All three responses happen to be entirely correct.

Award yourself 100 bonus points if you identified the common thread being a television game show called "Make Me Laugh."

Simple objective was for contestants to keep a straight face while comics performed their best one-on-one shtick right up in a person's grille.

One would be highly challenged to score the show's cash incentive if the person with the ideal last name for a comedian were involved.

Adept pacing, content, delivery and overall presence by standup comic and Syndication One morning personality Rickey Smiley elicit a fitting derivative of his last name ... smiles.

Improbable Influences Currently in the early stages of its second year of syndication, Smiley's wakeup program airs in approximately 30 markets. WHTA/Atlanta, WHTD/Detroit and WEDR/Miami are recent disciples. "I grew up listening to Mark & Brian," recalls Smiley of the morning duo who'd transition from "The Pittsburgh of the South" on "I95" (WAPI-FM/Birmingham) to KLOS/Los Angeles where they continue to be morning drive staples. "They don't know me from an Adams apple [nor are they aware] they're [responsible] for beginning my radio career. They did stuff that was really funny. I'd never laughed listening to the radio before. Everything they did was totally hilarious. I got suspended from school once [because] I couldn't stop laughing based on something they did on the air. I love Mark & Brian and would really like to meet them one day."

Consistent with stories of many other humorists, it was in high school when Smiley first realized he had a knack for comedy, although in point of fact, he hoped to pursue a career as a classical or jazz pianist. "I was one crazy individual," admits the Alabama State University graduate who majored in English and minored in Music, with an emphasis on classical piano. "People [probably wouldn't believe] I'm a very serious person."

Music was – and still is – his primary passion. "There is nothing more gratifying," Smiley succinctly remarks. "Mark & Brian had such an impact on me that the kind of music they played – [by artists such as] 10cc, Foreigner, Little River Band and The Police – made me a soft rock fanatic, even though my format is Hip-Hop. I'm definitely a musician at heart. If God asked me what I wanted to do, I'd say to be the best [possible] pianist and organist." Crediting WBHJ "95.7 Jamz"/Birmingham PD Mickey Johnson for discovering him in the medium, Smiley landed a job in Dallas with Radio One's "97-9 The Beat" (KBFB) and insists working in this industry is something that fell into his lap. "I shared my ideas with [management] about how I could come into the market and [unintended pun] beat the competition," he recounts. "I was highly recommended for the job and got it. They believed in me and we made it happen."

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In addition, the fastest growing urban morning show in the country has just been added to Clear Channel's WIBB in Macon and Macdonald Broadcasting's WQHH in Lansing. Also, just recently the morning show began broadcasting on Cox's powerhouse WEDR in Miami.

"The show has never been hotter and the ratings tell the story," says Gary Bernstein President of Programming, Syndication One. "He's number one in his target demos of 18-34 and 18-49 in virtually every market. His depth and range from comedian to humanitarian truly enables him to form a strong and lasting emotional bond with his listeners and the numbers everywhere spell that out quite loudly."

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show is now heard in over 20 markets including Dallas, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Toledo.

"I am very excited that Rickey will be heard in our key markets of Atlanta and Detroit,” says Jay Stevens, Senior Vice President of Programming Content for Radio One. “He is a star, one of those rare individuals that can fill an arena of 5,000 one day and be on the radio in that same market the next day. Rickey is very creative and genuinely cares about his listeners, which translates to a strong community presence. He is also joined by a team of incredibly talented personalities that create an entertainment package which just can't be duplicated.

Rickey Smiley continues to be featured in top comedy shows across the country as well as recently appearing in a break-out acting role in the movie "First Sunday". Next for Smiley is a reality television show featuring the whole morning show crew which is in production now. Also, look for a national touring stage play, featuring his signature character Bernice Jenkins, called "Ain't Nobody Called Me and Told Me NOTHING" in 2009.

"We are excited to bring this brilliant morning program to Miami," said Jerry Rushin, general manager, Cox WEDR-Miami. "Rickey and his crew have an unmatched combination of humor, compassion, creativity, and star power that makes for the kind of radio we haven’t heard in a while."

With the morning show recently being added to a total of 16 stations, including another possible top 20 market station being closed next month, Rickey Smiley has vaulted to the top of the urban morning programming arena in relatively short range of time.
“The recent ratings successes in Dallas and St. Louis, capped off by unheard of immediate reactions in markets of all sizes have paved the way for an extraordinary AM drive success story,” adds Gary Bernstein, president of programming for Syndication One.
Rickey Smiley continues to be featured in top comedy shows across the country as well as recently appearing in a break-out acting role in the movie "First Sunday". Next for Smiley is a reality television show featuring the whole morning show crew, in production now.

For more information on Syndication One programming contact Melody Talkington at (972) 789-1058 or Gary Bernstein at (774) 293-0300.

Syndication One, a joint relationship between Radio One, Inc. and REACH Media Inc., has made programming changes in an effort to extend its lineup to include established talent that complement music based programming, as well as FM radio stations. “The Al Sharpton Show, Keeping It Real,” which has proven to be a popular draw on weekdays addressing news and talk issues, will continue with Syndication One. Current radio shows, “The 2 Live Stews” and “The Warren Ballentine Show,” will end their run with Syndication One in December.
“We’re excited to be bringing additional creative and entertaining programming to the urban radio market place,” stated Alfred Liggins, President and CEO of Radio One. “Rickey Smiley and Yolanda Adams are proven talent that can be a morning show cornerstone for key stations.”
Popular comedian Rickey Smiley, who has already established rating success on Dallas’s KBFB 97.9 The Beat, a Radio One, Inc. station, has generated a number of inquiries that have prompted syndication opportunities. “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” has already been added on WHHL-FM in St. Louis and WFXA-FM in Augusta.
Grammy award winning gospel artist Yolanda Adams has developed an inviting morning show with a mix of praise and inspiration launched on Houston’s KROI Praise 92.1 FM. “The Yolanda Adams Show” is syndicated to twelve markets, including Praise 97.5 WPZE-FM in Atlanta, 94.1 WXEZ-FM in Norfolk and Praise 103.9 WPPZ-FM in Philadelphia.