SPECIAL GUEST
D.L. Hughley
Popular stand-up comedian D L Hughley made the move to primetime television with his sitcom "The Hughleys" (ABC, 1998-2000; UPN, 2000-2002), based upon his own experiences moving from the inner-city to the suburbs. He proved a surprisingly capable actor with a welcome screen presence and his observant comedy translated well to the sitcom genre.
A former member of the notorious L.A. gang The Bloods, Hughley turned his life around after the murder of his cousin, a member of a rival gang. While working as a telemarketer for the circulation department of the Los Angeles Times, he was encouraged by his barber to enter a stand-up comedy contest, which led to bookings on the so-called 'Chitlin Circuit'. Hughley's good-natured barbs were well-received and he proved popular with audiences, notably in appearances on HBO's popular "Def Comedy Jam". Hughley served as the inaugural host of BET's "Comic View", staying with the show from 1992 through 1994. He reached even more viewers with the highly-rated special "HBO Comedy Half-Hour: D L Hughley" (1994) and as a regular on the short-lived "Double Rush" (CBS, 1995).
The comedian segued nicely from harder-edged stand-up fare to his folksy series "The Hughleys". Though maintaining a good bit of edginess, and sometimes incorporating touchy racial issues, "The Hughleys" was first and foremost a family-driven program and in most ways a very traditional and entertaining sitcom. Written and created by, as well as starring Hughley, the series was based upon his own experiences moving into a predominately white suburb. Co-executive produced by fellow stand-up star Chris Rock, it proved a first-season success, gaining strong ratings and earning critical praise. Hughley's visibility skyrocketed with hosting duties on ABC's holiday special "New Year's Rockin' Eve '99" with co-star Elise Neal, as well as appearing as a presenter on several awards shows, which led to hosting gigs on TV specials such as "VH1 Big in 03" (2003) and the 2003 season of Comedy Central's "Premium Blend."
Hughley also enjoyed some crossover success in film, co-starring in the African American ensemble of the drama "The Brothers" (2001) and voicing the Gadgetmobile in the big screen adaptation of the cartoon detective "Inspector Gadget" (1999), along with supporting roles in "Chasing Papi" (2003), "Scary Movie 3" (2003) and "Soul Plane" (2004).
Leslie David Baker
Leslie David Baker portrays Dunder Mifflin Paper salesman Stanley Hudson on NBC's "The Office."
Baker's television credits include recurring roles in "Malcolm in the Middle" and "The Guardian," and has guest starred in "Scrubs," "That 70's Show," "Judging Amy," "Just Shoot Me," "Elizabethtown," and "Road to Redemption." In addition, Baker has appeared in numerous national commercials, feature films and stage productions.
Before Baker got his big break in Hollywood, he worked in various Chicago City departments such as the Department of Health (AIDS Program and Policy), Office of Cable and Communications and the Board of Education. Baker also served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control, Academy of Educational Development, American Red Cross, and the Illinois State Attorney's Office Health Task Force.
Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and a M.S. in Human Services Administration from Spertus College of Judaica Chicago.
Stephanie Allain
Starting as a script reader in 1985, Ms. Allain rose through the ranks of Columbia Pictures to become Senior Vice President of Production. During her tenure, she launched the careers of John Singleton, Robert Rodriguez, and Darnell Martin while supervising more than a dozen films including: Academy Award nominee, BOYZ N THE HOOD, POETIC JUSTICE, and HIGHER LEARNING.
In 1996, Ms. Allain left Columbia Pictures to become President of Jim Henson Pictures. Then in 2003, she founded Homegrown Pictures producing BIKER BOYZ for Dreamworks and GOOD BOY for MGM. Later that year, Ms. Allain produced Craig Brewer’s indie hit, HUSTLE & FLOW. Allain and Brewer recently formed their own production company, SOUTHERN CROSS THE DOG, based at Paramount Pictures. Allain and Brewer’s latest effort, BLACK SNAKE MOAN, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake, will be released on February 23, 2007.
Ms. Allain became a part of the NBC Universal family through producing, SOMETHING NEW for Focus Features starring Simon Baker and Sanaa Lathan which was released in February 2006.
Jon Hurwitz
Jon Hurwitz is a screenwriter. His credits include Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Scary Movie 3 (Rewrite), and Filthy. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Eddie Steeples
Long interested in an acting career, Steeples studied theater at the St. Louis Repertory and moved to New York in the mid-1990s. There he joined an experimental film group, Mo-Freek, and a hip hop group, No Surrender. Among the Mo-Freek productions he has starred in are Lost in the Bush, Caravan Summer, and People Are Dead. He also starred in the short film Whoa and appeared as a guest on The Chris Rock Show.
Steeples became nationally known when he was cast as the "Rubberband Man" in a series of award-winning commercials for OfficeMax, and his performance in those commercials led him to be named one of the "World's Sexiest Men" of 2004 by People magazine. He has also appeared in the feature movie Torque, starring Ice Cube, Faison Love, and Jaime Pressley.
Steeples appeared in the movie Akeelah and the Bee, starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, released in April 2006. An independent movie written and directed by Steeples, Robbers, is now in post-production, and Steeples plans to participate in future Mo-Freek productions.
Steeples appears as Darnell Turner (also known as "Crab Man") in the sitcom My Name Is Earl, which premiered September 20, 2005. In one episode, he parodied his role as Rubberband Man. In this episode, the show's main characters worked together briefly in an office. Darnell's assigned task was to distribute office supplies out of a shopping cart.
