#CouchWorthy: Untold: So I’m Telling You (Also Music Box on HBO)

Netflix is all in on creating a 30 for 30.

When ESPN started 30 for 30 like a hundred years ago (seriously Volume 1 started on October 6, 2009; how long ago does that feel to you?) there was nothing like it. I eagerly watched all of em and discovered sweet docs like The Two Escobars. I didn’t know many of those sports stories plus the docs were compelling and generally well done.

It was all good in the hood.

Now years later HBO is cranking out sports docs, Netflix as you can see has RSVPed to the party, Showtime has great offerings, (Showtime has the upcoming Kevin Garnett doc dropping this November…so IN for that.), YouTube…so now I’m starting to get picky.

I can’t watch all of this; nor do I want to. I run this risk of overlooking hidden gems like The Two Escobars but so be it.

Everyone’s pop culture is just as defined by what they haven’t consumed as they are by what is their jam.

Long winded way to confess: I’ll get around to watching Untold: Malice at the Palace though again that was all deftly covered in the Showtime doc on Ron Artest. 2019’s Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story. I dug that doc; better than Showtime’s The Resurgence: DeMarcus Cousins.

As for the rest of Untold…I’m like eh…maybe. I’m sure the docs are fine and I don’t know any of these stories but I’m also good.

Here’s the trailer; note the Volume 1:

Caitlyn Jenner I vaguely know as an Olympian but there’s no captivating story there. I dunno who Christy Martin (boxing) and Mardy Fish (tennis) are and I accept that’s the reason for their documentaries. Still hard to muster any enthusiasm up for that. The last one has potential: a hockey team bought by a man with mob ties. I could possibly watch Untold: Crime & Penalties on August 31st.

On the flipside HBO announced Music Box…that’s their 30 for 30 but all music related.

I already saw Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage which was an embarrassing tragedy and I’m talking about the documentary.

Coming up they got Jagged about the Alanis album Jagged Little Pill, Listening to Kenny G (eh…maybe again…show me a trailer), Untitled DMX and Untitled Juice WRLD. I’d be up for the last two for sure.

Their trailer:

Here’s an article describing Music Box for more details…

While here’s the Untold series…see if there’s any interest for these.

In the meantime I am curious about Netflix’s Naomi Osaka docuseries but 3 parts at 45 minutes each is a lot of commitment. I dunno if she’s done enough and won enough to justify 3 parts.

Tiger Woods and Tom Brady though…they are clearly winners and need a Last Dance badly. How can we make that happen?

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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

#CouchWorthy: Blackballed (Who Makes The Game?)

Today Quibi released more full episodes on YouTube including the first episode of Blackballed. Sigh. Set in 2014 Blackballed begins when audio of NBA owner Donald Sterling who was recorded…in his home making racist comments was irresponsibly given to the media. The doc follows the challenges the predominately black NBA players and coach (Doc Rivers!) faced as they formulated a response.

However, as you’ll see in this first episode…it starts off by criticizing Jordan for the whole “Republicans by sneakers!” thing…basically committing the “crime” of not speaking up which is contrasted with LeBron/DWade’s “modern activism.” (Muhammad Ali lost his Championship and years of his prime fighting time…LeBron put up a hoodie for Trayvon Martin. It’s really not the same inspiring athlete activism.)

My issue isn’t what Donald Sterling said/did: there was already plenty of evidence to suggest a pattern. I didn’t need the tapes and his recorded comments which of course were still wrong. My issue is that we comfortably glossed over how the comments were recorded.

Donald Sterling was recorded in his own home without his permission. Yo…we’re ok with that?! Nobody in the media…nobody in the NBA said anything. Really? I’m not comfortable with that at all.

I hope the doc eventually addresses that: because flat out that’s wrong. Why are we glossing this over? The ends do not in any way shape or form justify the means. There’s no way I’m willing to bend on this.

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 6 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 6 covers Episodes I through X of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria.” — Dr. Peter Venkman

A Deep Three:
The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan’s number 23 in April 2003 to honor Jordan’s achievements and contributions in basketball. The Heat are the only NBA team other than the Chicago Bulls to have retired the number 23 jersey.

1:00:
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Q: We survived the end of the Bulls dynasty only to face the end of the world with Y2K. Do you have any Y2K memories…were you fearful? Was it media hype?

