Buzzworthy: Martin Lawrence, Gary Owen, Ray Lipowski, Can't Say Names & 'Good Times'

By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Public relations powerhouse Priscilla Clarke invited me down to the Lincoln Theater in Washington, DC for the third-season taping of Starz Entertainment's 'Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up.'

Capital City native Lawrence executive produced the series and was on hand for the majority of the 10 episodes that were hosted by comedian Doug Williams.

I attended four of the tapings and most of the comics I saw were pretty funny!

Comics like Jay Phillips, Kym Whitley, Ron G., Michelle, Red Grant, Lunelle, Steve Brown and Roz had really strong performances.

My favorite sets were done by Gary Owen, Rudy Rush, Joe Claire and a white Chicago-bred comic that is funny as hell named Ray Lipowski – he's a superstar in the making.

Owen did a bit about the election. "I aint saying who I am voting for. Not tonight. Aint gonna do it," he teased the crowd.

A white comic that is married to a black woman, Owen told the crowd: "Barak Obama is mixed. I saw his mom. So stop taking all the credit black people! Y'all did the same thing with Halle Berry . Stop taking all the credit."

The place roared!

A comic duo from Alabama named The Berry Boyz didn't fair so well. The two failed to connect with the audience at all and struggled through their routine.

Despite being prepped before the show that booing was discouraged, The Berry Boyz were bombing so bad that the crowd couldn't resist!

DJ Biz Markie spun records in between sets and served as the announcer for the show.

Also in attendance to see some of the shows were reality TV star Omarosa, R&B singer Lil' Mo, comic Buddy Lewis, 'Flavor of Love's' Goldie, syndicated radio host Russ Parr, WHUR program director Dave Dickinson and Sister 2 Sister's Jamie Foster Brown.

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Can't Say Names: Sources tell BV Buzz that a nationally recognized televangelist was unable to make a major appearance on behalf of his congregation at a citywide celebration in Los Angeles because of a busted lip. Said minister of the gospel was apparently on a date at a Hollywood nightclub with a beautiful woman when his other girlfriend spotted the pair and became outraged. The angry lover attacked the pimpin' pastor, causing the busted lip, and not only did he miss the big bash, but he got a preaching pal to fill in at his own church the following Sunday.

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One of my good friends sent me this vintage YouTube clip from the sitcom 'Good Times.' Florida Evans, daughter Thelma and family friend Willona Woods offer up a laugh-out-loud rendition of Diana Ross & The Supreme's 'Stop In Name of Love.' I promise, Florida Evans' brassy tenor is, uh, something else...