You May Never Cry Again Torrent
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I noticed randomly one day that my sister had this book so I asked to borrow it. I was really curious about him and what events in his life had shaped his sense of humor. I loved the fact that he met Rhonda in high school and won her over with his sense of humor. They were married when he was 20 an
I caught part of a tribute to Bernie Mac in the middle of the night which made me think of his autobiography. I loved the Bernie Mac show, and I enjoyed seeing him get bigger & bigger parts in movies.I noticed randomly one day that my sister had this book so I asked to borrow it. I was really curious about him and what events in his life had shaped his sense of humor. I loved the fact that he met Rhonda in high school and won her over with his sense of humor. They were married when he was 20 and she was 19. So they grew up together while he worked various jobs until finally one day he realized that he couldn't keep holding down regular jobs while denying his desire to make people laugh for a living.
I'm so glad that he had the support of his wife when he decided to pursue his comedy career late in life. My favorite character he created is Jordan from his stand up routines and The Bernie Mac Show which aired on the Fox network from 2001-2006. The stories that he came up with about his fictitious crack addicted sister and having to raise her 3 kids were so realistic and funny. Those stories about them led to development of The Bernie Mac Show. Jeremy Suarez played Jordan so well in that show that he never fails to crack me when I catch a repeat of it. He drove Bernie crazy, and Bernie talking to his audience breaking the 3rd wall was a genius idea.
Bernie Mac's death at 50 was so surprising (see -http://www.people.com/people/article/...), but his contribution to comedy will NEVER be forgotten by this fan.
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So sad that he was gone too soon at the age of 50.
I truly recommend everyone, fan or not, to read his story.
So sad that he was gone too soon at the age of 50.
I truly recommend everyone, fan or not, to read his story.
By the book's end, you miss him and his quirky aggressive chops and quickly realize that he's a greater part of your definition of comedy and laughter than initially thought.
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Bernie Mac was from my neck of the woods: the south side of Chicago. We grew up around the same time, and we had something in common. His book: "Maybe You Never Cry Again," reminded me of how I had also used comedy, as a device to deflect from the
I'm still not over the loss of George Carlin, so it seems really unfair, to lose another of our most important entertainers: a comedian. For me, comedians are much more than people who make me laugh; they inform and help me put things into perspective.Bernie Mac was from my neck of the woods: the south side of Chicago. We grew up around the same time, and we had something in common. His book: "Maybe You Never Cry Again," reminded me of how I had also used comedy, as a device to deflect from the pain in my life.
I first met him just after 9/11, at his book signing at Eso Won Books, an Afro-centric book store in Los Angeles. The people there know me, because I am one of the few white persons attending its book signings.
The night that Bernie was to appear, Fox News interviewed me, no doubt, because I was one of the two white folks there. "I think that comedy is very important, especially now. Comedians will be instrumental in helping to heal our wounds," I said.
As approached him, Bernie broke into a huge smile. "Aw, baby, you can party with me anytime!" he beamed. I leaned in and said "Bernie, you keep healing the world with your comedy." "Thank you for that," he said, embracing me.
I've seen Bernie's standup, and had always been amazed at his honesty. I saw The Kings of Comedy four times in the theater, as well as adding it to my DVD collection. It will always be one of my favorites, as will he. The fact that so few knew that he was ill, is a testament to the kind of person he was - and his legacy will remain as he lived his life: without compromise. It's a great lesson for everyone, and the best tribute to him, would be that we try to do the same.
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58% Done: Maaaaaaaan, that COD story had me in tears
We miss you Bernie! LMAO
50% Done: You gotta listen to the audio version, it's the only way58% Done: Maaaaaaaan, that COD story had me in tears
We miss you Bernie! LMAO
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I never knew he had such an interesting life. I never suspected. A problem with stand-up's autobiographies can be that they just stitch
Excellent autobiography. Been on a bit of an autobiography binge recently. Also wanted something funny after plodding through Notes From Underground. I wanted to read this book because, although I think Bernie Mac is really funny, I just love the way he speaks. I could listen to his voice without needing a punchline. This is a great book, and audiobook, for that.I never knew he had such an interesting life. I never suspected. A problem with stand-up's autobiographies can be that they just stitch together the anecdotes about their life that they use in their act, so you don't really get anything knew if you've already watched their DVDs or bought their records (see Richard Pryor's autobiography for an example of what I'm talking about). But this book is different. By deliberately deciding to tell the story straight, the book becomes very moving, unflinching and the innate humour Mac finds in his life is tempered by the real hurt. Because he is so matter-of-fact it makes it all the more heartbreaking when tragedy does occur, there is no flinching away, no cushioning with prose or imagery. It just happened. There.