4:46:
Since we’re talking about the The Last Dance as a whole: where would you like to start:
Q: Was Jordan a bully or did we all just soft?

8:02:
Q: Would you say Jordan was a bully with Isiah Thomas and the Olympics?
Isiah Thomas scores a gold medal for being a jerk.

15:45:
Q: Does Horace Grant have the truth or does he just have tears?
The Last Dance soundtrack includes so much crying.

18:42:
Q: Was the Bulls Horace Grant team better or was the Bulls Rodman team better?
The Bulls are like The Beatles…

39:35:
Q: Can you explain what Jordan’s Love of the Game clause in his contact was?
Jordan wanted to crush fools at the Y.

49:50:
Q: The portrayal or the betrayal of Pippen: was Pippen fairly treated by this doc?
People get so furious so fast with Tyrese.

56:20:
Q: Who gets screwed over by The Last Dance more than anybody else?
Every detective story is focused on: “Who Benefits.”

59:00:
Q: What if Jerry Krause wasn’t as bad as we thought. What are your Jerry Krause emotions?
“Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying.”

1:04:17:
Q: Did Jerry Reinsdorf get off too easy in The Last Dance?
Did he take “ownership” for his decisions?

1:19:32:
Q: Do you think that Jordan’s relationships should have been part of The Last Dance or do you think that was all appropriately off limits?
The Kids!

1:24:00:
Q: The ultimate question really is: what you think of the docuseries as a whole?
Storytelling vs the stories we tell.

1:43:49:
Q: Would it have helped to have some sort of a narrative or narrator?
The Last Dance needed The Wonder Years Narrator especially over the game footage.

1:56:30:
Q: Where do we go from here: can we expect more 90s NBA stories or has Jordan said all he’s going to say?
The Last Dance is The Last Word.

JT’s Recommendations
O.J.: Made In America
Stop At Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story

DC’s Recommendations
30 for 30: Lance

Sammy’s Recommendations
Jason Hehir’s Next Project (which is?!)

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“Hoop dreamin’, hangin up pictures of my idols/Jordan was like Jesus, SLAM was like the Bible/I used to read it twice and cut the pictures out/Had the Jordan free throw dunk tongue stickin’ out…” J Cole: I Got It

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 5 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 5 covers Episodes IX and X of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“Russell was already stumbling away. That hand on his backside was the equivalent of a maître d’ showing someone to their table.” — Bob Costas

A Deep Three:
According to Jim O’Brien: Chris Mullin was similar to NBA legend Larry Bird because both players lacked speed, had a great outside shot and had the innate ability to put their defender off guard. And ah…both are white players.

1:00:
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Since this episode covers the final episodes of The Last Dance we’ll focus on endings: Team Tupac or Team Biggie: which of those tragic endings hit you the hardest?

4:45:
Our Suggested Titles for Episode IX
Don’t Mess With Black Jesus!

7:00:
Q: Do you miss those Pacer teams the way you do the Knicks or any other 90s NBA teams?
We never really talk about the Pacers.

13:13:
Q: Unbalanced: way too much in-game play vs modern talking heads?
Unmoored like a lost time traveller (whatever that means…)

15:35:
Q: Who is your favourite white NBA player?
Let’s put Larry Bird aside…

28:58:
Q: Who was Bison Dele?
“On July 6, 2002 Dele and his girlfriend, Serena Karlan, his brother Miles Dabord and skipper Bertrand Saldo set sail. Only Miles Dabord returned to shore.” Oh-Oh.

30:11:
Q: How does Jordan’s Flu Game compare to Pippen’s foibles?
Calling in sick at work? I know a guy who can write a doctor’s note for you…

33:16:
Q: Speaking of foibles: Bryon Russell Makes The List.
Foolishness.

42:50:
Q: Who is the Jordan of Comedy?
I mean…I think we all know.

44:54:
Our Suggested Titles for Episode X
“The Last Dance.”

1:03:28:
Q: What do you have to say about Game 6?
Hard to get through this without tears.

1:18:00:
Q: Do you feel the way this final Bulls run came together: was it destiny or just the necessary push the Bulls’ needed to conclude their dynasty?
Carpe That Diem.

1:20:30:
Q: With a heavy heart…should we talk about that coffee can scene?
I wanna hear Jordan’s version of Oh The Places You’ll Go!

