Honoring all actors who brought us everything from Blacula to Cabin in the Sky to Purple Rain to The Thing With Two Heads -- and everything in between!
Long before Mary J sang about finger lickin' good chicken, there was another Black female star who took a stab at it but knew she looked silly. Since I didn't get cable until I was grown, I had no idea that the late Ms. Shirley Hemphill had a cable comedy show. Personally, I don't know what's funnier - the fact that Colonel Sanders was rumored to be a racist (snopes.com) or that Shirley, in real life, wasn't thinking about any man that couldn't pay her.
I think had she come along about 25 years later, Miss Hemphill would've had a helluva career in comedy that would've gone beyond a few guest spots in Martin or CB4 (1993). While I'm always happy when newcomers give dap to old schoolers, her presence always has a special place in my heart.
What was your favorite Shirley episode from What's Happening? Mine was Shirley's Date because decades later, when I was on bedrest, I ran across the episode on YouTube. The comments made me wet my drawers and then I thought about it...'Why would a dude in a suit come to the hood for a date with a waitress who ain't topless? And take her to a teen house party before there was a House Party?' Anyway, thanks to all for making me laugh before having to change underwear.
Look at popular 70s flicks featuring Black actors. Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. Even Pam Grier and the late Sig Haig (yes, he was Armenian but still a person of color) worked on numerous films together spanning two decades.
But that was then. Now, we have this little thing called social media that allows us to share (and sometimes, overshare) our feelings and thoughts. Now, when a public figure has a camera on them to record every word, body gesture, and surrounding events, it takes PR to another level. And it either backfires or creates a new discussion for social media fans.
Recently, the black gossip universe got an earful from veteran actor Taraji P. Henson about her treatment on The Color Purple (2023) set. According to her, everything from catering to pay to transportation was below par for the entire cast until Oprah Winfrey (or possibly, other powers-that-be) made it right. With an all-star cast, this sounds really absurd but from looking at the business aspect, it may not be so far-fetched.
It's About the Bottom Line
When Taraji's career catapulted from sitcom guest spots like Half and Half to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) in less than a decade, we were happy...for a minute. While she received an Academy nod for Best Supporting Actress, the disappointment came when it was revealed that her pay was barely a fraction of what lead actor Brad Pitt received.
At the time, the community mostly knew her as "Yvette" from Baby Boy and some forgettable supporting roles in a few urban flicks. However, the crossover certainly paid off, as Henson would later star in a few prime-time shows, including the Fox network's Empire. While this seems like it would translate into long-term notoriety for a Black actor, like everything else, we have to work harder in order to be considered equal to non-Black actors. And let's not forget gender bias.
We Can't Help Who We Know But...
While I don't think an actor's work should be judged by their personal life, this is also an industry where reputation is everything. It's also who we admit to knowing...and standing up for. Late last year, a message board topic titled "The Problem with Taraji" detailed all of the men she worked with. This list includes disgraced former manager Vincent Cirroncione (he also managed Halle Berry before he was convicted of sexual assault by former clients) and Jussie Smollett.
Now, we have fellow actors Vivica A. Fox and Academy Award (c) Mo'Nique chiming in about their experiences. While the latter appears to show full support for any POC actor who may be the underdog, Ms. Fox claimed it never applied to her. So what's her secret outside of those Lifetime movies? Possibly producer credits along with acting in the occasional urban flick and those car "insurance" commercials with Ice-T.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any recent Matt and Ben-type collaborations in the Black acting community. There was once a time when Ice Cube and Mike Epps starred in a few flicks outside of the Friday franchise. While not as memorable (but less buffoonish) esteemed actors Alfre Woodard and Sanaa Lathan have starred in several successful projects over the years.
My question is during a time when money is funnier than ever, should POC actors be obligated to share long-term success secrets? While Ms. Henson has a hair care line sold exclusively at most Target stores and has a net worth of $12 million, should she change more than her management team? An exit plan because she may have overshared how unfair the entertainment business can be?
For years, there's been an online debate about the cast and storylines of this iconic sitcom from the 70s. Where did Carl go (or better, what was his purpose)? What did that kitchen door lead to? Were Willona and James more than friends? Many of us probably will never know the truth behind the scenes or why creator Norman Lear made these interesting choices.
You're probably like me where in the past few years you've probably had time to binge in front of the set and ponder a few things. I did when I was on bed rest a few years ago. While it seems like a Good Times series remake is out of the question for now, we can have a little fun with these facts about the popular show.
