Ep856: HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE (1987) - Movie Review
Ian and Jeff look back on Robert Townsend's game-changing Tinseltown satire, Hollywood Shuffle!
The 1987 comedy stars co-writer/director Townsend as Bobby Taylor, a young Black actor struggling to make it in an industry that only sees him playing slaves, pimps, and drug dealers. As he navigates the hustle of running from auditions to his day job at a hot dog stand, Bobby's imagination lights up with his own take on blockbuster movies, infomercials, and movie review shows.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Ian and Jeff York of The Establishing Shot look at the seeds and legacy of an independent film that was born out of real-world frustration, and ended up paving the way for countless careers and landmarks in Black entertainment.
Plus: Ian talks about getting kicked out of his own living room the first time he watched the film, and gushes over some of the special features on the brand new Criterion Blu-ray!
Show Links:
Watch the Hollywood Shuffle trailer.
Order the new Hollywood Shuffle Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
Keep up with Jeff's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot!
Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!
