The Secret Evolution of Two of TV's Most Iconic Black Shows

This past weekend left us with the loss of Bea Arthur, most noted for her hilarious role as Dorothy Zbornak on one of the funniest television shows of all time, "Golden Girls". You know how you don't realize how hysterical something is until you're an adult? "Golden Girls" was one of the most hilarious sitcoms ever, part of an era that looks like it will never be repeated. But did you know that "Golden Girls" is said to have been the inspiration for "Living Single", which obviously spawned "Girlfriends"?

"Living Single " was a groundbreaking show because it featured young Black professionals living and loving in New York City without getting caught up in the stereotypes that typically plagued Black shows. You had several young, educated, employed, and cultured Black people living in the big city like everyday folks--that just happened to be funny as hell. (Hmmm... sounds like another very successful show that came afterwards, "Friends"! )

The heart of "Living Single" was the friendship between several young professional women who navigated friendship and dating in the Big Apple. Wait! This sounds like another show that was also very successful..."Sex and the City"! Hmmm... but I guess we won't be getting credit for laying the creative foundation for either mega iconic show anytime soon. (But we know what's up!) But word on the street is that the creators of "Living Single" were inspired by "Golden Girls". Let's compare:

"GG" featured four friends and roommates (Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia) in their "golden years" living wholehearted lives while pursuing love and dreams.

"LS" featured four friends and roommates (Khadija, Regine, Synclaire, and Maxine) living wholehearted lives while pursuing love and dreams.

On "GG" Dorothy was the level-headed strong leader who kept it all together and never minced words.

On "LS" Khadija was the level-headed strong leader who kept it all together and never minced words.

On "GG" Blanche was the superficial fun girl who was always up for male companionship.

On "LS" Regine was the superficial fun girl who was always up for male companionship.

On "GG" Rose was the idiot.

On "LS" Synclaire was the idiot.

On "GG" Sophia was the worldly smart-mouthed matriarch who felt she'd earned the right to speak her mind whenever, wherever.

On "LS" Maxine was an amalgamation of Blanche the man eater, and Sophia the quick witted smart-ass.

And "Living Single" led to our most recent evolution of Black programming with "Girlfriends", (don't you miss it, even without Toni?) another show featuring young, sophisticated (booshie) Black friends trying to create the lives they love in the big city-while looking damn fly every second!

It's all coming together right? Who would have thought that a show about feisty senior citizens would have led to some of our most memorable television hits and laid the groundwork for some other mainstream knock-offs?

"Sex and the City" got a movie. Wouldn't you have liked to see "Girlfriends" do a movie, even one on tv?--just to tie it all up since the CW yanked it off the air without so much as a champagne toast and obligatory electric slide at Joan's wedding?

Well we know how we get done, but we know how we do. We can either originate an idea, or take one and bring it even higher causing a mass ripple affect of creative energy that leaves no soul unmoved. At this point most efforts are derivative, but as intrinsically innovative people, we offer a new level of originality that will not be deterred. So keep creating, keep looking forward, and appreciate what came before. Evolve.

Peace-

Is the Economy Ruining Your Social Life?

With the economy being all kinds of a straight up mess, do you find that it's affecting your social life? Are your friends moving away or back to their parents because they can't find a job? Have you met a nice guy but he can't afford to buy you a chicken wing and a drink? Or have you met a nice woman but she's so stressed out by job hunting that she can't fit you into her life right now? Are your friends not inviting you out as often because they know you can't afford it and they can't afford to cover you? How do we maintain social lives in the midst of all the stress, struggle, and flat out broke-assness?

We live in capitalistic society and money is important, but human connection is priority # 1. Let's not let the paper chase throw a mon(k)ey wrench into the spiritual pursuit of staying connected.

Okay, this new guy can't take you out to a fancy dinner and night on the town, but for now he can:

• Help you fix some things in your place
• Email you an article he saw about something you two just talked about, demonstrating he thinks of you and he cares
• Support you, motivate you, encourage you
• Make you feel beautiful in a way no amount of money ever can

Okay, you can't afford to go out with your friends, but for now you can:

• Invite them over for a movie night in your place and have a good old fashioned potluck
• Meet in the park and rediscover the art of true conversation vs. texting and emails
• Find a cheap happy hour and get a $5 drink and feast on free tortilla chips

Okay your friends are moving away, but you can:

• Revive the art of letter writing
• Realize how much you love your friends because you no longer have immediate access
• Feel blessed that you have a friend in another part of the world

And if that special woman doesn't have time for you because she's too stressed out about finding a job...well, there's not much you can do about that but be patient and let her know you're around when things get better.

The point is folks, money is transitory and these particular stressful times are temporary. Living without certain material comforts allows us to focus on what's important and what's lasting. It is and will always be, love.

