The writer/actor/director/producer/author/playwright has been persona non grata after the Writers Guild filed charges of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board on October 2, accusing Perry of axing more than half his writing staff on the TBS sitcom House Of Payne because of their union activity, and bargaining in bad faith with the Hollywood guild. Dozens upon dozens of the biggest producer, writer and showrunner names in scripted television even went so far as to sign an open letter bashing him for his anti-WGA activity. And good thing Barack Obama declined Perry’s invitation to the grand opening of his Tyler Perry Studios production facility in Atlanta this month. Had he not, the Democrat endorsed by many labor unions would have been met by picket lines thrown up by the Writers Guild of America and supported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Perry is one of the Democratic presidential candidate’s staunchest supporters and prized campaigners and even forthcoming film biographer...)
He (Tyler Perry) also has announced plans to make an Obama film. Perry told the press he is already writing, and plans to direct and produce as soon as late this year, a love story inspired by the relationship between Obama and his wife Michelle. (Perry has said he dreams of casting Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett in the lead roles.) It's not known if the Obamas are cooperating with the film, but the idea occurred to Perry after he heard their story when he had dinner with the couple as well as from his close pal, Oprah Winfrey, who is Obama's biggest showbiz supporter but whose own union track record is one of the worst [...] Perry told reporters about the Obamas, "They just inspired this amazing story. It’s a love story with a little political twist... It’s called For the Love of You and it’s about his love for his woman. It’s going to be amazing."
Poor Kenan Thompson... as the ONLY black member of the current Saturday Night Live cast, he would have been the obvious choice to play Barack Obama in any sketches involving the presidential candidate - a job that could have possibly become quite lucrative for him, if Obama does become the next president of the United States. We're talking at least 4 years of guaranteed employment! However, Mr Thompson clearly isn't being considered for the task, as the producers of SNL are on the hunt for a black comic to join the SNL cast and assume the job of portraying Obama. Apparently, according to the below article, Kenan Thompson is thought to be a little too plump! Let's just hope that the SNL producers don't get too "creative" and instead have a white actor in black face play Obama.
FROM THE NEW YORK OBSERVER:
Who Will Play Obama on SNL?
On a recent episode of 30 Rock, an NBC sitcom about the making of a Saturday Night Live–like comedy show, a dilemma arises when the
cast’s only black actor goes missing.
“Can I play Barack Obama?” asked an opportunistic white cast member.
The answer, of course, was no.
It just so happens that the real Saturday Night Live is faced with that very conundrum every week.
Only one current cast member, Kenan Thompson, is black, which would seem to be a desirable trait in portraying Mr. Obama.
But Mr. Thompson—who starred in a movie called Fat Albert—possesses a body type that makes him better suited to execute impressions of Al Sharpton than the lanky Illinois Senator. The result: an Obama-free show.
A spokesman for Lorne Michaels, the show’s longtime producer, said that there was no word yet on who the show would cast as Mr. Obama, or when an Obama character would make its debut.
“We’ll know when we know,” the spokesman, Marc Liepis, said in an e-mail. “Truthfully, there’s no timetable on these things.”
EPISODE 14 - The Obenson
Report On Black Film / Black Cinema 
Sponsored In Part By Act Now Foundation
Recorded MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH 2007, 9PM @ BLOGTALKRADIO.COM
Hosted by Tambay A Obenson
TOPICS COVERED:
- A rather light day today! Joined by co-hosts Shirley Bruno & Deesha Philyaw. Discussion topics: Halle Berry's recent baby news, Eddie Griffin's N-word tirade, films we're looking forward to seeing this fall/winter, Oprah supports Obama and more...!
Simply click on this link, THE OBENSON REPORT, and you will be taken directly to the listening page.
To listen to any of my past greatest hits, go to http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/31034 and scroll down to the PAST EPISODES header. There's some really good stuff there.
You can also open up iTunes on your computer and search for Obenson Report in the podcast store section.
Thanks!
Tambay A Obenson
www.obensonresport.com
www.tambayobenson.com
