Is Netflix Becoming What BET Should Have Been?

I'm not talking about the early days when viewers had a nice mix that included news, international culture, real entertainment, a blaxploitation movie, and a couple of throwback sitcoms (at least not in marathon format).  Those were truly their glory days and I won't dwell on the past since it can't be changed.  Personally, I still can't forgive them for changing the popular sitcom. The Game, for Seasons 4 and 5 and then making it watchable in the last 1-2 seasons. BOO!

However, things seem backwards as one of the top TV writers, Shonda Rimes, shocked many when she decided to terminate her long-relationship with ABC for Netflix earlier this month.  While I'd been a fan of many streaming services, it's just in recent I've realized that we still have the power when it comes to consumer numbers.

Perusing the channel, I see many straight-to-DVD titles, indie flicks and projects by veterans like Marlon Wayans.  Last night I realized that 2016's biographic, I Called Him Morgan is not something anyone can just boost from YouTube.  Either pay one of the big names $3-5 to stream for the next day or so, or cough up a couple more dollars and get set for several budgeted date nights (shout out to you cheap asses, I co-sign 100%).

So between streaming services like Netflix, Hulu (which shows older episodes of my new fav, Power), and Bounce TV's Brown Sugar (BTW. I'm back and they finally got their act together), there's almost no need for cable.  Most reality shows are monotonous and predictable, even when they call themselves being shocking.  The truth is that they are more degrading than anything (though I'm not mad at those who capitalize).

In short, if you want to save some money, fire your cable provider!

Stop It Reelz Channel!

If you're even a somewhat regular reader, you know I took Prince's passing rather hard...so did a lot of people.  There are even some quietly protesting the latest release of new songs (or song) as well as the Paisley Park museum.  Some diehards (or his sister) say he would've wanted it this way but personally, I'm gonna pass 'cause I'm still digesting it.

Anyway, anyone with cable knows that the Reelz channel likes to do tell-alls on the deceased.  They have Elvis, Marilyn, MJ, and now they're on Prince because I guess he's more "important" than Natalie Cole, Scott Weiland, Pfife Dawg, and many others we've lost in the past year.  Like Whitney Houston and others mentioned, the more sensationalized the life, the more shows they manage to create...even if it sounds redundant after a while.

This is the pattern I've picked up on (mind you, I haven't seen every topic on every dead celebrity).  The first deals with the general facts.  It's pretty mild and talks about what most people know along with 1-2 surprises.  This was the first that aired shortly (and I mean really short) after his passing in April.  Stock photos were decent but I could tell, as this person was part of my life 36/48 years, they didn't do their homework.

Following Reelz programs deal with their intellectual property, love lives, or how they transitioned out of this planet.  That's fine I guess but the public needs to take some things into consideration besides getting facts straight.  Prince fans are a whole 'nother breed of folks.  I'm not diehard but I remember quite a bit, especially the early years so it wouldn't hurt to dig a little for people that don't know about Wax Poetics or never read Right On! back in the 70s or 80s.

So, this past Saturday Reelz debuted Purple Reign and it was less than stellar.  Though I never cared for wife #1, the mispronunciation of her name offended me, it seemed to breeze through and not say anything different than the first tribute this his life.  The worst was the few stock photos used didn't coincide with the time period...and they weren't the best!

Back to the feelings of the fans.  We did not expect this (4/21).  It's super sad to imagine it was planned but sometimes we don't know how bad our own friends or close family feels deep inside until its too late.  Moreso if this whole thing (pills) was about keeping up appearances.  I kind of felt he would live into advanced age because so many people do now, while dealing with the what comes with it.

Forgive the digression but this is to say that maybe it would be best to switch off to someone who may have been an open book about their addiction during their lifetime.  Another idea are living celebrities with money problems and lawsuits.  I know the Gladys Knight story is very interesting right now.

Can John Legend Help Save How Blacks Are Portrayed on Film?

