Does Anyone Remember Rhythm and Blues ? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jimbo · 01-28-2002, 08:59 PM

In the mid-90s, there was a short-lived sitcom called "Rhythm and Blues". The show was about a White DJ who was hired sight unseen to work at an all Black radio station (he was hired based on an audition tape that he sent to the station - they assumed he was Black). Ann Maria Horsford (who also appeared on "Amen" and "The Wayans Brothers") played the station owner.

The show only lasted a few episodes. I remember reading somewhere that there were complaints about the show being racist. I never got that impression myself, and thought the show had real promise.

Does anyone know the name of the actor who portrayed the White DJ? He was very talented - did a lot of impressions of celebrities (including an uncanny impression of Redd Foxx).

TJL · 01-28-2002, 09:58 PM

The Deejay, "Bobby Soul" was played by Roger Kabler, a comic with a gift for voices.

Jimbo · 01-29-2002, 07:59 PM

TJL: Thanks for the info!

TJL · 02-02-2002, 07:34 PM

Actually, i think Roger Kabler might have appeared in some of those Zima commercials a few years ago...
Man, I get some wierd flashbacks sometimes...

ThomasE · 02-06-2002, 09:29 AM

I have episodes of the show from when it aired. Did you know that Roger was also the orginal choice for professor Lasky on "Saved By The Bell: The College Years"? He, Tiffani and Mario Lopez were on a talk show called "Wavelength" back in 1993.

I wanted to see more of "Rythm and Blues", but there were some corny episodes but yet there some good ones.

karaokedude · 03-03-2002, 08:48 PM

Very funny show that aired at a time when NBC had at least a half dozen black shows in it's fall lineup. The black community didn't like the depictions in these shows and all but "Fresh Prince" were removed by January (including this one unfortunately). The complaint about "R & B" was that it portrayed blacks as racist (which it did, most of his co-workers at the station didn't accept him).

The show also featured Barney Miller alumn Ron Glass, a 'former' member of "The FIVE Tops" (Bobby Soul: 'You mean The FOUR Tops' Glass: 'Yeah...............now')

And yes, Kabler was "The Zima Guy" in the early adds for the product. In the adds, he would pronounce all "S" words with a "Z" instead.

Jimbo · 03-04-2002, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by karaokedude
Very funny show that aired at a time when NBC had at least a half dozen black shows in it's fall lineup. The black community didn't like the depictions in these shows and all but "Fresh Prince" were removed by January (including this one unfortunately). The complaint about "R & B" was that it portrayed blacks as racist (which it did, most of his co-workers at the station didn't accept him).

The show also featured Barney Miller alumn Ron Glass, a 'former' member of "The FIVE Tops" (Bobby Soul: 'You mean The FOUR Tops' Glass: 'Yeah...............now')

I didn't see the Black employees at the station as being any worse than George Jefferson or maybe Fred Sanford as far as the comments that they made about Bobby Soul. Also, had the show lasted a full season, they could have shifted the focus away from the fact that Bobby was White.

There was a very funny episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati" where Venus Flytrap was going to be interviewed by a magazine geared towards Black readers (an "Ebony" or "Jet" type of publication). He was very concerned about not appearing "Black enough" for the interview, and tried to transform himself into the kind of person he thought they would want him to be. It turns out that the magazine sends their only White employee over to interview Venus, and the two of them commiserate with one another about what it's like to be the only person of your color at your place of employment.

Thanks for including the "Five Tops" quote! - I had forgotten about that!

RUDOLPH LYRICS · 05-18-2008, 10:55 AM

yes. i remember this. it aired around 1992...i have most of these episodes on vhs somewhere(probably all except the last one). the last episode was when the white dj(sorry don't know his name) and migeul nunez were doing this marathon staying up for like a week or so.. did u know the theme music from this show is the same that robert townsend later used in his show PARENT HOOD?

TVFactFan · 05-18-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUDOLPH LYRICS

yes. i remember this. it aired around 1992...i have most of these episodes on vhs somewhere(probably all except the last one). the last episode was when the white dj(sorry don't know his name) and migeul nunez were doing this marathon staying up for like a week or so.. did u know the theme music from this show is the same that robert townsend later used in his show PARENT HOOD?

