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Kings of the Road

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Harvey likens the group to "family members at a reunion": Hughley is the "mad little" opinionated uncle stirring up trouble at the grill; Mac offends Aunt Ethel, saying "what everyone is thinking but won't say out loud"; Cedric is the "lovable family uncle" who's just as funny but not as mean as the others.

The chemistry is so intrinsic to the Kings' success that it's hard to imagine Latham ever replacing them--but he knows their reign won't last forever, and eventually new Kings will be chosen. "I do have aspirations of doing a large stadium-type show," says Latham, "where we'd actually come out and do Martin [Lawrence], Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, and these four guys."

For now, though, Latham is only looking to expand the Kingdom. When the tour starts again in October, he's going to add the Queens of Comedy. And yes, it's all-female. "The movie is going to give these guys another level of exposure," says Latham. "[We're] taking advantage of it."

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STEVE HARVEY AGE 43 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HIM The Steve Harvey Show COMEDIC ROOTS Red Skelton and Richard Pryor, who "taught me, unknowingly, the art of telling stories."

CEDRIC "THE ENTERTAINER" AGE 35 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HIM As Harvey's costar COMEDIC ROOTS Do the Right Thing's Robin Harris and Richard Pryor. "I'd sneak and listen to the albums as a little kid."

BERNIE MAC AGE 42 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HIM As Jangle Leg in Life COMEDIC ROOTS Voted class clown in high school, but turned the award down: "I thought it was an insult at the time."

D.L. HUGHLEY AGE 37 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HIM The Hughleys COMEDIC ROOTS Robin Harris. "He found a way, at a very human level, to make you laugh so hard you hurt yourself."

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