THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100032
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
THE ANNOUNCER excitedly introduces the star of the show. Monteria Ivey trots out, smiling, waving and ready to host another edition of ``Think Twice,'' public television's entry into the quiz biz.
The tall, husky TV personality, who spent a decade of his young life in Suffolk, is described by his producer, Nancy Linde, as ``unique, hip, smart, funny, intelligent - with a terrific sense of game play.''
The show, broadcast locally at 8:30 p.m. Mondays on WHRO-TV, ``is a cross between `Jeopardy' and `Wheel of Fortune,' '' Ivey said in a recent interview. It is produced by WGBH-TV, the PBS affiliate in Boston.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a contestant, but you had best be bright, imaginative and quick-thinking.
Two teams, each with two players, have to answer three two-part brainteasers - the information part based on knowledge, the imagination portion based on creative thinking, the intuition section covering both areas.
In charge of it all is Ivey, an Ivy Leaguer with a bachelor's degree in government from Dartmouth College and a graduate of Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson elementary schools in Suffolk.
He describes himself as ``forever 39, a child of the '60s - very single, very eligible.''
Ivey was born in New York City, moving to Suffolk when he was 4, returning to New York at 14 where he attended Louis D. Brandeis High School.
He still lives in New York, commuting to Boston for ``Think Twice.''
Ivey has a lot to think about while in New York, especially 2 Bros. & A White Guy, a production company he shares with, obviously, two partners. Part of their work is a book.
``Snaps'' is in its second printing and, since success breeds sequels, ``Double Snaps'' is scheduled to be out next year.
``Snaps refers to the African-American art of verbal warfare - verbal insults,'' Ivey explained.
It involves a couple of folks trading no-holds-barred, one- or two-liner insults about each other - family, friends, house, car, supper - anything.
``The book features about 450 comedians, average folks, celebrities and kids,'' Ivey said. ``The foreword is by Sinbad, Robert Townsend and Quincy Jones.''
If you enjoyed the book, you'll enjoy the television shows. ``Snaps'' will be on HBO Jan. 20 and 27 hosted by, no surprise here, Monteria Ivey, a co-producer.
If you enjoyed the book and like the television show, you'll enjoy the CD. Atlantic Records is releasing a snappy album next year featuring a mix of rappers and comedians.
Ivey began in show business as a comedian.
``The comedy explosion was starting to happen,'' he said. ``For me, it was the right time, the right place.''
For five years he uttered the funny stuff at such prestigious Harlem locales as the Apollo Theater and the Uptown Comedy Club, where Ivey got his first break. His appearance there, in a segment for new comedians, made a giant-sized impression. Six months later, he was named permanent host.
Ivey has also kept 'em laughing at The Comic Strip and the Boston Comedy Club, he is a co-writer as well as a host of the syndicated TV series ``Uptown Comedy Club'' and has been featured on HBO's ``Showtime at the Apollo'' and some of that network's comedy specials.
During the 1992 presidential election, he served as political comedy analyst at the Republican National Convention for the cable network Comedy Central.
Comedy these days suffers from ``oversaturation,'' Ivey said. ``It's a comedy explosion. That's why comedy clubs and theaters are closing. There are so many of them.''
Although there may be too much comedy in general, ``African-American humor hasn't been fully exploited,'' Ivey said. ``And there's a misconception about African-American humor. HBO's `Def Comedy Jam' doesn't represent all there is in African-American humor. I'm not knocking the show, but I am saying there is more to African-American humor. It's not all blue.''
Another thing that does not strike Ivey as funny is some of the criticism of ``Think Twice.''
``Too many critics are caught up in the debate as to whether PBS should be in the quiz show business. Too many reviews are based on that - not on reviewing the show itself.''
TV Guide was kind, sort of.
``Whether PBS should use (waste?) its time on a quiz show is open to debate,'' reviewer Paul Droesch penned. ``But this one is fun. Both the game and quizmaster Monteria Ivey are engaging.''
Prizes are not quiz show typical. There are no showy, tacky, expensive furniture, cars or trips. ``Think Twice'' contestants are awarded software and bookstore gift certificates - a nice PBS touch.
Ivey has nice things to say about his years in Suffolk, crediting a lot of his success to his grandmother, Susie Williams of Smith Street, a retired teacher during the years she raised him. She died while he was in college.
``She influenced me. I wouldn't have gotten into Dartmouth without the lessons she taught me.'' Ivey also credits First Baptist Church, Mahan Street. ``I had a good foundation in Suffolk.
``One of the things I learned from my influences is to have a dream you believe in. I believe I have a talent. I work hard. I want to reach my full potential. Eventually, I want to co-produce television and film projects. And I want to showcase new talent.''
Another influence was the game shows Ivey watched during his growin'-up years.
``I've always wanted to be involved with one that was both entertaining and enlightening,'' he said - adding, in good public-relations fashion, ``Who else but public television could make this happen?''
Ivey tells what happened when he visited Suffolk two years ago.
``I wanted to see everything during the couple days I was there. I went by my old schools. They were shuttered. I went by the house where I grew up. One of my dreams is to buy that house and make it like a second family home.
``I knocked on the door, but nobody was home. I went to the back yard and found an old baseball bat I had as a kid. It was behind a tree, covered with dirt and leaves.''
There was no doubt that it was the Ivey ball bat.
``I'd broken it and couldn't afford to get another. Someone showed me how to put it together. The nail is still there.''
A lot of dogs were there when he was a youngster.
``I loved them. I used to have a paper route. One of my dogs followed me, plus about eight or nine that belonged to other people. For that reason, Grandma never worried about me when I made my rounds on the bike.''
Ivey paused a moment, then added the showbiz touch:
``That was my first entourage.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Molly Lynch
Monteria Ivey emcees " Think Twice," which airs Mondays at 8:30
p.m.
B\W photo
Monteria Ivey shares a laugh with contestants before leading the two
teams "Think twice," a fast-paced mind game that airs locally on
WHRO Mondays at 8:30 p.m.
by CNB