let's set the record straight (pardon the pun)

Gay and lesbian Americans can already marry if we define marriage as a public declaration of love, commitment, til death do us part, always and forever amen, blessed and sanctioned by the gods/goddesses/universe/positive energy or whatever sacred or secular belief one chooses to call one's own. These ceremonies are already happening and they have been for some time. So what are we really debating here? Are we battling over what to call these commitments (that I repeat are already in existence and in some cases flourishing)? By continuing to argue the definition of marriage, we seem to be missing the bottomline of civil rights and equality. I'm sure I'll ruffle a few feathers of my hetero and gay and lesbian comrades here by saying this but if we reconfigure the "marriage" debate in civil and legal terms (in my opinion--civil unions for everyone), a much more progressive struggle might be waged, one that doesn't privilege the mainstream heteronormative model of love relationships.

for the love of lauryn

Could L-Boogie really be back? I'm sure I'm not alone in my longing for Lauryn Hill's return to the public eye nor am I the only 30something that thinks Lauryn is one of the most talented blackwoman performers of our generation. Is she crazy? Was she crazy? Probably only as crazy as necessary for blackwomen to survive in crazyass America. Oh would I have been a fly on the wall of that set at the W...

fried chicken and collard greens (the remix)

After my class last night, I was looking forward to vegging out in front of the tv for a bit so I turned to the CWs FCCG lineup. As usual Everybody Hates Chris was clever and funny. Tyler James Williams is a star.

All of Us is not awful, it's just pointless. The show started as sort of a parallel of Will and Jada's relationship with the mother of Will's first child. Interesting, anti-"babymama" drama. Focused instead on civilized relationships among extended family. I'm not a regular watcher of the show so I'm not sure what happened to Elise Neal (who was originally cast as Duane Martin's fiancee or wife or something) but now that she's gone, the show really lacks a center. It seems as if Robert (Martin) and Neesee (LisaRaye) are merely dancing around an inevitable reconciliation and boring us all in the process. Khamani Griffin, who plays their precocious son, is to die for however. So cute. He has a cool website too.

As predicted, Girlfriends is not the same without Toni, but I'm still hoping some excitement is going to be stirring up soon (I'm not privy to any insider's info or anything but let's just say the bitch ain't dead yet). At the same time, the show seems to be finally developing Lynn (Persia White's character) a bit. The music thing is a good look for Lynn. Much better than sitting around on her overeducated ass mooching off her friends.

Still no love for The Game. I changed the channel.

has flava flav always been a minstrel or did he just recently become one?

Few hip hop artists have rivalled the political lyricism of Public Enemy. But the most recent incarnations of Flava Flav (on VH-1's Jerry Springeresque Flavor of Love show) has made me wonder: What role did Flav really play as the hypeman to the otherwise serious and provocative PE? Did his presence in the group make PE a little less frightening to white people? Was he always a dancing minstrel and did we just overlook it as we nodded our heads and pumped our fists to "Fight the Power"?

The more troubling question to me is what does it mean for someone to have been a part of a Public Enemy and to have sunk to such a low ass level for a few dollars (probably more than a few, but you get the drift)? While I do partake in some bad tv, I am not a regular viewer of FOL. I actually cannot make it through an episode for the same reason that I can't watch Jerry Springer. It's just soooo damn stupid, I can't even veg out in front of it. And it's hard for me to wrap my brain around the scantily clothed and loud mouthed (mostly black) women who berate each other and embarass themselves for the camera. Where do they find these women? Really? And are we supposed to believe they are fighting over Flav!? Come on!

The CW's Sunday Night Lineup (or fried chicken and collard greens night)

Ambivalently anticipating the season premiere of Girlfriends (sans Toni), I turned on the CW's Sunday night lineup (while grading papers of course). I've written about the CW's "network integration" scheme before, cynically pondering the time it would take for the new broadcast network to expunge themselves of all shows black. Isolating all the black shows into their own Sunday night ghetto seems to be a crucial first step. Or perhaps the network execs figured black families, after a long day of church and a hearty soul food meal of fried chicken and collards would be primed to settle down for a night of comedy from 7-9, or until the "itis"(eye-tus) kicks in.

So the premiere of Everybody Hate's Chris was hilarious. The title character, played by Tyler James Williams, is quite the talent. Good casting. Enjoyable storylines.

The fact that the network actually kept All of Us speaks volumes of Will Smith's enduring cache in Hollywood. Otherwise, what the fuh? It's the most pointless show ever (other than The Game, which I'll mention shortly).

Girlfriends sans Toni will not last. Sorry Mara. I really like the show, but Toni adds that "bitch we love to hate" element that made the show's viewers keep a Monday night slot open for the past few seasons. Check the message board at CWTV. Folks are not happy with Jill Marie Jones's departure. Betta bring the bitch back. The opener was weird too. Joan, who was volunteering for Habitat for Humanity after her blowout with her best friends last season decided to take a little jog through the destroyed neighborhoods of NOLA and then broke down in tears. The NOLA shout out I appreciated, but the jogging. Come on now.

The lineup concludes with Mara Brock Akil's new show The Game, starring Tia Mowry (remember her from Sister Sister). Anyway, the show is about footballers' wives in short and um (crickets, crickets -- I wish this thing had sound effects). Was Half and Half cancelled for this snoozer?

Coda: Just found out the chicken and collard greens lineup is moving to Mondays. Not sure what that will bode for the black shows but since there's nothing else worth watching on Mondays perhaps the move will increase viewership. Stay tuned.