Not So Lil JJ, From Little Rock
Despite his young years, Lil JJ has quite a lot of achievements to his name! He started doing stand-up comedy while still in high school, all because his gym teacher saw potential in the antics of a not-so-run-of-the-mill class clown! Of course, he started at the bottom, just like all those before him, with open-mic nights, that are stand-up comedy’s version of an amateur talent night.
Later, he entered BET’s “Coming to the Stage” comedy competition, and beat out other comics twice his age… and sometimes three times his age! Winning was the break that brought him to NBC’s “The Tonight Show”, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Since then, he’s been on “Showtime at the Apollo”, BET’s “Teens of Comedy” tour, and in the films “Beauty Shop”, “Crossover”, “Yours, Mine and Ours” and in an upcoming feature film based on his own real-life rags to riches story! And he’s going to be the producer of that one, too!
Now, Lil JJ is getting busy on the set with his “Just Jordan” cast-mates, now that Nickelodeon has agreed to 7 more episodes of the show for this season, and is moving the show to a new date and time: Saturdays at 8:30pm, starting November 3rd! Don’t miss the new episodes with all the old characters, and a few new ones: For the first episode, Keke Palmer from “Akeelah and the Bee” will be on hand playing a popstar, and if we’re lucky we’ll get to hear her sing! And later, Chelsea Tavares from “Unfabulous” will be joining the cast to spice up ‘someone’s’ love life!!! Too sweet!
Tune in!
(photos: Nickelodeon)
5 Browns Make the Rounds!
Ryan (21), Melody (22), Gregory (24), Deondra (26) and Desirae (27) are the kewlest, hippest, classical music playing family to ever come along! They started playing the piano at age three and they made history as being the first family to simultaneously study at New York’s prestigious Juilliard School.
Their new CD, titled Browns on Blue, came out on October 2nd and has made quite an impression on not only the classical music community but teens as well. Their fresh approach to classical music makes their album more accessible to a hipper and younger generation.
The 5 Browns have been touring Asia and they were recently featured on the CBS Saturday Morning Early Show If you want to check out their performance, just go to the 5 Browns site and you can click on the video from their home page.
Currently, the 5 Browns have nine pianos in their house in Utah where they grew up and where they still practice. One Steinway is in the dining room and one is in the music room. They also have two Steinways in another room. The family owns these four pianos.
In their basement, they have five pianos on loan from Steinway. That is where they all practice together. Since they are Steinway artists, Steinway arranges the transportation of the pianos. They play on the same five pianos for every concert! It’s pretty awesome.
In a recent KEWL Iinterview, we asked all 5 Browns to tell us about their brothers and sisters and how they all work together...
Who is the trouble maker of the group?
Melody: I would probably say Deondra because she gets the most stressed out. But then Ryan sometimes isn't prepared well enough...so...hmmm...
Gregory: I would probably say that the trouble maker is Ryan. He’s always making excuses for why he doesn’t think we should have rehearsal, but most of them are really just a cover for the fact that he really just wants to stay home and play videogames.
Ryan: I don't know...I have a feeling that everybody is going to say me...and it just might be. :/
Who goofs off the most during practice?
Melody: I think we all do. We just have to hope that someone is in a rush that day to get us working again. We get together and start talking about everything that's going on in our lives at the moment, when we're really supposed to be rehearsing!
Gregory: I think Ryan and I goof off the most. The girls can sometimes get kind of serious when it comes to rehearsal, so it’s almost like the boys’ duty to lighten things up. The five of us actually balance each other out pretty well in that respect, and rehearsals usually have a pretty good balance of work and fun.
Ryan: Probably Greg! He's crazy funny during rehearsal sometimes. I goof off, but kind-of in an annoying way though. When we're supposed to be practicing I'll just start playing some cheesy pop music and everybody really hates it.
For more info on the 5 Browns , check out their site at www.the5browns.com