He describes his very close relationship with his mother and the terrible pain of losing her when he was just a teenager.
"I remember my mother was in the room and I had somethin' to tell her, and I opened the door. I slid the door open and I said, "Mamma!" And my mamma's bra was on the couch. My mamma had cancer for seven years and she never told anybody. And one of her breasts was missing. And she had a little breast pad in her bra. I looked. My mamma had both her arms crossed across her chest but she kept doing what she was doing kinda sorta. I was in awe. I'm looking, and I said, "Mamma?" She said, "Close the door son. Close. The. Door." I said, "But Mamma, what's going on?" She said, "Son. Close. The. Door." . . . My mother was rushed to the hospital couple of days later and they gave my mother twenty-four hours to live. I remember they came to get me and my uncles, my aunt came to pick me up and took me to Cook County Hospital. That's when I saw my entire family and they finally told me that my mother had cancer. And I saw on the bed, I saw her, dying. I don't know what I felt, but I know I wanted to die too. I started walking and everyone was calling my name. I kept walking. They had to grab me. I wasn't walking for attention. I truly wanted to die, because I finally at that time realised I was losing my best friend. I was losing my life."
There's not a lot of books that go into mother-son bonds. Lots about father-son bonds, mother-daughter bonds, even father-daughter bonds. But off the top of my head I can only think of a couple where the central, strong, positive relationship is that of a mother and son. Room was the last one I read. This is non-fiction, and it's gut-wrenching to listen to describe his love and loss of his mother. Throughout the rest of the book, the rest of his life, whenever anything happens, good or bad, he remembers his mother's words, her lessons. She is a constant fixture in his life, long after her death. He believes he owes her everything, everything he's done, the man he's become. It is really moving.
Can't recommend this book enough.
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A well put-together memoir from start to finish. The reading is not only rare and raw, but comes from a man with a heart as tender as it was big. The wisdom doesn't lay flat, but rather stands up to the telling of a persuas
...I couldn't put the book down!!! Anyone looking for pearls of wisdom, and I mean there are some rugged blue mother oysters of wisdom in this one, but 'Maybe You Never Cry Again' will give it to you straighter and realer than a stand-up routine of any length could ever tell.A well put-together memoir from start to finish. The reading is not only rare and raw, but comes from a man with a heart as tender as it was big. The wisdom doesn't lay flat, but rather stands up to the telling of a persuasive entertainer. Told in crisp, jaunting, Bernie Mac fashion it's all in here; the values Bernie placed on becoming a man (stemming from his grandparents, his mother, and even his brother), his marriage & marriage, friends & friendships, his daughter & raising children, and how perspicaciously he modeled these values to steer his career. There is so much in here, and the book at approximately 300 pages is filled with pictures as well.
Overall the pacing is smooth and in quite a few spots especially touching. The comedy (true to Bernie Mac form) is fiercely honest, which includes many clips of his performances... some well-known, others less known. And the narration is unfailingly, over the top, all around inspirational. My gosh, can't nothing be more powerful than a man who values family!
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A unique individual. Very good book.
His comedy was great, and his sense of determination something to aspire to. I enjoyed this book, and it is a TON funnier if you read it in his voice. The only problem/takeaway that I had was the reinforcement of the Baptist ideal, that "if it don't hurt, it ain't worth it."A unique individual. Very good book.
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"You know, funny thing about life. Most people, they got a problem, they crank and m
Bernie Mac was a comedian with a big heart. Raised in the South Side of Chicago, he learned old-school principles from his mother and grandparents, tough-lessons of integrity that were instilled in him since he was a child. Those lessons carried him throughout his life. Sometimes he didn't understand the point of what his family was teaching, not until later, when dealing with struggles that tested his character."You know, funny thing about life. Most people, they got a problem, they crank and moan. What they don't think about is fixin' it themselves. But if you fix it yourself, you're going to find that there's always going to be one person in the world you can turn to. You."
