theblerdgurl Podcast with Karama Horne

Welcome back to THEBLERDGURL podcast! I always wanted to make THEBLERDGURL LIVE show available in podcast form, but I kind of got overwhelmed by how popular it became and the craziness of 2020 in general. But for those of you still subscribed, or those of you who are new to the podcast I’m reposting past episodes in there entirety along with a few other interviews that are unreleased. This episode is with the amazingly talented Orlando Jones.

Now, the last time Orlando Jones was on the podcast was actually at the end of 2019, when he gave me the scoop about why he was fired from STARZ American Gods franchise in his own words. A lot has happened since then, but I was lucky enough to have him on THEBLERDGURL LIVE as my second guest. This interview was originally recorded back in June of 2020 smack dab in the middle of the pandemic.

We were all still reeling from the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arberry and from the protests that followed. Not to mention the COVID-19 lockdown. We talked about how he’s explaining what’s been going on to his little girls, why he’d be down to reboot Evolution and how he balances his acting with his activism and of course, how he keeps a dragon in his basement.

Because dragons.

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Show Notes

• Watch the video of this episode
• Listen to Orlando’s last visit to the podcast

Transcript Email Download New Tab

45_ORlando Jones ' visit to TBGL 070220
[00:00:00] Karama: [00:00:00] Hey, everyone. Welcome to THEBLERDGURL podcast. I'm Karama Horne aka theblerdgurl Now 2020 was a right Royal mess. And there's a lot of things that should just stay there. But one thing that I was able to start that I was really happy about was THEBLERDGURL live show on Twitch on the OS operating system channel.
[00:00:20] Well, I always wanted to make the post available in podcast form, but I kind of got overwhelmed by how popular. it got Now I'm finally getting around to reposting those episodes here in podcast form. For for those of you who might have missed them. And this interview is with the amazingly talented Orlando Jones.
[00:00:42] Now, the last time he was on the podcast was actually at the end of 2019. When he gave me the scoop about why he was fired from STARZ American gods franchise in his own words. Now a lot has happened since then, but I was lucky enough to have him on the live show as my second guest. So this interview was [00:01:00] originally recorded back in June of 2020 smack dab in the middle of the pandemic.
[00:01:04] And we were all still reeling from everything, from the protests to what we were seeing every day, play out over and over again, the violence on screen. And we talk about that. You can watch the entire video version up on YouTube, which I will link in the show notes. We talked about how he's explaining what's been going on to his little girls, how he balances his acting with his activism.
[00:01:29] And of course, how he keeps a dragon in his basement. Don't we all. So after I pay some bills, check out my interview with actor writer, producer, and activist, Orlando Jones. Hey everyone. It's Karama here. I just want to thank you for listening to THEBLERDGURL podcast and for your continuing support. And I wanted to let you know that I now have a PATREON That's right. If you are interested in supporting THEBLERDGURL podcast or THEBLERDGURL LIVE show on Twitch or any of the other [00:02:00] content that I bring you on a regular basis, you can now go to patreon.com/theblerdgurland support. Now I use those funds only for theblerdgurl projects, buying gear, paying for software subscriptions, and hopefully.
[00:02:13] hiring a team I a team with your help, I can do all that. So please support the show at patreon.com/theblerdgurl
[00:02:27] Orlando: [00:02:27] But what we ain't going to do though, is we ain't go accept these ridiculous terms that you're talking about, where we know we second class citizens. Now we supposed to shut up, be quiet and be thankful for second classes.
[00:02:48] Karama: [00:02:48] What's up everybody. Thank you for joining me tonight. Of the blurred girl live. My name is Kara horn, AKA blurred girl. And I hope you all have had an amazing week and [00:03:00] that you learned something from my very first guest, April, April rain all week. Folks were asking me about how to work for her when I promise her company has not started yet, I will let you know when it does, but tonight's guest is going to really.
[00:03:14] Drive some knowledge and keep you entertained. I have been smiling like this for the past half hour. Hanging out with him. I am super excited to invite to the show. Actor writer, producer, director, activist, and troll assess. Orlando Jones. Welcome Orlando doing
[00:03:42] so I gotta, I gotta ask just off the top. How are you? How's the family. How are you holding up in COVID and all the crazy
[00:03:53] Orlando: [00:03:53] that's good. I just, you know, my girls are amazing, so that's always fun. And, uh, you know, I, I love [00:04:00] the fact that I get to, you know, spend. Gobs of time with my daughter. So I got no complaints about that, frankly, my life hasn't changed a lot because I'll never go away anyway, as you can see, I'm sitting, uh, in, in the dungeon.
[00:04:13] Yeah.
[00:04:21] So sorry guys.
[00:04:25] Karama: [00:04:25] Obsidian.
[00:04:27] Orlando: [00:04:27] Yeah, he think he blends
[00:04:31] Karama: [00:04:31] south of Westeros. Where is he
[00:04:34] Orlando: [00:04:34] is way south we down, uh, in the, uh, North Carolina region. He has out around here and, uh, and the Cape fear area and, you know, You know, he got cakes, you know what I'm saying? And he gives fear and a lot of people think his name for the river, but it's not his name for the city because Jackson.
[00:04:54] Yeah. Because you know, he has a Cape and he brings fear because he's been eating cows and, you know, [00:05:00] just he'll go through here and grab, you know, dolphins, whales, just to just shrimp, like just having a party, like he had red lobster one Sunday. Yeah. It's, you know, it's ridiculous.