 As you know, Southside with You (the Barack and Michelle love story) is now in nationwide release.  Its Executive Producer is recording artist/emerging media mogul John Legend and the reviews have been decent.  However, this is not his first foray into screen, as he is also one of three EPs behind the WGN smash series Underground.  This period piece about slavery has also been renewed for a second season.

So after years of Tyler Perry and Wayans Bros entertainment styles waning (slightly), does this mean that America gets to see more uplifting content in regard to black history with emphasis on triumphant moments?  I hope so.

I still appreciate the simplicity of straight-to-DVD/Aspire/BET/TVOne movies with a small budget and new faces, or those that were once popular (I see you, Robin Givens) but now are more humbled, I want to see something new.

Will John Legend come to the rescue again?  According to Rhymes with Snitch, a series about Black Wall Street is currently in development.  Here are some more facts, for those who are unaware of this period in history.

What Do You Think About Blaxploitation Remakes?

If Kevin Hart does this remake, I will jump off the Library Tower!

Since the shop has been open, I've heard rumors about TV show remakes (Good Times, Girlfriends) into movies, as well as classics that decided to take a dip in the chocolate pool (Uncle Buck, the Honeymooners).  According to Variety, Megan Good, along with husband Devon Franklin have joined forces with MGM to remake Cooley High.  As of recent, Common has gotten on board to star and produce...wonder which obviously-out-of-high-school character he will play.

While I'm glad to see mine going to work regularly, I could care less.  Or better, why not give more attention to indie flicks?  If you have Aspire, some of the shorts (and some not-so-short) are worthy of a wider release.  I'm only a fan and not a pro but if someone could take time to explain the process, I'd appreciate it.  And I don't mean what works for other folks, either.



Now, for those of you not familiar, Cooley High was not really a blaxploitation movie.  It was more like American Graffiti with a 'hood twist and it was just as cherished by the community as the original Sparkle.  I didn't mind the 2012 remake of the latter...if it had been called something else.

But I digress.  What I want to know is if the Cooley High remake goes into production, how much will creator Eric Monte receive?  If that name sounds familiar, he and Cooley High are listed in the closing credits (see above at 1:15) of the 70s sitcom What's Happening.  The show, which rand from 1976-79 was loosely based on Cooley High, with a slightly lighter tone and the setting moved from Chicago to L.A. 

Monte real-life persona, as a teen from the 'hood wanting to become a Hollywood writer,has been portrayed on screen twice but real life has had its ups and downs.  Although he's managed to land some guest writing spots on the Wayans Bros., Monte lost the rights to his original creation.  You can read a 2014 CNN interview here.

Who knows how many other stories are out there or who can at least drop some knowledge about having a great idea but learning how to deal with the legal stuff and still get PAID!  Once again, I don't know the technicalities of getting a movie made but I think this man deserves real acknowledgement (and a cut of the profits).

Did Purple Rain Bump Miles Ahead?

For years, I've been looking forward to the Miles Davis biopic starring Don Cheadle (who also directed).  He is one of my favorites and I think it's about time that the public become educated on the music industry as well as the trumpeter, who succumbed to cancer in 1995.  The timing seemed perfect until....we lost another genius on 4/21/16.

A day I'll never forget as long as I live but in getting back to regular life (and trying to ignore the speculative reports), I want to see Miles Ahead more than ever.  It came to only a few L.A. theaters in early April, and if a person (like myself) lives south of the 10 Freeway, wait until 4/22 for wider release ...or deal with Hollyweird traffic.

So last weekend, I'm looking through the AMC website, where there are about 4 theaters within a 10-minute drive and all I see are the usual standards (an A-lister, sci-fi or really violent flick, and at least one cartoon) and Purple Rain.