1:27:34:
Q: What are your recommendations?
The Last Dance is over…pop culture is not.

JT’s Recommendations
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals
Dave Chappelle’s Equanimity & The Bird Revelation (& The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize)
I Can’t Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence

DC’s Recommendations
The Truth:
Discover full Bulls games on YouTube; go beyond The Last Dance.

Sammy’s Recommendations
Jason Hehir documentaries:
The Fab Five (ESPN Films)
The ‘85 Bears (a 30 for 30)

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“Don’t be mad cause you can’t do what I can/Like when Jordan went up, took that shot and switched hands.” Pete Rock: Don’t Be Mad

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 4 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 4 covers Episodes VII and VIII of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“I had no problem with “The Glove.”” — Michael Jordan

A Deep Three:
For the 1996 NBA Finals…Bulls vs Sonics NBC intro-ed the series and Game 1 to highlights set to…the Terminator Theme song. NBA on NBC is just GOAT level. Wow Just Wow.

1:00
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Jordan famously left the NBA to play baseball becoming another iconic two sport athlete: so are you Team Bo Knows or Team Neon Deion?

4:05
Our suggested titles for Episode VII
“Way to go Craig.”

9:45
Q: How do you find the documentary’s balance between the personal and the basketball? Like are you missing Jordan’s wife and kids?
She’s an ex-wife…for a reason.

18:13
Q: Do you wish we saw more of Phil Jackson as the Bulls coach?
Phil needs a Last Dance…but like in 11 parts.

24:00
Q: Would you wanna be Jordan’s teammate or face Jordan? Which beating do you want to take?
“Beatings…nothing more than beatings.”

30:35
Q: Was Jordan’s Dad getting murdered connected to his gambling?
Maybe the media was always this bad…at their job…

39:00
Q: Was Jordan suspended for 18 months…True or False?
May as well believe a National Enquirer headline about an Elvis sighting.

48:44
Q: What do those “break” tears mean for Michael Jordan?
Crying Jordan is the new and improved Crying Game.

1:02:24
Q: What are you expecting to see in Episodes Episode IX and X?
The Man; The Myth; The Legend…

1:06:51
Q: Does Pippen’s Bad Light Moments dim the brightness of his NBA career?
Do you love Pippen less because of his flaws or more because of his flaws?

Recommendations
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover

2 More Tim Grover Recommendations
This SI profile & this GQ profile.

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“Jay’s status appears to be at an all-time high/Perfect time to say goodbye/When I come back like Jordan/Wearin’ the 4-5/It ain’t to play games witchu/It’s to aim at you.” Jay-Z: Encore

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 3 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 3 covers Episodes V and VI of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“Republicans Buy Sneakers, Too.” — Michael Jordan

A Deep Three:
“Danny Ainge Ainge was draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977 playing for them in 1979. Mostly a second baseman, he played third base and outfield positions as well, hitting .220 in his baseball career with 2 home runs and 146 hits in 211 games. After three years with the Blue Jays, Ainge decided to pursue a career in basketball and was chosen in the 1981 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, who had to buy out Ainge’s contract from the Blue Jays after a legal battle.”

1:00
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Q: What are your favourite 90s Must See TV Shows (In honour of Jerry Seinfled’s Last Dance cameo)

3:41
Our suggested titles for Episode V
Be Like Mike…Except You Don’t Want To Be Like Mike

7:55
Q: Does it surprise you Spike Lee hasn’t been as involved with The Last Dance?
Did we get Bamboozled?

17:35
Q: Do you know what a sneaker pimp is?
Show Shoes: Shoes To Show

23:00
Q: Do you know how much Jordan shoes make?
There’s no Jordan vs LeBron debate because “Republicans buy sneakers too.”

34:25
Q: “They didn’t know me…why are they doing this to me?”
Toni’s Tears

36:34
Q: Was it a Dream Team or a Mean Team?
Actually it was an NBA Scheme for International ballers

39:26
Q: Is this Isiah Thomas’ Last Dance?
Isiah Thomas’ tears: but I met the criteria!

44:30
Q: Who is the Top Dog?
Jordan is Alpha of the Alphas

46:00
Our suggested titles for Episode VI
Cigarettes instead of cigars…

47:00
Q: When you see the cigars, the drinking, the gambling, the fresh suits: are the Chicago Bulls our generation’s Rat Pack?
Does that make B.J. Armstrong Joey Bishop?!