"If you want people to respect you, you got to respect yourself first."
"We were taught to let things sit deep inside us and figure them out for ourselves."
His father was absent, he lived in poverty and with pressures to join gangs, but he never strayed from his true purpose. He worked hard and briefly attended college, all to support his wife and daughter, but he envisioned a bigger life for himself. He was a natural comedian, making people laugh wherever he went, whether he rode the train, stood in front of a class on Friday afternoons, or reminisced at a funeral.
His need to make people laugh stemmed from his mother. He saw how a stand-up comedy routine on late-night TV changed how she felt. He saw her suffering shift into deep belly-laughs, her tears transformed by the power of humor. That insight stayed with him, seeing how jokes could impact a person, even in their most vulnerable moments.
His need to be funny came from a want of attention too. He had to perform, to be the class clown and the center of the crowd. While he came from a family that never complained and moaned, he needed their attention (and everyone else's too).
"You know what she used to say to me, my grandma? She used to say, 'Beautiful mornin', ain't it, son? I get another crack at it this mornin'; another chance to improve myself.' And that's what I'm getting, Rhonda. Every time I'm up onstage is another chance to improve myself."
Bernie lived through the deaths of his older brother, mother, and grandparents. His best friend was shot and killed by an abusive girlfriend. He worked odd jobs, lived in rotten apartments, bombed in front of crowds. These events hurt Bernie deeply, but they didn't destroy him. He learned from his sufferings, his heartbreaks. He dreamed big, never getting lost in the distractions, never giving up when times were hard, like so many of his old friends did.
"The thing is, it was my dream, not hers. She'd been brought up like most people: Get a job, get a house, get a dog, buy insurance. And there was nothing wrong with that. It's just I wanted something else. And I realized: If you have a dream, well, it's your business. You don't have to make other people understand it, and you probably shouldn't even try. All you have to do is make it happen."
He worked Amateur shows and flew down to Las Vegas, opening up for Red Foxx (on a whim of Foxx's). When he came home, he got kicked out of his apartment, three men jumped him and he went to jail on false charges. Later, one of his close friends lost his lifelong career and became an alcoholic and eventually died.
Bernie still worked on his craft, honing his skills in comedy clubs and theaters across the country. He started reaching deep inside himself for material. Like Pryor, he desired to be a truth-comic, exposing his vulnerabilities and flaws, showing who he truly was, what he felt, being as real as possible, instead of performing as a joke-teller.
"Well, you know, Mr. Mac, you do have one little problem. You're funny, but you don't want to be funny. You want to be liked. Now if you open yourself up, and you get real, and you start taking comedy seriously—well, there's no telling how far you'll go." "Sir?" "You're afraid to show people what you've got inside," he said. "And that's where the best stuff is, the stuff that's buried way deep down."
Bernie's career gained momentum the more he explored himself. He met Robin Harris, a famous on-the-rise comedian, who wanted Bernie to open for him on the road. He died from a heart attack, however, on the very night that he offered him the gig. That event compelled Bernie to quit his job as a truck driver and devote his life fully to comedy.
"No matter. I was going to try to do my own thing, my own way. And I wasn't worried about the future. I'd made up my mind: I was a comedian. All of this was gravy. I'd been a janitor and a bus driver and I'd built houses from the ground up and I'd chased rats and shoveled scrap iron and fried fish and delivered bread, and I'd done it all honestly. I wasn't about to get dishonest with my comedy. I wasn't going to do comedy I didn't believe in. Comedy was it for me, brother. Nothing as important as comedy. You gotta stay strong inside. Stay centered. Be true to yourself."
He started getting more auditions. Radio stations promoted his shows. He made more money. With his rising celebrity status, people that he knew, people he worked with and grew up with, treated him differently. Strangers claimed that he was family. Organizations wanted him to donate to their causes for the community. Bernie dealt with critics, scam-artists, and flatterers who only wanted his fame for themselves. When he was poor, though, none of them were around.