I'm one of those people who saw the movie several times during its original release back in 1984.  Despite having the DVD, I sometimes catch the heavily-edited musical on VH1 while doing chores. Although 1986's Under the Cherry Moon (P was a hoodrat gigolo looking for a quick comeup with a blue-blood type chick but meets an early demise instead) was more original and I liked the score better, I get it.  Let's celebrate life but why can't two brothers be on screen at the same damn time?

Cheadle's been in the game forever and these days, I can't wait for him to take a load off of Samuel L.Jackson.  Even if you've never heard of Petey Greene, Talk to Me is more than Taraji in pre-Cookie Lyons mode.  Performances were beyond excellent and I hope that I live to see more flicks like this instead of domestic/slave movies that the masses like to shove down our throat.

This is not a slap for those who do this in real life.  I realize that my degree, skills or contacts offer me no permanent guarantees in life.  So in winding down, I don't want to wait to see Miles Ahead or see it at a Redbox next month.

Way Back Weds - Reppin for L.A.

Now, we've already got NY and ATL so who would I be if I didn't give one to South Central's Sylvester.  Once again, I've long 12 in. here so that you can get closer to a cleaner home.  Suggestion: getting down on those knees and getting cobwebs and other small detail between the wall and carpet, window sills, etc.

Wayback Weds. Spring Cleaning with GQ 12 inch

This is one I came to appreciate later on.  The bass line that leads to the bridge is something these kids today know nada about.  Maybe GQ will come back someday...you never know.Either way, you can steam clean each room while dropping it a couple of times - or better, cleaning out that oven!

Wayback Wednesday Spring Cleaning Jams

This 1977 hit by Brick was one of my skating jams growing up. They were part of the early ATL sound that helped pave the way for newer artists. Anyway, this is the album version that's perfect for dusting or throwing out clothes you know don't fit anymore! (Bio courtesy of allmusic.com)

Miles Davis Biopic Trailer

Been caught up in getting my ride straight and an A on winter finals.  Anyway, Don Cheadle is freaking fire in this.  If I were Will Smith right now, I'd be considering early retirement from acting because this right here....is the true essence of Miles Davis.

Do check the trailer and all you will see is the truth.

Something You May Have Forgotten About David Bowie

Firstly, rest in paradise and thank you for giving us the gift of not only music but bringing gender bending to the masses and making it acceptable in pop culture.

Back in 1996, Bowie portrayed eccentric pop artist in Basquiat.  The biopic starred Jeffrey Wright and details his struggle with becoming a recognizable artist and substance addiction. My favorite Bowie song tied with "Fashion".

Way Back Weds - Unsung: Lakeside

If you have TVOne and noticed that the annoucer said two NEW episodes of Unsung but keep seeing the same Chante Moore ad, the other act is Lakeside.

I miss their ability to bring non-offensive party music to the FM dial and the fact that, even with the internet today, no scandals during their many years together.  And I just learned they still do live shows today.

Now, I don't know what Unsung will cover but here is one of my favorites from back in the days of Now and Laters, $40 designer jeans and the roller rink.

Black to the Future - Biopics

I read recently that the Jimi Hendrix movie featuring Andre (3000) Benjamin has been completed – for some time now, but a release date has not been given.  A couple of weeks before, I read that Anthony Mackie would star in a silver screen version – and it would feature original music and…the family gave their blessings to do so.  If you’re unfamiliar with the Hendrix family and why there is so much controversy, check out this article as it sheds some light as to why Black folks need to handle their business while they are alive…and sober.  Courtesy of The Wrap.

The Aaliyah/Zendaya situation is a non-factor since neither is/was a big deal.  This is not to discredit but let’s be truthful here.  And with Wendy 'How you doin'?' Williams running this, it may be laughable.  Or it just may not happen since she couldn't make her own biopic (Indiewire) was never released.

Speaking of Lifetime Movies, I wish the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic was a non-factor but chances are strong that all the social media scrapping is only giving the project the attention that the suits want.  Dammit, she could sing before she became a wife, mother and then serious junkie who left us way too soon.  So what is wrong with using an experienced director (Bill Duke, perhaps?) and a silver screen release?

