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Belly of the Beast

“In Hollywood, they tell you who to hate.” - Patrice O’Neal

Hollywood fancies itself as a beacon of inspiration and hope for creatives, but behind the curtain is a never-ending corporate machine that runs like a mob family.  There are many families within Hollywood.  The Adam Sandler family (Rob Schneider, Kevin James, Chris Rock).  The Quentin Tarantino family (Christopher Waltz, Michael Madsen, Samuel L. Jackson).  And even the Judd Apatow family (Seth Rogen, Steve Carrell, Will Ferrell).  

In the same vein of mob families, there have been those in power before the established status quo.  Here is comedian Pat Cooper on the Tom Snyder talk show sharing his perspectives on the powerful families in Hollywood he was dealing with.

What stands out from the 1979 interview are the common themes in Hollywood that is plaguing the industry today in 2020.  The character, dignity, and individualistic expression of the real artist behind the content has been marginalized, diminished, and misinterpreted by the public.  Everyone must repeat the same party lines in fears of being cast aside from being in the public light.

The Late Great Comic Patrice O’Neal dives further into the weeds of entangling the sticky web of Hollywood politics.  His take on Tracy Morgan’s apology tour and the never-ending line of desperate performers that wish to replace the celebrity du jour is an eye-opening revelation.  O’Neal’s brief stint in the Spike Lee family also highlights the relationship level of working within show business with the established players in the game.

What is making it?  Is there a price that you can walk away from?

#patcooper #patriceoneal #davechappelle #hollywood

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Cantankerous, Curmudgeon, Comedian

Born and raised in New York, Comedian Colin Quinn has made his mark in the entertainment industry as the proverbial fly in the punchbowl.  His first break came in 1987 where he was the sidekick announcer for popular MTV game show “Remote Control” for five seasons.  After finding success in the writer’s room for “In Living Color”, Quinn was hired as a writer and featured act on Saturday Night Live for 1997-1998 season.  He notoriously turned down the role of Scott Evil during his brief SNL tenure in Mike Myer’s blockbuster film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Quinn finds his stride on his own panel show Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn”.  Regarded as ahead of its time, the show featured a panel of four rotating comedians and guests who discussed the social and political issues of the day.  He produced over 200 episodes between 2002 and 2004.

Since his departure from films after his brief cameo in Crocodile Dundee 2, Colin has focused his talents on the theater stage.  As of early 2019 he has premiered six one-man shows on the theater stage. 

His third one-man show “Colin Quinn Long Story Short” was directed by Jerry Seinfeld and premiered on Broadway.

https://www.amazon.com/Colin-Quinn-Long-Story-Short/dp/B00IGQ6JLY

His latest one-man show “Red State Blue State” was performed at the Minetta Lane Theatre.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81156592

If that’s not enough CQ for you, when you are having a bad day, here’s one where Colin has a worse one:

#colinquinn #newyork #comedy #toughcrowd #redstatebluestate #longstoryshort

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A True Crime Story

Hip-Hop is without a doubt one of the most popular musical genres in the world today.  But where did it come from?  Hardcore fans claim South Bronx, casual critics say New York, but if you were to believe Google it originated from the iconic 1979 one-hit wonder: The Sugarhill Gang.

When there is smoke, there is fire.  If you find it hard to believe that a one-hit wonder is responsible for introducing an explosive new genre without a single follow-up worth noting, you are right to be suspicious.  

The story behind this iconic thievery is not an uncommon one.  Grandmaster Caz from the South Bronx wrote the lyrics for “Rapper’s Delight”, originally titled “MC Delight”.  What follows is a flagrant act of betrayal by Sugarhill Gang member Big Bank Hank.  A former manager’s opportune timing led to one of the biggest heists in the music industry.

Before the days of DMCA strikes and copyright laws, most street artists were being taken advantage of left and right.  Grandmaster Caz is no exception.  Despite this egregious theft of his intellectual property, he secured a place in the industry as one of the top MC’s of all time and has won and kept the respect of his peers and fans across the world.

If you are still not convinced, listen to GMC’s MC Delight and compare it with the Sugarhill Gang rendition.  Which one sounds like the arrival of a pioneer, and which one sounds like a jolly jingle in a mall?

#hiphop #rappersdelight #mcdelight #grandmastercaz #sugarhillgang

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Spotlight: Stephen Chow

The Hong Kong martial arts scene has been heavily dominated by superstars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chow Yun-Fat, and Donnie Yen.  One often overlooked superstar who made his mark in the historic filmography of martial arts cinema is Stephen Chow.  

His two most iconic films in which he both directed and wrote, are Shaolin Soccer, and Kung Fu Hustle. Ridiculous premises for both films encourage Chow to stand out from his other martial arts actors in his ability to blend slapstick comedy, high-flying acrobatics and cartoonish special effects in his vision for cinema entertainment. 

Comedy and action live in the wide screen.  Nobody knew this better than Chow as he directed and wrote both blockbuster films for the international stage.  What is outstanding in his work is his colloquial dialogue and everyday speech that the characters use with each other that any audience can easily relate to.  You don’t have to be from Hong Kong to laugh at a friend bungling your capers.  

 Shaolin Soccer - Available on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXVM9iUS64M

Kung Fu Hustle - Available on Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/title/70020728?source=35

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Speed Reads by Matthew Reilly

Ever wanted to read a rollercoaster inside a book?  Australian author Matthew Reilly has the alternative for those kid-friendly movies on your next flight.  Following the success of his self-published book “Contest”, he garnered the attention of publishers Pan Macmillan for a two-book deal.  His first was “Ice Station”, an action-packed thriller set in Antarctica. 

Captain Shane Schofield is yanked from training exercises in Australia to answer a mysterious call from a scientific diving team brutally murdered before discovering a spaceship during their expedition.  What started as a simple reconnaissance mission turns quickly into a race for global recognition.

In 2001, 3 years after Captain Shane Schofield’s debut, he returns as protective detail for the President of the United States in “Area 7″.  Maximum-security prisoners, Komodo dragons, and soldiers on crank all share one roof in the mysterious military facility where the President is visiting.  Schofield is besieged on all fronts and must fight his way out of the trap while keeping the President alive, with an unexpected mission he must shoulder for the sake of world peace.

Amazon Links:

Ice Station: 

https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Station-Schofield-Thriller-Scarecrow/dp/0312971230/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ice+station&qid=1601795158&sr=8-1

Area 7:

https://www.amazon.com/Area-7-Shane-Schofield-Thriller-ebook/dp/B000FA5S0W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=area+7&qid=1601795191&sr=8-1

#matthewreilly #icestation #area7