Listen now (99 mins) | In this episode, John McWhorter fills in for Glenn and sits down with actor Clifton Duncan. The two discuss Clifton’s one-man show about the life of Thomas Sowell and the challenges of portraying him onstage. They then move on to discuss how the theater world has changed after 2020
I finally found the time to listen uninterrupted. So glad I waited. Such a real and thus refreshing conversation. I respect the edge in Clifton Duncan's voice as he discusses just why it's been painful and shocking to see just who was most enthusiastic about rigidly, aggressively and irrationally dividing the world according to covidian church rules, i.e. the very people who had *and continue* to #resist the so-called totalitarian right and all things Trump. My own (medically exempted) child was called a nazi and a trumpist - in middle school - once certain kids heard he was declining the shot offered at the school's mobile clinic. I can only imagine that the social skills of actors are such that having that as a peer group would be as bad or worse ;-)
I look forward to the Sowell play. And I second the motion on the concept of a one man show about Mr. Duncan's covid awakening.
On casting by race: Yeah, the backlash that blacks shouldn't do Shakespeare is just crazy. But it is a logical extension to the notion that Asian roles should be reserved for Asians, gay roles for gay people, etc.. For fictional characters, I don't know why the color of the skin of the actor would matter. OTOH, can Snow White be black?
I'm not sure about famous historical characters. A white person can't portray MLK. I can't have a black Lincoln.
Clifton is an engaging guest, he did a lot of talking but it was all quite succinct and focused. He also has a sexy voice! Loved hearing about his experiences as an actor and telling someone when he played Calaban, "Throw me around!" Sell it, man!!! So sorry that his career has been halted by all this woke crap. I see Jon Hepworth doesn't want to want to be preached to when he goes to the theatre; I feel the same way about movies (I never was one much for the theatre), as I want to be entertained and forget my life for awhile, not preached at, lectured and scolded.
Tom Sowell was my senior colleague at UCLA. I will know if you can recreate his essence. All of his colleagues admired him (within the economics department and not just the conservatives and libertarians)
Clifton - I'm looking forward to seeing your Sowell play - I hope you will come to Detroit.
You speak so eloquently about your experiences, revelations, and feelings of disenfranchisement during Covid - there's also a one-man play right there. Please consider it - you would capture a moment in history that will otherwise be forgotten, and I think it would resonate with many.
Clifton Duncan must return to The Glenn Show. Great discussion. Perhaps Broadway will exist in the shadow of a superior theater district in Atlanta some day. I belong to a public health organization for witches. I certainly hope there is a theater group for witches that Clifton will create or join.
[Time 1:01:00]; McWhorter snd Duncan on mask use. Professor Vinay Prasad at UCSF has been informing the public that masks don’t work. One reason why people still mask is that my profession of public health never alerted the public that the Covid mask-phase was over. I still see people with masks, especially the drug dealers on the street.
[Time 25:00]; (1) I am among those theater patrons who did not return. If I want an authorization lecture on morality- I’ll get on a plane and see theater in North Korea. Ha ha.
(2) About the progressive Whites who act apologetic and remorseful because of George Floyd; the fanatical indoctrination program at my City-Gov worksite + state-gov + universities censored voices such as mine. Progressives were only allowed to hear discussion from those who agree. Otherwise, they might not act so weird. Tragic.
Great interview! I thought John handled the covid-19 stuff really well. He was open to Clifton's perspective without necessarily agreeing with every claim, and pushed back just enough that we got a thorough exploration of the guest's point of view. It's not an easy line to walk, especially for someone who isn't a medical expert.
Excellent interview! I just kept hoping you would wade into the waters of terf…esp since the UK Cass report was released. But I do understand it is still very dangerous here.
15 minutes in. Good stuff. But the irony of misspelling linguist McWhorter's name in the chyron... =)
************************************
Finally heard the whole thing. Was glad to hear Duncan admit to having a little bit of contrarian in him. He (obviously) has a chip on his shoulder.
I am leery of people who say, "I've been blackballed because of my politics!"--*especially* in the entertainment biz. That world can be brutal no matter how good you are. Without real power, you aren't guaranteed much (and even the powerful aren't bulletproof).
It's easy to shun an actor who's not exactly necessary.
Clifton spoke about John Ioannidis, who is one of the most highly cited healthcare researchers in the world. Ioannidis is a physician who also has a Ph.D. in Statistics, and who teaches at Stanford. In addition, he has written a Greek novel, and he has written the libretto for a Greek opera. He's truly a renaissance man.