The J.J. Evans character was loaded with charm and talent, making him a somewhat unlikely match for a bevy of beauties during its run from 1974 to 1979. Have you ever noticed that women who were overly affectionate are still working actors today? Yup, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Debbie Allen, Debbie Morgan, Tina Andrews, and the late Rosalind Cash had success in front of and/or behind the camera.
But what about the others? Let's see what they're up to.
Beverleigh Banfield who played the original T. C. (Bookman's assistant), is still active in the business. After taking guest starring roles in the 80s and 90s, her last acting credit was as a voiceover artist in the cartoon Static Shock. Since the 2010s, she's parlayed her talents as a producer and director. She's alive and well at 69 years young.
Rosanne Katon was in an early episode where her snob parents wanted their teen daughter to date someone who wasn't from the PJs. From the mid-70s through the 80s, Katon starred in a number of guest roles and was also known for being one of the first Black Playmates. She quietly retired from acting by the early 90s to focus on family and humanitarian efforts.
Renee Brown didn't play a love interest but a painting student of J.J.'s who quietly forced him to eat a big piece of humble pie during a local art competition. After starring in a number of 70s sitcoms and light crime dramas like James at 16, Brown retired from acting in the early 80s to focus on family.
Ta Tanisha played one of J.J.'s early girlfriends that didn't exactly have his back yet he was so whipped. Anyway, her career goes back to 1969 when she guest-starred on an episode of Mod Squad and remained pretty busy from the 70s to the 80s with sporadic appearances. She also made an uncredited appearance on Alex Martin's (daughter of Whoopi Golberg) reality show in the 00s.
Rolanda Douglas is one of the few actresses who played different roles on the sitcom. First, it was the snobbish girlfriend who was ready to go and cared less about a burned Penny Gordon. Then she was the second T. C. who actually did make a move on the lean, chocolate, loving machine after undergoing a makeover. Her acting credits range from 1976 to 1987.
Brenda Sykes was J.J.'s chain-smoking date who proved an important lesson about the dangers of tobacco products. Besides an extensive list of acting credits for the small and silver screen, she's also known as the former wife of musician and poet Gil Scott Heron. This 1978 role was also her last, according to IMDB.
Fay Hauser played the married woman who wanted to have her cake and eat it at J.J.'s expense (or his developing ulcer). At 74 years young, she's still booked and busy with recent credits including Glee and Shameless. Hauser also has recent producer and director credits to round out her long list of roles that go back to 1978.
While it's nice to see the majority of these actresses are healthy and well, here are some other things that may have been overlooked.
Dap Sugar Willie (above), who played Lootin Lenny, got his start on the comedy circuit. Like Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, he sold albums of his performances and this was also a promotional tool that landed him roles in a number of 1970s sitcoms. Sadly, he died in 1994 at the age of 55.
Penny (played by Miss Jackson, of course) is actually named Millicent, which is a clever but odd name choice for a Black child of the 70s.
If you think Bernadette Stanis (Thelma) has disappeared from the silver screen, you're mistaken. Since the show's end in 1979, she's made numerous appearances on sitcoms, done voiceovers, and also attended the prestigious Julliard to upgrade her thespian skills. Her last credit was on TV One's Family Business series which stars Ernie Hudson.
Well, it's good to be back y'all and I hope you can stop by every few weeks where we deliver something different.
Jazz drummer and singer Grady Tate got his start with Quincy Jones band back in the 1960's. He later recorded the somber ballad Suicide is Painless for the M*A*S*H* movie.
Shortly afterwards, Tate and the late Ray Charles would be the most recognizable voices behind the funky Saturday morning cartoons for Gen Xers. Eventually, this would lead the popular jazzman to a second career in education. Read more about Mr. Tate's life here.
According to at least one commenter, I give Bounce TV a hard time. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I mean, the station comes on digital and cable, they edit movie titles that contain the N word and their original programming , from what I've seen, depicts us in a positive (but sometimes dull) light.
However, I must say that they do listen to their critics. Not long ago, I signed up for the Bounce streaming service and gave what I thought was an honest review. This was due to the fact that commercials gave little information about the then-new product.
So several corny (and non-informative) TV commercials later, I have to say that the inventory has greatly improved. They've added hard-to-find joints like The Spook that Sat by the Door and I believe I even saw Pipe Dreams and Mean Johnny Barrows. I mean, a person can scroll for hours ....if there using the right device.
