ATLANTA — The near one hundred-degree stifling, suffocating, scorching heat proved to scarcely be a deterrent to celebrities and nominees from flossing suits and full-length dinner gowns at the Steve Harvey’s 2014 Ford Neighborhood Awards debut at Phillips Arena in downtown ATL.
Led by creator Steve Harvey and wife Marjorie, the blue carpet was overflowing with enough stars to decorate a Christmas Tree, including “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast members Kandi Burruss and husband Todd tucker, Shemar Moore, Pamela and David Mann, LisaRaye, comedians Earthquake and George Wallace and Kim Whitley, Rickey Smiley, Claudia Jordan, Gary with the Tea, Chrisette Michele, Holly Robinson Peete, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michael Jai White, Hill Harper, Sherri Shephard, Roland Martin, and many others.
The awards program featured the real stars of the evening, the many community-based men and women, businesses and schools, choirs and churches who vied for awards as the best in their respective categories. The actual Neighborhood Award show, which this writer attended and watched from high up inside the Cricket Wireless suite, was by far the funniest and funnest and most uplifting awards program that I have ever attended.
It began with a hilarious monologue/diatribe from host Harvey about awards-show protocol and proper behavior. It continued on through comedian George Wallace, who made your chest cave in, and it climaxed with a gut-busting routine from beloved big-man comedian Lavelle Crawford — who was playfully irked that he was chosen to hand out the award for Best Soul Food. He also verbal sparred with David Mann on the stage that was so funny that it reduced the crowd quivering mounds of jelly.
The funniness continued on with Sheryl Underwood, who came out to present an award decked out in a wedding dress. She declared that she was no longer waiting for “Steve Harvey Morning Show” cohost Nephew Tommy to marry her and instead was waiting on Hollywood heartthrob Shemar Moore. Insanity and hilarity ensued as he partially disrobed as he walked up the stage and removed her garter belt from her thigh with his teeth. She was all too willing and funny to accept his provocative sexual overtures.
Classic. There is no awards show like this in America.
The night also included soul-stirring R&B and gospel performances from the likes of Anthony Hamilton and Pamela Mann.
Take a look at the best dressed celebs and nominees from the 2014 Ford Neighborhood Awards.