Sherri Shepherd talks Top Five Blu-ray & DVDPosted by Wilson Morales
March 20, 2015
Out on DVD and Blu-ray is the critically acclaimed comedy Top Five, written, directed and starring Chris Rock along with a phenomenal all-star cast including Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, Tracy Morgan, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Che, Jay Pharoah, Leslie Jones, Ben Vereen, and a host of celebrity appearances.
TOP FIVE follows Andre Allen (Rock), a former stand-up legend who returns to New York to promote his latest film on the eve of his wedding to a self-absorbed reality TV star (Gabrielle Union). While wandering the city with a mysterious and charming journalist (Rosario Dawson), Allen confronts his past and contemplates his future through a series of riotously funny encounters.
For Shepherd, who plays a former girlfriend of Andre, it’s a chance to remind folks how gifted a comedian she is. For seven years she was a co-host on The View until last year and now she’s back on the scene on the big screen as well as on the small screen doing what she does best, bringing us laughter. In 2014, she played the role of wicked stepmother Madame in the Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, opposite Keke Palmer. Upcoming for her are roles on Ride Along 2 as well as a recurring on Cedric the Entertainer’s TV show, The Soul Man.
Blackfilm.com recently caught up with Shepherd as she talked about Top Five’s video release.
How much fun was it shooting the film and how did you feel when Chris asked you to be a part of it?
Sherri Shepherd: I was so excited and it was so much fun because the comics that I did my scenes with I’ve known for so long. With Tracy Morgan, I play his wife on ’30 Rock’ and it was crazy. When you’re with people you have worked with on stage, gone on the road with, it was like a family reunion. We talked about “What ever happened to this one?” And stuff we were doing. It was so much laughter in that room and there were some people that I had never worked with like Rosario, who was grest.
What can you say about the DVD or Blu-ray?
SS: It will have 45 minutes of bonus features. Some things that you didn’t know was going on will be on there. There’s some commentary from J.B. Smoove, who will give you a headache because he’s so funny. I’m working with him this entire week on The Soul Man, Cedric the Entertainer’s show. J.B is doing commentary with Chris Rock. I think they are both geniuses.
Was there any particular scene in the film that stood out for you?
SS: Watching Cedric the Entertainer. This was a role that he could really sink his teeth in and it was really yummy for him. He was every promoter that I had ever known in my life coming up doing standup and he just went there. It was such fearlessness about where he went and I loved it.
Having been on The View, people may have forgotten how funny you are. With you on The Soul Man and promoting the DVD, are you getting back into the swing of things?
SS: Yes. I’m very excited about that. For seven years I was a co-host on The View and did some spurts of funny but it’s very cool getting back into my funny roots. I’m on the road doing stand up again. I’m shooting more scenes for Ride Along 2 and working on doing my thing with Kevin Hart. I’m doing 10 episodes of The Soul Man.
With so much talent in the film, it was great that Chris had you and Leslie Jones in the film. Do we need more female comedians?
SS: Absolutely. I think that the fact that people got to see Leslie Jones, who has been on the scene for over a decade, was amazing. I’m so proud that she will be in ‘Ghostbusters,’ but people are now seeing the brilliance of Leslie. It’s very hard to follow that girl when you see her on stage. There are so many female comics if you go to the clubs. To watch Sheryl Underwood on ‘The Talk,’ who’s been in the business for over 20 years, get her due, I’m going, “Yeah!.” There are definitely needs to be more female comics, especially women of color on display because there are tons of them out there.
It’s interesting that you mentioned Sheryl because it seems most of the network talk shows have brought black female comedians, including yourself and Loni Love from ‘The Real.’ Why is that?
SS: I think it’s because we bring in a perspective and a flavor that a lot of women have not brought and people love that. It’s relatable to some. We just have to say things as they are; and we’re funny and we’re able to think on our feet. Look at Steve Harvey and Ellen Degeneres, who have ver successful talk shows because they are comics and they know to go with the flow. They know how to deal with a guest not talking.They are just in the moment. Comics know how to do that. Put a female of color in there and she just knows what needs to be said. That’s what I love about Sheryl and that’s what I love about Loni. I loved it when I was able to do it when I was on The View.
What should fans expect from Sherri Shepherd 2.0?
SS: It’s a little bit of a reinvention because I spent seven years as a co-host on The View and was able to be funny in spurts but now I’m shooting scenes for Ride Along 2. I have a dramatic film coming out at the end of the year called ‘Woodlawn.’ I have another book that I’m writing and I’m on the road doing standup so I’m really excited about this leg of the journey.
With so much on your plate, do you flexibility to fit everything in?
SS: Yes. Now, I have a lot more flexibility. You know hard it is going to Barbara (Walters) and telling her that you’re in a film called ‘Top Five’ and you need three weeks off from work? Do you know how intimidating that is? So, yes, I have a lot more flexibility now. It’s awesome.
What’s good reason to pick up Top Five?
SS: You have a stellar cast. Where else can you get Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, J.B. Smoove, Cedric the Entertainer, Rosario Dawson, Ben Vereen, and so many other people in one film. It has to be funny with all of them in it. I think Chris Rock wrote a comedy that is so sharp, funny and with poignancy. That’s hard to do as a comic. I think Chris made himself very vulnerable when he made this movie but it strikes a cord with the audience.
