3:34It was not my intention to ask a question that stumped comedian and actor Kim Coles.
"The Soul Man's" recurring Wanda and an alum of "In Living Color" and "Living Single," Coles recently dropped by Dunwoody College of Technology as part of the UNCF Empower ME Tour. She delivered a candid message about power, money and success from the perspective of someone who's enjoyed the ups and learned from the downs of Hollywood.
My favorite Coles character was Dr. Mary, the recurring part she played on "Frasier." How her homespun, non-therapist character perturbed Frasier Crane when they were paired on the radio! Frasier's biggest fear was that she would think he didn't like her because she was black rather than because their styles simply did not mesh.
"Have I gotten too uppity for you? You sherry-swilling, opera-loving, Armani-wearing elitist. You have no idea how difficult it is for a black woman in a white man's world," Crane said in a side-splitting soliloquy during which he adopted not only Dr. Mary's voice, but some new gestures, as you'll see on my startribune.com/video. Turns out Coles was practically a director when it came to assisting in the delivery of those lines.
Q Dr. Mary!
A OK? OK! [Delivering Dr. Mary's signature phrase in character.]
Q Were you as impressed as I was with Kelsey Grammer's impersonation of a black woman on that "Frasier" episode?
A I actually helped Kelsey. I was extremely impressed with Kelsey Grammer's imitation of a black woman because I helped him! [Finger pointing by way of illustration.] I helped him with that whole thing, 'cause he was doing it all this way [she shows the wrong way] and I gave him that [the right way]. That was my doing, thank you, and he was lovely to work with.
