Eddie Griffin

Eddie Griffin is steamed. And it has nothing to do with the angst-ridden reality series he recently starred in on VH1. No, what's got the veteran comic boiling now is Tiger Woods and the tumult surrounding his recent indiscretions, specifically the high-rolling companies that all of a sudden seem to have acquired a conscience. Self-righteousness that smacks of hypocrisy just galls Griffin no end, as those planning to attend his show at the Lyric Opera House in Friday night will hear.

Eddie Griffin is steamed. And it has nothing to do with the angst-ridden reality series he recently starred in on VH1. No, what's got the veteran comic boiling now is Tiger Woods and the tumult surrounding his recent indiscretions, specifically the high-rolling companies that all of a sudden seem to have acquired a conscience. Self-righteousness that smacks of hypocrisy just galls Griffin no end, as those planning to attend his show at the Lyric Opera House in Friday night will hear.

Tonight at 8, catch comedian Eddie Griffin's standup act at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. He has been seen in such comedies as Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Undercover Brother, Scary Movie 3 and My Baby's Daddy, as well as DysFunKtional Family, a documentary about his stage act and his off-stage life. Carrey B is also slated to appear at tonight's show. The Hippodrome is at 12 N. Eutaw St. Tickets are $33.50-$36.50 and are available at 410-547-SEAT, ticketmaster.

When it comes to romantic comedy these days, there's screwball and then there's lowball. Which do you expect from two of the Scary Movie writers? Whatever you think, think lower. From human hairballs to corpse abuse, Date Movie puts the gag in comedy gags. In Date Movie, the parody of movies you're pretty sure you've seen come so fast and furious (no, not that one) that part of the entertainment is merely keeping score. Be it bragging rights or cause for despair, we quickly recognize Bridget Jones, Napoleon Dynamite, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Bend It Like Beckham, Hitch and a TV episode of Pimp My Ride - and that's just the first 10 minutes.

PARK CITY, Utah - Eddie Griffin's near good riddance to television happened suddenly. Which could not have been soon enough, except for the searing pain in his chest and shortness of breath. At age 28, Griffin was having a heart attack. Make that had a heart attack. He was dead. Griffin would have done anything to leave Malcolm & Eddie, a by-the-numbers sitcom about two guys and a bar. Anything. Except dying. He was smoking three packs a day and inhaling fried chicken and pork-sauteed collard greens.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There was a moment, early in Seton Hall's game with the University of Hartford on Dec. 27, when the status of the Pirates' basketball program was captured perfectly. For the duration of a 90-second television timeout, coach Tommy Amaker leaned forward in his padded bench chair while his players hunched over on little green stools that the managers set out during breaks in the action. Marcus Toney-El, the lanky freshman forward, sat to Amaker's left, spindly freshman point guard Andre Barrett was in front of him and the enormous sophomore center, Samuel Dalembert, was flush right.

When it comes to romantic comedy these days, there's screwball and then there's lowball. Which do you expect from two of the Scary Movie writers? Whatever you think, think lower. From human hairballs to corpse abuse, Date Movie puts the gag in comedy gags. In Date Movie, the parody of movies you're pretty sure you've seen come so fast and furious (no, not that one) that part of the entertainment is merely keeping score. Be it bragging rights or cause for despair, we quickly recognize Bridget Jones, Napoleon Dynamite, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Bend It Like Beckham, Hitch and a TV episode of Pimp My Ride - and that's just the first 10 minutes.

Who is killing the great "prosti-dudes" of Europe? Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo sends the repellent Rob Schneider male-hooker character to the Old World to solve this mystery. Because the sex-for-hire fellows of the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Scotland just aren't man enough for the job. How they slipped this bodily fluid-flinging slapshtick past the increasingly deaf and dumb Motion Picture Association of America with only an R rating is the real mystery. Deuce has married and buried his girl from the first film.

Fourteen professional basketball players will take time away from their vacations to participate in the first Champions for the Community charity basketball game tonight at the Baltimore Arena. The game, hosted by Atlanta Hawks center Theo Ratliff, will be played by two teams of top players from around the NBA and will benefit the Associated Black Charities. At 6 p.m., fans will see a game featuring local amateur and pro players, such as Bootsy Thornton, formerly of Dunbar High, and Shawnta Rogers, formerly of Lake Clifton High, as they take on a comparable squad from the Washington area.

SUN SCORE ** 1/2 (TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS) The New Guy doesn't have a new idea in its head, but it trods over the old ground with such wit and heart that its lack of originality can be overlooked, if not entirely forgiven. DJ Qualls, who was born to play the geeky high school outcast (see Road Trip for proof) is Dizzy Harrison, a perennially picked-on member of the lower class at Rocky Creek High School. Sick of being the unwilling foil for every tough guy on campus, Dizzy is determined to change his image.

