My name is Rashid Darden and I like being persistent.
[Read more…] about I found Randi AyalaTelevision
Don’t Forget to Protect LaDarius
A few weeks ago, I finished episode six of Cheer on Netflix. It was, quite possibly, the best documentary series I’ve ever seen. Certainly, it’s the best one on Netflix.
As I posted on social media over the week-and-a-half that I was watching it, friends posted about Jerry being their favorite, how Jerry was the best ever, and how we need to “protect Jerry at all costs.”
[Read more…] about Don’t Forget to Protect LaDariusSorry, Soap Fans: Days of Our Lives is Better Than Ever
I read with some regularity a soap opera blog. In fact, the comments on that blog are some of the best comments on the internet. Not only are they spirited and fun commenters, but they often spill more tea than the bloggers themselves.
But recently, I’ve noticed that many of those commenters absolutely hate what has happened to my beloved Days of Our Lives since (and including) the 50th anniversary.
Now for me, the 50th anniversary of Days of Our Lives was a transcendent experience. I bought the book. I went to the book signing where I met members of the cast and crew. Most importantly, I actually started watching the show again! Recorded it and everything! I didn’t know what I was getting into, but Soap Opera Digest had been teasing big stories via Executive Producer Ken Corday.
What I experienced, in addition to the anniversary fever itself, was months of rich storytelling that honored the past history of the show while taking bold moves for its future. I was glued to the television every say to see what would happen next. The writing was dope–I mean literally the best writing I think I’d ever seen on Days. The actors really stepped it up, too. The pacing was great, as well. Neither too slow nor too fast. And for good measure, Days brought back one plot device that has always worked in its favor: a serial killer.
Now I’m not a big time Hollywood soap writer, but I am pretty sure that they wheel in the serial killers when it’s time for budget cuts. I don’t know what the directive was at Days, but damn, they spared no family. It’s almost like Joseline Hernandez came up in the writer’s room in a blind fury saying “WHO ELSE WANT SOME?!”
So to recap the past several months: They killed off some girl whose name I don’t remember (sorry lady, you were pretty though) Serena Mason, and then they killed off Paige (who is the daughter of Eve Donovan, a legacy character they brought back with a new actress and inexplicable southern accent). Okay, whatever, later for them.
But then they killed off Will Horton. Luckily, they didn’t kill off the actor we all know and love as Will Horton, but his recast. I mean, the character is still dead, but it didn’t have the emotional oomph because it wasn’t the actor who we saw through Will’s coming out story.
When I tell you I boo-hooed. I was a wreck. No more good.
Chad DiMera was framed for the murders (if you don’t know who he is, your break from Days was too long) but it was really this dude named Ben Weston WHO IS HOT BY THE WAY.
Anyway, blah blah blah, yackity smackity, Bo Brady came back only to die of a brain tumor and really be dead. Then Hope Brady killed Stefano DiMera in retaliation and he is really dead. Then Eric Brady went drunk driving on New Year’s night and killed Dr. Daniel Jonas and he is really dead.
Then Ciara got raped! Then the Salem teens literally rounded up the rapist–lynch mob style–and took him to a warehouse so Ciara could get her revenge!
Most recently, and most satisfyingly (aside from the for-real death of Stefano DiMera), they finally gave my boy John Black a complete story. It turns out his real father is the leader of an international spy/assassin ring called the Phantom Alliance. This shit is like the Deadly Vipers from Kill Bill had a baby with Cobra-La from G.I. Joe and it was Jigsaw from Saw! No, really guys. John Black’s father is Jigsaw, actor Tobin Bell!
Honorable mentions: Theo Huxtable Carver, as portrayed by Kyler Pettis, is excellent as the autistic son of Abe Carver and would-be boyfriend of Ciara Brady. His half-sister, Detective Lani Price joined the cast during the 50th anniversary celebrations as well and it’s so nice seeing Abe’s family grow again. I am glad that Rafe Hernandez and the rest of his family have more to do and are finally starting to feel like an independent crew, not just love interests for the other characters (although they are still that). And generally speaking, shout out to keeping the elder/senior actors working in significant ways. I adore seeing Victor, Caroline, Maggie, Doug, and Julie drive story.
But let me focus for just a moment about the feel of the show. Many long time fans felt that the show was entirely too depressing for the 50th, and I totally understand where they are coming from. You didn’t really expect a core character to come back only to die, and Bo Brady was certainly a favorite.
But the writer in me wants you all to know that Ken Corday was right when he told the media “The show is going to be the best it’s ever been and I defy anyone to prove me wrong.”
Rather than keeping us in a holding pattern about Peter Reckell’s status, they let him retire. The fans have never taken well to Bo recasts, so let him go. And let his departure drive story for years to come.
Same with retiring Joe Mascolo as Stefano. We all love Stefano, but for how much longer could we really believe that this one man cause this much havoc at this age, especially when almost all his children are dead, too? Days artfully, respectfully, and realistically sent Stefano out. Artful in the irony of it all–getting killed when he didn’t even do what they thought he did. Respectfully in that his enemies came together to recall their shared trauma–and his son Chad truly being the only person to grieve (well, not counting the crazed Andre). And realistically in that his body was indeed recovered with no real room for error.
