MO'NIQUE: Behind Bars & Cutting Up

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Supersized comedic powerhouse Mo'Nique taped her stand up special 'I Coulda Been Your Cellmate' at an Ohio prison in May 2006. If I worked at 'Jet' magazine, this would be my 'Photo of the Week.'

That Mo'Nique has done it once again.

Never one to rest on her laurels, the super-sized comedic powerhouse did her latest stand-up special in JAIL.

Fresh off the heels and wrapping the VH1 reality series 'Charm School,' the Maryland reared funnywoman releases her latest comedy DVD, titled 'I Coulda Been Your Cellmate!' this week.

Originally airing on the Showtime network last January, the special was filmed last May at The Ohio Reformatory for Women, marking a first for a modern day black comic.

"Baby, let me tell you something," she protested. "I ain't here to judge you. I don't give a f--- about what happened yesterday. I believe y'all deserve laughter. Y'all still deserve somebody to say, 'I love you bitch.' I love you."

Known as "The Farm," eighty percent of the inmates have a history of severe psychological, physical and sexual abuse. Most of them began abusing substances between the ages of 10 and 14.

Though the prison has a reputation for being one of the toughest in the system, Mo'Nique was able to bring a humane element to it but not only entertaining the prisoners, but also having one-on-one discussions with them. "They still deserve a little bit of laughter, a little bit of joy and a little bit of feel good," Mo'Nique said about the 70-minute show.

It brings to mind Iyanla Vazant during her stint on the now defunct women's mental makeover show 'Starting Over.'

But like Emmy Award winning talk show diva Tyra Banks (who also went to prison while cameras were rolling), she also suited up for the occasion.

The DVD 'I Coulda Been Your Cellmate' arrived in stores April 3, 2007. Mo'Nique (legally known as Monique Imes) took off her Rocawear gear and suited up in prison uniform-inspired frock before she took the day.

"I love you bitches back," the former 'Showtime at the Apollo' hostess said as she hit the stage and met a rapturous applause from over 850 inmates. "I had my s@#% designed just for y'all. So don't go f@#%ing up your outfits tomorrow," she said about the rhinestone-encrusted, shredded attire.

Bonus features for this uproarious, profanity laden offering includes behind the scenes footage and a warden interview.