Now my problem is not the selection but the service itself. They've fluctuated from a one-month trial to a one-week trial. Ordering from the website or Google/Amazon. One time, I had a movie load perfectly and play with no buffering on my smartphone but I couldn't get that on my Chromebook to save my life. Then there's billing.
According to their customer service, there is no continuous billing protocol. Without giving away too much information, Google can only do so much in terms of choosing the right card? In reading through the reviews, I wasn't the only person not getting service beyond the initial billing period (maybe this is why they stopped airing commercials with Pam Grier and Fred Williamson - as they're two examples of blaxploitation actors that do receive residuals from their work).
But like I said their customer service does come through. I dealt with a charming (no sarcasm) person named Foxy Yazmin, it took time to find out that the system may still have a bug or two. At one time, you could access a personal account via the website to see payment methods but going through a 3rd party seems to be more hassle than it's worth. Yet, I stand true by my promise to return sometime in the future.
Here's a subtle reminder of how the establishment sees us (yes, even today in 2017). Think about it, how often are we featured in ads about investments and other financial services? While I'm glad to more of us in ads referring to small business ownership and advanced education, spending wisely is the real key to success IMHO.
Don't trust the big name institutions? Try these instead! (Courtesy of Watch the Yard).
P.S. Thanks to my cuzzo Shadana for posting this on Facebook last month.
Firstly, prayers to go out to the Murphy family and loved ones. Secondly, I wish the world had gotten to know him like they know little bro Eddie. Here, he talks to VLAD TV about starting his stand-up career in his early 40s, having a career with a famous brother, being misunderstood, and his desire to spit a little something (whoever said he was too old must not have known about Hammer, who was WAY older than 28 when he was crab walking in genie pants)
Sorry, if I'm a little MIA, had back-to-back exams and projects to complete. But I've been lurking on the some of the blogs about what some of these new entertainers REALLY think about Black women. Now, being from L.A., I think people should date who they please but respect their own as well, whether it be Black, Brown, or whatever. Seems the rappers have particularly strong feelings. While Kendrick Lamar has praise, others go in on women with dark brown skin, natural hair, and features that are far from keen (but if you have an Inflata-Booty you MIGHT be allowed to party with those who don't have half the wealth they floss). Anywho, I was so into my gym time today that I let my music tracks do their thing and ran across this gem by Meshell Ndegeocello. A truly underrated sis whose Plantation Lullabies CD (from 94/95?) was truly on point. Talk about reading sellout brothers for pure filth...
You've most likely seen the commercials and wondered what's up, as there's not much to be found online. Is is really like Netflix for black folks? Being the blaxploitation movie junkie that I am, I decided to give the free trial a shot.
Will this rare movie ever make it Bounce TV's new streaming service?
So the sign-up process is pretty cut and dry. I load this onto my Chromebook mainly because the memory won't have to fight with Adobe CC on my laptop for space. Plus the device is less than a year old and because it's so finicky about what a person can download, there's room for a streaming service. At four dollars a month, it's half the price of Hulu (with commercials) but in viewing the inventory, it takes a moment to see if it's worth THAT much. Brown Sugar has the standards (the Superfly and Shaft trilogies), along with some flicks that are seeing new life like ABAR, the Black Superman and my favorites Willie Dynamite and Hit Man with Bernie Casey. Upon second glance, I notice a few that aren't familiar but I remember that movies like Black Starlet have alternate titles (Black Gauntlet). This was the case in one of my favorites that I don't own, Black Sister's Revenge, also titled 'Emma Mae' in the Brown Sugar catalog. So what is my conclusion? Basically, if you like to collect (VHS tapes included), this might be a waste of money. Or, if you have a great relationship (as in you don't mind the interruptions) with YouTube, you can take a chance on movies that may be there one day and gone the following week. If you're Amazon friendly, I've always had good service with Gateway Cosmetics and other vendors that specialize in Black movie sales. Brown Sugar streaming is great for the binge watcher with no space for a bunch of discs or watches in the peak hours. As far as the experience itself goes....it was Saturday and its me with the Chromebook. I look up a movie from 1968 with Max Julien that I think I saw but not 100% sure. It takes a moment to load, so I go get snacks (3-5 mins). Upon return, I recognize the opening theme but sit for the first 5 minutes. Not even into opening scene, there's buffering. Okay, things take time and this movie is as old as I am so let's refresh. Ten minutes in, there's no semblance of a plot and the thing is buffering when I remember that I never saw Charleston Blue. It's not in Brown Sugar's inventory so off to YouTube I go where I get a clean picture with few interruptions and it costs...ZERO. Not condoning bootlegging but if someone knows of a standing store in the L.A. where legit blaxploitation movies are sold, hit me up! Anyway, I do have a suggestion. Why not add the indie flicks that Bounce used to air before they got 90-early 2000s sitcom fever. Seriously, I love Half and Half too but remember the show only aired for three seasons and was definitely affected by the writer's strike near the end. Fine @ss Lamman Rucker made those episodes watchable before its unfortunate demise. Okay, digressing here. I'm really digging indie movie like the ones Aspire shows in the afternoon but my favorite from the early days of Bounce are Drop Squad, The Stick Up Kids, and the one where a pre-nose job Kerri Washington was a window dresser/booster. Sorry (hangs head but snickering). So Bounce, what's up? Can we get something different since you don't quite have 100 movies in your catalog (more like 75 as of Feb 2017)? About a third of those are shown on network and basic cable from time to time, so maybe faster load times. I've had a similar experience with Google so I'm not knocking your efforts, just suggesting a little fine tuning for the long run.
