Amerikkka' Most Wanted Ex-Gangsta. I ain't mad atcha

Post by **robfharris** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:29 pm

Bring out the Welcome wagon.

Ice Cube has signed on to play the title role in a film adaptation of the classic 1970s TV series Welcome Back, Kotter, it was announced Tuesday.

As part of his deal with Dimension Films, Cube will also coproduce the redo of the former ABC series that turned John Travolta into a household name.

"There was no bigger fan of the original show than me, and I'm very excited to be able to put a new twist on it," the Barbershop star said in a statement.

Cube will play the titular Gabe Kotter, a slacker turned teacher who returns to his inner-city alma mater and who sees himself in the new batch of underprivileged troublemakers. He works to inspire the seemingly apathetic students, known as the Sweathogs.

The gang of kids is led by scatterbrained himbo Vinnie Barbarino, played in the original incarnation by Travolta. The original 'hogs also included the super suave Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington (originally played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), the tough-talking Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein ( Robert Hegyes), and nasally nerd Arnold Dingfelder Horshack ( Ron Palillo) and were responsible for injecting retorts like "up your nose with a rubber hose" into the cultural vernacular.

Gabe Kaplan, who played Kotter in the original 1975-79 series, also created the show with partner Alan Sacks and retained the rights. He said that despite heavy interest from studios over the years, they held out on adapting Kotter until the right pitch came along.

"We were skeptical about selling Kotter because making a great movie from a TV show can be challenging," Kaplan said. "After meeting with the Weinsteins [Harvey and Bob Weinstein run Dimension], we knew they were the right ones to bring this project to the screen."

No word on whether any of the original stars will make cameos in the film, though if the recent influx of box office remakes are any indication, it's highly likely that some of the old gang will pay their respects. Likewise, we assume that Cube will give a hip-hop spin to the classic "Welcome Back" theme song, originally crooned by John Sebastian.

The Hot Chick's Tom Brady has signed on to write and direct Kotter.

Production is expected to kick off this fall, after filming is complete on Cube's next project, Are We Done Yet?, a sequel to last year's surprise hit Are We There Yet?, which happens to be another remake--this time based loosely on the Cary Grant film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse. Cameras roll on that film in Vancouver this June.

YouTube · Post by **bingolong** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:54 pm

robfharris,
I just bought Welcome Back Kotter on DVD last week....and even though back in the day I had a WBK sleeping bag that show was corny!! Or at least Gabe Kaplan's opening jokes about one of his uncle was ........ Wonder if Cube will do jokes like that too...

Naw that show is a classic can't wait to see what spin they put on it!!!Have watched about three episodes so far!!

Post by **tis2flyyy** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:20 pm

bingolong,
I am a Cube fan, for real! I can not wait to see this creation....I wish he would do other things though....like make another hard azz gansta CD.

Anyway, speaking of CD's, where is mines at????

Post by **robfharris** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:42 am

tis2flyyy,
Cube's new CD comes out either in May or June, can't wait. I think he's one of the "10 Best" rappers ever.

Bingo,
I had a 'WBK' lunch box.

Post by **tis2flyyy** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:25 pm

deepseas,

WHAT !!!

You just keep amazing me! Never in a million year would I have thought that you listened to Cube! I am telling you! You are the coollest "Granny" that I know, & that is REAL!

Roffharris,
Tell me this...did you like him when he was with NWA? I think he held the group DOWN. Not Dre, not Easy, not MC Ren (who I have met is a mellow type of fellow)...but CUBE. He is DA MAN! Definitely in my TOP 5. & no, before you ask....Snoop's ass is NO WHERE on my list...busta azz nucca!

....but BingoLong i sin the top 5...have you heard BLACK FOLKS??? Man, I am telling you, you have to cope their stuff! I lives on the westside and you know how the beat be BANGING out this way!!! Well, BLACK FOLKS got that same head bobbing shit to their and very eclectic and lots of style and variation. They really be putting it DOWN!

Like Chris Rock said...love me some BLACK FOLKS!

Post by **robfharris** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:07 am

tis2flyyy,

Did I like Cube when he was with NWA? You got to be buggin'. OF COURSE!!! I grew up in the "Murder Capital", these dudes came along talking what was happening on our streets. We loved them dudes. Cube wrote everyone's lyrics except Rens. That's why they were really mad when he left.
"MY" TOP TEN in order:
1)Rakim (changed the way cats rapped. Before he came out cats rapped one way. After he dropped, cats starting rapping a different way. Actually did 'change the game')
2)KRS-ONE
3)The Notorious B.I.G. (Always love Big Poppa)
4)Jay-Z (Dude is just sick with it)
5)LL Cool J (Before everyone got distracted by the six pack, dude wrecked mics and is still winning battles.)
6)Eminem (How do you write a lyric that rhymes with the "Na na na na na na..." from the Batman theme? That alone flipped my wig)
7)Ice Cube (Perfected Gangsta Rap and then made it socially conscious)
8)Scarface (Mister Mister Scarface his verse on "My minds playing tricks on me" turned a really good song into a classic.)
9)Andre 3000 (He raps so well he's become bored with himself. His part on "Elavators" was incredible and the way he flipped "Playa's Ball" was insane)
10) Redman (I EXPAND/ BECAUSE I AM THE BEST/JUST LIKE THE FLAMES/WHEN MARVIN'S FATHER/SHOT HIM IN THE CHEST The illest lyric I ever heard and that was freestyle)

Nas is next up.

Post by **tis2flyyy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:47 pm

robfharris,
We have the same list...
except I will switch out
LL Cool J for TUPAC
and Eminem (hell naw!) for E-40 (love me some 40-wider!)

Post by **robfharris** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:47 am

tis2flyyy,
I based that list on lyrical skills ONLY. If E-40 keeps coming as hard as he seems to be with the new single, he will work his way close to the top. I use to call him one of the 10 best, but the last 5 years weren't the best, remember "Rappers Ball" and "Element of Surprise" is my favorite of his albums.
I think Pac was the most complete artist hip hop has ever had. Strong lyrics, acting, politics, intelligence... charisma out the ying yang.

My most complete artists: Pac, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Andre 3000, Chuck D, Ice T, Mos Def, Mystic, Queen Latifah, Cee-lo, this last one hurts a little bit... DIDDY, not great at any one thing but good at a lot.

Post by **tis2flyyy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:35 pm

robfharris,

That is RICH! You are on the money with ALL of those!!!

Yeah, 40-wider fell off of there for a minute, but his new stuff seems to be hitting on something.

In terms of Beat Masters - Of course, Dre can't be faded, but since he let Big Suge puck him, I have lost all kinds of respect for him. I think DJ Quick has is sowed up! There is no one in the game that makes the continuous head-bobbing flos he does. Jazzy-Fay - now, he is really, really good & and an unknown character by the name of Luke Devereux (that would be my son - his alias!) He is a music major at the Univ of MD and the boy is tearing it up!)