If you have ep of this show can you email me at retrotv@msn.com so we can set something up

RUDOLPH LYRICS · 05-23-2008, 09:11 PM

i definately have episodes of this show. i have to buy another dvd recorder.. i want to get mine fixed but it's probably gon break down again. i need to get it fixed and finalize these 50 or so dvds i have here and start over wit another one.

ThomasE · 05-23-2008, 10:36 PM

I have all the ones that aired but the one when Bobby moves on with Veronica. Do you have that one?

ThomasE · 05-23-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUDOLPH LYRICS

yes. i remember this. it aired around 1992...i have most of these episodes on vhs somewhere(probably all except the last one). the last episode was when the white dj(sorry don't know his name) and migeul nunez were doing this marathon staying up for like a week or so.. did u know the theme music from this show is the same that robert townsend later used in his show PARENT HOOD?

Thank You! I am glad that I am not the only person that realized that.

01-28-2002, 08:59 PM	#1
Jimbo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2001 Location: United States of America-One Nation UNDER GOD! Posts: 471	Does Anyone Remember Rhythm and Blues ? In the mid-90s, there was a short-lived sitcom called "Rhythm and Blues". The show was about a White DJ who was hired sight unseen to work at an all Black radio station (he was hired based on an audition tape that he sent to the station - they assumed he was Black). Ann Maria Horsford (who also appeared on "Amen" and "The Wayans Brothers") played the station owner. The show only lasted a few episodes. I remember reading somewhere that there were complaints about the show being racist. I never got that impression myself, and thought the show had real promise. Does anyone know the name of the actor who portrayed the White DJ? He was very talented - did a lot of impressions of celebrities (including an uncanny impression of Redd Foxx).

01-28-2002, 09:58 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	The Deejay, "Bobby Soul" was played by Roger Kabler, a comic with a gift for voices.
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03-03-2002, 08:48 PM	#6
karaokedude Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 03, 2002 Location: PA Posts: 58	I LOVED "Rhythm & Blues".... Very funny show that aired at a time when NBC had at least a half dozen black shows in it's fall lineup. The black community didn't like the depictions in these shows and all but "Fresh Prince" were removed by January (including this one unfortunately). The complaint about "R & B" was that it portrayed blacks as racist (which it did, most of his co-workers at the station didn't accept him). The show also featured Barney Miller alumn Ron Glass, a 'former' member of "The FIVE Tops" (Bobby Soul: 'You mean The FOUR Tops' Glass: 'Yeah...............now') And yes, Kabler was "The Zima Guy" in the early adds for the product. In the adds, he would pronounce all "S" words with a "Z" instead.

01-29-2002, 07:59 PM	#3
Jimbo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2001 Location: United States of America-One Nation UNDER GOD! Posts: 471	TJL: Thanks for the info!

02-02-2002, 07:34 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Actually, i think Roger Kabler might have appeared in some of those Zima commercials a few years ago... Man, I get some wierd flashbacks sometimes...

02-06-2002, 09:29 AM	#5
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I have episodes of the show from when it aired. Did you know that Roger was also the orginal choice for professor Lasky on "Saved By The Bell: The College Years"? He, Tiffani and Mario Lopez were on a talk show called "Wavelength" back in 1993. I wanted to see more of "Rythm and Blues", but there were some corny episodes but yet there some good ones.

05-18-2008, 10:55 AM	#8
RUDOLPH LYRICS Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 46	yes. i remember this. it aired around 1992...i have most of these episodes on vhs somewhere(probably all except the last one). the last episode was when the white dj(sorry don't know his name) and migeul nunez were doing this marathon staying up for like a week or so.. did u know the theme music from this show is the same that robert townsend later used in his show PARENT HOOD?

05-23-2008, 09:11 PM	#10
RUDOLPH LYRICS Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 46	i definately have episodes of this show. i have to buy another dvd recorder.. i want to get mine fixed but it's probably gon break down again. i need to get it fixed and finalize these 50 or so dvds i have here and start over wit another one.

05-23-2008, 10:36 PM	#11
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I have all the ones that aired but the one when Bobby moves on with Veronica. Do you have that one?