Tonight at 8, catch comedian Eddie Griffin's standup act at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. He has been seen in such comedies as Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Undercover Brother, Scary Movie 3 and My Baby's Daddy, as well as DysFunKtional Family, a documentary about his stage act and his off-stage life. Carrey B is also slated to appear at tonight's show. The Hippodrome is at 12 N. Eutaw St. Tickets are $33.50-$36.50 and are available at 410-547-SEAT, ticketmaster.

Who is killing the great "prosti-dudes" of Europe? Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo sends the repellent Rob Schneider male-hooker character to the Old World to solve this mystery. Because the sex-for-hire fellows of the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Scotland just aren't man enough for the job. How they slipped this bodily fluid-flinging slapshtick past the increasingly deaf and dumb Motion Picture Association of America with only an R rating is the real mystery. Deuce has married and buried his girl from the first film.

My Baby's Daddy is one-stop shopping - if you're in the market for pee-pee, poo-poo and flatulence jokes, that is. And if you still have room in your cart, keep in mind that the film also features a blue-light special on kick-in-the-family-jewels humor. Despite the singular "Daddy" of the title, there are actually three daddies in this imbecile comedy: Lonnie, G and Dom. You know that Lonnie (comedian Eddie Griffin, who co-wrote the script) is the brains of the operation because he wears huge eyeglasses and seems to be channeling Urkel.

PARK CITY, Utah - Eddie Griffin's near good riddance to television happened suddenly. Which could not have been soon enough, except for the searing pain in his chest and shortness of breath. At age 28, Griffin was having a heart attack. Make that had a heart attack. He was dead. Griffin would have done anything to leave Malcolm & Eddie, a by-the-numbers sitcom about two guys and a bar. Anything. Except dying. He was smoking three packs a day and inhaling fried chicken and pork-sauteed collard greens.

As a stand-up, Eddie Griffin, the star of last summer's blaxploitation satire Undercover Brother, provokes discomfort and hilarity at the same time. In DysFunktional Family, he's totally uninhibited about race and his own racism, sex and his own sexism, prejudice and his own prejudices. In this Kansas City, Mo., concert, edited together with cutaways to man-in-the-street interviews and talks with Griffin's family and friends in his old K.C. neighborhood, Griffin takes the stage without any glitz or hype.

SUN SCORE ** 1/2 (TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS) The New Guy doesn't have a new idea in its head, but it trods over the old ground with such wit and heart that its lack of originality can be overlooked, if not entirely forgiven. DJ Qualls, who was born to play the geeky high school outcast (see Road Trip for proof) is Dizzy Harrison, a perennially picked-on member of the lower class at Rocky Creek High School. Sick of being the unwilling foil for every tough guy on campus, Dizzy is determined to change his image.

My Baby's Daddy is one-stop shopping - if you're in the market for pee-pee, poo-poo and flatulence jokes, that is. And if you still have room in your cart, keep in mind that the film also features a blue-light special on kick-in-the-family-jewels humor. Despite the singular "Daddy" of the title, there are actually three daddies in this imbecile comedy: Lonnie, G and Dom. You know that Lonnie (comedian Eddie Griffin, who co-wrote the script) is the brains of the operation because he wears huge eyeglasses and seems to be channeling Urkel.

Consider this fair warning: Do not go to see "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" if you offend easily. You will be offended. Do not go to see "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" if you hate being grossed out. You will be grossed out. Do not go to see "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" if the prospect of seeing Rob Schneider's rear end on the big screen causes you to break out in hives. You will exit the theater scratching.But for all that -- and granted, that's a lot -- "Deuce Bigalow" is surprisingly funny, a deep-down-good-hearted take on that oldest of comedy conventions, the ill-prepared rube caught up in a situation that somehow never gets the best of him.Schneider is Deuce, a fish-tank and fish-pond cleaner we first meet cleaning the inside of a public aquarium nude.

Fourteen professional basketball players will take time away from their vacations to participate in the first Champions for the Community charity basketball game tonight at the Baltimore Arena. The game, hosted by Atlanta Hawks center Theo Ratliff, will be played by two teams of top players from around the NBA and will benefit the Associated Black Charities. At 6 p.m., fans will see a game featuring local amateur and pro players, such as Bootsy Thornton, formerly of Dunbar High, and Shawnta Rogers, formerly of Lake Clifton High, as they take on a comparable squad from the Washington area.

The Houston Rockets were prepared to draft former Maryland standout Terence Morris with the last of the team's three NBA first-round choices last night. Then the telephone rang, with the New Jersey Nets calling to offer former Seton Hall standout Eddie Griffin - the No. 7 selection overall - for all three picks. There was one stipulation: The Rockets had to draft Pepperdine guard Brandon Armstrong at No. 23, the pick with which Houston was hoping to take Morris. It was the first in a series of telephone calls that finally ended with Houston obtaining Morris, who had been picked early in the second round and 34th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, for a future draft choice.