FHSTheFlash The Flash Volume 46, Issue 1 October 2005 | Page 6

Entertainment
6
On His Way to Fame
October 2005

By Andrew Kauffman 08’
Flash Staff Reporter

Brandon T. Jackson having an interview with the Flash reporter Andrew Kauffman
at the Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham. (To the Right: Andrew shaking
hands with Brandon.)

How many times can you say
“I met the next big comedian in
Hollywood?” It’s certainly not
often, which is why it
was such an experience to meet actor
and comedian Brandon T. Jackson in a
one-on-one interview
for the Flash.
Jackson, although
relatively young for
show-biz, has had
quite a history. By acting as the “class
clown” in his school
days, Brandon was
able to overcome the boring
and sometimes rough life of Detroit to start his career in comedy young. At just 14 years-old
he began getting involved in local gigs as a comedian. From
there, Jackson interned at local
radio station 93.1 FM, and soon
after he was cast as an extra
in such films as Ali, Bowling for
Columbine, and 8 Mile.
It became apparent quickly:
Jackson was making his way
to the top. But what makes him

the comedian he is? When I
asked him, Jackson said he had
all sorts of inspiration. With his
father’s sense of humor, he
was also inspired by famous
comedians such as Sinbad,
Chris Rock,
M a r t i n
Lawrence, and
even Michael J.
Fox. Jackson
also says he has
seen quite a bit.
According to
him, he’s seen a
lot of both the
suburbs and the
city, and has
met a lot of interesting people
during his career.
One of Jackson’s biggest
goals as a comedian is to reach
out to young people. “I want
them to take their lives to the
next level in every aspect,” he
said in an interview. “I want to
use my talents to do just that.”
For this