[00:05:10] Karama: [00:05:10] Well, I hope you're safe.
[00:05:11] Cause I don't want this to turn into leg horror film in the middle of the live show.
[00:05:18] Orlando: [00:05:18] We have a, you know, alpha type of relationship, you know what I mean? Um, alpha run. If he blow his breath on me and that's pretty much the way it works.
[00:05:29] Karama: [00:05:29] So listen, what are you, what are you relaxing with now? What are you watching besides your dragon?
[00:05:34] What are you kicking out over? Are you watching shows with the girls?
[00:05:38] Orlando: [00:05:38] You know, we, they are funny, um, to watch some of the same things over and over again. So we have enjoyed Peabody Sherman, which we love both the show. And of course the movie and, uh, uh, so where a girl is, is the giant [00:06:00] on, uh, we had a strong Phineas and Ferb thing going on.
[00:06:05] Yeah, we, we rock that. We've now moved. We went through spirit like a brush fire. It was amazing just watching that horse run and watching chicken, Linda, and, uh, all those wonderful characters. Um, uh, we have princess and frog got way recently. Uh, and then we, uh, did a swing back to the aristocrat. Uh, which was interesting.
[00:06:29] And the old 76 animated Robin hood, uh, was a big hood. Now. They hate all of that. Everything I just mentioned is horrible. Uh, my youngest one wants Papa troll and, uh, baby Yoda mandolin. So respect. That's a three-year-old by the way, she requests Mandalorian. She's three years old. It's amazing. Yeah,
[00:06:56] Karama: [00:06:56] I was.
[00:06:56] She's also your child. So
[00:06:57] Orlando: [00:06:57] there's that I'm not mad at [00:07:00] her. I was like, you know, you right you, right. I ain't, I can't say nothing. Magda bought man Dubai in Magda, Florian.
[00:07:13] Completely that it didn't just happen immediately. Like told you man servant, I'm a man servant. That's how it works. Um, and I think my oldest actually likes the cooking show. Um, that make the desserts and she loves that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So sugar, candy, sugar rush. We've been watching that. Um, of course we went through the land of sugar on record Ralph, um, and, uh, We, uh, we, we do a lot, we do a lot, uh, with those crew and then we have a documentary, uh, you know, films that we'll check out occasionally, particularly those telling stories of, you know, the different lives of different, you know, indigenous children, just children around the world, just to get a clear sense of what their privilege [00:08:00] is up close and personal, rather than, you know, saying the word, just seeing what it's like to have to walk, you know, seven, eight miles to get to school.
[00:08:11] And just what that process is.
[00:08:14] Karama: [00:08:14] In the, in the past few weeks, so many people have been, uh, speaking of privilege, there's been so much discussion about teaching people about their privilege. One of the things I was telling April when she came to visit was okay, we're going to, for the next hour, you do not have to explain racism to white people.
[00:08:36] It's been really interesting. Um, you just gotta ask, you have been an, you know, an activist and an entertainer and. So you, you walk those paths simultaneously, but now everybody is a behind a keyboard and being a social media activist and stuff. What do you, what do you think of this newfound? Not at not newfound black lives matter.
[00:08:59] Cause this has [00:09:00] been a word that's been around for awhile, but this newfound interest in what we folks have been doing and saying all this time,
[00:09:09] Orlando: [00:09:09] I mean, I guess good. Uh, There's just a huge difference between social activism and actual activism. So I think it's imperative that there would be a plan and a clear focus.
[00:09:23] And I think that simply means. Go to your city council meeting, get involved in your children's school. Look at what the curriculum is. Look at what they're actually teaching in those institutions of higher learning and lower learning, like actually get involved, um, is one way to do it. And then secondly, I think it's to recognize you're dealing with the community that has suffered a great deal of trouble.
[00:09:47] And hasn't had anyone treat them as trauma victims. They've just been treated as criminal. So if we simply applied, you know, the care that is required to the disenfranchised communities, and while at the same time, [00:10:00] helping those gifted kids get where they belong. Um, and that means that when you recognize this aptitude in fourth and fifth and sixth grade math, which is when you would recognize the aptitude of a coder, um, that you now help that child get the 10,000 hours of math and the access and resources that that child needs to become a million dollar code or so.
[00:10:22] Focusing in both of those areas and our immediate communities, I believe is a sure-fire way to make a change because you've changed that life for real, you help that kid get where he or she needed to go. And at the same token, you help this kid get where they needed to go by helping them through their trauma.
[00:10:39] So I think in doing so you empower real authentic change, um, by, uh, uh, by helping helping someone. And I think that's activism, I think. Great to tweet about and great to post about what pissed you off today, but, um, actually empowering another life is true.
[00:10:59] Karama: [00:10:59] No, I [00:11:00] completely agree. Although I do have to say that I am thoroughly entertained by your Twitter page.
[00:11:09] And, um, so many of us, yes. I feel like you show more of your activism on, um, although I've seen it on Twitter too, but I feel like you show more of your activism on Instagram, but all of your personal personalities on Twitter, like troll Lando. And Olivia, wait, let's, let's roll down the list of some of your, uh, your lovely personas on Twitter.
