Page 4 - TVTimes.10.21.18

4 December 2 - 8, 2018 cover story
By Francis Babin
TV Media
Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out,” 2017) continues the time-honored tradi- tion of standup comedians portray- ing a character loosely based on
Back in the game
Lil Rel Howery tries to move on in ‘Rel’
El Dorado News-Times
Jerrod Carmichael’s brother, in “The Carmichael Show.” His scene-steal- ing performance in Jordan Peele’s Academy Award-winning “Get Out” (2017) further cemented his reputa- tion as a comedic tour de force.
Much like “The Carmichael Show,” “Rel” tackles real-world issues, al- beit in a much less straightforward way. For instance, in an episode from earlier this season, Rel deals with a local gang that has taken over his laundromat. This gang takeover is
a perfect example of what Howery talked about at Fox’s annual Sum- mer TCA party in Hollywood. The funnyman told the audience how
he wanted to keep the conversation honest without the series becoming too preachy. He continued by saying that his character, and the political and social issues brought forth in his stories, come from a very personal place.
Over the course of the series, Brit- tany has been an invaluable friend and has tried hard to help Rel over- come his issues. But now it’s his turn to help. When Brittany’s estranged mom shows up unexpectedly, it’s
up to Rel to convince his friend to give her another shot. Find out how things turn out in a new episode of “Rel,” airing Sunday, Dec. 2, on Fox.
Lil Rel Howery stars in “Rel”
their own past experiences, in a new episode of “Rel,” airing Sunday, Dec. 2, on Fox.
Howery looks to replicate the success of comedy legends such as Tim Allen (“Home Improvement”), Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves
Raymond”), Bernie Mac (“The Bernie Mac Show”), Ellen DeGeneres (“El- len”) and Jerry Seinfeld (“Seinfeld”), who all struck gold when they took their act to the small screen.
“Rel” centers around the titular character. He’s a nurse living and working on Chicago’s West Side, and he’s forced to rebuild his life after he discovers his wife is having an affair with his barber. Adding insult to in- jury, Rel must also learn to be a long- distance single father, as his wife takes their two children to Cleveland with her when she leaves.
Dealing with the implosion of his marriage and the loss of his wife, children and barber, Rel’s motto — “always believe in yourself and great things will come” — is put to the test. The laughingstock of his neigh- borhood, he finds that even some- thing as simple as riding the bus is now an unpleasant experience, as the local guys roast him relentlessly. It is impossible to escape the remind- ers of his wife’s indiscretions.
Not everyone in the neighborhood is so mean-spirited, however. Rel’s friends and family do their best to help him get back on track — and back on the dating scene. There to guide him through the Windy City’s dating pool are his younger brother, Nat (Jordan L. Jones, “Disjointed”), and his best friend, Brittany (Jessica ‘Jess Hilarious’ Moore, “Wild ‘n Out”).
Nat, recently released from prison, means well and is occasionally helpful but is mostly a thorn in his brother’s side. On the flip side, Brit- tany is all help with her unfiltered opinions and views and does the best she can to get her bestie out of his rut, convince him to stop sulking and move on.
Twenty-five years after “The Sin- bad Show” debuted on Fox, the leg- endary Sinbad himself returns to the network, this time in a supporting role. He plays Milton, Rel and Nat’s father, a recently widowed, prideful- but-well-meaning man who believes his sons are utter disappointments. In his scene-stealing appearances, Milton constantly reminds his boys about how they have failed to live up to his expectations, but he also helps them in his own special way.
Over the course of the past few years, Sinbad has worked mostly
as a voice actor and has focused
his attention more and more on
his passion for music. But now he’s back in a major way. To a younger audience, the influential comedian
is now primarily known as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s antagonist in
the Christmas classic “Jingle All the Way” (1996), and as an example of the Mandela Effect (when a large group of people believe in the same false memory). In this case, many be- lieve that the comedian starred in a 1990s movie called “Shazaam,” con- fusing the non-existent movie with Shaqille O’Neal’s 1996 “Kazaam.”
Sinbad may not have starred in that dreamt-up film, but he certainly has a place in the hearts of many. Now he’s back and better than ever, and it’s easy to see how he’s influ- enced numerous comedy superstars over the years.
Over the past decade, Howery has been making quite the name for himself, much like his television fa- ther before him. After making his small-screen debut in NBC’s
“Last Comic Standing,”
he went on to star in the
short-lived revival of the
sketch comedy series “In
Living Color,” as well as
“Friends of the People,”
another sketch comedy
series.
However, Howery’s big break came when he was cast as Bobby Carmichael,
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