT'S WHEN I ACCEPTED
CHRIST.
Efrem: STEVE
McQUEEN, AMERICAN ICON,
IS IN THEATERS
SEPTEMBER 28th.
> LAUGHTER IS INDEED
MEDICINE, AND IT IS TIME
NOW TO GET YOUR DAILY
DOSE.
"STUDIO 5" IS SERVING IT
UP WITH WIFE, MOTHER AND
COMEDIENNE ALLISON MOORE.
LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
SAY AH AFTER YOU DO
COMMUNION.
[LAUGHTER]
I DIDN'T KNOW.
THEY DIDN'T TELL ME.
Efrem: YOU'RE A
COMEDIENNE, BUT YOU DIDN'T
ALWAYS WANT TO BE A
COMEDIENNE?
RIGHT.
SO I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THERE WAS A COMEDIENNE
TRAPPED INSIDE OF ME.
Efrem: REALLY?
I USED TO GET IN
TROUBLE ALL OF THE TIME IN
SCHOOL, BUT I WAS THINKING
THEY WERE HATING ON MY
SKILL.
THAT'S ALL.
SO I WAS DOING THIS
NON-PROFIT EVENT, AND I
HOSTED THE EVENT BECAUSE
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
COMFORTABLE WITH TALKING
IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
AND THE COMEDIAN THERE
WAS, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
WHY YOU ALL GOT ME.
ALLISON IS THE COMEDIAN.
AND I THOUGHT, CAN I GET
PAID.
Efrem: WHAT DID YOU
THINK YOU WERE GOING TO
DO?
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE
KID, I DID THINK I WAS
GOING TO BE AN
ENTERTAINER.
I KIND OF THOUGHT I WAS
GOING TO BE A SINGER.
THE PROBLEM IS MY VOICE
DIDN'T THINK SO.
I GOT MARRIED AND I HAD
CHILDREN.
AND THEN MY DREAM BECAME,
LET'S PUT THESE LITTLE
KIDDIES THROUGH COLLEGE.
AND I STARTED WORKING IN
HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND I WAS IN MY OWN LITTLE
WORLD.
Efrem: I TRIED TO
PICTURE YOU IN H.R.
YES.
SO A GIRLFRIEND OF MINE,
WE USED TO SAY, WELL, WHEN
WE BECOME MILLIONAIRES,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
HOMELESS SHELTER.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF THE ORPHANS.
AND THE LORD SAID SO CLEAR
ONE DAY, WHY DON'T YOU
SHOW ME WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO DO WITH THE HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS BEFORE I GIVE YOU
THE MILLION.
Efrem: OOPS.
OKAY, WE'LL BET.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE DID
THIS LITTLE NON-PROFIT
FUNDRAISER, AND WE RAISED
MONEY, AND WE WERE GOING
TO GIVE 100% OF THE MONEY
AWAY.
AND WE HIRED THE COMEDIAN,
AND HE WAS, LIKE, SHE'S
THE COMEDIENNE.
AND I THINK BECAUSE I
SAID, OKAY, LORD, WE'RE
GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAID
TO DO, HE ALLOWED THAT
MOMENT TO BE THE MOMENT.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU SERVE HIM.
Efrem: WHERE DO YOU
FIND YOUR MATERIAL?
IT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT
HAPPENS.
AND IT CYCLES THROUGH MY
BRAIN.
MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY.
AND I HAVE A REALLY
POPULAR BIT ABOUT JUST
GOING THROUGH THE EXPENSES
OF THE FUNERAL.
> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT
IS I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW
TO SPELL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THE FUNERAL PLACE WAS,
LIKE, YOU HAVE $746 COMING
TO YOU.
AND I SAID TO THE FUNERAL
DIRECTOR, THIS IS HOW MUCH
IT IS?
DO YOU HAVE PRICE MATCH?
AND I STARTED FREAKING
OUT.
OH, MY GOD, CAN I GET THE
BOX THAT CAME IN?
Efrem: IT IS FUNNY
NOW.
IT WAS NOT FUNNY THEN?
YEAH.
AND IT GIVES ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MISS
HER.
