Sommore: Holding Royal Court, Her Own Way

By Brennan Williams, BlackVoices.com

When it comes to donning the crown as reigning "Queen of Comedy," Trenton, New Jersey bred funnywoman Sommore is 'standing' in a league of her own. Hence, the title of the comedienne's new DVD 'The Queen Stands Alone,' which arrives in stores this week.

Written, produced and directed by Sommore and One Thousand Kisses, Inc., 'The Queen Stands Alone' is not only a career milestone for the actress-comedian, but it places her alongside Sarah Silverman as one of the highest paid female comedians on the Comedy Central network, where it debuted earlier this month.

"This is a show that I've waited oh so long to do," the first-time producer/director said. "I had other offers to do this at different times but I turned them down because I felt that I wasn't ready at that point in my career."

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;quot;http://www.comedycentral.com&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;gt;Sommore: Loving Oprah&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt; Sommore loves Oprah but hates Gayle.

The long-awaited concert special, filmed in Louisville, Kentucky, inspired Sommore to take matters into her own hands by financing, marketing, and distributing the special.

"I really challenged myself with this special. I took my own money and I produced it, I shot it myself, and I sold it. I taped it last year and it's fabulous."

But don't be surprised, the 'Soul Plane' actress had business acumen before she made it big in the stand-up arena. Sommore first gained her entrepreneurial skills while attending Atlanta's Morris Brown College.

"I knew that education would be important because my mother always stressed that. So I went to Morris Brown College in Atlanta and I earned a degree in business administration, with a minor in mathematics," she revealed. "After college, I worked for a head hunting company and I made good money because I could sell."

"I did retail for a little while," actress Nia Long's half-sister continued. "I owned a clothing store first; then I owned a store that sold African food. I've also owned a shoe store, which I just sold two years ago. I've always been an entrepreneur. I am a comedienne, but I'm a businesswoman first-I really am."

And to hear the queen tell it, she's going to continue circulating her own money to produce forthcoming projects, including a documentary about teenage lesbians.

"I'm going to use my own money and do other projects that feature my talent," she explained. "I refuse to wait for Hollywood to validate me and my talent. I know that I'm talented. I have to give myself other things to do."

"I'm also thinking about doing a reality show," she added. "I'm thinking of doing a show like '[Kathy Griffith: My Life on the D-List].' I want to show people my life-and hope that they don't become bored."

Sommore's 'The Queen Stands Alone' re-airs on Comedy Central September 30 at 10PM ET.

The Black Families On TV

CBS , Getty Images

The Cosby Show
Seasons: Eight
Notable Cast Members: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tempestt Bledsoe, Lisa Bonet, Raven-Symoné
Storyline: Popular comedy television series based on a happily married couple raising their children in Brooklyn, New York.
Sidenote: Throughout the course of eight seasons The Huxtable family helped set the stage for black families on prime time television. Bill Cosby's character, Cliff Huxtable was such a role model that he topped TV Guide's 2004 list of "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time."

Everett Collection

'Family Matters'
Seasons: Nine
Notable Cast Members: Reginald Vel Johnson, Darius McCrary, Kellie Shanygne Williams, JoMarie Payton, Jaleel White, Telma Hopkins
Storyline: Based on middle-class suburban Chicago black family, the Winslows.
Sidenote: Spinning off it's sister show 'Perfect Strangers,' the hit sitcom spawned off one of the most popular characters in sitcom history, Steve Urkel. America's favorite nerd was so popular that he established a merchandising empire, which included a talking doll, trading cards, posters, books, lunchboxes and a limited edition cereal.

Warner Bros.

'Lincoln Heights'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Russell Hornsby, Nicki Micheaux, Erica Hubbard, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Mishon Ratliff, Michael Reilly Burke, Robert Adamson, William Stanford Davis
Storyline: A drama revolving around the life of LAPD officer Eddie Sutton, who is in pursuit of a better life for his family. Ironically, Sutton moves his family into his old neighborhood which is known for its violence.
Sidenote: In 2008 the series was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards including Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.

ABC Family

'My Wife & Kids'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Damon Wayans, Tisha Campbell-Martin, George O. Gore II
Storyline: Damon Wayans portrays Michael Kyle, a loving husband who maintains his household by teaching his family some valuable wisdom and knowledge, and learning some himself.
Sidenote: The show's co-creator, Damon Wayans, may have regretted the original storyline of Claire Kyle following the loss of cast member Jazz Raycole. Raycole's mother disapproved of the actress' storyline for season two, which led to her being pulled from the show.

2000 ABC, INC.

The Jeffersons
Seasons: 11
Notable Cast Members: Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Marla Gibbs, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover, Paul Benedict
Storyline: Entrepreneur George Jefferson hits the ticket with his successful dry-cleaning business, which leads him to move into a ritzy New York City high-rise.
Sidenote: America can thank fellow 'Good Times' actress Ja'Net DuBois for helping George Jefferson's family move up to the east side. The Emmy Award-winner co-wrote and sang the show's opening and closing theme song 'Movin' On Up.'

CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

'What's Happening!!'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Ernest Lee Thomas, Haywood Nelson, Fred Berry, Danielle Spencer, Mabel King, Shirley Hemphill, David Hollander, John Welsh, Earl Billings, Leland Smith
Storyline: Loosely based on the motion picture 'Cooley High' a trio of friends go through the trials and tribulations of young adulthood.
Sidenote: Fred Berry's character Rerun almost didn't turn out as we may remember him today. Originally the role was reportedly written to fit the description of a skinny white kid.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

'227'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Marla Gibbs, Alaina Reed Hall, Jackée Harry, Helen Martin, Hal Williams, Regina King, Curtis Baldwin, Kia Goodwin, Reynaldo Rey, Countess Vaughn
Storyline: Taking place in a Washington D.C. apartment building, numbered 227, the show's characters would be found sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs (aka the stoop), in which a discussion would lead into the weekly plot line.
Sidenote: Former 'Moesha' and 'Celebrity Fit Club' star Countess Vaughn received her big break in Hollywood by simply asking. Vaughn mentioned her dream of appearing on '227' following her 1988 appearance on the talent show series 'Star Search.'

Embassy Pictures / Fotos International / Getty Images

'Julia'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Diahann Carroll, Lloyd Nolan, Paul Winfield, Fred Williamson
Storyline: Centering on a young widow working as a nurse, trying to make ends meet while raising her son as a single parent.
Sidenote: The 1960 NBC comedy is known for being one of the first weekly shows to depict African-American woman in the non stereotypical role of playing servants. The drama eventually lead to the show's star Diahann Carroll asking for a release from her contract due to the controversy surrounding the show from its inception.

NBC / Getty Images

'The Wayans Bros'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, John Witherspoon, Anna Maria Horsford, Jermaine Hopkins, Ja'Net DuBois, Phill Lewis
Storyline: The show follows lives of two brothers, Shawn and Marlon Williams, who run their own newspaper stand from out of their father's diner.
Sidenote: Following their family's tradition of producing sitcoms, Shawn and Marlon Wayans debut 'The Wayans Bros' in 1995. Adding to the sitcom's hip-hop feel, the brothers used A Tribe Called Quest's hit single 'Electric Relaxation' as the show's opening theme for the first two seasons.

Warner Bros.