OUT 544--OUTTOWN EXCLUSIVE: PEBBLES AND THE BARBIE DOLLS EXTRAVANGANZA at the SPACE

Photos by Ma'atology

This past Sunday, The Space on N. Vandeventer was turned into the House of Maserati as the venue had its debut female impersonation show with Pebbles (host) and the Barbie Dolls (the impersonators). The nite's theme was: "Celebrating the Woman" and its tag phrase was, "It's not what you see, but what you don't see."

Headlining that nite was Teonia Steele (FIRST TWO PICS). She first performed, Beyonce's "Ring the Alarm" routine (Beyonce's fall and all. LOL)

Next up was Essence Maserati's (NEXT THREE PICS) performance of Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Ya Windows."

Next up was Carmen Maserati (NEXT THREE PICS)who performed Brandy's"Long Distance."

Crowd fave Diamond Dynasty performed Jennifer Hudson's cover of "And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Going."

Teonia (NEXT TWO PICS)next performed Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy."

NEXT TWO PICS: Essence performed Solange's "I Decided."

Diamond next performed Lil Mo and Missy's"I'm the Boss."

NEXT THREE PICS: Carmen performed Ciara's "Go Girl."

LAST PICS: The showstopper was headliner Teonia performing Beyonce's routine, "Single Ladies."

The Space presents the female impersonation show, Pebbles and the Barbie Dolls every Sunday at the Space, doors at 8p.m., Show at 9 p.m. Drink Specials. $5 Cover For more info contact The Space located at 320-24 N.Vandeventer (off Lindell Blvd. in SLU area) Info: 314.494.5976 or 314.494.9095..

OUT 543--STRESS FREE FRIDAYS/FREE TIME present RAISING THE BAR at MIKE SHANNONs--JAN. 23, 2009

YOURS TRULY (right) chillin with the VIPs: SYGU's Rhashad Shadzilla Whittier, guest, and Stress Free Fridays Markanthony Jones. Check out below who else was at this hot party!

Photos by Ma'atology and Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American (above pic)

FREE TIME's Daryl Frierson, Roy Robinson and Adrian Saddler

Saddler and Stress Free Friday's MarkAnthony Jones

NEXT TWO PICS: Saddler and Frierson with their FREETIME crew and female patrons.

STL designer Craig Minter hammin it up with some of the female attendees.

DJ Sinnimin was on the 1s and 2s.

XM2 Photographer Maurice Young and his XM 2 assistants: Kendra (left) and Eva.

Socialites Ken Joshway and Deanna Carroll

A handsome couple up in VIP at the event.

Friends Chris and Andrew chillin in VIP.

Attendees gettin' VIP bracelets.

Folk comin in from the cold to get their network on.

A long shot of the VIP area.

The crowd

Mo crowd







NOTE: Overall this event was your typical network and party. But it was Packed. Packed. Packed. One of the highlights of the note was seeing FREETIME member Roy Robinson answer the Que Dog call when Sinnimin played, "Atomic Dog" and he and several others who are Omega Psi Phi created a cipher on the dance floor and did their steppin routine. And, YOURS TRULY, gettin low with the Stanky Leg dance. LOL. Also, Mike Shannons has to do something with that circle-shaped concrete island where one of the poles was on top of. Two people fell face first. They were OK, but it was quite embarrasing, not to mention, a lawsuit could ensue. Anyway, others in the house were Fox 2 Sports personality Rob Desir, Mark Wilson, Good People's Jerrod Jones, Close to Famous' Triky, Power Stilleto's Sheraine Gilliam, 100 Black Men's John Haigler (who was cuttin a rug up in there!), Stephanie Walker, event promoter Walter Deuce, and MPAC's Mo Spoon.

OUT 542--UP IN THE AIR CASTING CALL at CRESTWOOD COURT Jan 24, 2008

Photos by Ma'atology

A Missouri Film Commission worker helped attendees before going to get "auditioned." The MFC set up shop earlier this month at Crestwood Court to hold actor and crew auditions for the film. The sign leading people to where the casting call (not audition) for the upcoming George Clooney film, Up In the Air." at Crestwood Court in Webster Groves.

