Musical biopics: going right, wrong and a top 5 of some of the best

This past week, faith has been restored in BET. Those that known me for a while and follow my posts and writings know how I feel about BET. However they did the New Edition story and it was surprisingly a slam dunk. The story was well-written, cast, produced and portrayed. They left out many things, but told a good story and gave older audiences plenty of nostalgia and introduced NE to a newer audience. All of this was accomplished without cooning or making it ghetto. Fine job to the entire network and producers.

Now BET, and other biopic producers, need to realize what can happen when you dedicate the proper time and have the right people around you. You get a quality product that folks will want to view over and over.

Some ingredients in making a good musical biopic are adding little known facts and tidbits about the artist/group that even diehard fans didn't know about. Also, you have to cast quality performers, dancers and actors. Jamie Foxx was perfect for Ray, and Leon seems to be able to play in any musical role (Eddie Kane, David Ruffin, Little Richard). Also, make the movie the right length. Finally give unknown actors a chance and splice in some legends to help out. It also helps to have the proper network if it's on TV and determine if it should be in theaters or not.

That being said, I'm not quite ready to anoint The New Edition Story into my top 5 musical biopics yet. It definitely doesn't top the Five Heartbeats and that was fictional. Here are my top 5 musical biopics.

5. Straight Outta Compton

Despite flaws with the storyline and casting, the overall music, performance and storylines were crisp. Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., was perfect to play his father. The actor that played Dr. Dre was good as well. It also revealed how intelligent Cube and Dre really are, writing and producing many songs for their group and others (Dre's rep as a producer is undeniable).

4. Walk The Line

Some that don't follow country may see this as a white Ray. However, it was also well cast, showed Johnny Cash's troubles from childhood on. It also showed how it can it be as a musician to marry into a musical family and still strive. Reese Witherspoon definitely earned her role for playing June Carter Cash.

3. Ray

This movie may have honestly been higher outside of the length. It's honestly a classic, containing many of the ingredients listed above. Also, Jamie Foxx put in so much work with Ray Charles before he passed to nail that role. There are things left out and fabricated but it was still a winner and an inspiration.

2. The Jacksons: An American Dream.

My mom and I have watched this so much we have every line memorized. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and the gorgeous Angela Bassett played Joe and Kate almost to perfection. Jason Weaver as young Michael was a reach but he pulled it off. A young Terence Howard playing Jackie and Billy Dee Williams as Berry Gordy were definitely winners also. This was part of the blueprint for the New Edition story in my opinion. However you can't forget #1.

1. The Temptations

This has long been a debate at cookouts, family reunions and barbershops which is better: The Five Heartbeats or The Temptations. I give the edge to this movie for the authenticity. It's real and it really dug into the lives of all of the Temptations, especially Otis and David Ruffin. They possessed every successful element necessary for a biopic. There was even enough drama and tragedy for a great story. The movie is long, about 4 hours, but few I know care. It's that type of a show. It also did what the Jackson movie didn't do, went inside the intense quality control process that Motown had. Berry Gordy adopted this from his days with Ford Motors and, well, it appeared to work. He wanted them not only to be the best black group, but the best group period. They crossed over well despite drama and changing group members. Definitely the gold standard for biopics.

So now you the reader may still be consumed with New Edition mania as if Bobby Brown and Ralph just performed in your living room. But keep things in perspective and remember the movies that paved the way.

The Appeal Of Ratchet, Reality Television

Some of the most watched and talked about shows are also some of the ones that are low in quality from the acting to the writing.  Yet people watch these ratchet, ghetto shows regularly.  They are discussed via social media and even at cookouts and the workplace. It's show such as The Real Housewives,  Basketball Wives, and Love and Hip Hop that have people's attention. 

Anyone who knows me well knows how I feel about these types of show. They make people of color look ignorant and predictable. Networks such as VH-1 and now Bravo are capitalizing on this foolery and drama. The stars on these shows have book deals, appear on the cover of several magazines,  and are in the public eye big time. It's sad, disturbing,  and confusing.

Here are some reasons why these God awful programs continue to rise in popularity. 

