Wacky show adds $40K to Make-A-Wish coffers
So did y’hear about Bob Robbins lip-syncing Snoop Dogg’s old hit “Gin and Juice”? Er, “Angry” Patrick Beam dressing in drag to act out that Emmanuel and Phillip Hudson groaner “Ratchet Girl Anthem”? D.J. Williams channeling Ricky Martin? And, egads, Poolboy in an Oxford shirt and tighty whities doing a Tom Cruise-turned-exotic-dancer act?
Those were among the more memorable moments of the annual Lip Sync Battle, a benefit for Make-A-Wish Mid-South, held Aug. 26 in the Robinson Center Performance Hall. The third annual contest featured local television and radio personalities who competed for a WWE Championship belt. Judges were Lisa Fischer, Robyn Richardson, Shane Broadway and Renee Shapiro.
Hosted by KTHV news anchor Craig O’Neill, the show began with a bang … organizer Danny-Joe Crofford as Prince, with Melinda Mayo and Alyson Courtney as Prince’s guitarists, Wendy and Lisa, and a finale by the Stuttgart High School band. Other notable performances included “Sonta Jean” James’ energetic lip-sync of Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman”; Lauren McCullough as Dolly Parton faking “Islands in the Stream” along with a video of her dressed as Kenny Rogers; and a hilariously befuddled Dennis Allen as Ozzy Osbourne, offering up “If I Close My Eyes Forever” with Stephanie Hobbs as Lita Ford.
Williams’ onstage costume changes during a lip-sync medley earned him the Best Costume Trophy. Courtney, 2016 champion, did a Tina Turner and earned this year’s Best Choreography trophy. But taking home the Craig O’Neill People’s Choice and Best Prop trophies — as well as the belt — was Adam “Poolboy” Dunaway of KLAL-FM, “Alice” 107.7. Taking in a couple of dollar tips as the Risky Business movie character, Poolboy enlisted the Philander Smith Collegiate Choir to end his act by singing “Old Time Rock and Roll” a capella.
The event grossed $40,000. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The newest area recipient, 17-yearold Kobe Collums of Sheridan, was presented with a trip to Disney World during the show.