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Comedian John Witherspoon Possibly suffered a Stroke On Stage. (WATCH)

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Did comedian/actor John Witherspoon suffer a stroke while onstage at the Kansas City Improv Friday night (01-12-18)?

 

In the video taken by an audience member (@akadmiks) shows Witherspoon telling the fellow comedians on stage that something was wrong while yelling out to the audience not to worry and that he’d be back on stage.

 

In the meantime, here’s some very interesting history about the comedian that you might not know.

You probably remember John Witherspoon as Ice Cube’s (Craig’s) outrageously funny, dog-catching dad in New Line Cinema”s smash urban trilogy Friday, Next Friday & Friday After Next, or as “Pops” on the long-running syndicated sitcom “The Wayans Brothers” or as “Spoon” on NBC”s “The Tracy Morgan Show.” One thing”s for sure, once you”ve seen Witherspoon you completely understand why he has earned the reputation as one of America”s funniest dads.

Witherspoon has brought to life some of the most hilarious, unforgettable characters ever including, David Allen Grier”s fashionably challenged, mushroom-wearing father in the romantic comedy Boomerang, and the quirky, diner-owning father “Pops” on The WB”s “The Wayans Brothers.” His scene-stealing roles in Boomerang, Little Nicky, House Party, Vampire in Brooklyn, and I”m Gonna Git You Sucka, made him one of the most memorable funny men in America.

You”ve seen him in everything from popular music videos alongside Jay Z and Sugar Ray —to sitcoms opposite “The Wayans Brothers” and “Saturday Night Live”s,” Tracy Morgan —to blockbuster movies alongside Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Chris Tucker and Ice Cube, amongst others. Not only does Witherspoon”s work span over four decades to include blockbuster movies, hit-television shows, commercials, and top-rated music videos, but he”s coined his own catch phrases”as in “Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!” and “You Gotta Co-ordinate!”

You have to wonder how a comedian whose work can be traced back as far as “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Barnaby Jones,” can still be relevant today. His roles in the Friday series, (Friday, Next Friday, Friday After Next), Soul Plane, Ladies Man, Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn, Little Nicky, House Party, etc. are arguably some of the most hilarious bits of comedy to date. The Orange County Register describes the comedian/actor as being in a class of his own. “Witherspoon is one of those performers who doesn”t need a funny line to be funny. Just standing there in a truculent posture with a suspicious look, he is funny and enlivens every scene he”s in.” The Detroit-bred comic has proven that he is a Hollywood mainstay and continues to land coveted spots in some of America”s favorite movies and television shows

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Composer Jonathan Brielle Guests On “Secrets of the Stage” With Host Quinn Lemley on Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 

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Composer Jonathan Brielle will be a featured guest on “Secrets of the Stage” hosted by Quinn Lemley on Sunday, December 22nd, 2024. 

“Secrets of the Stage” is a tv show on MNN. Watch as Quinn Lemley pulls back the curtain and interviews artists, entrepreneurs and creators to discover their process “behind the scenes.”

Broadway: Jonathan Brielle wrote the music and lyrics for Foxfire with Jessica Tandy (Tony Award) Hume Cronyn, and Keith Carrdine; Off-Broadway:  Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics); Outer Critics Best Musical Nomination, Minetta Lane Theatre 2016; Circle Reperatory Company, NY: dozens of scores as Composer in Residence under Marshall Mason; Regional:  Himself and Nora: American Theater Group production.  Earlier versions include NYMF, James Joyce Center, Ireland and The Old Globe;  Nightmare Alley (book, music. lyrics): Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Director, and NYMF.  40 Naked Women, A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics) The Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference, Axelrod Performing Arts Center.  

Las Vegas:  Enter The Night (book, music, lyrics) Stardust Hotel 12 years; MadHattan (book, music, lyrics) New York, New York Hotel; US Tours: Rugrats, Live! (Executive Music Supervisor); Goosebumps, Live! (Producer, Music) TV: Wonderama (music, lyrics) for the national television show.  

Charitable Organizations: Executive Vice President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF), creating programs for federally funded schools in New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta. Writer/Producer in Residence of the Johnny Mercer Writers’ Grove at Goodspeed Musicals and helps oversee the JMF Songwriting Project at Northwestern University.  Jonathan is the former National Projects Director of the Songwriters Guild of America. Jonathan is the Artistic Director and Founder of Vala, a new platform dedicated launching new musicals and providing Forever Free education for grades K-12. He continues to work from Brielle Studios, a state of the art recording facility. After 20 years in TriBeCa, his studios are now located in Tewksbury, New Jersey in a converted schoolhouse built in 1846.

Quinn Lemley is the star of Burlesque to Broadway and Rita Hayworth -The Heat Is On! Appeared on Good Morning AmericaOprah and finalist on Shark Tank.

Bwy adventures: Barking Sharks; Sirens Of The Silver ScreenBorn To Rhumba! Wanda and The King of Hair, Hollywood Goddess & Universal Language.

Films The Greatest Ears in Town – The Arif Mardin Story, Lucky Stiff, Picasso Would Have Made A Glorious Waiter.

She’s co-directed/produced, Rebel Rebel The Many Lives of David Bowie, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Wall, and The Ultimate Queen Celebration. She coaches and directs speakers and performers privately.

Recent charity performances include the Luce Foundation, Lifeforce in Later Years (LiLY), Pause for Peace, and Wonderama TV in Times Square. 

Q’s sizzling 6 CDs are available on iTunes.  Her latest recording The Heat Is On! Will be released in January 2025 not only on all online platforms but on cd and vinyl as well for preorders visit www.QuinnLemley.com .

Secrets of The Stage with Quinn Lemley about lifestyle & entertainment. Airs Every Sundayon www.MNN.org Channel 4 at 7:30 PM EST or subscribe at www.QuinnLemley.com

“Secrets of the Stage” is produced by Quinn Lemley and Co-Produced by Errol Rappaport for QuinnEssential Productions, LLC. 

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