Ya know, there’s more to me than just a blog read by tens of people. No, I’m constantly innovating, testing out new ways to reach folks. One such way was signing up for TikTok way back during Covid. I wasn’t really gaining any traction over there, which was maddening because certain features, such as the ability to go Live, wouldn’t be available to me until I gained 1,000 followers. Then, a few months back, I posted a video that was misconstrued in the best way. See, I was remarking on how no one was going to see the video, due to the fact that my videos had recently been suppressed by The Algorithm. Also, I had attempted to post this video 3 different times, and the app wasn’t cooperating. It was a toy-centric post, and when it finally posted, it was watched by some toy folks, who thought it was a “woe is me” post. To help out a fellow Toy Brother, they shared it, and others shared it, and then my numbers started moving. Since then, I’ve been welcomed by the awesome TikTok toy community, and I’ve met a lot of great folks on there.
So, that’s why I’m happy to announce that, after 4 years on the app, I reached 1,000 followers this week. I’m not about to be considered an “influencer” any time soon, but it’s something!
Trailer Park
Rebel Ridge (Netflix, September 6)
My pals over at the 3 Black Geeks Podcast called this “Black Reacher”, and they’re not far off. I used to listen to another podcast, The Black Guy Who Tips, where the host, Rod, used to call these “Impossible White Man movies”. That’s because they usually starred a White actor who was getting away with impossible feats, merely by virtue of his powerful Whiteness. They don’t hit the same, however, when the star isn’t White. It almost requires an additional suspension of disbelief. While I get that the racial component adds an extra angle to this one, this dude is pulling off some stuff that I just ain’t buying. Even though it’s “free”, on Netflix, I will not be watching this.
Seeking Mavis Beacon (Coming Soon)
By now, everyone knows there was no “Mavis Beacon” – the woman who taught many of my generation to type. There was, however, a model who portrayed her on the packaging. Since this is a NEON production (which is basically A24 adjacent), you know you’re not in for a “typical” documentary. It looks like this will explore the cultural implications of Mavis, as far as what she meant to the Black community, as the documentary crew goes in search of that model. This looks really interesting, but so did the Miss Cleo documentary, and I still haven’t watched that…
Saturday Night (Theaters, October 11)
I love SNL, but I don’t love first season SNL. I really don’t love that era or that cast, despite the fact that many went on to be pretty big stars. Ya know what I want to see? I want to know more about Garrett Morris. He’s sort of an unknown quantity to me. We all know the cast feuds. Most of the cast got huge. He didn’t. I never knew where he came from or why he couldn’t parlay SNL into something bigger. Plus, it’s 1975. It’s still a big deal there’s a lone Black guy on this NBC sketch show. He seemingly had nothing in common with the rest of them. How did he get there? How did Lorne find him? He’s the one celebrity who seemingly hasn’t been offered a book deal. Anyway, Rachel Sennott’s in this, and I love her. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
Things You Might Have Missed This Week
- Not to be outdone by Punkie Johnson’s announcement last week, Featured Player Molly Kearney announced they, too, are leaving Saturday Night Live prior to its 50th season premiere.
- When it comes to Aerosmith, you’ll no longer have to worry about missing a thing, as the band announced their retirement from touring, due to Steven Tyler’s vocal injury.
- Colin Kaepernick has lived long enough to see himself become the villain, as his new A.I. venture, Lumi, is angering comics professionals, as it’s a threat to their careers. Seriously, he went to SDCC, taking pics with creators in Artist Alley, and then came home to announce he’d raised $4 million to put them out of business. DIABOLICAL!
- HBO announced House of the Dragon will end with Season 4. Fear not, however, as they’re gonna milk that franchise as much as AMC milks The Walking Dead!
- Deadpool & Wolverine became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, passing former record holder The Passion of the Christ. I guess he really was Marvel Jesus!
- Peanuts! Get yer peanuts! They’re gonna cost a fortune at Pitbull Stadium. That’s right, Mr. 305 has purchased the naming rights to Florida International University’s football stadium. Dale!
- Cast member (and American Dad‘s Steven Anita Smith) Scott Grimes reported that the long awaited 4th season of The Orville will begin filming in January.
- Lauryn Hill learned a new trick: People can’t complain about your lateness if you simply cancel the concert the day before it’s scheduled to start. And that’s exactly what she and The Fugees did with their reunion tour, due to low ticket sales.
- There’s reportedly a revival of A Different World in development at Netflix, which is being held up by Bill Cosby’s legal issues. It will reportedly follow the daughter of Dwayne & Whitley as she begins college at Hillman.
- A terror plot was foiled as two teenagers were planning an attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, leading to its cancellation.
- Writer Jason Aaron revealed that the Superman in his upcoming Absolute Superman comic wears a cape made up of the red dust of Krypton. I don’t even know how that would work…
- The fall of Warner Bros Discovery continues, as the Cartoon Network website now redirects to a screen instructing visitors to sign up for the Max streaming service.
- Remember when Jason Statham quit making those Transporter movies, so they recast him with a nobody and made a TV show? Nah, no one does, ’cause no one watched it. Well, they’re doing it with John Wick, as Lionsgate is developing a TV show, which Keanu Reeves will co-produce.
- In their latest grasp at nostalgia, McDonald’s announced The Collector’s Meal, featuring a set of cups (that look like classic collector glasses), themed after some of the company’s most beloved promotions over the years.
Yeah, I try to stay out of the political waters over here. I say this every week. Yet, every week gets us closer to November. And this week provided another twist to the saga, as VP Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the presidential election. And the internet LOVED this! Seriously, he seems like a great guy. I’m not even talking the political stuff. He’s just a jovial guy who’s familiar to all. He’s America’s Dad! Seriously, look at him. You’re probably thinking “That’s my buddy Mark’s dad. He can grill a mean hot dog!” He also served his country, and has done a lot of work for underrepresented groups. Again, Really Good Guy! So, I don’t know how things will shake out down the road (I mean, there’s still time for him to be Milkshake Ducked), but I know everyone loves him now, and that’s enough to determine that Governor Tim Walz had the West Week Ever.
