Living in color What's funny about me

In this entertaining memoir, comedian Davidson, known for his role in the 1990s comedy series In Living Color, recounts his family, his rise to fame, and his struggle with addiction. Davidson was born in 1963 Mississippi to a young African-American mother who abandoned him by leaving him in a trash heap when he was two. A white, socially conscious teacher rescued and adopted him. "Seeing the world through the prism of black and white is a talent I have," Davidson writes. He then tells of living in Washington, D.C., as an adolescent, where he performed in comedy clubs, and of his eventual move to Los Angeles, where he landed a spot on In Living Color. He affectionately discusses his costars Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Keenan Ivory Wayans, who "believed that competition would yield better written and better acted scripts." Over the course of his career, Davidson developed an addiction to cocaine, but credits the intervention of Adrienne Banfield-Jones, a former heroin user and the mother of actress Jada Pinkett Smith, for saving him. The book reaches its zenith when Davidson, as he relays in thoughtful, evenhanded prose, meets his biological mother, forgiving her while acknowledging that the white woman who raised him is his true mother. This is a sure hit for fans of Davidson and In Living Color. (Jan.)

Comedy is craft and Davidson is craftsman in this engrossing memoir, cowritten with journalist Teicholz. Davidson chronicles his neglect and abandonment as a toddler; his adoption by a loving family; his hard-won successes performing stand-up in New York, California, and Washington, DC; and, finally, his role on In Living Color (1990--95), Keenen Ivory Wayans's pioneering sketch show, one of the first to feature a predominantly black cast. Fans will relish insider descriptions of the program's early seasons and of Davidson's interactions with future stars such as Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, and Wayans's brothers Damon, Shawn, and Marlon. Davidson balances praise and criticisms of the show's defining personalities--including himself. Indeed, his keen observations bring the book to life, candidly describing his triumphs and setbacks and emphasizing the dedication that underlies seemingly effortless comedy. VERDICT This heartfelt memoir of an expansive career will resonate with fans of In Living Color, stand-up, sketch shows, and entertainment biographies.--Robin Chin Roemer, Univ. of Washington Lib., Seattle