Does anybody know what happened to Purple Rain’s 30^th anniversary?

Black to the Future: ‘Frankie and Alice’ FINALLY Gets Major Release Date

Chances are strong that if you’ve got a “DVD man”, you’ve  already seen this or at least heard about it.  Not judging you but let's show a little love on April 4.Halle Berry stars in a story about a woman dealing with multiple personality disorder in the 1970s, and based on a true account.  Click here for more details.

Now before you start, watch the trailer below to remember how we first fell in major like with Ms. Berry.

Marvin Gaye Biopic Sneak Peak

According to Crunk and Disorderly, there is more going wrong with this flick. I'm sure Marvin is somewhere spinning.

First, it was casting but there is no Usher or Lenny Kravitz (whew!) but the original pick for the past decade or so, Jesse L. Martin.

Then it was music clearance issues as the Gay(e) family does not own the rights.

So why proceed?  Beats the hell outta me!

Now I gotta warn you, in the clip above, there are a lot of White women, no Berry Gordy or any familiar Motown figure, and ...yeah, that was my feeling exactly.

Your Favorite Underrated Actor

Here is a tribute video that combines songs by the late actor as well as clips from classic movies like The Landlord.  Gone too soon, here is a rundown of her accomplishments in film and the stage.

GEORGE DUKE RIP

Here is a real genius at work in the studio with a very young Sheila E.  Click here to read more about his life.  Courtesy SPIN magazine.

She's Playing Who? - Pt.2

I didn't see 'Betty and Coretta' on Lifetime because I still don't have cable and I just wasn't feeling it enough to watch at someone's house.  The reviews were mixed and I don't see MJB as an actress and like many, I have a hard time seeing Angie B as Coretta since she played Betty in both 'Panther' and 'Malcolm X' back in the 90's.

On a lighter note, VH1 has decided to bring us a bio-pic on TLC.  Not a hip-hop head but I liked them back in the day and feel they should have called it a wrap when Left Eye died.  Anyway, they have brought on a non-actor to play the one with the most personality (RIP, girl) and a great actor to play the one with the least personality (maybe she'll get the baby hairs right).  So for the one that barely sang, they will probably cast Fantasia.  In today's world, anything is possible.

Donald Goines...my first REAL reading experience

If you've read earlier posts, I mentioned how I came to appreciate that street culture/blaxploitation is captured in the media.  However, like many of you, I hate when others think that "the streets" are the only story that a Black person has to tell.  Growing up in the 70s and 80s, people thought Alex Haley, Maya Angelou and other noted literary figures told the Black Experience, or who had an interesting story to tell.

While I liked some of those stories, I wanted to hear something different.  School book clubs and ABC Afterschool Specials (yep, like when Jan Brady was a street ho) scratched the surface but I wanted something that was grittier.  Which was strange for a teen who lived in a section of Inglewood that was quickly changing from a White liberal/Black suburb to a 'hood that was featured on the 5 o'clock news regularly for drug-related crimes.

In my mother's quest to try the 'burbs thing again, I used to wander through Waldenbooks at Fox Hills Mall often.  For those who didn't remember, there was no Internet, no coffee bar (overpriced or otherwise), no hipsters looking through art books by Jackson Pollock or Andy Warhol, not even eclectic or acid jazz selections.  Just books and people looking to buy books, not mistake it for a library.

Since I'm a fast reader, it only took a couple of pages for me to see that Donald Goines was what I had been looking for.  All the grit, funk and those pieces of honesty that I would see in Terry McMillan years later.

So almost like clockwork, I would visit the Black Books sections at least once a month to buy the next in his series, which were semi-autobiographical tales of crime, drugs and pimping.  Him, Iceberg Slim and others opened me up to another world to which I could visualize from a safe distance and escape.

It was around this time, I learned that a video store on Manchester in Inglewood (now closed) specialized in blaxploitation movies as well as indie films of that time.

