JOHNNY WITHERSPOON, R.I.P.

In light of his passing, I’ve realized I’ve worked with Johnny Witherspoon more than any other actor.  From the first time we worked together, I realized he was “comedy insurance” because he made sure whatever scene he was in was funny.  He was also a great guy who you wanted to be around.  I was looking forward to working with him again.  Such a terrible loss.  Love to his wife Angela and their kids.

HOUSE PARTY

All those memorable jokes, like “Public Enema”, were improvised by Spoon. The later bit in the bedroom with the hilarious Bebe Drake were actually scripted, with extra flavor from those two brilliant minds.

BOOMERANG

I knew I wanted Spoon and Bebe to return in the Thanksgiving scene for BOOMERANG.  Since David Alan Grier’s character was so uptight, but from Detroit, I wanted to show the parents he was desperately not trying to emulate – Spoon, also from Detroit, is the perfect embarrassing parent.  Ironically, both Bebe’s and David’s father worked in psychotherapy. 

Whenever David and Martin were on set, crew members would cluster around them to listen in on whatever funniness they were up to. But Spoon and Bebe took it all to the next level.  I remember going home that Friday with a headache from laughing too hard all day long. 

I kept laughing all weekend over the joke that we should have David’s parents having sex in the bathroom.  I woke up that Monday morning rushing to work to tell Eddie that we HAD to shoot it.  Turns out he also had been obsessing over it all weekend and was rushing to tell me the same thing. 

When we shot it, we laughed so hard we just kept doing take after take for our own enjoyment.

TIDE TV COMMERCIAL

I did a commercial for Tide and cast John Witherspoon.  He was brilliant as always.

BEBE’S KIDS

After his brilliant performance in HOUSE PARTY, the plan was for Robin Harris to star in BEBE’S KIDS, based on his comic routine.  But he passed away before we could start production. So, to make sure he will always be remembered, I turned it into an animated movie instead. 

We had an all-star vocal cast, including Johnny Witherspoon as one of the dirty old men checking out good looking women at the funeral.

THE BOONDOCKS

One of Witherspoon’s most famous roles is Grandpa in THE BOONDOCKS.  He was a no brainer and helped us define the Uncle Ruckus character as well. 

THE LADIES MAN

The SNL production team doesn’t always love using comics that aren’t part of the SNL family, but Spoon was an integral part of this film.  Sorry for the terrible resolution.

GEORGE CLINTON:  MARTIAL LAW

This is my second video for George Clinton when he was signed to Prince’s Paisley Park Records.  It’s full of cameos like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sinbad as Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk.

COSMIC SLOP

COSMIC SLOP was a Twilight Zone style anthology special I did for HBO.  Spoon was in the segment my brother wrote and directed called THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.  I can’t find a clip on YouTube! 

RIDE

Spoon and Cedric the Entertainer are bus drivers in this movie my brother and I produced.  No clips for that on YouTube either!

THE MAKING OF SAFETY — SHOOTING AT CLEMSON

Photo by Toyia Brown

SAFETY writer Randy McKinnon and director Reginald Hudlin with Isaac and Elijah Bell, two of the stars of the film.

REGGIE IN WILLYWEAR IN THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Photo by Toyia Brown

MEN’S ATHLEISURE FOR WORK? HOLLYWOOD EXECS EMBRACE CASUAL TREND

Can elevated track pants and hoodies perform in C-suites, too? Quibi’s Jim Toth and director Reginald  Hudlin say yes: It’s “the culmination of a century of change toward comfort.”

While athleisure pieces comprise the wardrobe foundation of many Americans — pants and leggings alone drove a $1 billion business in 2018 — the concept of workout-wear-meets-business-casual has not penetrated Hollywood as an acceptable executive staple. Until now. Unsurprisingly, it’s the men who are bringing the laid-back look into C-suites, forgoing tailored suits and button-downs for sleek track pants and fitted hoodies to take them from power lunches to sporting events.

The brand that swayed Jim Toth, head of content and talent acquisitions at Quibi; Michael Rotenberg, founder of 3 Arts; Richard Weitz, WME partner and co-head of scripted TV; producer and director Reginald Hudlin; and Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi to cross over to the (much more) casual side is Willy California. The recently launched line of men’s athleisure clothing was created by L.A. co-founder of cupcake chain Sprinkles and beloved Pizzana eateries Charles Nelson. Think pants cut like jeans but made from a nylon and bamboo stretch fabric, a quarter zip pullover that reads much nicer than a sweatshirt and workout shorts that the brand describes on its website as having a “socially acceptable inseam.”

Nelson says the aim is to deliver a professional guy’s uniform, giving him options to wear all day long, from work to play. “For the past 100 years, men have been sloughing off formal wardrobe elements — things that need to be ironed or dry-cleaned, things that restrain their bodies or require a belt,” says fashion academic and historian Deirdre Clemente at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. “Athleisure for men is the obvious culmination of a century of change [toward] embracing comfort and practicality.”

Photo by Toyia Brown

Reginald Hudlin on the set of SAFETY with Luke Tennie, Chris Setticase. Isaac and Elijah Bell;

For Toth, athleisure makes sense on frenetic days. “Managing multiple businesses, constant travel, three kids and a serious golf habit, I have to keep it simple, comfortable and classic,” he says. Adds Weitz, “Not only do I love the brand for myself, but I am a big fan of it for my clients.” Hudlin says he wears it on set, in the editing room, on cross-country flights, at his children’s after-school events and during workouts. It’s yet to be seen if sweat-wicking T-shirts will replace a shirt and tie in high-powered meetings, but one thing is clear: Hollywood men’s infatuation with athleisure has begun. Says Rotenberg: “Willy clothes are always so comfortable with their great fabrics and fit. I love that the colors and branding are low-key and are made right here in California.”