My Final Words on the Jens


To my dear Cocoa and the others that have commented and emailed me...

I am so tired of people acting like Jennifer Holliday turned water into wine. She did no more than what any other talented actress would have done with the Effie role. And Holliday is NOT the reason Hudson, as you say, “is a blip on our DVRs”. Hudson is what she is because she has talent and favor from God. She did exactly what Jen Holliday did 20 years ago she made the role memorable. And in another 20 years when Dreamgirls is done again... it will be the talent of whomever plays Effie that makes whomever she is relevant not what others have done before.

Yes Holliday originated the role and did a damn good job in it but she doesn't own it and no one owes her shit. No one person opened the doors for the rest of the world... if Nell Carter would have played Effie, we would still be here today. Jennifer Holliday got her Tony and her acknowledgement. And regardless of what she said before or after... her performance was an act of desperation. Only a desperate woman would be stuck on an abandoned building with as you say "40mph winds blowin down" her throat, singing the one and only song everyone knows you for... as she turned and looked at the red carpet from afar. I am sure Mary, Beyonce, Jill, even Whitney, or anyone artist would have rejected such a disgraceful offer.

And regardless if JHud does nothing more from this point on she will have a blockbuster film, countless film critic awards, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar for her shelf. And as our dear Clay Cane says she can go back to being Jennifer "Singing on Gay Cruises for Jesus" Hudson performing at punk functions hosted by The Lions Den here in Atlanta like she has done before Dreamgirls.... wait, maybe she should thank Holliday for paving that road too.

C. B.W.

14 comments:

WhozHe said...

Alrighty then. Seeing Holliday on the rooftop of that building was sad. I was embarrased for her. She continues to hold on to a moment in the past while life passes her by.

Unknown said...

Touche'! I'm laughing to hard to address this...and really, as you get older you don't see the need...in the end, you're right... folks should realize they are only relevant in the NOW... tomorrow you, me and our discussion will be "History"

Anonymous said...

as an self proclaimed old head I totally agree with you man... people are acting like holliday walked on water and made every black broadway actress what she is today... it wasn't jennifer holliday it was the role itself.

Anonymous said...

oooooooh boi, now that was a read lol, but like I said I agree with you, Jennifer holiday did her thing with the role back in the day and now Jennifer Hudson did her damn thang today, both are memorable I love J-holi and J-Hud, but I do thing j-holi could have handle this whole thing a lil my tasteful but hey that’s just me.

j_shanlin said...

was that necessary? you're disrespectful, I hope j-holi reads this and turns you over her knee and shows you who paved the way for who...lol

C. Baptiste-Williams said...

J_Shanlin... I may just enjoy that... but I enjoy Jennifer Holliday but I don't see her camping outside the Apollo everytime someone murders the song on that show, it is like chick please it is ok we know you sang the damn song!

Isn't there an upcoming gay pride for her to perform at?

WiseYoungMan said...

um interesting...

j_shanlin said...

ill, i hope not! I would be going back to the hotel for a nap!!

Marz said...

I remember the other day I mentioned that we should try and get ms. Hudson for Philly Gay Pride, since I'm on the board of planners. Then some friends and I all said simulataneously, "Oh no, she's mother Oscar now". I just hope that she can have a career that experiences longevity and success.

Also, I don't know how I feel about that " favor form God" bit. But, maybe that has to do with me feeling a bit athiestic right now.


-Marz

Darius T. Williams said...

So like...how did all this get started?

WATER said...

You got some juicy lips...LOL!!! (I know you would get a kick out of that...It's so not part of your post)

LOL!!!

Charismatic One said...

My main reason for stopping by was to say THANK YOU to u, Reddman, for breaking the "comment silence" on my blog, but after reading this...Wow. As an artist I'm a bit offended by how people are so willing to pay no respect to those that blazed trails like Jennifer Holliday. Another symptom of our cultural ADD, I guess. I'm not going to argue the point too deeply...it feels like a bit of a waste. Not to mention that, in general, I'm SOOO OVER discussing Dreamgirls and everybody in it. (And I REALLY hope that Dreamgirls is NOT done again - Effie is a tour-de-force character, but aside from that the music is shit in my opinion, and we need to come up with stronger theatrical vehicles for Black people) But I WILL say that, if you were in Ms. Holliday's shoes, I'm convinced that your perspective would be different. There is something somewhat sad about the fact that Dreamgirls remains her crowning accomplishment. But since that is the case, GRANT HER HER PROPER PLACE IN HISTORY WITHOUT BEING SHADY, CATTY, BITCHY and IGNORANT. If that's all she's got - let her have that! It's very easy to sit back and talk about other folk...{sigh} Oh well. Onward and (hopefully) upwards.

C. Baptiste-Williams said...

totally missing the point...

no one is discounting what Jennifer Holliday did. She has been known for that song for decades and will always be known for it. What I am saying is it isn't her time right now this moment was about someone else. So she needs to sit down and plan her gay pride tour and stop raining on someone else's parade and embarrassing herself.

Anonymous said...

Reddman, it is because of this post that I love you.