Recently, TVOne paid a little homage to the late Mr. Goines in an account of his life as probably the first Black Urban-style author known to this generation. Enjoy!

A Marvelous Movie?

For years, I've heard rumors about a Marvin Gaye biopic.  Just like when Gen-Xers like me first heard Jimi, there were strong (pre-internet) rumors about Larry Fishburne buying the rights to his book.  He had just finished playing the hell out of Ike Turner so this seemed natural.  Of course, life happens and so does business and one can tell married life has been good to him (he did nothing to me so let's be tactful).

So now Andre (3000) Benjamin is slated to play the guitar great although without using his music, I don't know how this will work out in terms of box office sales (bka asses in the seats and not making the "video guy/bootleg man/DVD hookup" rich).  Personally, I liked the Wood Harris Showtime biopic from about 10 yrs. ago.  He did an awesome job even though he bears no resemblance.

And this week, Jacky Jasper reported that Lenny Kravitz has been picked to star in a biopic about the legendary Marvin Gaye.  Love Marvin (especially the I Want You album) and Lenny can do no wrong but .. IDK.  Why?  For one, the films ' focus in on the Motown artists' downward spiral (IRS, 2nd failed marriage, drugs) instead of what influenced him to write (and fight Mr. Gordy to have released) the What's Goin' On album.  Even his transition from gospel to secular music is worth 2+ hours.  The duets.  Anything but that period in his life.

So should actors take on such roles?  Personally, I'd rather have Mr. Kravitz than Usher (as it was once rumored) play him.  And I always hoped Prince could build up enough acting chops (or Warner Bros clout) to pull off Hendrix, since he has some timing but like Larry Fish, a little too long in the tooth for this to become reality.

What do you think?  Below is a track from one of my favorite albums, period.  He does channel Marvin pretty well if I must say so.

She's Playing Who?

Some time ago, we lost the legendary Eartha Kitt and not long after there was a rumor that Beyonce was going to portray her in a major studio biopic.  Black folks were already a little over-saturated on the bootylicious entertainer so this online petition was started.  The rumors have since stopped and there has been no formal announcement of whether their will even be a biopic of the late Ms. Kitt.

So fast forward a few years and singer Mary J. Blige had been picked to portray another legend, singer Nina Simone.  Like Mrs. Carter, her acting skills are limited at best but at the time people were happy that a movie was being made about the underrated musician.

Now, the rumor mill is saying that Zoe Saldana has replaced MJB.  And people are MAD!

Why?  Some say it's because the self-described Dominican-Puerto Rican actress never ID's herself as Black and the role should only go to such.  Others say that it's because she bears no resemblance.

Which brings me to Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues.

Without going over hearsay since I was only 3/4 when this was released, I have to say that it may not make a difference.  And what many people may not know is that Billie Holiday was rumored to be of Irish heritage as well as Black.  Whether its speculation because she was light-skinned or really had a White father, the one drop rule will always apply.  "Diane's" biracial children look like llight-skinned Blacks.

I got nothing against Zoe Saldana.  If being Latina is what she identifies with, then let it be.  Though she can't replace Halle, she makes money for the studios.  Who she dates is her business!

Ms. Saldana actually looks a lot like one of my younger cousins.  She's got the same hair texture and is rail-thin w/sharp (or keen) features...but she be Black!

So IMO if we can have another biopic of a Black female entertainer that is of great quality like Tina Turner nearly 20 years ago, why not aim for that first, get more of us in the studios without hate and then worry about technicalities.  Hmm?

If you still care, voice your concerns at this link - http://www.change.org/petitions/nina-producers-casting-directors-replace-zoe-saldana-with-an-actress-who-actually-looks-like-nina-simone

Or call, producer Jimmy Iovine los angeles office at 310-865-1000.
The alleged contact is Cynthia Ann Mort,screenwriter. 

Courtesy of HSK and Rhymes with Snitch