So do what needs to be done to get real life needs met, but don't let what you don't have keep you from connecting.

Peace-

Dumbass of the Week-Jamie Foxx

It would appear that Jamie Foxx is one of those people who can't get out of his own way, or know when to keep his trap shut. His recent misstep of trash talking Disney doll, Miley Cyrus is costing him in the press. It may not be a big deal, but with a new movie coming out next week ("The Soloist") you don't want to have to spend the time you should be using to promote your project apologizing to a little girl.

Okay, we know Jamie is a multi-talented Oscar and Grammy winner, but it's easy to forget that he started out as a stand-up who is always up to bust some one's chops. And he does a damn good job if anyone heard him go off on Terence Howard a while back. (One of the funniest things you will ever hear) But, duuuh anybody with a brain knows that in Hollywood, you don't go after Jewish people, gay people, or, uh...Disney. Talking smack about precious little "it girls", especially if they are sporting mouse ears is a no-no. Cyrus is multi-million dollar entity and uses her power and presence in the media to protect her persona. Suggesting that she "do a sex tape" and "put some crack in her pipe" doesn't sit well with the powers that be who are invested in this commercial, albeit ridiculous holding.

We all know that a girl who started dating a twenty year old guy when she was fifteen is as Britney would say, "not that innocent". So no one is really buying that purity ring wearing nonsense. And Jamie is an A-lister, but....he's still Black. When will Black folks learn that no matter how far you get, you will be reminded that there are certain lines you cannot cross, and certain rights you don't really have. (Arizona State University, which has a history of giving out honorary degrees to Presidents who speak at the graduation all of a sudden isn't do that this year. Hmmm... interesting)

Now this is not strictly a racial issue, but if hmmm...Bill Maher had said something similar, it probably wouldn't have been taken as seriously, and Maher probably would have ended his public apology by adding something equally offensive. But instead, Foxx, a grown ass man found himself having to humbly kow-tow to Hannah Montana on Jay Leno. It was a sad moment folks.

But to be fair, (and that's what we try to do here at Cocoa Popps), how would Foxx have felt if someone said the same things about his little girl? Granted Jamie's daughter doesn't live in the public eye and doesn't invite the same kind of ridicule, (let's be honest, Miley is an easy target), but one could bet hard earned money that if someone said the same things about his daughter there would've been trouble with a capital ass-whooping. (Can't you picture Jamie and his crew rolling up on somebody ready to dole out a first-class projects beat-down?)

Jamie's been on the A-list for a minute so he should know A-list etiquette-hell he should know "Black folks with money" etiquette; don't matter how fat the pockets are, when you're Black, sometimes you still gotta fall back. (Remember when Hermes locked up shop when they saw Oprah at the door?) Take that as you will, but that's real talk.

So in the future, until we are really running things--(aren't we though, having a Black President and all?) --loose lips sink ships. So keep it tight and pick your battles, cause bad press over Miley Cyrus just isn't worth it.

Peace-

Open Letter to Vivica A. Fox

Viv, (sigh) what is really going on with your career? At 44, you’ve maintained the game for two decades now, and your body of work, though varied in quality is substantial by any standards, but especially as a Black actress holding it down in Hollywood. Okay, you’ve had a history of displaying questionable judgment. Cut to:

• Dating “Fiddy”…(yuuuck)


• “Dropping it like it’s hot” at the MTV Awards in coochie shorts


• Your stint on “Dancing With the (C-list) Stars”

All this has made a number of onlookers wonder if you were in crisis. But we got through it and you’ve been experiencing a nice resurgence that began with your role in “Kill Bill” and later in a memorable stint on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. Okay, “Three Can Play That Game”, the sequel to “Two Can Play That Game” (one of the most hilarious movies about relationships…ever) was just flat out stupid, but they can’t all be gems right? But aside from that you’ve been the little engine that could, sustaining a solid career, and parlaying your acting skills to producer credits. So what the hell are you doing hosting ”The Cougar”? (A reality show about 40-something women being wooed by 20-something play things.) Really? Haven’t we been there and done that with that other reality ridiculousness “Glam God with Vivica A. Fox”? There is nothing glamorous about a B-list celebrity willingly stepping onto the elevator going down…(One should chose to be shoved.)

We know roles for actresses beyond a certain age are limited and even less for Black actresses, but there was nothing else you could do? We also know you’ve got “expenses”. That plastic surgery or “tune-ups” as you like to put it (what are you doing?) doesn’t pay for itself. But seriously, was a tired-ass reality show about a woman attempting to cling to her fading youth by pursuing the attention of listless frat-boys the only thing you could figure out?