Stefano’s death, however, did create an artistic void. Who would be the next “Big Bad?” There is only one DiMera heir in the running and he’s not interested in the mantle. And Andre is too crazed. Also, the DiMeras are broke because Sami stole all their money. (sidenote: HAHAHAHAHHA)
So enter John Black’s father, as stated above. Watching that episode today had me laid out on the ground like I do after watching an exceptionally good episode of Scandal. It was dark. It was scary. It was mysterious. Learning about this new entity, the Phantom Alliance, after years and years of growing used to Stefano, the ISA, and the Kiriakis dynasty, made me feel like I stumbled onto that good shit!
Yes, it’s campy, but only a tad! It’s adventure! It’s intrigue! It makes me feel like how I felt back in the 80s when I first began watching! I like seeing my old favorites in new adventures, and seeing the teenagers mirror their parents’ best and worst qualities.
Thank you Ken Corday, the writers, and the cast. I know this industry is not easy, but you do it so gracefully. I appreciate that you breathed life back into “my stories” and have made it the most unique show on daytime right now. Kudos, snaps, and keep up the good work.
So I Met Days of Our Lives
Last week I got to meet several cast members from Days of Our Lives! [Read more…] about So I Met Days of Our Lives
Breaking the Boycott of Sorority Sisters
My name is Rashid Darden and I am a novelist. I am also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Acting independently from my fraternity and the members who have chosen to boycott, I plan to exercise my own rights:
I will be watching the remaining episodes of Sorority Sisters this Friday night on VH1 from 9:30pm onward.
As I’ve already stated in an earlier essay, I believe that the backlash from the show stems primarily from the dangerous and alienating respectability politics of black folks. Since that essay, and since subsequent shows have aired, I have been witness to the devolution of values of the members of fraternities and sororities who are against the show.
I’ve seen women exclaim gleefully that they couldn’t wait for their sisters to be expelled from their organizations. The cast members of the show have spoken about the death threats they have received, but fraternity and sorority members only said “Well if that were true, the police would be involved.”
Spoken by people who have never been impacted by cyber bullying and harassment.
Perhaps even more insidious than the aggressive attacks against these women is the acts of the bystanders joining the protests. People joined the boycott because it was the popular thing to do. I had friends who supported the boycott who admittedly only did so because they don’t like shows which air “dirty laundry.”
I also suspect that there were those who were adamant about supporting the boycott because it positioned them to be quoted in national media as an expert in Greek life, to perhaps boost their sales or notoriety. Can’t knock the hustle, I guess.
Meanwhile, I have seen a great deal of non-Greeks support the show. They say to me that they are glad to see that real people are members of these organizations–not just the St. John suit-wearing, mink-flaunting, middle-aged socialites, but real women who have bills and kids and kids’ fathers–just like them.
Behind all of this backlash, some will be suspended. Yes, some will be expelled, but hopefully not without deep conversations about sweeping codes of conduct and broad codes of ethics. Conversations need to happen about why some members are given the harshest penalties while others skip off into the sunset, saved because of their high positions in their organizations. Saved because of the political heft of their chapters of initiation. Why can a man who steals from one chapter be expelled from an entire national fraternity, but a national leader who steals from his entire fraternity is not? Why justice for some, but not for all?
Let’s be clear: These women are not being punished for the show. They are being punished for the attention. Had this been a no-budget YouTube series, this would not have been an issue.
But these are conversations to be had within the organizations. Perhaps the lessons learned from Sorority Sisters will be the impetus that all organizations need to create policies which recognize and reaffirm that disclosure of one’s membership does not tarnish a century-old legacy. Indeed, tarnish doesn’t happen overnight.
Perhaps the legacies first began to tarnish when that first person decided that their organization should fund their travel rather than paying for it out of pocket.
Perhaps the legacies first began to tarnish when that first person voted “no” on a candidate because they were suspected to be “funny” or a “confirmed bachelor.”
Perhaps the legacies first began to tarnish when that first person turned their nose up at a young man or young woman who came to college at a nontraditional age.
Sorority Sisters has not made the public think less of Greek letter organizations. It has given us, the members of Greek letter organizations, an opportunity to check ourselves.
We are not perfect. And how we have handled Sorority Sisters reflects our imperfections. The reaction has saddened me, to be honest, especially in the midst of so much in the world we could be working on.
It’s funny to me how none of the conversations I’ve observed have mentioned how our organizations could get a handle on Sorority Sisters and use a second season of it as a vehicle for changing the culture of Greekdom itself. Kefla Hare’s (Alpha Phi Alpha) appearance on Road Rules Australia truly made me look at Alpha in a different light when I was in high school. Before him, I considered Alphas to be arrogant, out of touch, and pompous. Kefla’s appearance on MTV and his representation of a real Alpha made me reconsider. Put Kameelah, an AKA who appeared on Real World Boston in that category also.
This generation deserves to see itself in April, Cat, Adrene, Shanna, Priyanka, MeToya, Joy, Lydia, and Veronica, with all of their efforts to be good, to be better, and to be real. We are not our sisters’ keepers – we are our sisters. We are our brothers. Whether they look like we look or act like we act, we are still them and they are still us.
