Courtesy photo
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — During a recent conversation with comedian/actor Michael Colyar, he reminisced about his early days as an entertainer on Venice Beach, where he performed his comedy routine every weekend on the boardwalk, five shows a day, for nine years (1986-1995), earning him the title, “King of Venice Beach.”
His popular shows yielded an impressive and appreciative following. His popularity grew, catching the attention of several well-established, high profile artists, including Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Robert Townsend, Laurence Fishburne and Rick James, who came by to check out his act on the beach. Also present were producers, who began to hire him for television and film roles.
Today, Colyar, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his quick wit, fast-paced, straight-faced, patented delivery, is one of the most sought-after comedians in the business, packing them in at comedy clubs around the country every weekend.
However, what has Hollywood buzzing about Colyar these days is his new, six-episode, half-hour comedy, “Highly Favored,” in which he stars as Pastor Crawley, a charismatic yet old-fashioned pastor of a local church.
And “for the first time” in his career, Colyar is number one on the call sheet, meaning he is the star of the show.
“I’m sitting smack dab in the middle of my dream,” said Colyar, who is also one of the show’s producers. “I love that I’m number one on the call sheet. I’ve been doing this for 39 years, and this is the first time I’m number one on the call sheet. This is fantastic.”
Colyar, who is quick to tell everyone he “loves the Lord,” enjoys playing the part of a pastor.
“My character is considered old fashioned,” Colyar said. “But what’s wrong with being old-fashioned? In the old days, everything lasted. My character is the best. I love playing him. Remember the show, ‘Amen?’ This is a throwback to that show. We are an old-school sitcom.”
The “Highly Favored” cast also includes KiKi Shepard, Anthony S. Goolsby, Chico Benymon, Rodney Perry and Melanie Comarcho.
In the show, Crawley (Colyar) faces the challenges of modernizing his Inglewood-based church to keep up with the times, while dealing with a quirky cast of characters and an outrageous but well-meaning family.
His relationship with first lady Lavesta Crawford (Shepard) is the cornerstone of his life. His sons are Demarcus (Goolsby) and MJ (Benymon). Demarcus’ ambition is also to be a pastor. Deacon Jones (Perry) is the loyal best friend and sometime bodyguard to Pastor Crawley. Comarcho plays Sister Sarah, one of the elders, who is deeply entrenched in the church’s tapestry.
“This is really a terrific show,” Colyar said. “My character is always feeling a little challenged when he’s on top. I have two grown sons in the show. One wants to take over and the other doesn’t give a damn about the church.
“I have a fabulous wife on the show, played by KiKi Shepard. Rodney Perry is the deacon. He’s my road dog. This show is from a faith-based network. It’s about family and God. Some people say God is good. I say chicken is good and God is great.”
Colyar said being both an actor and a comedian complements his work.
“As a comedian and an actor — each one allows me to inform the other,” he said. “I’m a better actor because of my comedic skills, and a better comedian because the acting informs my comedy. I walk you through the joke. When you watch me, you think you’re experiencing the joke instead of hearing the joke.”
When he first read the script, the Chicago native said he knew it was something special.
“When I read the script for this show, I could hear me,” Colyar said. “I love and trust the Lord without reservation. That’s why everything in my life is coming together. What’s so wonderful about this show is that it’s purely family. Everyone will find something funny. We are teaching life lessons. We’re not just telling jokes. If God is not the answer, you are asking the wrong question.”
Colyar’s road to funny began in high school.
“I’ve been funny my whole life,” he said. “I saw a high school play and it blew my mind. They did ‘Guys and Dolls.’ I liked the camaraderie. The next three years, my two best friends and I were the leads in the plays. While in high school, we said we were going to be stars. My friends rolled off and did something else.”
Colyar said he stayed the course.
“For me, if you believe in something, it will happen,” said Colyar, who has a book on Amazon called “Little Bobby White” about a little boy who always does the right thing. “I hoped to be a star, as an actor. I had no clue I could be a comedian. Some guys challenged me to do comedy.
“I started on the street. I had three jokes and one poem called ‘No Roaches, ‘” he added. “Then I would collect my money. I started on State Street in Chicago. I used to dream about one day being on stage, and it happened.”
After Colyar’s star began to rise on Venice Beach, he would go on to win the comedy category on “Star Search,” donating 50% of his $100,000 prize to the homeless. He then returned to Venice Beach.
Not long after that his acting career began to gain momentum.
Colyar, who recently shot a comedy special on Venice Beach where it all began, is a seasoned actor, writer, and producer with more than 60 credits including “House Party III,” “Blackish,” “Norbit,” “Mi Casa Mi Casa,” “Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy,” “The Princess & The Frog,” “Johnny Be Good,” and “Martin.”
When he’s not starring in his sitcom or making people laugh in comedy clubs, Colyar is producing his own weekly YouTube series — the Michael Colyar Morning Show every Monday at 7 a.m., featuring music, comedians and prayer.
“Why not start your day off with laughter and prayer,” Colyar said.
Working on the show, Colyar got to once again team up with Bentley Kyle Evans, who launched “Martin” and “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and is executive producer, showrunner, and director of “Highly Favored” via Harvest Studios.
“He is the best producer,” Colyar said. “He knows what he’s doing. We work very well together.”
Trenten W. Gumbs is an executive producer. Shepard is a producer, as is Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, founder and CEO of Impact Network.
The show, which debuted April 10 on Impact’s new, free SVOD service Impact TV+ and on the linear cable channel, is Impact’s first scripted original series, and can be seen across digital platforms. The Detroit-based Impact Network is recognized for offering high-quality Black family entertainment.
The new streaming platform has pledged a commitment to delivering compelling, culturally rich content for Black families.
New episodes will be released weekly on Impact TV+ and Impact’s linear cable channel, which is available in over 70% of U.S. homes via cable and satellite systems.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