Now, there is no question that you are talented. Halle Berry had to big you up when she got the Oscar (for that mess) because you have paved the way for many modern Black actresses, blazing a trail for all the Gabrielle Unions, Kerry Washingtons, and Taraji P. Hensons alike, just as Lena Horne and Diahann Carroll widened a path for you. So, can we come to a comfortable compromise and focus our energies on projects that will display your acting chops instead of projects that rely on you being a clichéd “Diva”? Yes, you are probably “paid”, but the problem is, you do good work but then negate it with a gaudy offering. So here are a few suggestions on some strategies Cocoa Popps thinks will get you taken more seriously:

• Stop with all the tacky bikini spreads. Okay we get it. You’re over 40 and bangin’, okay…


• Stop with the plastic surgery. What do you think is so wrong with you?


• Stop with the reality shows. We know scripted television is a luxury these days, but your girl Jada is producing. Can’t you hit her up for a true gig?


• Stop trying so hard to convince us that you are young and relevant. Youth is in the spirit and relevancy is in the work.


• Get a gig on "Desperate Housewives" and be the new, Black Edie Brit. You would rock the crap out of that role!!! (Cocoa Popps will be the first to campaign to Marc Cherry.)

We know you’ve got more on the horizon and hopefully it will be the kind of work that reminds us why you captured our attention in the first place. We say all this in love baby-girl. Rock on Viv… and do it with class.

Peace

Passing in Hollywood

Have you noticed that Rashida Jones is getting quite a bit of work these days? Fresh off her stint on "The Office", she is currently starring in "I Love You Man", and is about be on the sitcom "Parks and Recreation" (which looks dumb as hell). But it would appear as if we are supposed to believe she is White. Okay, she's half White, but hell-ooo we know (right or wrong) we and the rest of America classify biracial kids as Black. (Remember how we used to say "mixed"?) Why do some Black actors (who claim to be Black or not) get a pass in Hollywood?

On "The Office" Jones' character was dating and wound up marrying a White man. It was never mentioned or eluded to that she was Black, or that her boyfriend on the show, "Jim" was in an interracial relationship. Interesting. Now we're not saying this has been a conscious choice on Rashida's part to play racially ambiguous roles. And practically, if she can pass, she is probably increasing her chances of getting work. But isn't it weird? Or does it say that we as a people have finally crossed over the barrier of race in media to the point that it doesn't have to be a factor? Not really buying that one, but it was worth a shot.

But Jones is not the only one playing the other side of the race card. Vin Diesel, probably the most notorious perpetrator of the practice of hiding behind biracial ancestry somehow seems to have fooled Hollywood into believing he is not in fact, a brother. Okay, he barely makes it but we know what's up. We don't care how many times we see Vin paired up with a White woman on the screen (or in real life) or how many times he tries to emphasize his "Italian" roots. He's been mixing a little chitlins with those cannolis and ain't nobody bamboozled.

And when it comes to Grade A-list passing, Nicole Richie's got it down. Now we know Lionel Richie isn't her bio-dad, but we also know she's got some ethnic roots. Somewhere along the way there is some grits and gravy, but how has she been able to forgo her heritage and grab the spotlight being Paris' BFF? Didn't Paris know she was chillin' with a Black girl? That's probably why they fell out. (Paris must have had a rude awakening when she realized she'd been poppin' bottles with the help.)

Something that helps racially ambiguous people get by in Hollywood is when they date White people. Richie has strategized well ensuring her temporary place in the limelight by hooking up and procreating with one of Hollywood's White "it boys", parlaying that into countless red carpet appearances, a few guest spots, and a jewelry line. All, very interesting.

Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a "The Rock" also seems to try and straddle the fence regarding his ethnicity. Note to "The Rock": One appearance at the NAACP Awards and campaigning for Barack Obama doesn't mean you're admitting to being Black. But if you're not going to be more consistently open regarding part of your ethnic make-up, and allow yourself to be marketed as a "color-less" actor, you might want to change your name from...Dwayne, Johnson, cuz on paper, that's a brother.

The practice of celebrities playing down their ethnic roots is nothing new. 60's bombshell Raquel Welsh, whose real name is Jo Raquel Tejada, had all of old Hollywood thinking she was a White woman with "olive" skin, knowing good and damn well she was Latina. And it used to be quite common to cast a White actor in an ethnic role. (Remember Elizabeth Taylor trying to make us believe Cleopatra was White?)

It seems the tables have turned a bit and now a few Black folks are getting a pass in Hollywood. The question is, what's wrong with being Black? Why can't a Black (biracial) actor get work, and be Black (biracial) in the role, and be on the A-list? After all, a Black (biracial) man is President!


What do you think about passing in Hollywood?