49:17
Q: Was Jordan’s gambling a media constructed narrative?
Always Bet On Black!

54:29
Q: Was anybody surprised The Last Dance team didn’t use Kenny Rogers The Gambler to score a montage?
Maybe they were chicken… #Rimshot

58:52
Q: Were the Chicago Bulls’ NBA Finals anticlimactic?
The West was not the best…

1:03:25
Q: Did we talk about Kobe yet?
August 23, 1978- January 26, 2020

JT’s Recommendation
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Bonus Recommendation (Listen for it to be revealed…)

Sammy’s Recommendation
The Dream Team (an NBA TV 2012 documentary)

DC’s Recommendation
YouTube Official Olympics channel

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“I’m Jordan with the mic, huh, wanna gamble?”
A Tribe Called Quest: Lyrics to Go

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 2 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 2 covers Episodes III and IV of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“I could have been a bomb, I could have been in jail, I could have been dead. But I worked my ass off to get here. I created this monster.” — Dennis Rodman

A Deep Three:
In August 1998, Carmen Electra’s mother died of brain cancer, and two weeks later, her older sister, Debbie, died of a heart attack. During this time, Electra had been dating NBA star Dennis Rodman. She and Rodman wed in November 1998 at Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nine days later, Rodman filed for annulment, claiming he was of “unsound mind” when the pair wed. Electra explained, “It’s easy to get caught up in a moment. You think it’s romantic, but then you realize, God, we did it in Vegas? It’s like getting a cheeseburger at a fast-food restaurant.”” I like that Carmen Electra believes in romance.

1:00:
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Q: What’s the Air Jordans that got away? (Q: Which Air Jordan shoes do you wish you owned…)

4:25:
Q: From shoebox love to hate: where do you want to start with Episode 3?
Shoutout to Doug Collins’ Perm

6:40:
Q: Are the Pistons unrated…did you appreciate them in real time?
The Hate Is Always Gonna Be There

10:50:
Q: How Do You Solve a Problem like Isiah Thomas?
The Smile vs Dirty Tactics

11:52:
Q: Was the Dream Team Snub justified or did he deserve to be on there?
There’s a Magic but…

13:12:
Q: Where do you stand with the whole walking off without shaking hands?
The Bitterness Never Goes Away

16:25:
Q: Can you gloss over Jordan’s Dunk Contest?
Doug Collins’ Gum becomes “gum powder…”

29:40:
Q: Were you shocked that Rodman a Bad Boy was accepted?
Jordan likes winning more than he enjoys hate (he accepted Rodman)

33:28
Q: Is It still Load Management if it’s Vegas with Carmen Electra?
Rodman will “rebound…”

36:20:
Q: Jordan wants to know: why do you doubt?
“Go home, motherfuckers, go home!”

39:54:
Q: Does it bother you or make you happy we haven’t seen Toni Kukoc yet?
Sure but let’s also talk about The Last Dance soundtrack…

45:04:
Q: Did you like Scott Burrell back in the day?
“This guy…alright.”

47:13:
Q: Did the Pistons make the Bulls better?
Day After Elimination Workouts: It Begins.

40:40:
Q: Pistons won championships while the Knicks did not: if they hadn’t won would we look at them the way we look at the Knicks?
Sadness & Pity

55:14:
Q: For upcoming episodes whose tears are you excited to see?
The Dream Team

59:05:
Q: How many 3 point plays did Jordan average per game over the years?
“And One!”

JT’s Recommendations
30 for 30: The Two Escobars
30 for 30: Jordan Rides the Bus

DC’s Recommendation
Open Gym

Sammy’s Recommendations
30 for 30: Bad Boys
ESPN Films: The Fab Five

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“I thought you could’ve been Jordan
Found out that you wasn’t even Ben Gordon…” Fabolous: B.O.M.B.S.

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Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 1 (The Last Dance Podcast)

“Entering the 1997-98 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls had won 5 championships in the previous 7 years. But as they sought their second three-peat, the future of the dynasty was in doubt. As preparations began for the 1997-98 season, Jordan and the Bulls granted unprecedented access to a film crew for the entire year.”