[00:11:38] Orlando: [00:11:38] So the fun of Twitter to me is that it's, um, it's a bit of a scream Fest, uh, in many ways, little bit of a scream Fest. Um, and everybody likes to scream with certain. And I like to scream something that you will never know what's going to come. That's the way I [00:12:00] prefer it because it's more entertaining for me.
[00:12:02] So sometimes I'm talking as trow, Lando. TRO Lando is a as a troll. He is there to troll. If you get in your feelings, it is just more entertaining to him because he tells you upfront that he was a trolley full disclosure. Yourself. If you, I used to get mad at a troll, well, then you deserve everything that's coming.
[00:12:26] Right. And that's through Orlando. Now I was raised by, you know, a collection of very, very strong black. There was not a weak one in the bunch. And because of that, they had no problem telling you what it was, what it was going to be, what it wasn't going to be, what you was and what you wasn't going to do and what you bet not do.
[00:12:51] That was all laid out very clearly. What they was fixing to do or what they was fin to do, [00:13:00] they was fixing to do it. Then they was going to do a whole bunch of other stuff before they did it. But if they was spending whoop your ass, it was imminent. It was moments away from that ass whooping comment. So.
[00:13:12] Alandra is my inner black woman. And she is, oh, Landro. And Alandra is here to tell you what it is going to be, what it ain't going to be, what it looked like and what it don't look like at all. What's the Napa. See? So Alandra don't want to hear that. Um, Olivia is high inner white girl. She got a lot going on and you know, she's, she doesn't understand, I past it all.
[00:13:48] And she's just, you know,
[00:13:54] because reasons because of reasons, you know? Yeah. So that's [00:14:00] Olivia and she's always in her feelings. It doesn't matter what you say. Yeah.
[00:14:09] And then there's, um, Sapphire, but his stage name is Dawn. So, so Sapphire is a, is a, is a drag queen. And, uh, he performs at a last school Lita, uh, right across from port authority in New York city. That's what came from that's his state. Okay,
[00:14:27] Karama: [00:14:27] I'm done. I'm mad that he's on 42nd and eighth. I'm mad. That's right.
[00:14:32] Orlando: [00:14:32] That's exactly where he is. He said, first of all, he's real winded in like these bougie drag frees. Okay. That's the bottle of whiskey on the table and a real show going down. How dare you talk about stuff. His real name is doin. So sometimes the one, sometimes Sapphire whose real name is doin, you know, it just has to let you know what time it is.
[00:14:59] And [00:15:00] then sometimes it's Orlando, it's Orlando Jones, occasionally it's Atlanta Jones. And then occasionally, you know, it might be Mr. Nancy sometimes just for. Or a dig McCaffrey from say it is. And so I dragged him up a lot just cause he's a, he's a paraplegic cocaine addict. Uh, I just liked the idea of talking to somebody like a paraplegic cocaine addict, um, and Dick McCaffrey doesn't care.
[00:15:26] And, um, and that's it. Those are, those are my goals. Those are my go-to is if I'm being honest, um, and those are my Twitter voices and I, I enjoy them and I enjoy watching people respond to them like what the hell is going on. It's awesome.
[00:15:45] Karama: [00:15:45] And it's also, I mean, and we talked about this a little bit before the show, but also sometimes this is something that's hard for.
[00:15:52] I think a lot of mainstream to understand black folks, we laugh at a lot of our own pain. You know, [00:16:00] we, we are out here dealing with, like, I know, like in one week I had lost. A family member to COVID and I was also dealing with another sick friend and somebody else who'd lost a job. And then I'm turning on the news and seeing another person who died in the hands of police violence.
[00:16:17] And then we go and turn on a comedy and people don't understand that, but we don't have therapists. We have comedy, we have comedians like
[00:16:28] Orlando: [00:16:28] you. Look, I'm from the deep south. Okay. And I can tell you with great certainty that Larry, the cable guy and Jeff Foxworthy, and those guys were talking to an audience of broke people who happen to be white, who were, you know, trying to figure it out, just like everybody else.
[00:16:47] Right. And there were a bunch of black comedians that were talking about. You know what it was like from that side of the camp, you know, everybody from mom's basically the true, the true raw [00:17:00] Primea genius that she was to the people she spawned like red Fox and Richard Pryor, but that came from mom. Let's not get it twisted and her.
[00:17:09] Political comedy and I, her, in some ways, birthing and spawning, even Dick Gregory, um, was to show you how prolific she was as a comedian and that she could do so many different styles and types of comedy. But when I look at those, those storytellers, the Nina Simone. Um, the James Baldwins, which were the people who I was inspired by then there were lots of colors within the way they lived their lives as artists.
[00:17:38] So I really try and do that. I, it would be boring if I had to be the same Orlando all the time, so I enjoy all of them. And I'm sure some people like some more than others and that that's fine, that's their prerogative. But, um, it's for me, it's, it's, it's what I enjoy doing is, is bringing different characters to life.
[00:18:00] [00:17:59] Karama: [00:17:59] And you're obviously amazing at it because you've had so many incredible, incredible, um, roles. And actually, I also want to ask you about that because I think I noticed this most on sleepy hollow, but you've done it obviously. On other shows, you have an incredible connection to your fans in terms of your social media, you speak out on things that a lot of your colleagues might not feel comfortable speaking out on.
[00:18:25] But your fans always bolster you. And I think it's a, it's a balance there. How do you keep that balance? I,
[00:18:32] Orlando: [00:18:32] you know, people, people think of, of. People think in such polarizing terms, um, they think that black lives matter is a political statement. Uh, some people do, and for me, that's not a political statement, but I also think it's important to advocate.
