David Letterman should've portrayed the "white J.J." in season five's "I Had A Dream" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

EccentricGenius · 09-13-2017, 02:57 PM

In season five's "I Had A Dream," J.J. wishes he were Caucasian in order to receive a job promotion at the advertising agency where he was employed at. When J.J. falls asleep on the sofa that night and wakes up the following morning, everyone--Thelma, Michael, Willona, Penny, and Bookman--is shocked that J.J. has turned Caucasian.

Actor Dennis Howard portrayed J.J.'s Caucasian counterpart in "I Had A Dream," and while he had a couple of memorable moments--such as asking Thelma to prepare Eggs Benedict and prune juice for his breakfast, as well as attempting to give a "soul shake" to the boss of the ad agency, Mr. Galbraith (a pre-"Dukes Of Hazzard" Sorrell Booke)--I honestly think he was miscast as the "white J.J." in that episode; despite his best efforts, Howard seemed a little stiff and disjointed, not to mention a little older than Jimmie Walker.

In my honest opinion, I think David Letterman--several years prior to becoming a late-night talk show titan and overall television legend--should've played the ersatz J.J. in "I Had A Dream." Letterman (along with future up-and-comers Byron Allen, Elayne Boosler, Louie Anderson, Richard Jeni, and a pre-"Tonight Show" Jay Leno) was one of Walker's stand-up comedy writers; both Walker and Letterman remain close friends to this very day.

What do you guys and gals think? Drop me a line...I'd love to hear from you!

Enjoy your day!

PracTz · 09-14-2017, 04:46 PM

What do I think?

I think they should have told whoever wrote that ep to take a few hundred walks around the block and not come back until they'd put that whole thought OUT OF THEIR HEAD!

GEESH! That was a LAME episode and there was nothing that could have saved it. While Mr. Howard somehow was able to work steadilyy for decades after this appearance, this episode sure didn't blaze the way to superstardom for him!

It might have helped (slightly) had Mr. Walker attempted to do the episode in a 'Quantum Leap' deal with everyone other performer reacting to him as though he WERE white but not having to subject the audience to having to see him as that.

Oh, what am I saying? It was just an AUWFUWL episode that should have been put in the trash rather than greenlighted!

EccentricGenius · 09-15-2017, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

What do I think?

I think they should have told whoever wrote that ep to take a few hundred walks around the block and not come back until they'd put that whole thought OUT OF THEIR HEAD!

GEESH! That was a LAME episode and there was nothing that could have saved it. While Mr. Howard somehow was able to work steadilyy for decades after this appearance, this episode sure didn't blaze the way to superstardom for him!

It might have helped (slightly) had Mr. Walker attempted to do the episode in a 'Quantum Leap' deal with everyone other performer reacting to him as though he WERE white but not having to subject the audience to having to see him as that.

Oh, what am I saying? It was just an AUWFUWL episode that should have been put in the trash rather than greenlighted!

Thank you for commenting, PracTz. "I Had A Dream" (along with much, if not all, of season five) is a pretty disappointing episode in retrospect...the idea of a "Caucasian J.J." must've sounded interesting when it was pitched to the writing staff back in 1977; now it sounds hopelessly racist. At least Dennis Howard didn't portray the role of "J.J. #2" in blackface (similar to C. Thomas Howell in the '80s comedy film "Soul Man"); although Howard has worked steadily in Tinseltown as a working actor for the last four decades, he's never become a household name.

I also agree with your idea of Jimmie Walker portraying J.J. as a Caucasian male ("Quantum Leap"-style) without Howard's participation as "J.J. #2." Had "Good Times" been filmed on a soundstage instead of videotaped in front of a live studio audience, Walker might've pulled it off.

When I was preparing to reply to your comment, I thought about another casting suggestion for the "Caucasian J.J.": the late Bob Denver, best known for his roles as Gilligan on "Gilligan's Island" and Maynard B. Krebs on "The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis." Seeing how Gilligan and J.J. have similar mannerisms, it would've been a no-brainer.

Enjoy your day!

EccentricGenius · 05-28-2019, 10:13 AM

I think Tom Dreesen would've been perfect as J.J.'s Caucasian counterpart in "I Had A Dream."

09-13-2017, 02:57 PM	#1
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 767	David Letterman should've portrayed the "white J.J." in season five's "I Had A Dream" In season five's "I Had A Dream," J.J. wishes he were Caucasian in order to receive a job promotion at the advertising agency where he was employed at. When J.J. falls asleep on the sofa that night and wakes up the following morning, everyone--Thelma, Michael, Willona, Penny, and Bookman--is shocked that J.J. has turned Caucasian. Actor Dennis Howard portrayed J.J.'s Caucasian counterpart in "I Had A Dream," and while he had a couple of memorable moments--such as asking Thelma to prepare Eggs Benedict and prune juice for his breakfast, as well as attempting to give a "soul shake" to the boss of the ad agency, Mr. Galbraith (a pre-"Dukes Of Hazzard" Sorrell Booke)--I honestly think he was miscast as the "white J.J." in that episode; despite his best efforts, Howard seemed a little stiff and disjointed, not to mention a little older than Jimmie Walker. In my honest opinion, I think David Letterman--several years prior to becoming a late-night talk show titan and overall television legend--should've played the ersatz J.J. in "I Had A Dream." Letterman (along with future up-and-comers Byron Allen, Elayne Boosler, Louie Anderson, Richard Jeni, and a pre-"Tonight Show" Jay Leno) was one of Walker's stand-up comedy writers; both Walker and Letterman remain close friends to this very day. What do you guys and gals think? Drop me a line...I'd love to hear from you! Enjoy your day!

09-14-2017, 04:46 PM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	What do I think? I think they should have told whoever wrote that ep to take a few hundred walks around the block and not come back until they'd put that whole thought OUT OF THEIR HEAD! GEESH! That was a LAME episode and there was nothing that could have saved it. While Mr. Howard somehow was able to work steadilyy for decades after this appearance, this episode sure didn't blaze the way to superstardom for him! It might have helped (slightly) had Mr. Walker attempted to do the episode in a 'Quantum Leap' deal with everyone other performer reacting to him as though he WERE white but not having to subject the audience to having to see him as that. Oh, what am I saying? It was just an AUWFUWL episode that should have been put in the trash rather than greenlighted!

05-28-2019, 10:13 AM	#4
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 767	I think Tom Dreesen would've been perfect as J.J.'s Caucasian counterpart in "I Had A Dream."