1. Desensitization

People have been used to seeing this type of stuff for a while, and are quite frankly addicted to it. The producers and networks are like drug pushers.  They are constantly devising shows and ideas to keep the audiences watching and social media crashing. People are so used to it they find it hard to appreciate good television when it's on.

2. Economics

Not only are these shows bringing in money,  they're saving the network's money on auditions,  writers, paying high salaries to top actors.  They are building careers, rather than showcasing them.  These shows are in high demand, and many networks, even TLC, ensure they aren't in short supply. 

3. Lack of revelance

Part of the reason we are at this point in entertainment is because there is a lack of great shows, especially urban shows. People tire of turning to HBO, AMC, and Netflix for a quality drama or sitcom. At one time, Thursdays,  Sundays and Mondays were your must see TV nights. Now you don't have much selection except for reality shows and fake, buffoonish behavior that a five year old could conjure up.

4. Exposure in the wrong places

There are too many people that have a basic, ignorant side to them. They aren't trying to enrich their minds with anything except for acronyms such as THOT, and sayings and hashtags such as #rhoa, #lhhatl,  #twirl,  and twerk. It is exposing how some people are on the set,  as we as their viewers.

5. No one cares enough to take these shows off

At one time in history,  it wasn't hard to get a controversial, low quality show removed. Think of Beavis and Butthead, Jackass,  and even Family Guy. The shows that I'm speaking of display much more heinous behaviors. The problem is there is too much tolerance of these shows. Even the Boondocks has taken a dramatic dip in quality following Aaron McGruder's departure.  Not a hoot is given, people still watch, and the show stays on.

So the next time you say that there is no quality television on, do as I did. Ask yourself why this is, and how it can be fixed. It's not hard,  but it takes numbers. Otherwise,  the problem will grow like your grass you have yet to cut this season,  and you will have weeds and snakes. This problem is a potential epidemic and will not stop itself.

Which shows do you like to watch? Are they considered ratchet?  Why do you like to watch them?

Anti-Coonery: Views against BET, Tyler Perry, and other entertainment that degrade folks of color

This is a subject that has been on my mind for a long, long time. I talk about it regularly, and do what I can to fight against it. Coonery, what I feel is a disease not only to black people but to folks worldwide.

Coonery can be defined as "buffoonery", "showing negative stereotypes" and simply "foolery". Exploiting stereotypes in black folks can be entertaining but also degrading. Is that how black folks want to be viewed, or any person? We have come waaay too far as a society and a world for us to be taking steps backwards. Times changes, and we have to change with those times. There must be progress.

Then there's BET. Ugggghh, BET was once a good network to watch, featuring Teen Summit, Rap City, and various other programs that enhance and displayed black folks in a positive light and addressed relevant issues. Present-day 2010, BET shows little to any substance in their programming. They do have Sunday's Best, reruns of the prematurely-canceled program The Game to boast of. However, you cannot tell me with a straight face that 106 and Park, Tiny and Toya, and the rest of this lineup is how black folks want to be seen and represent. BET partners with a declining, music industry to form one huge joke on television. BET was created by Bob and Sheila Johnson for positive reasons and to be the beacon and voice for Black people. Over the years, that has not happened. Check out this link to see what Sheila Johnson thinks of her creation now http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-04-29/sheila-johnsons-fight-against-hiv-in-dc/1/. Many of the programming on BET looks bootlegged, cheap, and second-rate. The commercials and sponsors are fast-food franchises such as McDonalds and KFC. Many blacks suffer from high-blood pressure and diabetes due to fast food, and this does not help the cause at all. BET supporters will say things such as "it's the only network that represents me, who I am" and "It's just showing them living their lives and progressing as Black folks in America" and my personal fave "We need to support BET. If we do not, who will. It is us on the screen". Now, wait just a minute! First of all, TV One exists. Although TV One still in 2010 isn't available on many cable networks, is still a quality, positive network. They address the relevant issues and show positive programming. Second, I have no obligation as a person of color to support ANYTHING negative or of poor quality. Granted, BET is owned by Viacom, the same folks that produce MTV and VH-1. It is also true that MTV and VH-1 feature a large amount of coonery as well, which is true. It seems like the programs along the three networks mirror each other in many ways (reality-TV programs with black celebrities acting a fool, degrading females, etc). However, BET is supposed to be the voice, image, and beacon for Black folks. It must do better. TV One has gotten this memo loud and clear.

