Cedric the Entertainer Presents: Starting Lineup

Cedric the Entertainer doesn’t just host this showcase; he anchors it. Staged in an actual boxing ring, Starting Lineup operates as an extended episode of television stand-up, with the host introducing a slate of four up-and-coming comics Michael Buffer-style. He takes a generous fifteen minutes at the top for himself and drops another five to eight minutes of material between each act. It is a structure that relies entirely on his momentum to keep the room warm.

Filmed at the Biloxi Grand Casino in Mississippi, the 2002 release caught the comic during a massive career peak. He was fresh off the success of The Original Kings of Comedy, starring in Barbershop, and launching his own Fox sketch series. Despite sharing the stage with newcomers like Lil Duval and Juan Villareal, Cedric remains the primary draw. He easily commands the casino crowd, doing heavy physical act-outs and pausing after a dance break to remind the audience of his established persona: “Damn, I’m tired. I’m a grown-ass man, dog”.