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So ROOTS (1977) is going to play on cable down here in January

post #1 of 28
12/30/08 at 1:53am
Thread Starter 



Kunta-kinte and co are coming in that most famous and epic of TV mini-series to aussie cable mid-January and, having never seen it myself, I'm debating whether I should check out this famous moment in television history.

I've heard about it my entire life, for my parents generation it is seemingly iconic to them and become such a historical TV milestone, that I'm definately curious.

From those who have seen it - would it still hold up today? Has it become so parodied that I won't be able to take it seriously?

Are it's politics a little hokey today or still very relevant?

Will the production itself just seem really dated?

I guess Im asking if I should bother or will the legend of the show taint a modern first-watch?
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post #2 of 28
12/30/08 at 1:54am
if you haven't seen Roots, you are a racist
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post #3 of 28
12/30/08 at 1:59am
I can't see that cover without seeing Dave Chappelle, I just can't.
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post #4 of 28
12/30/08 at 2:01am
Roots: The Next Generation is better.

Jor-El vs. Darth Vader - The Final Showdown.
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post #5 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny View Post
I can't see that cover without seeing Dave Chappelle, I just can't.
Chappelles utterly classic pisstake is one of the reasons I'm worried I'll have trouble taking it seriously to be honest.
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post #6 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:49am
If you think you'll have a hard time taking that seriously because of Chappelle, wait till OJ Simpson shows up.
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post #7 of 28
12/30/08 at 4:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post
If you think you'll have a hard time taking that seriously because of Chappelle, wait till OJ Simpson shows up.
No way!
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post #8 of 28
12/30/08 at 6:43am
Holy Shit now I have to watch this.
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post #9 of 28
12/30/08 at 7:56am
Thread Starter 
Fox Classics, starting January 19 if I remember correctly Matt.
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post #10 of 28
12/30/08 at 8:31am
I don't get these threads. With a movie or a miniseries why not watch it and see if you like it?

I get asking about TV shows (and I've done it) that have LOTS of episodes, but ROOTS is pretty self-contained.
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post #11 of 28
12/30/08 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 
...are you a fan of Roots Dev?
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post #12 of 28
12/30/08 at 8:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf View Post
I don't get these threads. With a movie or a miniseries why not watch it and see if you like it?

I get asking about TV shows (and I've done it) that have LOTS of episodes, but ROOTS is pretty self-contained.
I cant speak for Rain Dogs perception of this property, but for us down here Roots is more of a punch line than anthing else. We know it only from gags and references so i guess RD was trying to ask if it was actually a decent show worth a look.
I'm not going to miss it, frankly.
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post #13 of 28
12/30/08 at 11:32am
It's worth watching. I rented it with my (then) girlfriend about 4 years ago as she had never seen it and I hadn't watched since the early 90's (im 30 now), and it held up very well. The miniseries is literally a who's who of black actors from the late 70's many of whom are great "that guy's" who would have been much bigger stars if the miniseries aired in the late 80's instead. There was some great acting, with a little 70's hokeyness thrown in for good measure.
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post #14 of 28
12/30/08 at 11:44am
It's worth re-watching, but, separated from the time in which it originally aired, the impact is somewhat lessened.
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post #15 of 28
12/30/08 at 11:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank The Tank View Post
The miniseries is literally a who's who of black actors from the late 70's many of whom are great "that guy's" who would have been much bigger stars if the miniseries aired in the late 80's instead.
I was about to make some joke about "Roots" not featuring the incomparable Scatman Crothers, but then I checked IMDB and good ole Scat apparently plays "Mingo". If that doesn't make "Roots" a must watch, what does?
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post #16 of 28
12/30/08 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
It's worth re-watching, but, separated from the time in which it originally aired, the impact is somewhat lessened.
I agree. It's not like it's going to give you a new outlook on race relations in america, like it did for so many back then. But it still is a good watch.
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post #17 of 28
12/30/08 at 12:55pm
It was captivating as a kid in the 70s. My whole racist family watched it. I remember having favorite characters (Kizzy and Chicken George!) but I barely remember the plot(s).
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post #18 of 28
12/30/08 at 1:11pm
I just remembering thinking there's no way LeVar Burton could grow up to be John Amos.
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post #19 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Rain Dog View Post
...are you a fan of Roots Dev?
Probably of the book; not that television horseshit!
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post #20 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:16pm
And Robert "Mike Brady" Reed plays the plantation owner.
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post #21 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:27pm
Ed Asner getting asked if he wants a "belly warmer" is always fun too.
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post #22 of 28
12/30/08 at 3:44pm
The hell?
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post #23 of 28
12/31/08 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Ed Asner getting asked if he wants a "belly warmer" is always fun too.
Sadly, that's the first memory that sprung to mind when I read the thread title. That, and Ben Vereen hopping that fence.

I'm a racist bastard.
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post #24 of 28
12/31/08 at 12:41pm
And the great thing is that it's Pa Walton who asks him!
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post #25 of 28
12/31/08 at 3:45pm
I always liked when ABC was airing Battle of the Network Stars and OJ Simpson was one of the hosts and basically guaranteed that ABC would win the running relay because they had Levar Burton running the anchor leg and when they were filming their running sequence in Roots they had to ask Levar to slow down so OJ could catch him.
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post #26 of 28
1/2/09 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Napoleon14 View Post
I always liked when ABC was airing Battle of the Network Stars and OJ Simpson was one of the hosts and basically guaranteed that ABC would win the running relay because they had Levar Burton running the anchor leg and when they were filming their running sequence in Roots they had to ask Levar to slow down so OJ could catch him.
How wonderfully un-PC Battle of the Network Stars was. you can catch them on Youtube now and just laugh at the wonderfull world of arrogent celebs before the PC police and 24/hour news cycles were invented.
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post #27 of 28
1/2/09 at 1:36pm
Plus, Lynda Carter in a bathing suit.
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post #28 of 28
1/2/09 at 1:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Plus, Lynda Carter in a bathing suit.

Always a fine thing.
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