And in this corner….Two of the most successful Black filmmakers in Hollywood history are at one another’s throats again. It seems Tyler Perry never quite got over a 2009 interview in which legendary lensman Spike Lee quipped that Perry’s films “harken back to Amos n’ Andy.”
“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery,” Lee told 60 Minutes at the time. “I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s ‘Meet the Browns’ and ‘House of Payne’), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?”
After nearly two years of keeping his silence, Tyler unleashed the beast on Spike during a press conference for his latest comedy, Madea’s Big Happy Family, opening in theaters this weekend.
Even though he lives on the ritzy Upper West Side of Manhattan these days, Oscar-less lensman Spike Lee will continue to rep Brooklyn until the day he dies.
Here’s the official music video for Michael Jackson’s posthumous single, “This Is It!”
Directed by Academy Award nominated lensman Spike Lee, the video is a montage of Michael’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, as well as footage of the King of Pop throughout the years.
Tyler Perry appeared on 60 Minutes Sunday, where the hit filmmaker revealed thathe was “insulted” and “pissed off” by legendary lensman Spike Lee’s criticisms of Perry’s popular alter ego, Madea. Lee recently called Perry characters such as Madea examples of “coonery” and “buffoonery.”
“I would love to read that [criticism] to my fan base,” Perry told 60 Minutes correspondent Byron Pitts. “All these characters of mine are bait, bait to get people talking about God, love, family, and faith…..That pisses me off. It is so insulting,”
NBA legend Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie are urging Americans to get tested for the HIV-virus is pair of new public service announcement (entitled “Stand” and “Talk”) directed by veteran lensman Spike Lee. Magic, former star of the Los Angeles Lakers, tested positive for HIV in 1991. Read the rest of this entry »
Mariah Carey has teamed up with Spike Lee to create a video that makes fun of those who make fun of her. “Lovers and Haters,” which will be on the songbird’s new concert DVD, “The Adventures of Mimi” — features paid actors saying unkind things about Mariah. One young woman says, “I heard that ain’t even her real voice. She keeps this great singer in the dungeon. She only gives her bread and water and takes her out when it’s time to record.”
Spike Lee has been tapped to direct the Broadway revival of the 1951 comedy-drama “Stalag 17.” The play is about American prisoners of war written by two former P.O.W.’s, Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski. The play wiil debut in the Spring of 2008.