The holding room where the casting call interviews were done. The process was basically, folk giving the assistants a pic (if one didnt have a pic, one was snapped right there) and the downloadable application from the Missouri Film Commission's (MFC) website. Then those with tickets for entry were asked by the assistants what there availablity was and that they would be contacted if they were chosen next month to be an extra in the film. The competition was for 2,100 available parts.

The time for audition were from 10 a.m to 4 p.m (Some showed up much earlier for front of the line access) . Saturday and Sunday.

There were serious actors and everyday folk vying for a part as an extra in the upcoming big budget film.

About 8,000 or so attended Saturdays casting call (and if you look real closely, one guy in the background thought he was gettin disocvered by OUTCAM. LOL) .

The line wrapped around the side of the mall like a valley curve where Chevy's is located.

To entertain the attendees, a dance studio (on the right of the people) showcased some dancers at a dance studio that was occupying one of the many empty spaces at the Mall. Also, the Royal Dumpe Theater workers passed out candy and literature about their dinner theater company on the Landing.

Even elderly and folk in wheelchairs came!

Security was tight making sure people didn't "jip" the line or try anything crazy to get to the holding room before their time.

The longest part of the line.

Some folk got chairs from the Food Court and waited if OR when they were going to be seen.

When OUTTOWN arrived, we got a celly text from an OUTTOWNER that at 2 p.m., the MFC were turning away people cuz it was too many to see. Well, we opted just to take pics and see the frenzy of folk in line. We also talked with a lady manager who worked at the mall who said she had receievd a stalker call on the office phone who called several times asking when George Clooney was going to be there (HE was not showing up)until the caller said they were going over her head to speak to someone about meeting Clooney! TMP! Teh manager said she was glad folk came cuz it was good biz for the Mall. She also said that people were goin to spend the nite in their cars and wait in line the following Sunday to be interviewed!

We aslo saw several STL actors in line inclduing Myah Medell and Alicia Booker and wanna be actors (we cant say names cuz we swore we wouldnt out their names on here cuz they were playin hookie from their cubicles.). One wanna be actor was turned away before they could even walk to the line!

Plus, there were several announcements from assistants that told folk, if they were not seen on the day of their arrival , they could snail mail or email their application in and still be considered.

YOURS TRULY opted for the snail mail cuz you know us, we dont do no lines!

But one thing for sure, STL had stars in their eyes. We are sure that most folk there were disolussioned of the whole extra process. It's a lot of standing, sitting and waiting for scenes to be shot for hours and hours and hours and there is no guarantee that the stars of the film will be in the scene. Accoridng to stltoday.com, Missouri Film Commission Director Jerry Jones said while some participants in last weekend's audition at the Crestwood Court mall were after the extra pay of $56.40 a day, others simply wanted to be captured on film.

Overall, it was reported that a total of over 15,000 people came to the casting call on both Saturday and Sundays auditions at Crestwood Court. Filming in St. Louis begins March 3 and continues through April. Men and women age 18 and up are invited but men and all ethnicities were especially encouraged to attend. Hmmm.

OUT 541--FEATURE BITZ-- LOOK WHOS LAUGHIN NEXT: JOVAN BIBBS

BELOW PIC: Javon Bibbs performing recently at the weekly open mike event GRAY AREA at F15teen. (photo by Ma'atology)

One of the rising stars on the STL comedy scene is comedian Jovan Bibbs. Although he has gotten his feet wet for a few years, this handsome funny man has been in the trenches long enough to know the ins and outs of the laugh biz. Next month, Bibbs is about to branch out and get a taste of the national stage as he was recently booked to open for veteran comedian’s Tommy Davidson. Before he jet setted to start his journey to the big time, OUTTOWN sat down and spoke to Bibbs about how his start into comedy, the pressures to be funny and how he’s become one of St. Louis’ most sought after comics.

OT: Is Jovan Bibbs your real or stage name?
JB: Its my real name. Jovan, like the cologne.

OT: Are you from St. Louis?
JB: Yes, born and raised.

