Tag Archives: fear of a black hat

“White Cops on Dope” – N.W.H. with Ric Ocasek

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OK … this will likely only be interesting if you’re an EXTREMELY die hard music, comedy, and film geek. But this is a by-product of the rap “This is Spinal Tap” film “Fear of a Black Hat” from 1994. Director Rusty Cundieff decided to parody the collaboration between rappers and rockers (aka Run DMC/Aerosmith doing “Walk That Way”) by doing a version of the Tubes’ “White Punks on Dope” as “White Cops on Dope” … collaborating with the Cars’ Ric Ocasek. This did not make the final film, but managed to wind up as a special feature on the DVD.

Seriously, this is music / film / comedy geekiness on such an extreme level that only a very select few will appreciate this. If you don’t want to join the party, I understand. But if you can appreciate this on any one of these levels, I’ll not only buy you a drink but indulge you in more “bonus” material than you’d ever hope to enjoy in a lifetime. Embrace your inner music / film / comedy geek my little babies and drink the Kool-Aid!!!!

“Fear of a Black Hat” (1994) dir. Rusty Cundieff

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The cultural success of 1984’s “This is Spinal Tap” unleashed not only several films, but an entire genre we now know, sometimes love, and sometimes loathe, called “mockumentary.”  Some of the mockumentaries that have followed in “This is Spinal Tap”‘s wake have been good, some bad.  “Fear of a Black Hat” is on the good end of things.  Granted, it’s not a perfect movie and it’s very uneven, but it’s also quite funny, intelligent, and charming.  And if you watch it more than once, it will definitely grow on you like many good comedies inevitably do.  I remember reading about this in “Film Threat” magazine back in 1993 and when it hit one of my local theaters in the spring of 1994, I was intrigued enough to check it out.  I think it was a test release, since it didn’t get national distribution until later that summer.  I remember being one of two paying customers in the theater (and the showtime was a discounted matinee) and I remember liking it a lot.   I saw it many months later when it came out on video and liked it even more.  The attached trailer seems a little corny by today’s standards, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out.  It’s a solid mockumentary.  And trivia note: the beautiful female interviewer is Kasi Lemmons, director of the brilliant “Eve’s Bayou,” “The Caveman’s Valentine,” and “Talk to Me”.  (Sorry, I have a bit of a crush on Ms. Lemmons)

Cundieff popped up later on Michael Moore’s 1990s show “TV Nation” and has been involved with many great comedy TV shows, from”Chappelle’s Show” to “The Wanda Sykes Show.”  Cundieff’s a very funny man.  Let’s hope he gives us another feature soon.