[00:18:58] If you're going to advocate for [00:19:00] human rights to certainly advocate for yourself, but also to advocate on behalf of others who, whose experience you don't know, but who you clearly recognize is receiving the same second class citizenship type treatment. So I really think about that. And who I'm trying to advocate for online.
[00:19:18] I even think about that in terms of the fandoms that I tend to like to join. I liked the ones of the groups who are often the most disenfranchised, the people who people hate for no apparent reason other than they don't like what they think. So I, uh, I like that. I think talking about that isn't as important for me, uh, as, as an artist, because I never.
[00:19:39] One, anybody get confused about, you know, what it's about for me, it's not, it's not a black lives matter, certainly, but it's about equitable treatment for me. And I mean that for everybody, not just somebody who's black, um, equitable treatment for somebody who's white is equally as important. And at the end of the day, um, you know, no, one's trying to [00:20:00] take that away, but since that's so freely given, um, uh, you know, It's amazing how sensitive people are.
[00:20:09] So I look at all those elements and I go, and if that's, what's going to make you sensitive, if my honesty as an artist is what's gonna make you uncomfortable, then man, I'm probably not the type of artist you're going to like. You know, and, and that's, that's your prerogative like, you know, but the truth of the matter is it depends on what, how you're engaging me.
[00:20:30] And if you're engaging me as a, as an actor, I played all types of characters who hold completely different police belief systems from myself. I play characters who fundamentally disagree with everything that I think and believe in, but, and people might love that character and can't stay on me. So for me, that's also a lot of times they're interacting me, but they don't know who they're talking.
[00:20:51] Yeah. Yeah. You know, so, well, for me, it's, it's a bit of a cheek, right? I've been over here playing these games as [00:21:00] whole time being these other people. And now you're trying to interact with me based on this little sliver right here. And so I guess for me on social media, that's what I try not to do. And that's why.
[00:21:12] That's the balance that I exercise. I'm not trying to impress anybody or not impress anybody. I'm just trying to put forth a balanced view of, of the way I would like to be represented. And so I'm trying to talk about Brazil and trying to talk about China. I'm trying to talk about Muslim talking. Talk about, you know, LGBTQ.
[00:21:32] You know, as two plus, but I'm not talking about them. Like they're letters. Like, you know, I have my, I have a gay character. I do, I have a lesbian character. I do. I have a two-spirit character. I do. I see them as three dimensional. People who are, have experienced something. And I know that experience not well, it's something that's been taught to me and, and shared with me through other artists.
[00:21:57] And those artists opened up my mind to [00:22:00] things that discrimination of a kind that I'd never even previously seen. And that was transformative for me because I saw it through the eyes of being a hunted black man. I didn't see it through the eyes of, of what a vulnerable indigenous. Right. And so, and so I really, yeah, my social media and those terms and, uh, and try and talk about what my heritage is and that's really what it is.
[00:22:22] I'm native American, I'm Chinese and I'm black. Um, and I, I try and talk about all those aspects of, uh, of who I am and those people of my family, uh, who represent all those. Things, um, uh, but who are people who I love dearly and I just try and advocate the way I would want other people to advocate. For somebody who you might not think is a nice person because they they're this or they're that, but that's not how I know them.
[00:22:53] I know them in a different way. So I'm going to try and advocate as best I can, how they probably should advocate, but [00:23:00] sadly, they too bigoted to do it. So I'm, uh, I'm gonna stand up for my people and I'm gonna get them to sit down. I don't want nothing to happen to them. I'm sure you got you up here. And let's, uh, let's find a path forward that doesn't cause harm to each other and does it, you know, demonize people.
[00:23:16] And I think that's critical, critically important as we move forward. But by the same token, it's critically important that we get equitable treatment and we've, we've stood still long enough. So y'all gonna have to take this screaming and this yelling right now. We're going to work and do together. We're going to do right together.
[00:23:33] It's going to be fine. But what we ain't going to do though, is we ain't go accept these ridiculous terms that you're talking about, where we know we're second class citizens. Now we supposed to shut up, be quiet and be thankful for certain classes and shit. Now I appreciate offer, but no thanks. I tried it out and knocked the tires for 400 years.
[00:23:57] Karama: [00:23:57] You bet to say. So, um, [00:24:00] now the last time you were here, I had to bring, you saw me. I had to out, I had to break up my fan. Um, the last time you were last time you were here. No, I did every now and then. Hallelujah. Um, the last time we spoke, not the last time you were here, you were on the podcast and you talked about, uh, You went through one American gods and how you left that show.
[00:24:25] And we're not going to talk about all that right now. Y'all can go back and listen to the podcast and get that whole story. Um, but you were shining a light on some of the, more of the ridiculous things that had happened behind the scenes, namely American guy's parent company. Fremantle that we found out is also the parents who company for Gabrielle union, who was fired from America's got talent, which was also the parent company from Michela.
[00:24:53] Cole's showing gum. And now what we have here, ladies and gentlemen is what we call a pattern in [00:25:00] the things that came out since then. And the fact that, uh, so many actors came together for you for Gabrielle, for Miguel and other people. It felt the strength to talk about something justices that were happening in Hollywood.
