Sunday, May 15, 2005
Our Newest Op Ed
New Honeymooners The Wrong Color
- By Frederick Meekins
Fans of the antics of Ralph Kramden will be shocked to learn that Cedric the Entertainer will portray the blowhard bus driver in the upcoming theatrical remake.
Those priding themselves on wearing their racial tolerance and sensitivity on their sleeve will claim it does not matter what color the characters are.
Would they be so broadminded if they made a White version of Sanford and Son or a Korean cast as a new Cliff Huxtable?
If the producers weren't out to make some kind of racial statement, wouldn't they have cast actors more in accord with the appearances of the originals filling these roles thus keeping the parts White since --- like it or not --- racial background determines a great deal of appearance?
Critics disparaging America's cultural heritage of which "The Honeymooners" played an important role as an early successful television comedy will muse that, in order to gain the attention of the hip urban youth of today (in other words, the vulgarians occupying our cities), we must alter the original to comply with these new diverse sensibilities.
But if that happens to be the case and minorities will only watch minorities, why should White Americans waste a single penny on this cinematic drivel?
- By Frederick Meekins
Fans of the antics of Ralph Kramden will be shocked to learn that Cedric the Entertainer will portray the blowhard bus driver in the upcoming theatrical remake.
Those priding themselves on wearing their racial tolerance and sensitivity on their sleeve will claim it does not matter what color the characters are.
Would they be so broadminded if they made a White version of Sanford and Son or a Korean cast as a new Cliff Huxtable?
If the producers weren't out to make some kind of racial statement, wouldn't they have cast actors more in accord with the appearances of the originals filling these roles thus keeping the parts White since --- like it or not --- racial background determines a great deal of appearance?
Critics disparaging America's cultural heritage of which "The Honeymooners" played an important role as an early successful television comedy will muse that, in order to gain the attention of the hip urban youth of today (in other words, the vulgarians occupying our cities), we must alter the original to comply with these new diverse sensibilities.
But if that happens to be the case and minorities will only watch minorities, why should White Americans waste a single penny on this cinematic drivel?
# posted by Publius @ 5/15/2005 12:25:00 PM 
Comments:
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Wow! Take a chill pill. Hollywood is in its remake mania mode. It has lost the art of originality for the last couple of years. So what if the Honeymoonbers, or the Sanford and Son are white, polka-dotted, or Asian. So say to you enjoy the air condition builing and the buttered popcorn, and enjoy the escapism for a couple of hours or less...
G K Stewart
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G K Stewart
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