Tag Archives: Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic is a new a documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich on the legendary comedian that will debut at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31 on Showtime. Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic was also just screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Can you believe that Sesame Street turned 40 in 2009? I was lucky enough to see this revolutionary children’s educational series at the very beginning, when in my opinion it was the best show on TV. Ask any body else who was a kid under 5 at that time and they will tell you the same thing.

“Hail to thee our alma mater
Roosevelt Franklin High!
Elementary School
Elementary School.”

One thing that I loved about watching Sesame Street was that you would often see your favorite Black actors, musicians and athletes hanging out with the muppets. Everyone from Lena Horne to Ray Charles to Richard Pryor to Arthur Ashe made appearances on Sesame Street. I didn’t know at that time that I was being treated to performances by some of the biggest icons of entertainment and sports. I just knew that it was funky and really appreciated seeing cool Black people interacting with my favorite puppets.

The Black Dynamite Animated Series will finally premiere on July 15 at 11:30 on Adult Swim. I say finally because I attended a session at NY Comic Con, a couple of years ago, where the series was announced. I got my copy of the Black Dynamite comic book at the same time. I have been waiting for this series to air every since…

It’s official, Andre 3000 of OutKast, real name Andre Benjamin has been cast to portray Jimi Hendrix in the biopic “All Is By My Side.”  Benjamin’s name was mentioned a few years ago about taking on the role, but rumors died after about a month or so.  “All Is By My Side” will be set in the 1960s just before the release of Jimi’s debut album “Are You Experienced.”

Since I hit 100 blogs without realizing it, I figured I do something special for blog #105.  The following list of LPs/ CDs are the FUNKIEST Soundtracks of all time according to www.funkaliciousblog.com – while all albums may not be comprised of all FUNK music, they are unquestionably FUNKY!  Now, put on your favorite soundtrack, go ahead put it on…  Let’s take a ride down memory lane and reminisce about what made you feel good when you heard any of these musical FUNKY gems.

The Museum of UnCut Funk continues to celebrate the best decade ever with a review of Poster Art from funky music based films that helped to create the soundtrack of the 1970’s.

From 1970 to 1976, during the height of the Blaxploitation era, there were fourteen westerns made for public consumption. Some of these films never made it to a national audience and others haven’t been seen since their release. There were a few films that found box office success and were critically acclaimed by some of the toughest film critics.

Some of the greatest moments in sports history happened during the 1970‘s, like the New York Knickerbockers winning the NBA championship. Hopefully they will make it to another championship before I collect Social Security…LMOL!!!

Writer / director Bill Condon, who most recently wrote and directed Dreamgirls, is producing his script Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?

You’re A Funny Ass Mofo!

Emmy, Tony and Oscar winning production, set and costume designer Tony Walton (All That Jazz, Mary Poppins and Broadway’s Pippin just to name a few) shared his Oscar nominated set and costume work for the 1978 film The Wiz.

Comic actor Marlon Wayans’ next screen role could turn out to be portraying a real-life comedy icon.

 
George Clinton’s “Horrorween” is in post-production.  The King of Funk composed the soundtrack for the film and also has a cameo. When two students are working on a science project, they inadvertently create an inexpensive computer operating system and Internet browser that doesn’t crash.

 
If you want to ease the minds of film fans about a remake you’re working on, just compare it to Ocean’s 11. That’s what Will Smith did back in 2002 when his production company bought the rights to Sidney Poitier’s Uptown Saturday Night with plans to do an all-star Black update on the 1974 classic that originally paired up Poitier and Bill Cosby.

Thalmus Rasulala was born Jack Chowder on November 15th, 1939. One of the many Black actors from the 1970’s and beyond who never got his rightful due, Thalmus will always be at the top of my list of great performers.

Actress and producer Sheila Elaine Frazier was born on November 13, 1948 in the Bronx, New York to Dorothy Dennis and Eugene Cole Frazier. Frazier grew up on the Lower East Side of New York City until the age of ten, when she moved with her mother to Englewood, New Jersey.

“My friends admit I am black, beautiful and sometimes bitchy, but only when the situation calls for it. If life were a painting I’d be in the middle with a cynical little smile on my face and Hollywood in the background. My name is Dorothy Jean Dickerson. If the name isn’t familiar to you, my face and figure probably are. I’ve appeared in a number of ‘Black’ motion pictures — blaxploitation films some people call them — and my star is definitely on the rise.”