OT: What high school did you attend?
JB: Hazelwood Central

OT: When did you become interested in comedy?
JB: When I was little watching Robin Harris on TV and cussin’ getting in trouble for it. I always wanted to make people laugh. That was always a fun thing for me.

OT: How long have you been doing comedy professionally?
JB: This is my fifth year.

OT: What was your first gig?
JB: The Funny Bone at Westport, It was Amateur Nite on a Tuesday. I went up and got a real good response. It was there when I first met (comedian) boy Arvin (Mitchell).

OT: Have you ever bombed on stage?
JB: Oh yeah, definitely, I bombed at Jessie(Taylor’s) spot at The Spotlight, If you do The Spotlight and you’re good, that means your funny. The Spotlight is definitely like the Apollo. I went up that nite and I was on stage, and the joke I was telling really wasn’t working that nite. I said one joke and no one didn’t laugh and then someone said something to me in the audience and I said, “Man someone needs to hit you in the head with a Moet bottle.” Then somebody on the left side said , “No, somebody needs to hit you in the head with Moet bottle.” Next thing you know, it was like nine boos. Then the nine turned into nine times three, then everybody booed me. I didn’t even say my name I just said “All right thank you” and jumped off the stage and stayed in the back of the stage the whole time.

Bibbs performing at the House of Comedy on the Landing in early 2008 (Photo by Ma'atology)


OT: How did that make you feel?
JB: I just felt like a boxer. You love to fite, You get knocked down but you gotta get back up. I’ve done The Spotlight plenty of times since then and did real good.

OT: What’s that your first time dealing with hecklers?
JB: Yeah, and they won that nite. It was a good experience, though.


OT: You said that you looked up to Robin Harris. Which other comedians do you look up to?
JB: Kenny Howell, Mike Epps, cats like Lavell Crawford, Darius Bradford, all those guys. Super funny. Corey Holcomb, Deon Cole. I like a lot of comics. I probably couldn’t give you my Top Three cuz I like so many comics. I’m just tryin’ to do my thing and try and be like them.


OT: In your experience with the comedy scene here in the STL, what are your thoughts about the progress of comedy here in the Lou?
JB: I think the comedy scene here has made a lot of progress since I’ve been in the game. All the young comics are becoming more unified We talk more and I think we have definitely grown.


OT: Have a comic ever bit your work?
JB: (laughter) Yeah, definitely. When I knew it happened, I just said, “ Man you can have that joke. I’m gonna make a funnier one next time.” I just have to make sure I’m on my Ps and Qs next time.

OT: Was it a joke or many jokes bitten?
JB: I’m gonna say a joke for sure but I know I’ve given people ideas before.

OT: Have you actually saw the comic steal your joke or someone told you someone stole your joke?
JB: I saw them on stage do the same joke. I would have said it wasn’t my joke if that person had done it differently but you know something is wrong when you know it’s yours. Its just like when someone steal your car and you see that car drive pass and you say “My car got that same chip right there.” That’s how I felt. I couldn’t believe it.




Bibbs performing at a party at I AM Boutique in Clayton in late 2007 (Photo by Ma'atology)


OT: Did you confront the comic?
JB: No, I didn’t just cuz I was told by another comic not to do it cuz I was up and coming.


OT: So they were established?
JB: (Pause) Somewhat yeah. I would say that.

OT: What inspires you to write a joke?
JB: If I run pass something funny or say something funny throughout the day If I think its funny like genuinely funny not just people laughing just because, I’ll try and use it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. For the most part, I’m pretty consistent on that, Watchin’ the news, or general conversations.


OT: How do you structure your jokes when you write them?
JB: What I’ll do is, I’ll note them all on my phone. When I get home, I sit and go through my phone and look at them and dissect them and see which way I can go with them. I’ll call Arvin and go over jokes with him or (comedian) Deandre and help me out.



OT: What topics do you focus on in your jokes?
JB: I just like to take it left field. The way we look at things. Things that women can do but men can’t do or vice versa. Just in general, l I try to do jokes about what people are thinking but not sayin’. Like clean clothes or “Have you ever left your cell phone all day and came back to it and checked it and had no missed calls on it?” That kind of stuff. The truth. When people can say, “Yeah I sure have done that.”