Yeah, sorry so slow. I still haven't found a copy of the Right On mag featuring 1980s new wavers of color. But, I have a good memory and other resources so here we go. Most people remember The Bus Boys from that Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, "The Boys are Back in Town". Long before a really funny Mr. Murphy decided to use the Gardena,CA natives (go South Bay!), they made a few other hits that were memorable - just too much for pop radio at the time. To catch up with these guys, check out their website. There's a nice documentary that talks about the black L.A. experience that I will probably share in a future post.
Last year, I was doing the theme thing for my weekly music video post. Some of you responded accordingly and it helped me keep on track. There was mention of black rock artists and I thought this would be something special. Still a work in progress but I was able to find a few times that we were allowed to express ourselves differently - no 3-piece suits or gowns, choreographed dance moves and babymaking music not allowed. I bring you Nappy Cherry...
I was in the 7th grade when I first heard about this band. It was in an issue of Right On magazine with a cover that showed Prince in his Dirty Mind phase and the entire issue gave props to brothers and sisters doing it differently. Unfortunately, this classic cover is hard to find online more than 35 years later. Even worse, my collection got jacked from my storage bin and has yet to be recovered since I moved nearly 20 years ago. But I'll give a recap. Prince, Nappy Cherry, the Busboys, and I wanna say Fishbone, were featured and not long after, some traditional R&B acts began to incorporate the high-pitch synthesizers, fast drum beats, and quirky lyrics into their albums. Though some songs left a lot to be desired (like She's Only 17) and even marked the end of some acts like Ozone. However, being different also worked for Cameo. Though known to serious oldheads for babymaking music (Sparkle, Why Have I Lost You), they decided to switch gears (and gradually losing members, remember when there used to be like 10 dudes on the album cover?) to something more fun that incorporated the essence of R&B music. This is my favorite track from that period.
I decided to switch some things up for this month so the music is coming tomorrow. Now, I never wanted to start a gossip site or use this as a platform to put people down but is the world going crazy? I'm not talking about the Kardashians or barely literate athletes or rappers showing out before the camera. What I'm referring to is people killing their careers over BS. Last year, it was Nate Parker. I didn't see Birth of a Nation though I heard it was very well-acted and the cinematic visuals went above and beyond. However, I wasn't feeding into the hype as to whether I should support his work as a member of the black community. It wasn't even like it was a Nat Turner documentary, so I chose to pass. Just like he chose to display zero remorse for his victim on camera and deny Oprah an interview (which may have at least piqued more interest). Kanye's been on a downward spiral for some time and I can only pray for a speedy recovery. Got the feeling there's a real serious situation here but I won't speculate. Just please stop supporting the Orange Monster, if you thought George W. didn't like us, then you're in for a helluva shock. Which brings me to Chrisette Michele...a singer who has struggled for years to get the audience her voice deserves. Well, she recently got an audience and a little extra change, in exchange for her dignity and lack of respect for what our ancestors fought against. And there's nothing wrong with needing money (especially if you don't fit the Top 40 mold...musically or visually). My issue is that the community has to stand strong because white isn't right...it's people with common sense and a heart. The last entry has jokes that write themselves. First, Stacey Dash was never a great actress. Before the BET awards scandal last year, she made her money making mostly straight-to-DVD movies with a weak plot. Let me go on record by saying that if I had to play the Game's love interest in order to pay my bills, I'd call it a career (because Clueless was a loooong time ago). Not that I'm special to look at but to be in hustle mode for decades...only to bite the hand that fed you...is insane.
