Comedian Mike Epps made a household name for himself landing the role as Chris Tucker's replacement in Next Friday and Friday After Next. But it's his raw, caustic standup routines that involve biting racial commentary that's kept him a hot ticket—if you enjoy at-the-limit offensive comedy, then you probably already love Mike Epps. But as far as his comedy stylings have taken him down the road of mainstream success, he's got a potential game-changer in the works: the much anticipated Richard Pryor biology, for which he nailed the leading role. Even though Nick Cannon, Marlon Wayans and Terrence Howard were all whispered to be considered for the part, Epps won out—and who is going to play Pryor's abusive grandmother? Oprah Winfrey. Epps plays this weekend at the Irvine Improv—catch him now before he graduates to A-List status.
Fri., Jan. 2, 10 p.m., 2015