[00:25:17] Do you think a change was made and I'm not even talking about American gods, I'm talking about like, Hollywood as a whole, or do you think it took what we're seeing now? All of these people shining a light on all of the things that they've gone through in Hollywood right now, uh, for changes to be made.
[00:25:35] Do you think you helped start that or you just going to be here to help.
[00:25:42] Orlando: [00:25:42] I, uh, I don't, I think that's for somebody else to say, I don't know. I don't know that I feel comfortable, um, saying that I was, I was the start of, of, of, of that movement, but I I'll say this. Um, [00:26:00] I think what Viola Davis has said is. Is something that needed to be said. And I think that Nicole, but Nicole Buhari finally having the courage to come forth and say some of the things that she finally was able to say and the incredible growth that she went through as a human and as an artist to not come forth until she could speak in a way that wasn't out of anger.
[00:26:28] Um, that's a really powerful thing. And I want to diminish the power of those type of ads. I think those types of acts are transformative and I, I wish that there was more attention being paid to those little nuanced nuggets that are coming forth. As we talk about these larger issues, um, ultimately. This is hopefully a period of tremendous change.
[00:26:54] Uh, that's certainly my hope, I think right now, I think people are scared why people are just scared right now. [00:27:00] You know, they, they are for the first time coming face to face with the reality that they previously didn't know, and that is, they thought they knew what racism was. When they thought they had a handle on it and they've never experienced it, but they thought that by hearing about it, they could understand it and that, you know, that's ridiculous.
[00:27:22] And then that's not to demonize white people at all. I mean, men don't understand what it's like to be women. You know, so we all have many blind spots about the things that we think we understand intellectually, but we don't understand because we just can't see it through the eyes of someone who's lived it.
[00:27:39] We don't have that, that granual knowledge, that, that institutional knowledge. And I think, um, it's gonna, it's gonna be. A process to educate this institution. Um, they're aware of their bigotry, but they don't know what to do. They're scared. And then there's another contingent of them that are frankly, just [00:28:00] white supremacist and believe that diversity and multiculturalism are anti white and that they're entitled to this and that their forefathers built this thing.
[00:28:07] And, you know, Abraham Lincoln jipped them because he never freed those dabbing on slaves. So there's a whole. Another group of people, uh, who have, you know, finally a representative in the white house. Um, who's literally repeating there. Their battle cry. Those that's their rhetoric to a T I mean, he's dead in sync with the outright and the Neo Confederates.
[00:28:32] So a white supremacy has a very powerful voice and it has one and those powerful voices have aligned themselves under very specific network and then network isn't new. And we are attempting to dismantle that network. And that's why I say you have to. Then your local community to do that because that's where that network is built from it's granual.
[00:28:53] Um, but by the same token, Um, to pretend that this moment [00:29:00] isn't an opportunity would be, I think stupid. And I think to look at it as purely negative is, is, uh, is a fundamental mistake. I think it is painful for all sides as it has been an a w and I think it would be great. The New York police chiefs of the world who are complaining about people, treating them unfairly for 30 days, you poor things, um, could, could have, they could have the empathy and also just.
[00:29:34] Frankly could have the empathy to understand how ludicrous what they're saying is, and that we could remove those individuals and replaced them with someone who, who does understand that because that person will help the community. So in that person's ideology, he's also telling you what his value system is for the community.
[00:29:54] So he's telling you that your trauma and your problems don't matter. It's part of his belief system. That's his world. [00:30:00] You can't just leave that person there. You have to remove that person and the people who supported that person and put in place, someone who sees everyone is human. Doesn't see you less because you're a female or because you're fat or because your palms sweat, or because your hairline is weird or because you're not what people call traditionally attractive, whatever, the reason they're going to discriminate against you for it, shouldn't be able to do that.
[00:30:26] And so that for me is really all that all it's about. At the end of the day. And my hope is that this moment pushes that forward. And I believe that that will happen simply because the only reason it wouldn't happen is because we were so apathetic, we fucking gave
[00:30:44] Karama: [00:30:44] up. So I got to ask, I'm going back to acting now I've got to ask, what did you think to date now?
[00:30:50] Your favorite role has been to play. When you, when you look back
[00:30:57] Orlando: [00:30:57] for me, wow,
[00:31:03] [00:31:00] God, I don't know how to categorize them like that. I w I wish there's such, this is going to sound crazy. I see them as such a different thing than that. Does that make sense?
[00:31:21] Uh, I see them as, as, as the. As a friend. Right. And I got this friend and he looks like this and he talks like this and he walks like this and he's got this kind of crazy story that goes along with them. And he spent too much time in his son and he got his skin. Two-tone like this. I mean, I, I really, for me, it's all of that.
[00:31:46] It's, it's, it's, it's all of that little stuff that you do on the day to day that, that make you who you are. And so I, I kind of enjoy it. A lot, um, because it really [00:32:00] helps me bring the character to life. Um, And so each one of them for me, and what I was doing was awesome that I got the opportunity to do it and to have it, and this crew of people who worked with me and I worked with them and we all, you know, got it on, on camera.
[00:32:19] Right. And whether it came out exactly as I wanted it, or it didn't come out exactly as I want it, it doesn't much stop. The process is kind of. Right for me. So it's hard for me to, I don't know how to pull them apart. I mean, I like, I like people like Nancy, but those guys I liked, you know, like I liked the re the Reverend Lamont fatback from MADtv.
[00:32:44] I liked him.