Thank you, Sorority Sisters, for showing us as we really are–on your side of the television and on ours.
Sisterhood Under the Microscope: Respectability, Social Media, and VH1’s “Sorority Sisters”
Last night, I watched VH1’s Sorority Sisters. It’s a new reality show following a group of women in Atlanta who are all members of various black sororities. This summer, a teaser was released and the good respectable black folks of the internet were whipped into a frenzy. Boycotts ensued and the teaser was removed from Vimeo.
Then, in a surprise move, VH1 announced just last week that Sorority Sisters would indeed be making it to prime time, with the popular Love & Hip-Hop New York as the lead-in. The good respectable black folks of the internet were shocked–indeed, horrified–to see that their petition had failed despite all their best efforts. I like reality television so I knew right from the beginning that I would be watching. VH1 in particular invests in their unscripted programming in ways some of the other networks do not, so hopefully the production values would suggest a strong investment.
The show itself entertained me. What sets it apart is that I didn’t have to be a housewife, doctor or doctor’s partner, music mogul, or even wealthy to truly connect with the cast. They were all college educated people who were involved in Greek life. That’s me, too.
I think what makes the show work for me is also why it has frightened so many of the Greeks out there: it is familiar. It is personal. It is revealing.
The paper/made debate was brought up as a tangent to the issue of perps. Is she really a soror? Is she lying? Why is she evasive? Is she real? This is the black Greek culture. This is not surprising at all–it’s just now in the public sphere.
The struggle to accept white members of BGLOs was on full display. So was the teasing of the lone Lady Sigma. This is not new.
I can tell you as a guest blogger for Divine Nine Lover, the aspirants who are in college now already know this culture. We put it on full display right in front of them. I know because they ask us all the time “Why should we be discreet when we know everybody’s business already?”
I get it. I feel them. That horse is already out of the barn.
And I know my “nieces” and “nephews” will be watching this show and will have more questions, and I’m here for it. I think perhaps we underestimate this younger generation. They code-switch well. They know, generally, what’s appropriate and what’s not, just like with any other reality show.
But what’s bothered me has been the response from my fellow Greeks, even before the first episode dropped. You had some people outlining how to conduct a boycott of the show’s advertisers.
How the hell you gonna boycott a show you haven’t seen yet when some of your organizations won’t even let you wear letters to protests?
Listen: I am in favor of any structure which sheds light on the truth. It is my opinion that Sorority Sisters shows the truth of membership in a Greek letter organization. It won’t always be pretty and prissy.
Some sorority members have terrible attitudes. So do some fraternity members. We are not all Martin Luther King–nor do some of us want to be.
Some sorority members are burlesque performers. And you know what? Some fraternity members are very successful porn stars. I am here for it.
Some brothers and sisters are white–and maybe, just maybe when we see Shanna’s story unfold, the members of our orgs who have problems with white members can get over it, and the ones who treat white members like a special accomplishment can get over that, too.
My life as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha has not always been great, and I tell my truth as often as I am able. When I published my first novel Lazarus in 2005, the reactions from my brothers were mixed. Only three people in my alumni chapter supported me with a purchase. I was surrounded by brothers at Howard University and told the founders would be rolling over in their graves because of me. Another brother blocked my website from the university’s servers. And even at the Centennial convention, a brother spent twenty minutes telling me how he couldn’t support a novel about gay people. (But at minute 21, he sho-nuff bought one.)
I say these things not because I am bitter, but because I, too, have been boycotted. I was Alpha’s inconvenient truth: an openly gay member who was always openly gay who wrote books with gay themes. Brothers were not feeling that, me, my books, nothing. No, not all brothers. Many outside my chapter and outside my area were very supportive and still are. I made some of the best friends of my life in the frat at that time, because real people attract real people.
But to just say from the very beginning that you won’t support a show about sorority women just for the possibility that it might portray the sororities in a negative light is hypocritical and reeks of respectability politics.
Oh no, can’t show this on TV!
It will embarrass us!
It will make us all look bad!
Sorority Sisters doesn’t make sororities look bad. It is a reflection (and possibly amplification) of just….life.
Obnoxious. Sensitive. Naive. Sisterly. Loving. Evil. Greedy. Compassionate. Wise. Salt of the earth. Head in the clouds.
That’s what I saw.
I see the same things when I watch Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta. Yes, home of Joseline Hernandez and Stevie J and Mimi and the Shower Rod.
You don’t see the sensitivity of Joseline under her coarse exterior? You don’t feel a kinship with who she is and what she’s been through? When you see the “Puerto Rican Princess,” don’t you see your own sister?
Maybe that’s the problem. We’re so busy “othering” the reality stars who didn’t go to college, who didn’t pledge, who are just common and ratchet and therefore beneath us, that we miss their own humanity and our kinship with them as human beings.
No show of this kind will be everything you want it to be. There will be drama. There will be larger-than-life personalities. But please don’t characterize this show as the worst thing to happen to Greekdom. Fraternities and sororities have far worse problems with which to concern themselves.