I finally found the time to listen uninterrupted. So glad I waited. Such a real and thus refreshing conversation. I respect the edge in Clifton Duncan's voice as he discusses just why it's been painful and shocking to see just who was most enthusiastic about rigidly, aggressively and irrationally dividing the world according to covidian church rules, i.e. the very people who had *and continue* to #resist the so-called totalitarian right and all things Trump. My own (medically exempted) child was called a nazi and a trumpist - in middle school - once certain kids heard he was declining the shot offered at the school's mobile clinic. I can only imagine that the social skills of actors are such that having that as a peer group would be as bad or worse ;-)
I look forward to the Sowell play. And I second the motion on the concept of a one man show about Mr. Duncan's covid awakening.
That was really good.
On casting by race: Yeah, the backlash that blacks shouldn't do Shakespeare is just crazy. But it is a logical extension to the notion that Asian roles should be reserved for Asians, gay roles for gay people, etc.. For fictional characters, I don't know why the color of the skin of the actor would matter. OTOH, can Snow White be black?
I'm not sure about famous historical characters. A white person can't portray MLK. I can't have a black Lincoln.
Clifton Duncan -4- Prez
Nice job. I will definitely attend the Sowell play. Kudos to Duncan for taking it on!
Clifton is an engaging guest, he did a lot of talking but it was all quite succinct and focused. He also has a sexy voice! Loved hearing about his experiences as an actor and telling someone when he played Calaban, "Throw me around!" Sell it, man!!! So sorry that his career has been halted by all this woke crap. I see Jon Hepworth doesn't want to want to be preached to when he goes to the theatre; I feel the same way about movies (I never was one much for the theatre), as I want to be entertained and forget my life for awhile, not preached at, lectured and scolded.
Awesome interview. Well done!
Tom Sowell was my senior colleague at UCLA. I will know if you can recreate his essence. All of his colleagues admired him (within the economics department and not just the conservatives and libertarians)
Clifton - I'm looking forward to seeing your Sowell play - I hope you will come to Detroit.
You speak so eloquently about your experiences, revelations, and feelings of disenfranchisement during Covid - there's also a one-man play right there. Please consider it - you would capture a moment in history that will otherwise be forgotten, and I think it would resonate with many.
Clifton Duncan must return to The Glenn Show. Great discussion. Perhaps Broadway will exist in the shadow of a superior theater district in Atlanta some day. I belong to a public health organization for witches. I certainly hope there is a theater group for witches that Clifton will create or join.
[Time 1:01:00]; McWhorter snd Duncan on mask use. Professor Vinay Prasad at UCSF has been informing the public that masks don’t work. One reason why people still mask is that my profession of public health never alerted the public that the Covid mask-phase was over. I still see people with masks, especially the drug dealers on the street.
[Time 25:00]; (1) I am among those theater patrons who did not return. If I want an authorization lecture on morality- I’ll get on a plane and see theater in North Korea. Ha ha.
(2) About the progressive Whites who act apologetic and remorseful because of George Floyd; the fanatical indoctrination program at my City-Gov worksite + state-gov + universities censored voices such as mine. Progressives were only allowed to hear discussion from those who agree. Otherwise, they might not act so weird. Tragic.
One of the best interviews on this channel that I’ve ever heard/seen.
Great interview! I thought John handled the covid-19 stuff really well. He was open to Clifton's perspective without necessarily agreeing with every claim, and pushed back just enough that we got a thorough exploration of the guest's point of view. It's not an easy line to walk, especially for someone who isn't a medical expert.
Excellent interview! I just kept hoping you would wade into the waters of terf…esp since the UK Cass report was released. But I do understand it is still very dangerous here.
Great talk
15 minutes in. Good stuff. But the irony of misspelling linguist McWhorter's name in the chyron... =)
************************************
Finally heard the whole thing. Was glad to hear Duncan admit to having a little bit of contrarian in him. He (obviously) has a chip on his shoulder.
I am leery of people who say, "I've been blackballed because of my politics!"--*especially* in the entertainment biz. That world can be brutal no matter how good you are. Without real power, you aren't guaranteed much (and even the powerful aren't bulletproof).
It's easy to shun an actor who's not exactly necessary.
Clifton spoke about John Ioannidis, who is one of the most highly cited healthcare researchers in the world. Ioannidis is a physician who also has a Ph.D. in Statistics, and who teaches at Stanford. In addition, he has written a Greek novel, and he has written the libretto for a Greek opera. He's truly a renaissance man.