"ADA" Producer Thad Mumford rips Lisa Bonet & Debbie Allen

[TMC]

https://www.lipstickalley.com/thread...allen.1216140/

"A Different World" writer and producer Thad Mumford lit into Lisa Bonet and Debbie Allen in a recent interview with the Archive of American Television. I'm guessing he didn't have a good experience.

• -He starts out saying Lisa Bonet was just no good and only got the show because Bill Cosby kicked her off his show.
  
  -Says she smoked marijuana liked it was going out of style and reeked of patchouli. Knew she was coming because of you could smell her when she was coming.
  
  -Phylicia Rashad was guest starring on the show. During a morning script reading, Lisa "at least was there," was laying her head on the table nodding off to sleep. Phylicia called Bill Cosby and said, "This child is crazy, this child is losing her mind."
  
  -Mentions Lisa getting pregnant and joked maybe Bill did it, "Anything to get her off the show."
  
  -Says Debbie Allen wasn't a good director.
  
  -He and Debbie Allen were always at war for control of the show.
  
  -Debbie Allen has the kids on the show "not speaking English," close to ebonics.
  
  -Bill Cosby complained to him about how the kids were looking on the show, and he told her to talk to Debbie (Including the comment "The darkies look gay.") Bill went to talk to Debbie and nothing was changed. Mumford thinks Bill didn't really care because the show was Camille was the champion of a show about a black college.
  
  -They had some good episodes, but those were the ones Debbie didn't direct. "The shows Debbie didn't do were the best ones."
  
  -Criticized Jasmine Guy's portrayal of Whitley Gilbert saying it was like something from a sketch comedy show.

Mumford was a producer and writer of ADW from 1987-1990. He wrote 11 episodes including 6 in the horrible first season with Lisa Bonet.

Debbie Allen directed 83 of the 122 episodes produced in seasons 2-6.

[PracTz]

While Mr. Mumford has not been the only person to allege that Miss Bonet wasn't the easiest or most professional colleague to work with during her time on that show, I think he may have bitten off more than he can chew re 'joking' about Miss Bonet's child's paternity and conception. Hello, that child was Zoe Kravitz who not only was born a full year after Miss Bonet's marriage to musician Lenny Kravitz but also has a strong resemblance to him.
While I think it's likely Miss Bonet would simply like to forget her time on ADA had ever happened and possibly her other interactions with Mr. Cosby, I wonder if she and/or her daughter might opt to make a case against Mr. Mumford's 'joke'.


P.S. And I'm not even a fan of Miss Bonet's.

[Anna Karenina]

This guy is really bitter isn't he?

Interesting backstage drama though.

[icecream]

I have not seen A Different World. But Fame was an outstanding show, partly because of Debbie Allen.

[tlc38tlc38]

I don't see how he could criticize Jasmine Guy. Heck, she's what MADE the show!

[Ron Ron]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I don't see how he could criticize Jasmine Guy. Heck, she's what MADE the show!

Yeah, when Lisa Bonet flopped and left the show....Jasmine became the lead and carried this show to its success. If it weren't for her this show would have been cancelled much sooner.

[king of comedy]

I'm glad Lisa Bonet left. She was terrible as a lead.

[RetroGuy2000]

I definitely believe him about Lisa reeking of patchouli oil. During the second-to-last season of The Cosby Show (the last season she was on), she looked unwashed.

[tlc38tlc38]

Originally Posted by king of comedy

I'm glad Lisa Bonet left. She was terrible as a lead.

Ditto. Jasmine Guy was much better especially once her character got fleshed out more.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by PracTz

While Mr. Mumford has not been the only person to allege that Miss Bonet wasn't the easiest or most professional colleague to work with during her time on that show, I think he may have bitten off more than he can chew re 'joking' about Miss Bonet's child's paternity and conception. Hello, that child was Zoe Kravitz who not only was born a full year after Miss Bonet's marriage to musician Lenny Kravitz but also has a strong resemblance to him.
While I think it's likely Miss Bonet would simply like to forget her time on ADA had ever happened and possibly her other interactions with Mr. Cosby, I wonder if she and/or her daughter might opt to make a case against Mr. Mumford's 'joke'.


P.S. And I'm not even a fan of Miss Bonet's.

I don't think that Lisa Bonet's heart was fully into ADW. According to Jasmine Guy, Lisa didn't even want to do A Different World. She's a very private person and just didn't want to star in her own show but Bill created a show for her. It showed when Lisa had her own show stolen away from her by Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy without a hitch.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I definitely believe him about Lisa reeking of patchouli oil. During the second-to-last season of The Cosby Show (the last season she was on), she looked unwashed.

I get that Bill Cosby was wrong for interfering with her personal life, but she has to own up to her part in that mess as well. Showing up late to rehearsals, coming to work high, and sleeping through table reads are disrespectful.