Philebrity seems to think so. The controversy stems from the fact that (as noted in an excellent City Paper cover story) Space 1026, a hip artsy commune, decided to put together a Mummers troupe this year. Excellent, fun idea, right? Most people thought so. But local hipster king Joey Sweeney was a little disappointed that hip youngsters were joining in what he sees as a racist, homophobic black eye on the city. Then after a number of people stood up for the 1026 kids and the Parade in general, he went back out and really decided to rail against the Mummers Parade. This is where it gets fun: Lord forgive us, but it’s always been plain as day to us that the culture of Mummery is just another one of those places where Philly’s ugly ghosts hang out. After all, a parade that began in blackface can only ever get so far from its roots. (Don’t believe that people haven’t forgotten this? Go ask some black people what they think of the Mummers Parade — a black troupe has not marched since 1929.

For JGT’s take on the matter, click below (Warning. This is the part where Johnny gets self righteous.)

Continue reading “Is the Mummers Parade Racist?” →

• Steve O. is featured in today’s Metro. This guy gets more press than Britney. He’s also a lot of fun to see in concert. Tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Cascamorto’s.
• Stumbled across this yesterday. Heil Honey, I’m Home. It was a show made in England in 1990 and that lasted a total of one episode. The premise: Hitler and Eva Braun are a happy suburban couple whose world is turned upside down when the Goldensteins move next door. Hilarity ensues! Here’s some video of the show. I watched like 3 minutes. It is awful.
• Albert Hoffman, the man who invented LSD, turns 102 today (yes, he’s still living). And they say drugs are bad for you!

Earlier this week, I talked about the meltdown one of the contestants had at the end of American Gladiators. Well, I uploaded it to youtube. A few things to look for: First of all Toya (in the red) must have landed on her face like 10 times over the course of this event. I showed a couple of them at the start. Then, she just keeps falling over and over on the treadmill, as the woman in blue gets closer. Finally, she employs the worst strategy I’ve ever seen employed in an athletic endeavor: she just lies there, unmoving, and apparently hopes that this is all a bad dream. Finally she gets up and falls on her face again. By now she has been passed, and mercifully, the treadmill gets turned off so she can finish without another faceplant. To no avail, b/c when she breaks thru the wall at the very end, she apparently doesn’t realize there is a 10 foot dropoff, so she tumbles face first and doesn’t even brace her fall, landing directly on her face yet again.

• Bad news for Ron Paul. First he bombs in New Hampshire, then we find out that he used to put out a racist newsletter in which he endorsed David Duke. I am hoping that by posting this I will get 125 angry commenters in the comments section below.
• Perhaps the greatest line in a news story ever: “He understands that in a civilized society a person cannot send a severed cow’s head to anybody.” What kind of nation have we become when we can’t strike back at an ex or a cheating wife with a severed cow’s head? (Courtesy of PhiladelphiaWillDo.)
• Dennis Kucinich got kept out of the debate on Saturday night, despite having just as good a chance to win as Bill Richardson. Why? Perhaps because ABC was hosting the debate, and Kucininch is the only candidate who has not received money from Disney, ABC’s parent company. Donspiracist, where are you?
• McNabb says that the Eagles need playmakers. I disagree. Hank Baskett is waaaaay better than Chad Johnson, it’s just a different system.

American Gladiators debuted last night, and as excited as I was about it going in, it exceeded even my high expectations. Had a few folks over at the house, and we each bet a dollar on every event. I highly suggest this. It only added to the already frenzied atmosphere. The Hulkster was wonderfully terrible as a host (“Well, have a good run Bonnie. Where are your family members at?”), but Laila Ali brought nothing to the event. They really need to bring back Larry Csonka. The Gladiators were OK, but not as aggro and cocky as they were the first time, which is unfortunate. I like Wolf, and the Hawaiian guy was pretty intimidating, but there were no Malibus in the bunch. Still, the action was riveting, and the Pyramid event, where the Gladiators would throw the contestants like 35 feet down a pyramid, was remarkable and incredibly hilarious. I’m gonna try to upload video from the women’s eliminator, which may have been the hardest I have ever laughed in my life. This was quite possibly the best night I’ve ever had watching television.

RELATED: Play Gladiators online (The Hit and Run game is the best.)