Oh stewardess! I speak jive.

As Thanksgiving approaches and I try to stay in the habit of almost daily entries I thought I should submit one more musing before I venture up to the Great White North to have a Plymouth party. In the spirit of gobbler gluttony, I am making a list of notable jive turkeys. I know the connection is tenuous at best, but bear with me okay.

As a preface, I mean jive turkeys in the positive greeting and not the insult. The urban dictionary has two definitions and one is a friendly greeting (not the most official source, I know but this is a blog and not a dissertation).


Venus Flytrap
Definitely the smoothest man at WKRP and probably in Cincinnati, this smooth talking DJ made his grand entrance in the Big Guy’s office with a “what’s up white folks.” Venus was always cool but tight pants wearing Andy Travis, the show’s program director, cultivated his hipness. The originally monickered Gordon Sims was given his name and a completely new wardrobe and never looked back. Venus Flytrap was one of the first television characters to delve into the misconceptions of racial identity. While his persona was one of uber hip black DJ, Venus himself never felt in sync with this role. Played by Tim Reid, Venus was the ultimate straight man to a cast of zany sometimes-offensive characters!

Les Nesman: Venus is excellent at sports.

Venus Flytrap: Thanks Les, how do you know?

Les Nesman: Because you’re a Negro


Michael Evans
Nicknamed the Militant Midget, this Good Times character was all about endeavoring for equal rights. A 13-year-old attending multiple protests and civil rights functions Michael Evans (Played by Ralph Carter) showed that political involvement could start at any age. In addition, he rocked some power berets and the fist raise

JJ Who?

Huey Newton and Bobby Seale
I mainly but these two people on my list because I know someone who actually knew them! The Black Panther headquarters was next door to his home in San Francisco. He said growing up he would see the guards stationed outside and that Seal and Newton played with him. Bobby would pick him up and toss him in the air. He called Huey Newton Smokey Robinson because he reminded of him. Seriously, he called Huey Newton Smokey to HIS FACE!!!

Ultimate Neighborhood Watch




That old gal from Airplane
Cuz c’mon, how can you not?

Turkeys from WKRP
Yeah, yeah, so its poultry and not people but let’s give it up to those brave little soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the best comedic sitcom moment in history!

No turkeys were really dropped from a helicopter…I don’t think