What Would Thembi Do? » Coonery

Why We Can’t Have Nothin’: “Freaknik The Musical” and How I Learned to Wear Sensible Shoes

Thembi Ford — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:48:43 +0000

Of course I’ve never been to Freaknik. Of COURSE not. I didn’t go to an HBCU and it was banned by the time I was of age anyway. What I do know about is Philadelphia’s Greek Picnic. When I was…

Tyler Perry And For Colored Girls: Somebody Walked Off Wid Alla (Our) Stuff!

Thembi Ford — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:37:47 +0000

Getting his hot little hands on Ntozake Shange’s 1975 play “For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," was coup of the year for Tyler Perry. Not only will he produce and direct the upcoming film version, the King of Coonery will also write the adaptation of what may be the most important work about black female identity ever. Ask any black woman, especially the artsy/moody/self-aware type, about “For Colored Girls…” and she will respond with a wistful look and fond memories. I was Lady in Blue in a high school production and have told more than one sorry dude “insteada being sorry all the time, try being yourself,” quoting the Lady In Red (but playing it off like I came up with it on my own). This is classic material and now we can expect the intentionally stripped-down aesthetic of Shange’s work to be replaced by style choices that only a closeted gay man could make. Even worse, Perry has announced that he’d like to cast the likes of Oprah, Halle Berry, and Beyonce to tackle the play’s issues, which include love, rape, abortion, and relationships. Beyoncé??? Please pass the Xanax.

Odds & Ends

Thembi Ford — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:16:12 +0000

Oh, Google Reader, thank you for the share function and for friends like Mr. Smart Guy who share things with me that no one should see, like this "back boobage/diminished glutes," tragedy posted by Saney Sane over at In Hood Terms. Now I get to share it with you but still pretend that I had nothing to do with spreading it across the Internet. Figuring out this woman's body is a Rubix Cube level endeavor, so good luck.

KGB “Weave” Commercial: Offensive or Corny (Poll)?

Thembi Ford — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:33:19 +0000

I can barely tell if this is a Public Service Announcement or a commercial, but it definitely rubs me the wrong way. Funny or foul? I find the eye-bugging, neck-rolling, finger-waving black woman thing (halfway through having a weave sewn-in, no less) extremely tired, but there's something else bugging me about this commercial and I'm not sure what.

This Week’s Love/Hate Relationship With Black Pop Culture

Thembi Ford — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:00:08 +0000

My take on this week in black pop culture! Is this really necessary, T-Pain? I get so irritated at myself for paying this kind of mess any mind because that's just what this autotunin' fool wants, but to spend $410k on an almost-humorously redundant chain without it actually being funny? It may be the struggling writer in me talking but that really fries my rice! I haven't seen anything this ridiculous in a long minute. Hate.

The Black Sitcom and The Talent Showcase

Thembi Ford — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Why is it that almost every black sitcom has had at least one "talent showcase" episode, while such episodes on mainstream sitcoms have been few and far between? I've certainly never seen anyone seriously throwing on costumes to sing and dance on Friends or Seinfeld, and the "talent showcase" in black sitcoms certainly pre-dates reality shows like American Idol. Ever since I learned that "coonery" is one of the search terms that has brought people to WWTD, I've been thinking a lot about our tendency to cut a rug and start up some showtime just for its own sake. I believe that random talent showcasing on black sitcoms is due to two factors: first, black sitcoms have so many multi-talented performers that can do more than just act.

I’m Behind Enemy Lines, Dog!

Thembi Ford — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:02:00 +0000

I was going to come back to the U.S. with this fabulous post about my trip and only then reveal where I’ve been. But after only 24 hours in the Persian Gulf, I have to share something with you all.…

Most Memorable Episodes: Martin!

Thembi Ford — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 10:21:00 +0000

Martin is the show that defined my high-school years and shaped my personal brand of comedy - we often forget how revolutionary it was at the time. Martin Lawrence didn't mind cussing, he didn't mind playing stereotypes, and he didn't mind intense physical comedy, which is what really made Martin a genuine success (until Gina left the show and it jumped the shark). My past Most Memorable Episodes" posts have had 5 episodes each, but for Martin I had a hard time narrowing things down so I had to add a few bonus clips. But the best part is that hundreds of episodes are available on YouTube for your viewing pleasure, so if you have time

Happy Halloween!!

Thembi Ford — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:43:00 +0000

I’ve been sick the last few days so am way behind on posting, but I can’t let Halloween pass without at least a little fanfare.

What is all at once, frightening, classic, insulting, horrifying, shameful, hilarious, cooneriffic, woeful, puzzling, prophetic,…

Random Coonery: Now THAT’S Dancing!

Thembi Ford — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Lately it seems like the Internet has had true coonery in short supply, so I procured my own from an episode of Good Times that came on the other night. Florida, Penny, little Kim Fields, and some random boy are…