[00:32:49] I liked, he was amazing. It was crazy. I li I really, another one I liked for MADtv. I really liked the prison warden in the Barbara Streisand, Whitney [00:33:00] Houston, like terms of endearment movie. Um, I like that guy back, uh, uh, he was involved in, in love with all the inmates and whatnot. And, uh, yeah, I did. He was all at his feet.
[00:33:19] He really put his way. He was a mess. This is what I thought was horrible about. It was hard about him as he was an absolutely, um, toxic human who was using his power to create very unbalanced relationships in the prison system as the war. Right. But in his mind, He was in the soap opera, not to laugh. And that in his mind, that's what was going on.
[00:33:52] So the way he dressed, the way he spoke, everything he did was like, he was a Nazi landing character. [00:34:00] There was all this pain that was happening to him the whole time. Uh, so, uh, And Nicole, uh, Sullivan, who was on the show with me, used to have a joke and we, we could never get it on camera, but it was the funniest thing about that entire character.
[00:34:19] And that was, I would say. And she'd scream,
[00:34:29] but may bell
[00:34:39] And she would have yelled at Howard in the corner and cried, and that was the bit, and we would do that bit. And the crew would be like, look at these fools. We'd do that like three, four times a day. Sometimes she could yell. Oh no, absolutely. I'd ask her a question. And she started yelling and I am not a whore.
[00:34:57] And the bit is it goes on. As [00:35:00] long as she wants to scream, I am not a whore. I'm not in control of it. My job is power. That's the key. I keep playing a off until Nicole Sullivan gets tired of screaming. I am not a whore, which generally happened because Debra Wilson decided I'm tired of this white girl screaming.
[00:35:19] I'm not a whore and Debra Wilson shut that shit down. And that was my whole girl. So I hope you like Tempra helped me. It's you? Bitch. You got three more. I'm not a horse before I come over there,
[00:35:36] you can second that emotion. And the next thing you know, it was all around the camp and we were a Motley crew and then our, the Lang said something hilarious. And that was it. So, uh, I really like, I think all of those things and all those characters for all those different periods in my life that were just insane.
[00:35:56] Karama: [00:35:56] So if there was one movie or show [00:36:00] that you could do over that you could bring back and do a remake of what would you, what would it be?
[00:36:07] Orlando: [00:36:07] I would bring back to evolution because if I didn't, I take the same thing and you know, it's funny. I just had, David was just on my podcast and, um, he's such a sweet dude, man.
[00:36:23] I really liked David, but you know, when everything got crazy. You know, people were coming at David, you know, and David is not no David company. He's not a racist dude. You know what I mean? It's not his, he's not, that's not the place he's coming from. You know what I'm saying? So this daughter was going to protest and he was like, listen, Corona's out there.
[00:36:45] It's important for you to stand up for something and not be the failure that I have been in, not being more vocal and standing up myself. Right. So I'm like, okay, you know, respect. I wouldn't let my daughter go out [00:37:00] there with you crazy, but okay.
[00:37:05] You know what I'm saying? Like, that's my dude, but, uh, uh, you know, where he's coming from and I, and I get where he's coming from. And he, he was one of the people that really supported me on the Mike Adams thing, because David David's a smart dude. And you know, he was like, you know, educating young minds.
[00:37:19] Yes. That's not freedom of speech. That's weaponizing freedom of speech. So I really, I really feel like. The us taking those characters is who we are today. Um, as opposed to who we are then, and having something attack the earth, um, that is way above our pay grade. Uh, while those two grown ass men are still the children, they were then maybe a little bit grown up, but not really.
[00:37:49] Not really.
[00:37:50] Karama: [00:37:50] It would be amazing though, because your characters could be like, nah, I see we've done this before. When we were here. We remember what happened last time. Not [00:38:00] only did
[00:38:00] Orlando: [00:38:00] I go, I was in an alien asshole and they got pulled out of my asshole. So let me be clear. I'm not trying to relive it.
[00:38:13] Just the performing of getting an alien. You ain't got my ass hole was exhausting. Okay. I think I asked the ice cream for my ass at the end of it. Okay. It didn't matter what flavor it was. Cause it was from my ass. And I'm just saying, you know, I went through a lot of trauma in that movie. Okay. I sang the birds, took it too.
[00:38:34] The call.
[00:38:39] Okay. I begged people not to tell anybody where I had been. Okay. I went through a lot in that movie. Okay. So I would like to see less alien assholes the next time around,
[00:38:53] go investigate all the alien assholes. That's what I would like me to be. I'm like, Not let him get sucked up all of the ASOS. And [00:39:00] I'm like, yes, you know what? It feels like, motherfucker. That's a great plot right there. Now the white dudes get swept in nearly and ashes and, uh, it'd be lovely now. Please see, I seen it.
[00:39:18] Listen, I made that joke 20 years ago, just to have people explain the joke I made to me. How does that work? The joke was I seen this movie, the black guy dies first and then people will be interviewing me going, you know, in Jurassic park, the black guy dies first. How do you feel about that? How do you feel about that happening?
[00:39:43] I'm sorry, what I'm saying? The black eyes for a second horror movies and he's always dying first. Like, what's that like? I mean, like, obviously I'm sure you have something, you know, to share about it.
[00:39:58] Karama: [00:39:58] It's hysterical.
