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September 18, 2007 9:02 PM Subscribe
Carleton has the book for you. Bonus portable breakdancing mat! Priceless '80s video from the soon-to-be sidekick to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air
It's "Carlton" actually. And there's a bunch of other interesting clips of him on youtube.
posted by puke & cry at 9:26 PM on September 18, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 9:26 PM on September 18, 2007
Awesome. I love to see that guy dance.
posted by Liosliath at 9:37 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Liosliath at 9:37 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
When I was young and watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, I always assumed that Carleton's dancing was the product of random flailing about. With more years of experience as a dancer under my belt, I realize that each move reeks of technical proficiency. He can look so ridiculous because he's got incredible control over his body. I was a fool not to see it!
What interests me is that it seems that it looks like he's got training outside that outlined in his 80's break dancing book ad. I must read more about this man.
posted by Mister Cheese at 9:46 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
What interests me is that it seems that it looks like he's got training outside that outlined in his 80's break dancing book ad. I must read more about this man.
posted by Mister Cheese at 9:46 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
That's so strange- this is actually my main mental image of him. I still think of him as Alfonso Ribiero, the breakdancing kid who danced with Michael Jackson and was on Silver Spoons. And I'm always surprised to think that he later went on to play the square guy on Fresh Prince.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:02 PM on September 18, 2007
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:02 PM on September 18, 2007
Why does he keep snarling at me?
posted by poweredbybeard at 10:21 PM on September 18, 2007
posted by poweredbybeard at 10:21 PM on September 18, 2007
And I'm always surprised to think that he later went on to play the square guy on Fresh Prince.
At least that's better than knowing that he later went on to play a steroid junkie that spawned a giant, killer tick.
posted by puke & cry at 10:22 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
At least that's better than knowing that he later went on to play a steroid junkie that spawned a giant, killer tick.
posted by puke & cry at 10:22 PM on September 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Classic MetaFilter. Why can't every post be a trove of Alfonso Ribeiro trivia?
posted by hjo3 at 10:56 PM on September 18, 2007
posted by hjo3 at 10:56 PM on September 18, 2007
With more years of experience as a dancer under my belt, I realize that each move reeks of technical proficiency. He can look so ridiculous because he's got incredible control over his body.
I used to hang out with some dudes who knew their stage combat, and they all agreed that in order to portray a comically bad fighter you had to first learn how to portray a good fighter, both in terms of safety and in terms of selling it to the audience.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:18 PM on September 18, 2007
I used to hang out with some dudes who knew their stage combat, and they all agreed that in order to portray a comically bad fighter you had to first learn how to portray a good fighter, both in terms of safety and in terms of selling it to the audience.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:18 PM on September 18, 2007
And then my mom got scared...
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:18 PM on September 18, 2007
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:18 PM on September 18, 2007
That was radical.
And Alfonso Ribiero goodness aside, hearing Genius of Love always makes me happy.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:45 PM on September 18, 2007
And Alfonso Ribiero goodness aside, hearing Genius of Love always makes me happy.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:45 PM on September 18, 2007
Mister Cheese and Lioslaith, many of the "Carlton Banks" dances are actually real 60s-era craze dances, like the Watusi (scroll about 1/3 way down).
posted by Brittanie at 2:16 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Brittanie at 2:16 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Sorry, yes. It is "Carlton," not "Carleton." I need to be a better Fresh Prince Fact Checker.
Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese: you OWNED this book?!?! I believe you are my new hero. So... did you graduate to the moves your mom wouldn't like?
posted by gforce414 at 4:11 AM on September 19, 2007
Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese: you OWNED this book?!?! I believe you are my new hero. So... did you graduate to the moves your mom wouldn't like?
posted by gforce414 at 4:11 AM on September 19, 2007
Thanks Brittanie - yep, I'm familiar with those. I even do a passable Mashed Potato.
posted by Liosliath at 4:39 AM on September 19, 2007
posted by Liosliath at 4:39 AM on September 19, 2007
bit of trivia: The primary Carlton dance is based on Courtney Cox's dancing in the Bruce Springsteen video she was in, where he pulls her on stage (the song escapes me now)
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 4:52 AM on September 19, 2007
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 4:52 AM on September 19, 2007
From breakin' and poppin' to dating a porn star (nsfw, duh).
posted by lowlife at 6:57 AM on September 19, 2007
posted by lowlife at 6:57 AM on September 19, 2007
This rules! I just called the number in the commercial and ordered the book, breakin' mat, and rap LPs. Thanks, Alfonso!
posted by porn in the woods at 8:33 AM on September 19, 2007
posted by porn in the woods at 8:33 AM on September 19, 2007
This post taught me how to love again.
Thank you.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:43 AM on September 19, 2007
Thank you.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:43 AM on September 19, 2007
Dancing in the Dark, I believe. Ahhh yes, there she is at 3:40. Clap, Clarence! Clap!
posted by miss lynnster at 8:46 AM on September 19, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 8:46 AM on September 19, 2007
gforce414: Actually it was my older brother's book, somebody gave it to him for Christmas. Big brother didn't want to share -- I suppose he wanted to be the only breakdancer in the household -- so I had to sneak in his room when he was out to study it.
I never got very far past the basics: moonwalking, a bit of locking, some popping. The advanced spinning about the floor moves were left to the experts. I don't remember the "rap sheet" with the lyrics, but I do remember the mat because my brother had it spread out on his bedroom floor.
Unfortunately I have no idea what happened to it all. Both my brother and I discovered we had little talent for dancing and thus that avenue was not going to lead us to the middle school ladiez. Breakdancing was eventually tossed aside in our house. But I can still moonwalk.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 8:59 AM on September 19, 2007
I never got very far past the basics: moonwalking, a bit of locking, some popping. The advanced spinning about the floor moves were left to the experts. I don't remember the "rap sheet" with the lyrics, but I do remember the mat because my brother had it spread out on his bedroom floor.
Unfortunately I have no idea what happened to it all. Both my brother and I discovered we had little talent for dancing and thus that avenue was not going to lead us to the middle school ladiez. Breakdancing was eventually tossed aside in our house. But I can still moonwalk.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 8:59 AM on September 19, 2007
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