He stayed true to himself, learning from every job, every late-night gig. Waking up early. Acting in movie roles. Rehearsing his material to himself. Writing. Raising his child and loving his wife. With every setback, he reflected on what his mother told him, putting failure in perspective. Whether others praised or blamed him, it didn't concern him. He only focused on what was meaningful, what was in line with his principles.
"Most people don't want to do the hard work, though. They're looking for the free ride. They want something for nothing. What do they think? That Michael Jordan was out boozing at night? Hell no! He was on that got-damn court all day, every day, trying to make himself a better player. And when he was the best there was, he went out and practiced harder."
Then he toured with the Kings of Comedy. For the first time ever, he performed in stadiums. Audiences arrived in the thousands. As the curtains parted, Bernie Mac stepped into the bright lights and did his thing. One of his bits was about raising his sister's three kids after she got into trouble with drugs. That was the foundation for The Bernie Mac Show.
"I'm sitting in court, I should have sat there like my brother did. My brother ain't say a damned word. He just turned his got-damned head. When they said they was going to give the kids over to the state, he turned his head. But I had to get my self-righteous ass up: 'Naw. This ain't right. We're family. We got to stick together.' If I'd known what these bastards was like, boy, they'd be in orphanages right now. "Man, that two-year-old—she a sumnabitch. That heifer been here before. Two-year-olds don't use words like 'inconsequential.' She's an apostle for the devil, I tell ya! One day I was combing her hair looking for some numbers. And the four-year-old—my sister must have been getting real high when she was conceived, because she don't say nothing; she just look at you. I told her the other day, 'Heffa, if a fire break out, you better learn how to whistle or something. Or you gon' be a burnt-up bitch.' I ain't got time to be going into no fire looking for somebody like this. She just stare at you. And the six-year-old cry like a sumbitch. But the two-year-old has control over the six-year-old's mind. I ain't lying. Whatever the two-year-old tells the six-year-old to do, he do it… "Kids! The world is messed up. I'm just saying what you're afraid to say! Kids make me sick, motherfucker. I can't stand those sumbitches. I'm not talking about kids from the sixties, seventies, and early eighties; I'm talking about these nineties got-damned kids. Ooh, these sumbitches. I can't stand them."
Although the Kings of Comedy sold out across the nation, it didn't get any attention from the white mainstream press. Not until Spike Lee filmed it, shooting the production for three million dollars, did it gain any widespread attention.
When Lee was shooting backstage footage, he asked Bernie a question: why didn't he have his own sitcom, his own show? That inspired Bernie to action. He wanted his own show, wanted to tell America the truths (Mac-isms) that he had learned. As he pushed for his dream, he confronted another reality about America, its prejudices. Its small-minded judgments. Its racism. Bernie wanted to be respected for his comedic talents, his no-bullshit honesty. He saw individuals, humanity, as more than sociological statistics, categories. But people were too scared of his messages. They said that his comedy was raw.
"Yeah, there's racists out there. There's every kind of racist for every kind of group. But it ain't just a color thing. It's humanity. People are harsh. They thick-headed, hardwired. No amount of tinkering is going to change the way some people think. Don't tell me. I know. I've been beat the hell down as much as the next guy, and the biggest beating I've taken has been at the hands of my very own people."
Then he met with Larry Wilmore, an experienced comedian and writer. Wilmore told Bernie that he liked his material about his sister's kids (from the KoC). He wanted to build a sitcom around that premise. They made it a one-camera show, didn't use a laugh-track, established points with pop-up notes. Bernie addressed the camera directly as well. Just like in his real life, he was a comedian, had a supportive marriage, and told it like it was.
Fox picked up the show and ran with it. It became the hottest new sitcom on the network. As Mac said, "You watch The Bernie Mac Show and you realize that black families ain't just about broken homes and crackheads and hos. Black families are about love, too. And love is one thing you can't have enough of."
Bernie remained humble as his show became popular. He still acted and continued his stand-up, but he never left his home. He stayed in Chicago with his close friends and family, knowing the value of intimate relationships, instead of living in the shallowness of Hollywood stardom.
He still remembered what his mama had taught him: believe in yourself, listen to your own voice above all others. Go deep inside yourself. Sit still and listen close. There might be a few wise voices out there, helping you out. But too many outside voices will shut you down.