Efrem: NOW, TO CATCH
MORE OF ALLISON'S HUMOR,
FIND HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SHE IS SURE TO KEEP YOU
LAUGHING.
> AND STILL TO COME ON
"STUDIO 5"...
HALF FREEDOM, HALF...
Efrem: DONTE MARK IS
Efrem: WELL, WE ARE
ALMOST OUT OF TIME FOR
TODAY'S SHOW, SO LET'S
LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING NEXT WEEK.
JULY 23, 1967, DEET DET DETROIT
WAS HIT BY A RIOT.
Efrem: IT HAS BEEN 50
YEARS SINCE A POLICE RAID
LED TO ONE OF THE LARGEST
RACE RIOTS IN DET INDICT DETROIT IN
1967.
THIS PAINFUL PERIOD OF
AMERICA'S HISTORY IS THE
FOCUS OF A MAJOR MOTION
PICTURE.
YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT
THIS TO ANYONE EVER.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
Efrem: THE FILM
REALLY TAKES US THERE.
LET'S NOT BE STUPID IN
THIS SITUATION.
YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHERE
THE GUN IS.
I'VE GOT ALL NIGHT,
PEOPLE.
Efrem: DID YOU FIND
YOURSELVES BREAKING DOWN?
OH, MY GOSH, YES.
EVERY TIME HE SAID CUT, I
WOULD JUST CRY.
WE WOULD ALL PRAY OVER ONE
ANOTHER.
AND WE WERE ON THAT WALL
FOR, LIKE, DAYS.
Efrem: AND THAT IS
JUST ONE STORY FROM NEXT
WEEK'S RUNDOWN.
AS FOR THIS WEEK AND AS
PROMISED, POET DONTE CLARK
HAS OUR FINAL WORD WITH
THIS WEEK'S SPOKEN WORD.
AS THE MORNING NEWS
GLAZES ACROSS CRACKED
BOTTLES AND PLASTIC, IN A
CRAMPED SPACE RUMBLED IN
APPETITE, DEEP INSIDE
SECTION 8 HOUSING, AND A
QUIVERING PIT BELLOWS OFF
THE CLIFFS, HERE LIES A
BROWN BOY.
THE THIRD MORNING THIS
WEEK HE STRUGGLES TO CLIMB
OUT FROM HER WEEPING
PUDDLE, AND SEARCH THROUGH
PUDDLES OF WATER TO PLANT
HIS FEET, OF WATCHING YOUR
BEST FRIEND'S HEAD EXPLODE
IN FRONT OF YOU.
MIND-BLOWING, TO SAY THE
LEAST, DON'T YOU THINK.
WITH SCRAWNY SOLDIERS,
THIS BROWN BOY HAS
UNFINISHED HOMEWORK ON HIS
BACK, AS HE DRAGS HIMSELF
THROUGH A BIG CLOUD OF
PURPLE SMOKE, IN A
BLACK-HOODED SWEATSHIRT,
THERE IN THE CORNER IS
WHEN HE FOLDED, CRUMBLED,
AND WITH EACH CLICK OF THE
CLOCK, HE KNOWS THAT'S
WHERE THE LIVING WAIT.
IS THAT WHY THE TEACHERS
DON'T SEE US?
THIS SHOULD BE THE ONLY
THINGS PLANNED IN YOUR
LESSONS, THEN HOW CAN YOU
FREE US.
HOW CAN YOU REACH US WITH
YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE HANDS
ARE FULL OF HOLDING ON.
WE CAN'T CALL ON RAISED
HANDS OF GHOSTS, SO WE
FLOAT.
WE PRETEND THAT THE
PROBLEM WILL PROTECT US
FROM A WHITE MAN'S GUN.
REALLY KNOW THE PEOPLE
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
SERVING.
OR IS IT THAT YOU DO KNOW
AND YOU ARE AFRAID OF OUR
AWAKENING.
Efrem: THE WORDS AND
HEART OF DONTE CLARK.
THAT IS A POWERFUL FINAL
WORD.
BE SURE TO SEE MORE FROM
DONTE IN THE DOCUMENT
"ROMEO IS BLEEDING."
UNTIL NEXT TIME, REACH OUT
AND TOUCH ME ON
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AND BE SURE TO COME ON
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