Special pays tribute to the late Bernie Mac

By Rich Heldenfels

Akron Beacon Journal

Comedian and actor Bernie Mac died in August 2008 from problems related to inflammatory lung disease, and it’s still hard to believe his voice has been silenced.

As is evident in a new TV tribute to Bernie, it was a gruff voice, sometimes accompanied by an intimidating stare.

But it also was one capable of the tenderness he demonstrated on his Fox sitcom “The Bernie Mac Show” during its 2001-06 run.

And, apparently, in life.

“I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac,” premiering at 10 p.m. tonight on Comedy Central, contains affectionate and often funny testimony to Mac’s skills as a comedian and a person.

It comes from Bernie’s wife, Rhonda McCullough, and their daughter, Je’Niece; “Bernie Mac Show” co-stars Kellita Smith and Camille Winbush; Steven Soderbergh, director of the “Ocean’s Eleven” movies in which Bernie appeared, as well as co-stars Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia and Carl Reiner; D.L. Hughley, who toured with Bernie as one of the Original Kings of Comedy; Chris Rock, who directed the movie “Head of State,” where he co-starred with Bernie; and many other friends and collaborators.

At Bernie’s memorial service, former Clevelander Steve Harvey — who joined Hughley and the fourth “King,” Cedric the Entertainer, at the service — said that Bernie was the one who closed Kings shows.

“Nobody wanted to follow Bernie Mac,” Harvey said.

The comments are augmented by clips of Bernie performing, including the Def Comedy Jam appearance that produced the line in the documentary’s title.