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Home » Blogs » scribegrrrl's blog » We are an '80s family

We are an '80s family

by
scribegrrrl

Yesterday that photo of Holland Taylor and Allison Janney made my day, if not my year. Today I'm equally gleeful about this video (thanks, Jezebel). Feast your eyes and ears on some '80s luminaries, including Nell Carter, Bea Arthur, Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons and 227), Charlotte Rae (The Facts of Life), Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster) and even Alfonso Ribeiro (Silver Spoons and later The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.). They sing "We Are a Family" from Dreamgirls. It's like someone videotaped my dreams and didn't even bother to edit out the crazy.

It's not entirely clear why this video (shot in the mid-1980s) was made in the first place, other than to amuse and frighten us. "Here's to Punky Brewster, Family Ties and all the rest," after the jump.



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    • Submitted by
    scribegrrrl
    on July 20, 2007 - 3:53pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Sally's picture

    It feels weird

    Submitted by
    Sally (301 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 4:15pm.
    I still can't get used to see people that I enjoyed so much back at that time, and now so many are dead.  It makes me feel old... maybe too old! But I guess it is part of life.  Nice video. Probably for some inside conference with employees or even affiliates.  

    lesbian without borders
    JenJen's picture

    OMG!

    Submitted by
    JenJen (66 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 4:17pm.
    Is this supposed to be funny?  I hope so!  For some reason I can't stop laughing.
    Harpy's picture

    Heh

    Submitted by
    Harpy (9662 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 4:21pm.
    Hah!  I was thinking it was a more recent video (I don't know why!) made as a tribute and I was thinking...Wow, they've aged well.  I finally got it though.  
    ___      
    Putting links in my signature because no one looks in my YouTube thread!
    Ace's picture

    Oh my

    Submitted by
    Ace (336 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 4:39pm.

    As soon as I saw this post, I had to stop what I was doing -- and I'm on deadline -- to watch. The only thing that could have made that better would have been if Lisa Welchel and Nancy McKeon had been there too.

    I also have some vague recollection of seeing this before.

    Imsuchanerd's picture

    It was a televised NBC 60th

    Submitted by
    Imsuchanerd (155 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 4:55pm.
    It was a televised NBC 60th anniversary celebration.
    scribegrrrl's picture

    link?

    Submitted by
    scribegrrrl (5513 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 5:00pm.
    Thanks -- do you have a link, or do you just remember seeing it?
    badinage's picture

    I remember seeing it, too,

    Submitted by
    badinage (29 posts)
    on July 23, 2007 - 1:32pm.
    I remember seeing it, too, but, then, I started down the path to senility right about that time. Also, if you watch long enough for the faux-television to spin left, there's the show's logo emblazoned on its side. I also remember the song as being the second-most stupid song ever written and, as such, a bit of an insult to the stage and screen veterans required to sing it. None of them looked all too happy, either. I was happy, however, to get yet another chance to watch Bea Arthur.
    Laura's picture

    oh, just squee!

    Submitted by
    Laura (125 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 5:19pm.

    Huge shoulder pads, big ol' hair, and the grand dames of the 80's NBC sit-coms meandering almost aimlessly around the stage (er, house)?

    Oh.  Ma.  Gah.  I don't know why it's things like this make me nostalgic for the decade of my childhood.  It shouldn't.  But it does.

    Ann's picture

    Best thing ever!

    Submitted by
    Ann (2 posts)
    on July 20, 2007 - 7:46pm.
    Thanks SO much for posting this - tears of nostalgic glee run down my cheeks.  Really - "Like a giant tree" - ?????  But what was Alfonso's name on Silver Spoons?
    Ace's picture

    Alfonso Ribeiro

    Submitted by
    Ace (336 posts)
    on July 21, 2007 - 9:07pm.

    was Alfonso Spears on Silver Spoons.

    GainesvilleLesbian's picture

    Wow

    Submitted by
    GainesvilleLesbian (1 post)
    on July 22, 2007 - 7:51am.

    This reminds me of that commercial the University of Florida put out about having blacks at their University and being proud to have black students.

     

    :-/

    Nunzilla's picture

    Horray!

    Submitted by
    Nunzilla (51 posts)
    on July 22, 2007 - 5:25pm.

    Any and every mention of the Golden Girls makes me squeal with delight.

    I can only think of Alfonso Ribeiro being Carlton on the Fresh Prince though. I was a bit too young to catch Silver Spoons.

    sapphogal's picture

    where to begin

    Submitted by
    sapphogal (35 posts)
    on July 23, 2007 - 2:19pm.

    There will never be enough thanks for that gem Scribegrrl.  That set looks like the 'family' all died and are in some sort of NBC heaven. Im not sure who wrote that song but it cant be the same man responsible for 'Thank you for a being a friend".

    Some parting questions:

    - why is Nell Carter dressing Punky?

    -where can i find a leather cowl neck jacket like that Flo?

    -is mrs garrets voice like nails on a chalkboard to anyone else?

    Unboxed2701's picture

    that was fun!

    Submitted by
    Unboxed2701 (7 posts)
    on July 24, 2007 - 1:03am.
    Long live Punky!! by the way has anyone seen Soleil Moon Frye lately??? She is so so so so beautiful...drooling.. Long live Punky Power!!!!"Trust those who seek the TruthDoubt those who find it."
    phantom_jxn's picture

    I think this line's mostly filler

    Submitted by
    phantom_jxn (6 posts)
    on July 24, 2007 - 1:05pm.
    Wow - Punky got the mostly filler line, along with a lot of nodding to Nell. That was a trip - thanks Scribegrrrl!

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