Before FOX News came along, BET paid this hoe's bills pretty much. Then she goes off on Jesse Williams after dissing not just Black awards show but the idea behind the month of February. Her public support of anything against the Black community seemed to be getting worse before it got better (unfortunately, that strategy only works for Ann Coulter). Then suddenly, the Orange Monster wins, and she's out of a job she wouldn't qualify for anywhere else, FOX News used her because she's vulnerable. Didn't forget about Steve Harvey....he's too easy.
E.J. Jackson, founder of Jackson Limousine, died Tuesday from a heart attack. For more than 35 years, Jackson Limousine was a big part of L.A. culture. Not because it was one of the few long-term businesses owned by a Black person but because of what E.J. gave back to the community. Many people don't realize that life can get tough out here, even if you have the right connections or a decent job. Communities change for the better and worse every day, and all some people have to look forward to having an abundant meal over the holidays. This is not about celebrating a holiday that may glorify theft of an oppressed nation or promote gluttony. Baby boomers and Gen-X intersections remember when family got together. Good, bad or indifferent, there would be no moments like this. While I'm not impoverished, I would donate a finger to bring back those moments. Although some things can't be duplicated, E.J. thought of those without the resources to enjoy this time of year. For more than 20 years, feeding the needy was something WE got used to seeing on the A.M. news. However, it was less than a week ago that E.J. was on the KTLA morning news asking the public for a little help in fulfilling his annual mission. I was touched because we all know that every bit counts but...he was no longer there to lead. As a proud Angeleno, I will post updates on this because local heroes deserve as much recognition as those on the screen.
Once again, I have no words for the loss of lives in the past 12 months. From the famous to those looking to make change in their communities #blacklives
As you can see, Kashif (who also produced under the pseudonym Michael Jones)made hits for many pop and R&B artists, including a young Whitney Houston. If you can ever get around to seeing his episode of Unsung, this brother made an incredible transformation from hardship growing up to becoming one of music's most respected producers. Kashif also authored one of the most honest books about being in the music industry.
A lot of people think of Adam ant, Duran Duran and pet shop boys but no one could do New Wave jams like Black folks. Not being racist but think in terms of vocal quality and trying to keep a certain beat while being radio-friendly. Andre Cymone, bootsy Collins and Cameo had serious alt-soul years before fishbone and the Bus Boys. Got my brain percolating now, so I'm gonna be digging in the month of September.
If you saw this incredible movie starring the underrated Don Cheadle, then you probably wondered if he was real (I know...duh, but I'm from the West Coast. His show didn't air here). Anyway, a Petey Greene documentary, narrated by Cheadle, debuted last month.
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.
I decided to do something different. Actually, it wasn't planned because I didn't know CeeLo Green did a cover of this. I don't have chirren in my life and I mostly listen to indie radio...or YouTube (obviously). Anywho, I thought it would be cute to compare the two. BTW shout out to Netter11 for getting the vintage performance of the late Carl Douglas at his peak in the 70s.
Hey, I hope you're not on vacation again! I like the tribute to you know who but I miss the reviews. Do you still watch old black flicks? You used to give Indies a little love but that was a long time ago. So what's up?
Going back to school when your old friends are becoming grandparents is rough but I would encourage anyone to do it😼. Truthfully, my pattern lately is to watch a whole bunch in a short period and then switch to 1990+. As far as indie flicks go, the only one I can recommend is The Man in 3b. Besides the magic that is Lamman Rucker, its a good story with better acting.
Tried some others in the past few months. 1983 with Hill Harper and Sharon Leal was a little intense. I like Aunjanue (or ingenue) Ellis and rented the Volunteer on her name only. The only reason why I understood it was that I have family dealing with mental illness (another Hill Harper movie, btw). I saw Divas with Rachel True and while the story was interesting, not even Vanessa bell Calloway could save it.
On the flip, I'm still watching the Mod Squad DVD collection and going further back with the black flicks. Check out a young Eartha Kitt below
