When I was in Las Vegas last weekend, all the cab drivers and table dealers wanted to talk about when it came to shows was how excited everyone was for Mike Tyson to begin his highly-anticipated one man show, “Undisputed Truth – Live on Stage.” Of course I completely understood their excitement and I was somewhat depressed that it hadn’t started yet, because I can only imagine the hilarity that will come with Tyson telling old stories for an hour or two on stage.
With the show beginning this month on the seemingly appropriate Friday the 13th at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre, Tyson is making the late night rounds for some promotional obligations, and one of the best stops he could make was at Conan, because TBS’s desperation cable network status allows a little wiggle room for language and good taste.
Tyson didn’t disappoint with a story about how he was totally cock-blocked by Brad Pitt while the heavyweight champ was still trying to get with Robin Givens, even after their incredibly rocky and well-publicized divorce.
Since his pride and joy Entourage aired its series finale, Doug Ellin has been working to get a few new series picked up, with Da Brick being the most relevant to what we do around these here pages. The series, produced by Spike Lee, would be based on Mike Tyson’s younger years with an emphasis on a young black man trying to find his place in white America.
Alas, that story will have to be told by another network, because HBO has passed. I assume they’re instead moving forward with the Tommy Gunn-inspired series, Hey, Pee in This Cup for Me.
Da Brick was to have starred Attack the Block’s John Boyega as Donnie, who after his release from juvenlie detention on his 18th birthday begins an exploration of what it means to be a man for himself and those around him.
Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, Entourage creator Ellin and his producing partnerJim Lefkowitz were attached as nonwriting executive producers, along with Tyson’s wife,Lakiha Tyson. Azim Spicer was attached as a nonwriting co-executive producer. Lee would have directed the pilot with L.A. Riots’ John Ridley on board to write and serve as showrunner. (The Hollywood Reporter)
I’m sure this show had the potential to be intelligent, well-written and mostly thought-provoking, but that ain’t the Mike Tyson that I, or mostly anyone else, want to see. In fact, if you’re going to have a show involving Tyson, I want it to be a debate-style talk show with a hot girl in a cage yelling random topics for Tyson to argue about with his panel of guests, including Jose Canseco, Randy Quaid and Janice Dickinson. That’s instant Emmy material right there.
I’ll give the brainiacs at MSG Network some credit. Not everything they did during last night’s Knicks game was a complete moronic disaster (foreshadowing). For instance, reporter Jill Martin caught up with Mike Tyson at halftime for the “Live at Celebrity Row” interview segment. Don’t even bother wondering how it went, because it’s Tyson and he’s amazingly, delightfully batsh*t crazy, so of course it was awesome.
Tyson addressed everything from his famous nibble on Evander Holyfield’s ear to his beloved pet pigeons, and he even tried to get Martin to pay him to sing. But merely describing the interview does it no justice, so check it out for yourself after the jump.
- As of right now, I’m not sure what the status is on the Best and Worst Of Royal Rumble ’12. I’m assuming it’ll still happen, but come to terms with the reality that it may not. Hopefully a Rumble 2000 report, two open threads and a Best And Worst Of Raw report in four days is enough wrestling content to keep you feeling fulfilled. If I keep up this pace they’re gonna sh*t-can me from With Leather and you’ll have to read my reports on Scoop This.
- Comments are loved and appreciated. So are “likes”. Clicking like is even easier than commenting, so at least do that. Last night’s Open Discussion Thread featured over 1,500 comments (holy crap) so we’re gonna start working on the likes.
- The biggest and most profuse Thank You ever goes out to Marty Springall @CranberryNapalm for providing high quality screengrabs while 1) my normal computer is down and 2) WWE Fan Nation is being weird about uploading videos. Couldn’t have done it without you, guy. FOLLOW HIM AS A THANK YOU. Gifs contained within are, as always, courtesy of Jerusalem at Punchsport Pagoda.
- Additional reading: UGO’s Raw Report. I disagree with him about … basically everything.
“I’m not ashamed to say I’m a Christian, but unicorns are kick ass.”
Links
Rick Perry’s Unpopular Opinions - He might not be ashamed to say he’s a Christian, but I am. “My Pokémon team is all zubats” made me laugh out loud, though. [Buzzfeed]
NBA Laboratory: Givin’ Kobe Bryant The Business - I’m seriously considering buying a Robert Awful LA Lakers jersey after watching this video. Talk about team loyalty! [SB Nation]
Alec Baldwin: America’s #1 Terrorist - The new best part of being famous is that if you’re thrown off a plane for being too fat or playing Words With Friends when the flight attendant has told you to shut off your electronic stuff, you can go on Twitter and bitch and everyone takes your side. SHUT DOWN YOUR STUPID PHONE ALEC BALDWIN [Warming Glow]
Video Of The Day: Mike Tyson Quote Song - We’re never gonna stop thinking this invalid rapist is hilarious, are we? Oh well, at least his video game was the best. [Cage Potato]
Your Up-To-The-Second Playoff Picture Updated ‘Round The clock With Newer, Cheaper Jokes - The title says it all. “Who are the Texans” jokes almost make me mad now, but I’ve been a Texans fan for like forty minutes, so what the hell can I even say? [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
Funny, Sexy And Awesome Cosplay Of The Week - Holy crap, anthropomorphic Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony #cangetit SO HARD. [Gamma Squad]
Limp Bizkit Got Dropped From Their Record Label - This time they’re gonna let it all come out. This time they’re gonna stand up and shout. They’ll do things their way. Their way. Their way of the highway. [Film Drunk]
Cast Of Community Begs You All To Save Greendale - Don’t let this beautiful cadre of people leave my life, even if Donald Glover is now officially a rapper and Alison Brie is going to show up on a much better show sometime early next year. [UPROXX]
Today’s Cutest Kid Is This Rapping Two-Year Old - He’s not as good as Childish Gambino, but he’s better than Fred Durst. [Smoking Section]
JoshiMania Night One: Death Queen Battle - Pictures and happenings from a show I would’ve killed to attend, and almost did like 14 different times. If they’d brought over Miyako Matsumoto, I don’t know, I probably would’ve sold my car to finance a trip. [DirtyDirtySheets]
If you’re trying to pinpoint the exact moment that Mike Tyson went from raging psychopath meltdown monster to the current hilarious and generally affable guy that we all love, most people would probably say it was his cameo in The Hangover. But I think it goes back a little further to one of his first appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, when he sang “Monster Mash” with Bobby Brown. The Hangover probably made us all realize that he was finally laughing with us, but if it didn’t, then his 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey at least made him a human to us again.
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