[00:40:00] [00:40:00] Orlando: [00:40:00] I direct your attention to this movie called the evolution. Direct your attention to this following line. I seen this movie, the black guy dies first use Snagit. I'm pretty sure that's what I said. And it was 19, uh, two of the year, 2000, maybe. I think it was 2000. Yes, a 2016, what the fuck are you talking about right now?
[00:40:27] And you might want to consider whose joke you are referencing.
[00:40:34] Karama: [00:40:34] That that was more of my question. Should have been what's the dumbest question that you've ever been asked. Um, okay. But I have people in the chat that are like losing it. So I I'm taking questions from the chat now. And. Oh, my God. They're all yelling.
[00:40:50] There's people in here yelling lines from a movie it's in me. It's in me. That's hysterical.
[00:40:55] Orlando: [00:40:55] That's exactly right now. Y'all see. This is why, because here's the [00:41:00] thing. I really mean this in all sincerity, like one of the great joys of my life that I never ever in a million years saw coming is that as an adult, I would be walking down the street and encounter so many people.
[00:41:12] Who who are so excited to see me because of, you know, some project I did. Right. And there was always such evolution. Fans are the nicest human beings I've ever like, yo they're there. Like, they're nice. Like I want to do it just because of how awesome the fans of that movie have been. Like, it's crazy to me, how nice they are.
[00:41:36] So nurses run up to me. With and I signed K Y to the state as always the lubricant tell you how much I have Stein. Literally sent me a gift basket of like every type of lube I
[00:41:57] Karama: [00:41:57] had. K Y jelly. K Y [00:42:00] jelly sent you a big.
[00:42:03] Orlando: [00:42:03] They sent something to me and I responded with a Jiff that said, it's always time for lubricant.
[00:42:07] They sent me a DM and said, can we please send your lubricant? They sent so much lubricant. I look like I had taken anal to a whole new level is what it looked like
[00:42:22] were like 18.
[00:42:29] Okay. The house people walk around, you look at it too funny. I see your eyes.
[00:42:42] Got my girl. That's my girl to my girl and my dad and handicap my gun. I had it cause my homie. And Halligan literally. And like, she'll tell me, it's like, it's not, we don't have that type of thing where she got act like she had visible, you know what I'm saying? Uh, you know, my, my, my grandmother and, you know, they were housekeepers.
[00:42:59] So, you know, I mean, I [00:43:00] don't play that second class citizenship foolishness. So she say anything she wanted to say. So she saw, I left it in the wrapping, right. So she saw it in the wrapping. She said, you're going to lose all of that. She goes, she goes, are you going to use all of it? And before she left, I put it in her car.
[00:43:18] Karama: [00:43:18] No, you didn't. So, and Halakha went home with a big box of lube and hats
[00:43:26] Orlando: [00:43:26] to her family. Soon as she looked at me and she was like, are you going to lose all that? I said it right in
[00:43:32] Karama: [00:43:32] her car. So. I got to know just Orlando mess with anime. And if so, which ones like, so do you watch enemies? Are you a fan of any enemy?
[00:43:46] Orlando: [00:43:46] I went down a really, you know, I went down, I asked versus the evil dead. Uh, you know, I went down that rabbit hole. For awhile and came out of it. And you know, where I really find that I really like animates is going to sound crazy on Wattpad. I [00:44:00] really liked reading it on Wattpad.
[00:44:04] Yeah. Yeah. Mongo it's really, I, I enjoy that and I really enjoy, uh, tracking the artists of the track and the art. I just, I mean, It's like a completely different language from the anime itself. Right. Because just because of how it renders anyway. So, uh, yeah, I, I do. Um, and I kinda, and if you have stuff you think I should totally check out, like, please send me stuff.
[00:44:31] Cause. Um, I'm really looking for more, um, the person who turned me on to it was Ernest Dickerson, uh, the cinematographer and he and I were really into, he was director and he was directing me on a project and we started talking about all of the, um, crazy Japanese movies, you know, you know, come through hustle back in the day at each you the killer audition, um, and all those types of movies.
[00:44:57] And then we got into a crazy animated discussion. [00:45:00] And, uh, I've been like a fan ever since, so yeah.
[00:45:04] Karama: [00:45:04] So we've got to get you some, we're going to get you some Akira. We're going to get you some ghost in the shell.
[00:45:11] Orlando: [00:45:11] It took me out.
[00:45:13] Karama: [00:45:13] Um, so somebody said, am I, uh, am I the only one who wants to know the behind the scenes for drum line?
[00:45:19] I would love to hear some tea about behind the scenes on that. Now I know one story. So you should share it because you turned down now. Yes. You turned down a role to say germline.
[00:45:34] Orlando: [00:45:34] So at the time, they're trying to get me to do a movie called like Mike, uh, which is, uh, a magic tissue movie with bow and Morris Chestnut.
[00:45:41] Um, and I thought Morris, Justin, it was fantastic in the movie. Shout out to my dude, Morris Chester. Um, uh, but I just, I couldn't understand. That versus bringing together show style marching band. There was no comparison to me. I'm like I grew up, you know, [00:46:00] and my parents went to traditional black colleges in the south.
[00:46:02] Like, that's just where I'm from. So I was like, no, I'm doing this y'all are crazy. Um, the best T on that movie is probably, I got, gosh, it's snowed that summer. And it was crazy to be shooting in the snow in Atlanta. And the craziest part of that movie is who really won the battle of the bands for real on the field.
