Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
As High Schoolers we sought big screen representation on how we lived our lives. Whichever matinee we attended guaranteed an escape into the soundtrack, fashion and particular mindset of our designated cliche. But what might be found by venturing outside that marquee demographic? Is it possible you could spot similar points of reference? Or would every close-up be an unrecognizable face? Author Kevin Smokler found it to be a little of both the day he took his High School self to screen Reginald Hudlin’s 1990 comedy HOUSE PARTY. So forget the Sno-caps and grab a seat up front for what he has to say about this.
Todays guest, KEVIN SMOKLER, is the author of BRAT PACK AMERICA: A LOVE LETTER TO 80S TEEN MOVIES available locally at INDIEBOUND.org. Support his documentary VINYL NATION: A DOCUMENTARY DIG INTO THE RECORD RESURGENCE at vinylnation.com , follow him on TWITTER @weegee and learn more about his writing at www.kevinsmokler.com
BLACK LIVES MATTER: Support NAACP ,the ACLU, THE BAIL PROJECT, and THE BLACK VISIONS COLLECTIVE. Visit this NATIONAL RESOURCES LIST for more ways to help. Take a stand for equality and speak out against racial injustice.
POP NOTES
Released March 9th 1990, the same day as JOE VERSES THE VOLCANO, it would go on to make 26 million dollars at the box office (Joe Verses The Volcano would not).
Based on a short originally shot by director Reginald Hudlin as part of his film thesis at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
Was originally intended as a starring feature for DJ Jazzy Smith and Will Smith. Their casting would have been part of a settlement stemming from a New Line Cinemas lawsuit over their radio hit “Nightmare On My Street.” Director Hudlin turned down the casting choice and instead made hip hop group Kid n Play the main stars.
Hudlin cast actress Tisha Campell based on her performances in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) and SCHOOL DAZE. (1988) Her acting resume also set her up as one of the more experienced member of the film’s cast.
Members of the hip hop group Full Force portrayed the film’s antagonists, described in the original screenplay as “three bullies with great physiques and Jheri curl … like Full Force.” They also rewrote most of their dialogue, adding dimension and humor to what originally came across as stock characters.
Already successful hip hop artists at the time of its release, Kid N Play debuted their own Saturday morning cartoon six months after HOUSE PARTY came out.
Cast in the role of Kid’s father Pops, comedian Robin Harris died of a heart attack 9 days following the film’s release. He is eulogized via the passing of his character in the 1991 follow-up HOUSE PARTY 2.
For a detailed history of the film’s production and release check out The Ringer.com’s “WHO CAN’T GET ON BOARD WITH THAT?”: HOW HOUSE PARTY BROUGHT THE BLACK TEENAGE EXPERIENCE TO THE MAINSTREAM by Julian Kimble.
Tune back next Monday when actress Marianne Bayard ( JOY, KILLING IT) find quality inspiration from the QVC network. .
This episode of MÉNAGE Á POP was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser. It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior” All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
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