Voting Station

Nipsey Russell

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Comedian

The Resume

    (October 13, 1924-October 2, 2005)
    Nicknamed the Poet Laureate of Television
    Portrayed Tinman in 'The Wiz (1978)'
    Also acted in 'Nemo (1984),' 'Wildcats (1986),' 'Posse (1993)' and 'Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)'
    TV series include 'Car 54, Where Are You?' (1961-62), 'ABC's Nightlife' (1965), 'Barefoot in the Park' (1970), 'The Dean Martin Show' (1972-73), 'The Dean Martin Comedy World' (1974) and 'Juvenile Jury' (1983)
    Died of stomach cancer at age 80

Why he might be annoying:

    His mother named him Nipsey just because she 'liked the way the name sounded.'
    All his TV series were for stints of two years or less.
    Though he was the first African-American to host a TV game show, 'Jackpot' (in 1984), he only did the pilot episode.
    Asked why he never married, he quoted, 'I have trouble living with myself, how could I live with anyone else?'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served as an U.S. Army captain in Europe during World War II.
    He was an accomplished singer and dancer.
    He was the first African-American to become a panelist on a network game show, joining ABC's 'Missing Links' (1964).
    He got most of his exposure in TV as a 'professional game show panelist,' appearing in 'What's My Line?,' 'To Tell the Truth,' 'Match Game,' 'Password Plus,' 'The $10,000 Pyramid' and 'Hollywood Squares.'
    While some black stand-up comedians resort to vulgarity in their act, Pauline Kael wrote in The New Yorker, 'He understands that the roles are vaudeville-comedian turns. ... [and] shows here that all his years of playing the inoffensive black entertainer in front of white audiences haven't softened him as a performer; he has the true pro's integrity of style.'
    Famed quote from the 'Poet Laureate of Television:'
    'Pro and con are opposites, that fact is clearly seen. If progress means to move forward, then what does congress mean?'

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 73 Votes: 42.47% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 65 Votes: 49.23% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 28 Votes: 53.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 23 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 41 Votes: 48.78% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 54 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 85 Votes: 56.47% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 146 Votes: 44.52% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 176 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 428 Votes: 44.39% Annoying