Tyler Perry

Male comedians have been dressing as women for comic effect for decades. Think Milton Berle. Think Flip Wilson. Or Saturday Night Live sketches with Will Farrell or John Goodman.

But perhaps no one has taken it to the level that Tyler Perry did, with his character. Madea. And that is just one reason. Among many, the Tyler Perry is one of the most successful and influential filmmakers of our time.

Tyler Perry is a busy man, so in 2006, the only way I could get an interview with him was by telephone. It was not long after his second Madea movie had come out, and the book he was promoting was called Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings.