Welcome to another episode in our continuing stooooooory “Ready When You Are, C.B.!” movies by Hollywood, about Hollywood, smothered in Hollywood gravy! This week’s entry is a film from the late 80’s, forgotten by some but surprisingly influential to others: Robert Townsend’s “Hollywood Shuffle”. Is it a coincidence that a movie with this title came out a mere two years after the legendary musical opus produced by the Chicago Bears (aka “Dah Bearss”) with a very similar title, the “Superbowl Shuffle”? Or is it evidence of the conspiracy between Big Football and Big Hollywood, both of whom want a Big Cereal? Well . . . no, of course not, just look at the movie and you’ll see that makes no sense at all, as do most things I write here oh god why can’t I stop. But while on the surface this movie may address the inherent and MASSIVE difficulties faced by Black actors in Hollywood, the real message is far more subtle: credit cards can make your dreams come true. Yup. Give a listen and see if I’ve actually managed to tie something from this introduction into the actual show or if the show is just an excuse for Mike and Me to perform our rendition of “The Bumpypux Shuffle” (just kidding; the Bumpypux Shuffle is something you do immediately after eating Bumpypux as you struggle to reach the bathroom in time). Enjoy! The podcast, not the cereal.
Poll question: What movie, if any, have you ever watched and felt “this movie was NOT aimed at me.”
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I know many do not feel this way at all, but ANY John Hughes movie is not aimed at me. To be honest, very few movies are ( maybe Liquid Sky) but I cannot relate to even one of his films. Mike knew me in the 80s so this might not surprise him at all. His films show slices of life so many light years away from mine I can’t relate at all. Maybe if they were closer to the Ilsa She Wolf of the SS trilogy I could see myself in one of those mini mansion family homes.
Yes, as I understand it Mike saw the “Ilsa” trilogy and thought “this filmmaker GETS me.” No need to confirm this with him….
Thanks, O Penguin Potentate!