Unsung Hollywood with Wayne Brady

Multi-Emmy Award winning comic, singer and actor Wayne Brady broke barriers as one of the first African Americans to specialize in improvisational humor but his success triggered backlash from some members of the black community who felt his style was too safe.  On Sunday, October 21 at 9/8C, Wayne Brady reveals to UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD his professional ups and downs, and personal struggles that nearly cost him his career and life.

Wayne Brady shot to fame on the primetime hit series “Whose Line Is It Anyway” where his quick-witted riffs earned him an Emmy award in 1993. He went on to star in his own variety show, “The Wayne Brady Show,” as well as a talk show of the same name, for which he would win four more Emmy’s. While he gained mainstream popularity, his style of comedy didn’t go over well with all audiences. Many in the black community felt he watered down his style in attempts to be more likeable.  In true comedic fashion, Wayne Brady responded to his critics with an unforgettable portrayal of a ruthless, hardcore gangster on the “Dave Chappelle Show.” He continued to demonstrate his versatility as a performer when he released a rendition of the Sam Cooke classic “Change is Gonna Come,” which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2008. Wayne Brady hosted Fox’s “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” and currently hosts the classic CBS daytime game show “Let’s Make a Deal.” For all of his accolades, his personal life has been filled with divorce, drinking and a longtime battle with clinical depression. Find out how Wayne Brady navigated Hollywood while dealing with his private battles.

UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD is a spin-off born of TV One’s longest-running, six-time NAACP Image Award winning franchise UNSUNG, and profiles some of the most talented, versatile, and influential black celebrities in Hollywood, from movies and television to comedy, sports and more. The remaining episode delves deep into the life of comedian/TV/radio personality Rickey Smiley.