Ever since 1996, when he first stepped into the spotlight as a Saturday Night Live cast member, Tracy Morgan has loudly and proudly declared his Brooklyn heritage. Yesterday, the Last O.G. star was back home for a block party to celebrate the unveiling of newly refurbished basketball courts and an art installation by Askew One at Marcy Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“I come back here because I want to remember where I’m from,” said Morgan, who grew up in the adjacent Marcy Houses. Part of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation’s Adopt-a-Park program, the revitalized playground features a new asphalt surface, polycarbonate backboards, and a new mural, all sponsored by TBS and The Last O.G. The show, co-starring Tiffany Haddish and Cedric the Entertainer, features Morgan as an ex-con who returns to his Brooklyn neighborhood after fifteen years behind bars. Airing Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m. on TBS, it’s already one of the year’s biggest new hits.
The 49-year-old comic got choked up during the ceremony, noting that he’d shed blood at the park, literally. “I cut my finger here!” he said. “I bled here! This is for Brooklyn! This makes me so happy!”
The Village Voice is celebrating the season’s arts and culture highlights throughout the week of April 16, 2018. For full coverage to date, visit our Best of Spring Arts 2018 page.