We have Tyler Perry in our society now. Billionaire actor, movie director, and playwright. He started off well with his stage plays and movies. Now the quality of his movies (even his most recent release "Why Did I Get Married Too) have slipped. Tyler has given Black folks plenty of opportunities to be seen and jobs they wouldn't normally be able to land in other studios, movies, etc. However, his movies, plays and TV shows all have the common, foolish, stereotypical themes. Two of these main characters are the Madea and Leroy Brown characters. These characters will have you thinking (although we all know folks like them exist) that it is ok to break the law continuously, use violence and guns to get your point across, and to act stupid 24/7. Black folks have to be portrayed better in entertainment overall. They should be portrayed in more diverse roles as teachers, lawyers, doctors, rather than pimps, whores, hustlers, and crooked ministers. While TP does cover this pretty well, he still shows the same storyline and stereotypes for pretty much every production he does. Here's a sample format: Male/female is down on their luck, in an abusive relationship. Enter Madea. This person finds refuge from the church, people break out into praise and spirituals. More Madea. Person meets a good mate. More Madea. More spirituals and praising. Person and mate get married. The End. Terence Howard was once quoted as saying "The only thing missing from a TP production is Blackface" Interesting.

Now I'm not hating on TP's success and what he has done in helping Blacks land roles they couldn't normally be able to land or gain exposure that would have been more difficult otherwise. However, these actors have to show diversity once their foot is in the door. If they continue to play the same tired roles from TP's films, they will always be typecast in that particular role and their careers may not flourish in the way that a Denzel, Will or Halle has. I'm sure they also don't want to continue landing roles in films such as Booty Call, Soul Plane, and Next Day Air.

The deal is we want to have entertainment where we are not a joke, aren't being laughed at. We want to be laughed with. That's at least what Dave Chappelle thought when he left at the height of his success. Comedy Central was trying to change up his show and have him go against his creativity and principles. Chappelle saw how comedians before himself such as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock had taken major roles in blockbuster busts and ended up looking foolish. Dave wasn't going out like that. He wasn't gonna star in another movie such as The Toy, Pluto Nash, or Down To Earth. Many, many folks thought Chappelle had flipped his lid and flew over the cuckoo's nest. Did he, or was he the only sane person at Comedy Central?

The state of music (particularly hip-hop) has become a joke as well. Now artists such as Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Wocka Flocka Flames are being taken seriously as hip-hop musicians. Their music may be fine to dance and party to. However, their lyrics and songs suggest ignornace, hustling, flossing, and overall irresponsibility. Rappers such as Lupe Fiasco, Black Thought, and 9th Wonder have proven you can be rap and have intelligence at the same time. However, many radio stations do not view this as entertainment, bringing in money and entertainment.

That's right, now coonery is entertainment. Do we REALLY want Gucci Mane, BET, etc to REALLY be considered top-notch entertainment.

Tonight the cartoon The Boondocks returned to Adult Swim after a two year hiatus. The Boondocks is considered quality TV and anti-coonery for numerous reasons. One is they show the problems and stereotypes often represented in society. They show why they're bad, however, and how and why black folks should be represented positively. Some consequences and scenarios (unemployment, ignorance, poverty, etc) are also showed as result of foolish and coonish behavior. Characters such as Uncle Ruckus also show that there are Blacks who hate the skin they are in and do everything they can to denounce their race. In short, The Boondocks is trying to be part of the solution and not the problem. They show intelligence, real-life relevant issues, while playing mostly quality music and hip-hop. It's enlightening material. They also regularly rip on many of the things aforementioned in this blog, such as BET, Tyler Perry, and Soul Plane.

Coonery is NOT entertainment in any form people, it's degrading, dangerous, and sickening. One has to think when they look at coonery and think is that how they really want to be represented and portrayed. I certainly hope not. We have come to far as a human race and a world. Everyone needs to do better and start becoming part of the solution instead of the problem. We need to do what's right, rather than what's popular, trendy, and makes you the most money.