Search - Robin Harris: Live from the Comedy Act Theater on DVD

Major disappointment

Latreaux | United States | 03/14/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps my hopes were too high. I wrongly assumed that the DVD would primarily be Robin delivering his outstanding standup comedy. Instead, much too large a portion is devoted to other comedians talking about Robin. In addition, some of the stand up segments performed by Robin look as though they were taped using home video equipment. The picture is grainy & the sound is very poor during these segments. What as shame, as this could have been a great offering. Robin Harris was a true comedic genious. It is too bad that a better collection has not been assembled showcasing such."

Bittersweet Testament To One of Comedy's Finest

Michael Dennis | Philadelphia, PA USA | 06/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The late Robin Harris was on his way to superstardom when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 36. Sadly, very little material exists of this master. His unique "down home" style paved the way for fellow Chi-Town comic Bernie Mac's eventual breakthrough and success. As the first commercially available DVD on Robin (sadly, his ***** HBO One Night Stand was announced a couple years back but never released)this is definitely a must own. It is produced by Michael Willams, the founder of The Comedy Act Theater, the South Central nightspot where comedians like Harris, Martin Lawrence, Kym Whitley, Joe Torry and Chris Tucker first gained fame. Essentially, it consists of a TV pilot filmed independently in 1989 at the CAT that until now, has never been seen. In between segments featuring Robin (sometimes in drag), Myra J, Lewis Dix, Reynaldo Rey and Cheryl Lee Ralph, are recently shot interviews with Williams and other comedians and friends who knew Robin. Tiny Lister and John Henton pop up in cameos. For a casual viewer, the laughs will probably come more from the crazy late 80s wardrobe than actual jokes, but every moment Robin is onstage is magic. If the show had been produced, it would have fit in well next to the syndicated "Uptown Comedy Club" and "Apollo Comedy Hour," or the current "Tom Joyner Show," if not "In Living Color." In a lot of ways, this is also a testament to Mr. Willams, a man who was also ahead of his time. He recognized the need for an all-black comedy club in LA where comedians could experiment and be themselves. His accomplishment clearly opened the door for Def Comedy Jam, BET Comicview, The Kings of Comedy Tour, the movies Friday and Topper Carew's Talkin' Dirty After Dark. There's still plenty of room for a full-length retrospective of Robin Harris' legacy. However, If you want a rare glimpse of the earliest days of what became a huge cultural phenomenon definitely order this dvd up today."

I Can't Believe They Are Finally Putting Something of His Ou

LyricalPoet23 | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think it is about time. Many people, myself included, have been waiting for something for a while now. He was hilarious and it is tragic that their will never be anything new from him. That is why I think this dvd is so great. It is something that very few people have seen and now it is going to be out.

It's really a must have for any comedy fan and if you haven't heard of Robin Harris, I suggest that you check him out. It doesn't get much funnier."

I'm so happy to see this guy again.

Rudy Robertrs | Los Angeles, CA | 05/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a huge Robin Harris fan for years. This guy was the precursor to Bernie Mac. Granted the footage wasn't the best but it captured a lot of classic moments. I thought this was going to be some stuff I hadn't seen before but everything was new and it was cool to see the comics talking about his influence. Definitely a collector's item."