OT: There’s have been many criticisms that Ive heard comics say on stage, even Arvin, about people complaining that comics say the same jokes on stage but don’t complain when a singer sing the same songs.. What are your thoughts on that?
JB: I feel like you try something new…compared to singers I mean, like, you don’t go to a Nelly concert and then if he sings “Country Grammar” and you don’t go “OH MY GOD, he’s doing that song again????” You don’t get mad at that, It’s a hit song. But I try to do something new each time I’m up so people won’t say, “Oh, I heard that joke, but I haven’t heard that joke.”








(LEFT) Bibbs with from left: House of Comedy owner/ comedian Dee Lee and general manager/comedian Longhorn in summer 2008 and (BELOW RIGHT) with comedian Kyle Grooms in early 2007 at the former Laughs on the Landing.
(Photos by Ma'atology)

OT: You did the show, “Comic View.” When were you on there?
JB: In ‘06 in New Orleans.

OT: The same season when Arvin Mitchell and Darius Bradford were on there.
JB: Yep, we were on the same episode.

OT: Talk about that experience.
JB: That was one of the best experiences ever for me as a comic cuz I was only been in game for like a year. I got picked up by some of the talent scouts at BET after I did (BET’s) “Coming to the Stage” when I auditioned here in St Louis. The producers of “Comin’ to the Stage” remembered me, gave me props, and called me about “Comic View,” so I sent in my demo and BET called me when I was at work, and told me I made one of the New Faces of Comedy on BET. I was so happy. So I drove down to New Orleans for that. I got to network with a lot of young comics and vets and got insight. The whole experience on TV is different seeing it on TV than actually being on there. A lot of cameras on stage revolving…. I’m thinking to myself , “It will be like Blueberry Hill,” I had to keep sayin to myself. Man, I got on that stage, I was like,”OH MY GOD, so many people out there, thousands everywhere.” I just had go out there. I had to have a set and I said to myself, Do not…go out there with what you rehearsed, think about it in your head.” I did my thing and got a super super good response

Bibbs (left in cornrolls) with comedians from left : Mike Epps, Deandre and Kenny Howell backstage at the Funny Bone in Farview Heights in 2007 (photo by Photobucket)

OT: Do you have any upcoming gigs?
JB: I got booked to open up for Tommy Davidson in February . I am also doing the Bay Area Comedy Competition in Oakland (Feb. 12-16). They are picking 60 comics and out of the 60 only a couple are goin’ to the finals. It’s like “Last Comic Standing.” I sent in an audition tape to get picked.

OT: Have you ever thought about doing Last Comic Standing
JB: Yeah I did audition before. Me, Carmen and Deandre went up in Chicago like seven in the morning. And it was about 200 in that line. This was about two, three years ago. We waited in line. I was like number 80. I did that and the thing was you go in this room and there’s two people there at the table and I didn’t wanna offend nobody and I didn’t even know the joke I did, but it didn’t work. The guys were saying, “OK you’re not what were looking for.” I just said, “ Oh, ok thank you.” I wasn’t mad or nothin’. If it ain’t your time, it ain’t your time. Maybe it wasn’t my time.

OT: What do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years with your career?
JB: I plan on bein’ on TV more, well established in the comedy game and havin’ a couple of movies under my belt.

OT: What’s the last CD you picked up?
JB: I picked up another copy of Nas’, “ Stillmatic” at Vintage Vinyl.

OT: What’s the last flick you saw?
JB: “Notorious.” It was good . I liked it


OT: Whats your favorite pig out food?
JB: Turkey burgers and fries.


OT: What’s; your motto?

JB: Live life. Love livin.

OT: Besides comedy, what’s your other favorite pastimes or hobbies?
JB: I’m a hooper. People who know me, know me from basketball. Shooting guard. I hoop and I draw. I woulda done ball professionally, but that wasn’t my calling. I love comedy. I want people to be like “Jovan Bibbs, oh yeah, I know him, he’s funny.


To contact Jovan go to www.myspace.com/jovanbibbs To book him contact him at jvn_bbbs@yahoo.com