On the one hand, I'm inclined to agree with his point about labels. On the other hand, I'm reluctant to take fashion advice from Mr T. On the gripping hand, gods the man's delivery is wooden. posted by rodgerd at 1:25 AM on August 1, 2011
(YouTube caption): A fashion show, hosted by Mr. T, from the 80's. I don't own this video, so all copyrights belong to Mr. T or whoever made this video.
It's part of a segment from Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool. The whole hour-long show is posted as a 6-parter here. Someone needs to find Topper Carew and get the backstory on how this whole production came together. posted by crapmatic at 2:21 AM on August 1, 2011 [9 favorites]
Surely those chains aren't real? It would take hours just to put them all on. It looks like a big one piece thing to me, maybe vacuformed plastic or something?. posted by Meatbomb at 2:56 AM on August 1, 2011
Goddam the Samsung Syncmaster P2350 is just too modern to view this. posted by the noob at 2:57 AM on August 1, 2011
'80s, huh? That's amazingly close to what all the yoofs near me seemed to be wearing last year. posted by Soulfather at 3:26 AM on August 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
I recommend crapmatic's link to the whole show. Mr T rapping. Mr T breakdancing. Mr T paraphrasing Shakespear. An early performance by New Edition. A highly acclaimed cast. It's absoludicrous! posted by Eumachia L F at 4:00 AM on August 1, 2011
He sounds exactly like Wesley Willis. posted by cmoj at 4:49 AM on August 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine from college spent most of high school in Lake Forest, Illinois: elite suburb of Chicago and home of Mr. T at the height of his fame. According to my friend, one day in the late 80's or early 90's, Mr. T got a chainsaw out of his garage and proceeded to cut down the tall trees in his front yard. He either didn't know or care that you need permits and an arborist's license to fell trees in a suburban yard. Allegedly, he wore his full complement of chains while he did it.
I love the thought of uptight, rich white people driving by and seeing a black bodybuilder with Fort Knox around his neck standing around a set of fresh tree stumps. When asked why he did it, Mr. T claimed that his allergies were bothering him and it was the trees to which he was allergic. posted by Mayor Curley at 4:56 AM on August 1, 2011 [5 favorites]
Good advice from Mr. T. posted by Flood at 5:05 AM on August 1, 2011
That video needed a stripper pole. posted by tomswift at 5:11 AM on August 1, 2011
I pity the fool who pauses at the line breaks in the teleprompter!
My concern with linking to anything Mr. T-related is that this is a website established primarily for the purpose of "jibber jabber," and my understanding of the Mr. T-party manifesto is that "jibber jabber" should be stopped, and "fools" who partake in jibber and/or jabber should be "pitied". So. posted by the quidnunc kid at 5:20 AM on August 1, 2011 [12 favorites]
Anyone know if Jeff is still cool?
Mod fashion, combined with hip hop dancing?
I have a feeling Jeff is doing just fine. Give him a stingy brim porkpie hat and set him loose at a Dollah D show, he'll still be turning heads. posted by Bunny Ultramod at 5:32 AM on August 1, 2011
Trying to imagine how different and/or the same this would be if we replaced Mr. T with Hulk Hogan. posted by Fizz at 5:35 AM on August 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mayor Curley, I have *exactly* the same story: a friend from Lake Forest who confirms that Mr. T was a maniacal tree-killer. Weird. posted by Dr. Wu at 5:36 AM on August 1, 2011
I have fond memories of the nearly endless string of Mr. T VS websites in the late 90s. Sadly most of them are gone.
Even the wayback machine has failed me.
I do remember a particularly good one in which he battled a solid gold T-3000, and then fought along side the "B-Team" comprised of Billy Dee Williams, Don Knotts and Vanilla Ice. posted by BishopFistwick at 5:39 AM on August 1, 2011
and then fought along side the "B-Team" comprised of Billy Dee Williams, Don Knotts and Vanilla Ice.
I will pay good money to see this come to life on the big screen. And Hollywood now knows it. posted by Fizz at 5:41 AM on August 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Mr. T for president! posted by swift at 5:59 AM on August 1, 2011
Mr. T is one day older than me, so I've always looked to him for advice.
Now I'm gonna have to get a pair of bib overall shorts (with my name on them) and a pair of non-matching socks. Then I'll be somebody. posted by MtDewd at 6:03 AM on August 1, 2011
My concern with linking to anything Mr. T-related is that this is a website established primarily for the purpose of "jibber jabber," and my understanding of the Mr. T-party manifesto is that "jibber jabber" should be stopped, and "fools" who partake in jibber and/or jabber should be "pitied". So.
It's not the jabber I don't like, it's the jibber. posted by mazola at 6:53 AM on August 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Words cannot express how wonderful this whole video is. Seriously. I first read about it on the Agony Booth and hunted down a copy on ebay. Now, every time I meet someone who hasn't seen it, we have viewings. Yes, it's a bit cultish, but the word of the T must be spread! posted by cottoncandybeard at 6:57 AM on August 1, 2011
I have fond memories of the nearly endless string of Mr. T VS websites in the late 90s. Sadly most of them are gone.
When I was in college this video would frequently play on the student-run tv-channel. I watched it quite a few times. posted by bleep at 8:54 AM on August 1, 2011
Did he say "she's a real hot dog"? posted by Beardman at 10:41 AM on August 1, 2011
Mr T doesn't like the cut of your jibber jabber, 80s fool. posted by MuffinMan at 10:42 AM on August 1, 2011
Mayor Curley, I have *exactly* the same story: a friend from Lake Forest who confirms that Mr. T was a maniacal tree-killer. Weird.
Are you guys friends with Dave Eggers? He tells this story in "A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius". posted by padraigin at 12:39 PM on August 1, 2011
Little did I know that that day, seven years ago, when a roommate got high and bought a copy of Be Somebody on eBay, would turn out to be perhaps the greatest day of my life. It's the last VHS tape I ever watched and I don't think I'll be able to top it--it is, in fact, the perfect VHS tape.
Truly a watershed moment in my development. I leverage the wisdom of Recouping every day, and I never scavenge second-hand cigarettes and beer from trashcans when New Edition is lurking nearby.
Mayor Curley, I have *exactly* the same story: a friend from Lake Forest who confirms that Mr. T was a maniacal tree-killer. Weird.
Are you guys friends with Dave Eggers? He tells this story in "A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius".
posted by padraigin at 3:39 PM on August 1 [+] [!]
Nope. Hate that guy's writing, and have never read his version of that tale. The story I heard is from my old friend Todd who grew up in or near Lake Forest. posted by Dr. Wu at 6:26 AM on August 2, 2011
« Older Here come old flat top, coming down fast, standing... | Jacque Fresco is 95 years old.... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by rodgerd at 1:25 AM on August 1, 2011