Ever think of starting a new career that mixes your talents and skills with the love of your hobby? African American comedian Reese Waters has been able to do just that through an amazing new gig as the resident comic and host on a new show called 'The Daily Line.' Through this show, featured on the Versus Network, Reese is able to blend his career path of comedy with his love of sports, bringing TV audiences the best of both worlds. Reese took some time to talk to Black Voices about how this unique job opportunity developed, and give us his best advice about making it in the entertainment world. Plus -- get his hilarious top five predictions for the rest of 2010!

How did you start your career in comedy? Who are some of your comedic heroes?
I started my career in comedy when I was in college. So I was here at Columbia, and I got a notice about them needing people to try out for the television station. I actually always wanted to an actor when I was growing up. I say actor like I was into it for creative reasons -- I wanted to be a movie star, let me just put it that way. That's more accurate. But I figured it was too late for me, even though I was like 17. You know, "It's too late for me. Kids have been acting since they were four, and I can't catch up now." I was like, "All right, at least you can be behind the scenes." So I went down to that station to be some kind of producer or director behind the scenes. They were having an audition for a sketch comedy show. And the people were so God awful. I mean embarrassing. I was sitting there thinking, "You know what, I could be this bad. No, there's no way I could be this bad." So I ended up trying out for it and making that, and one thing led to another.And as far as comedic influences, I never really admit it to other comedians because it's kind of embarrassing, but my god growing up was Martin Lawrence. He's from Prince George's County, which is where I am from. The characters that he does are like many members of my family. You can pretty much go down [the list of people who come to] my family reunion verbatim. I've just always really identified with him and his comedy. Dave Chappelle was big, because before Chappelle I always thought that every black comedian had to be loud and in your face, which isn't my personality. When I first saw Chappelle, a light bulb went off. I didn't even know I could be quiet, laid back and low key. Obviously Chris Rock, because he's such a hard worker. And Richard Pryor is the legend.

Did you ever think you would be a sports commentator on a show like 'The Daily Line'? What's it like working on the show?
In some kind of fantasy, I believed I would be able to figure out some marriage between sports and comedy, which are my two favorite things. I never thought it would be in a news capacity. I guess if you watch the show, me saying I am in a news capacity is probably taking liberties with things. I'm sure my co-stars would say there's no news that's ever come out of my mouth. But, I never thought I would be doing something like this, just because I never knew that something like this existed. When you watch ESPN, they don't necessarily have a comedian giving their take on the day's sports, so it's something that I didn't see before this show happened, which also makes it a great opportunity. They originally pegged me on the show as the comedian, the guy who tells it like it is. But really, I have and give my opinion. I really don't try to be a certain way. It's really just my take on sports, and it happens to be one that differs from that of my other three co-stars that people find interesting. So, I try to get out of the habit of trying to be a certain way, and try to relate to my co-stars as three best friends.


What are some truisms you have learned about working in the entertainment industry?
My co-star, Miss Jennifer Sterger, told me, "When the show starts, do not Google yourself." And then after the show started, we were having a conversation, and she reiterated that to me. I was like, "What are you talking about? I'm going to Google myself. I want to see all the great things they're saying about me." Forty-five minutes later, we were on the phone, and I needed a pep talk, and I needed her to tell me how good I was so I could go to sleep at night. So I learned that. I also learned to know that you deserve to be where you are. We had Ice Cube on, who I was a huge fan of growing up, we had Darryl Strawberry [recently,] and the tendency is to really want to be fascinated by them. But I have to realize, I'm hired for a reason, to offer a particular perspective and point of view, and that I have to bring that to the table. And in fact it seems that they really respected me for doing that, kind of mixing it up a little bit. So that's [another] thing that I've learned. Jeez, there's so much. You can't take anything personal in entertainment. There's a million things.



Recently, comics Eddie Griffith and Sinbad have been the news for having money problems. Do you have any financial advice for them you would like to share?
One of the things that I've realized is that when you do any other job, they take taxes out for you. I get my check, and I say "Aw, man, look how much in taxes they take out." I'm angry for about ten minutes, and then I take my money. But in stand-up, you pretty much have to allot for taxes yourself. When you give us that whole check, it takes a certain kind of a person to say, "You know what, they just gave me $500. That is not my $500." That's not really the mindset you have at 2am in Des Moines, Iowa when you just got paid, and you're looking have have a good time. So, it's definitely a really tough thing. I feel for them. Having to restrain yourself to take out taxes is just unnatural.

Thanks for your time Reese. To finish up, you know that 2010 has already been a wacky year. What are your top five predictions for rest of 2010 in the world of business, news, politics or sports? Scandals included!
Oh, that's a good question. Here we go:

1. The Lakers are going to win the NBA finals this year and Kobe will say after the finals: "I am now the greatest player of all time!"

2. One of the players' wives who is on 'Basketball Wives' will storm the set and demand that his wife gets off show. OR will be seen crying on the bench during the playoffs. Either or. Or maybe both.

3. & 4. Dwyane Wade's wife has blazed a trail for crazy, scorned women everywhere, and I think the courts are going to be dominated with crazy suits from women trying to get back at their ex-husbands or ex-boyfriends who left them and it's going to get to the point where there are not going to be enough judges to handle these cases. So being a judge is going to become like a $10 an hour job. Where you can go on Craig's List and be like, "We need a judge to do this case!" And that can be one of your first jobs out of college, to be a judge. It's going to be minimum wage. Minimum wage judges.

That's kind of two different ones. That's two-in-one.

5. I want to see a new 'Roots.' That's what I want to see. I like 'Roots,' and I think we can do a better job now. We just have better ways of making movies now. I would like to see how that movie would be made with the black stars of [today]. How about, "Tyler Perry Announces a Remake of 'Roots'"?

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Reese Waters can currently be seen on Comedy Central's 'Live at Gotham' and 'Michael and Michael Have Issues.' In 2009, Reese won the annual Caroline's Comedy Competition and the Emerging Comics Contest at the NY Underground Comedy Festival. New York Magazine has called Reese one of the top ten comedians to watch. Reese began performing standup and improv when he was a student at Columbia University. Be sure to catch Reese on 'The Daily Line' on the Versus network.