Bernie learned to respect himself and other people, no matter what they thought. Even those who tried to bring him down. He understood, from his mama's teaching, that he had to value himself first. "Most people," his mama said, "are lost. Most people are just struggling to find their way… It's not about you, Bean. Not at all. They're just lookin' out for themselves. Don't take it personal and you won't get hurt feelings… You ain't gonna change them, so don't try. Only person you can change is yourself."
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Bernard Jeffrey McCullough had an incredible amazing life. He's had a great deal of tragedy, which from what I've learned about most comedians' life stories I've read, pain is what makes them so raw and funny a
From the first sentence to the last, I couldn't stop laughing. Even when Bernie is trying to be serious, he's funny! The man was just oozing with comedy in his blood. This is the reason I love reading about famous people because you learn so much about who they are and why they came to be!Bernard Jeffrey McCullough had an incredible amazing life. He's had a great deal of tragedy, which from what I've learned about most comedians' life stories I've read, pain is what makes them so raw and funny and Bernie Mac definitely had plenty of it. I'm so glad I got to see him perform live at least once, and he was simply amazing. The Kings of Comedy is something I watch all the time when I need a pick-me-up!
The one sad note for me in reading this book, Bernie was so alive and looking forward to the rest of his comedic career. He had no idea that a few years after this publication, he'd die. I kept wishing he was still here because I respected his craft so much. He was so damn funny! Critics often stated they couldn't understand what Bernie was saying, but I caught every damn word! He was quick-witted and you had to stay with him to follow the stories he'd tell. I didn't miss a beat! I know his wife and daughter miss him tremendously, but what an incredible legacy he left behind. I miss the Mac Man! He was taken too soon, but I suppose he's making the angels laugh in Heaven.
Outstanding read!
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He started a family when he was very young and had to support them while pursuing his dream of being a comedian. He had a strong work ethic and became very depressed when he didn't have a job and income.
He worked a long time in stand-up before his
Mac didn't really know his father. After his mother died, he was raised by his two grandparents. He had a strict upbringing, and he considers this to be an important reason why he was successful. He saw a lot of other people ruin their opportunities.He started a family when he was very young and had to support them while pursuing his dream of being a comedian. He had a strong work ethic and became very depressed when he didn't have a job and income.
He worked a long time in stand-up before his TV show and movies. He studied comedy and learned to adjust his material according to whatever format he was in - using profanity or being clean according to the audience. He told the co-creator of his TV show that he didn't want a laugh track, he wanted to talk directly to the audience, and wanted the portrayal of marriage to not seem silly for the sake of jokes, like he saw other sit-coms do.
This is on the opposite end of the spectrum from a book like Arte Lange's Too Fat to Fish. Lange can do very funny standup, but his life is constantly overshadowed by drugs and alcohol, and - like Chris Farley and John Belushi - greed-driven excess.
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I took one star off because it would have been great to know more about what happened with his nieces and nephew he took in. He joked a bit about it, which of course was hilarious, but this couldn't have been an easy adjustment for them. His TV show loosely based on this was great, but it's Hollywood and has to be entertaining. Even without this part, it is a must read for those who enjoy biographies.
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Bernie is a man on fire with passion for his lifelong dream of comedy. He weaves in humour (obviously) to this book because it's really ch
It was a little hard to get into this book since it's written EXACTLY how Bernie Mac speaks. However, once you push past that you see it's a really great story of upliftment, dreaming big and goal setting. If you read this book and look at the language as a character (like with something like say, Their Eyes Were Watching God) you'll really get into this book.Bernie is a man on fire with passion for his lifelong dream of comedy. He weaves in humour (obviously) to this book because it's really chock fool of loss and upset. I'm pushing towards goals of my own and this is a great book on staying focused and motivated no matter what.
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Raw, unorganized, yet full of life lessons and reflection that is good for the soul.
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After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several movies in smaller role
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, better known by the stage name Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley as The Original Kings of Comedy.After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several movies in smaller roles. His most notable movie role was as Frank Catton in the remake of Ocean's Eleven and its two sequels. Mac also starred in several movies, including Mr. 3000. He was the star of The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001-2006, and earned two Emmy Award nominations.
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