As Jordan was preparing to conclude his time with the Bulls: 3 friends in Toronto were about to graduate from University. This is their story as seen through the ESPN/Netflix docu-series The Last Dance.

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan hangs out with JT and DC to present Jordan Ain’t No Joke.

Jordan Ain’t No Joke Ep 1 covers Episodes I and II of The Last Dance.

Notable Quotable:
“Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life.” — Gabriel García Marquez

“I mean, at that point, Michael Jordan’s already the ultimate sports alpha male. I mean, the only comparisons I can recall being apt were to Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali. That’s it. That’s the list. There’s nobody else on it.” — Michael Wilbon

A Deep Three:
Jordan is drinking tequila according to this ESPN Article: Ramona Shelburne Confirmation…

1:00:
Introductions: The Ice Breaker
Q: What are some of your early Jordan memories? How did Michael Jeffrey Jordan come into your life?

9:30:
Q: Jerry Krause…villain or foil?
Dead Men Don’t Talk

13:40:
Q: Did you fully appreciate Pippen in real time?
That Pippen dunk on Ewing!!

28:32:
Q: Where do you hope to see the series go?
The Last Dance soundtrack

32:30:
Q: Jordan retired for 18 months…was that a trailer of post-Jordan life?
The Sam Smith Agenda

38:45:
Q: Did The Last Dance blow an opportunity for structure?
The Last Dense?

48:43:
Q: Would the Bulls (had they stayed together) won the lockout year (instead of the Spurs)?
Nick Anderson Tears

58:22:
Q: Do you consider Jordan mean?
Feelings Are Not Facts

1:02:25:
Q: Do the ends justify the means?
Bill Wennington has rings; Barkley and Stockton etc. do not. So…

JT’s Recommendations
Kobe Muse
Kobe Doin’ Work
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

Sammy’s Recommendations
Roland Lazenby’s NBA biographies:
Michael Jordan: The Life
Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant

Closing Jordan Rap Reference
“Psycho: I’m liable to go Michael, take your pick Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6
(Ball so hard) Got a broken clock…” Jay-Kanye: Niggas in Paris

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#CouchWorthy: LA Originals

We lost Kobe on January 26, 2020.

Thankfully there’s a few hours of Kobe Bryant just sitting there in editors’ rooms from all the docs he’s been in. Wonder what’ll happen to it now?

His next appearance is in the doc that dropped today on Netflix: LA Originals. (I was already in before the Kobe connection. He’s listed in the credits for this doc but he’s not in the trailer. So I suspect he is probably not in this all that much. Still, it’s a powerful LA story so of course, LA stories go through Kobe. Kobe’s next appearance is in the upcoming Jordan doc The Last Dance in about a week or so. That I cannot wait for!!)

So for true: there’s a handful of hours of Kobe in docs just sitting around editing rooms. Dude’s gone but he hasn’t left.

Thus enter Netflix’s latest documentary: “An exploration of the culture and landmarks of the chicano and street art movement that cemented Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol’s status as behind-the-scenes hip hop legends.”

LA Originals is indicative of a powerful skill set that we rarely discuss or acknowledge. (And thankfully many of my friends have this skill set.)

I don’t even know what it’s called which is why I don’t think It gets acknowledged.

Those guys (and we) are passport people. We hang out with gang members and drug dealers and Trump voters and filmmakers and stand-up comics an incredibly broad range of distinct characters. But through it all we remain our unique selves within these different cultures. That’s how you get exposed to radical ways of thinking; nobody said anything about agreement. George is different than Kramer and Kramer is the opposite of Elaine but it all works right?

One day in LA my friend J Rock and I hit up the Magic Castle hanging out with magicians; then the next day we went to a picnic with some friends who’re editing and shooting and doing all kinds of fantastic LA filmmaking; the day after that we went to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Completely distinct cultures of science and nerds and magicians and filmmakers. Yet we’re comfortable and we’re at home if not at all of those places with all those people even though those are not our cultures.

And that to me that is one of the hallmarks of an incredible documentary: how broad the culture is. LA Originals has Ryan Phillippe and you wouldn’t expect him to show up with Kobe and oh Brian Glazer…Blink-182 and finally Cypress Hill. What?! Those guys should never be in the same room together yet clearly because of the people involved in this doc they’re all connected. That’s amazing. Passport People for the win.

Check this documentary out. Highly Recommended.

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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

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