[00:46:33] And. The participants were, there are a lot of people who didn't like participate cause Florida a and M got an AA feeling so they wouldn't do it. Um, it was, it was Clark Morris brown, uh, Bethune, Cookman, and the Atlanta and T band and Atlanta T band was made up of a high school band. That was led by a foreigner, a former [00:47:00] rattler.
[00:47:00] That was the Southwest, the cab high school band. And the drum line was, uh, uh, was a mishmash of college students and high school. So the point is, is that, but the most ridiculous band was Southwest to cab and Clark and the Southwest cab high school band was bigger than the Clark university band car had 91 people and they out blue bands of 250.
[00:47:28] It was crazy to actually hear that, like, to just sit and cook because I would, that's what all the conducting scenes were cause know I had to actually conduct them. So I spent all of my time conducting those bands while Nick learned to play the drums. And that was the most that movie was, I got to read.
[00:47:50] To do that and to, you know, to really sort of, you know, write their arrangements and you know, I've been a musician time. So, uh, that's why I did the movie. Cause I got to go back to [00:48:00] being a musician. So it was really fun.
[00:48:03] Karama: [00:48:03] Somebody else is asking, did you write the OJ Simpson bloopers fees from MADtv? Yes, it was your seat.
[00:48:15] I figured you did the short answer.
[00:48:19] Orlando: [00:48:19] Yes, I did. Ma'am
[00:48:23] Karama: [00:48:23] um, how much of,
[00:48:28] how much of Clifford Franklin from the replacements was improv?
[00:48:34] Orlando: [00:48:34] Um, it was, uh, You know, 60, 40, I mean, I wouldn't say it was improv. Uh, I mean, I've been in the writers Guild for 25 years. Um, you know, so, you know, I had a, I knew who I wanted clipper Franklin to be, and that wasn't in the script. So [00:49:00] as soon as he got off the box, Well, clever Franklin shows up as a replacement player.
[00:49:05] If you watched a movie, he is holding, he doesn't have luggage. He has a box with twine wrapped around it. That's his luggage
[00:49:21] because, you know, I went to school at Charleston, South Carolina, and I had a friend named Tyrone. And Tyrone Geddes traveled with a box with twine wrapped around. That's how he traveled. And he was a mechanic and that's how he traveled. So for me, that was Tyrone Geddes, got a shot to go to the NFL and he starts off with not even having luggage.
[00:49:46] And they went a couple of games and he wearing sunglasses. Uh, and talking about himself in the third person,
[00:49:55] suddenly he's calm alone. Uh, the thing about cooking.
[00:50:01] [00:50:00] So that would, so that wasn't in the script. So I had to write all of, you know, what that was. So, you know, I, so yes, I, I, you know, I was writing clipper Franklin,
[00:50:15] Karama: [00:50:15] the Elliot's out, and now I can, I'll never look at 20 of the same again. Um, Is there, is there a role out there or a story I should say? Is there a story out there that you would love to tell, even if you weren't able to write it, if somebody came to you and said, we're doing a movie. This is his character or a person out there who you'd love to play.
[00:50:40] Oh my God.
[00:50:47] Orlando: [00:50:47] Ted Patrick. The father of cult deprogramming, Ted Patrick Black, guy's still alive lives in San Diego was literally grabbing kids who had been snatched by. [00:51:00] Grabbing them with a blanket, jumping into a two door car, driving off and staying in a room with them 16, 17, 18 hours until you deprogrammed him.
[00:51:09] He started off with his own child. He's deprogrammed over 2000 people. And he tried to contact multiple sitting presidents, including Obama to explain to them that ISIS an ISO were cults and that you couldn't bond those people to death because they'd been indoctrinated into mind control and they had to be deprogrammed and there was no system to do the.
[00:51:30] That guy's story. Amazing Curt flood, the black men free agency to create all that, these athletes who are multi-millionaires that happened because of Kurt flood and his legal case, which created free agency and professional sports. Those three yesterday.
[00:51:50] Karama: [00:51:50] Oh, my God, somebody write the James Baldwin. Now while I researched the rest, because all we need to give you is a cigarette [00:52:00] and a suit.
[00:52:00] You already don't care. It would be perfect.
[00:52:07] Oh, that's amazing.
[00:52:11] Orlando: [00:52:11] The phone call from a director, a extremely talented black female director telling me to start writing that in yesterday.
[00:52:19] Karama: [00:52:19] Yes, absolutely. That is amazing. Um, and I'm gonna, like I said, I'm going to send you some animate to watch, but I want to explain one show for you. Cause I want to hear your, your, uh, idea of this.
[00:52:37] There is a show that is very popular right now called my hero academia. I am also a fan sink of it as if, uh, if the eczema. Is Charles school, his gifted school was just a public school and it was a public school for kids that had special gifts. Those gifts weren't they weren't called [00:53:00] mutants. They are rotations.
[00:53:01] They were called quarry. So everybody, you know, everybody in this world is born with a quirk, but not everybody's. Quirk can make them a superhero. Your quirk might be that you can move clouds. That's not helpful. You just happen to have it. Um, but these kids who go to UAA, UAA high have, are being trained for.
[00:53:22] Superhero basically classification. So if you could pick any quirk and I'm telling you, these kids have everything, some people could talk to animals. Some people can stick to walls. One guy can bake that's his quirk. If you could have one special superpower, one special cork, what would it be?
[00:53:46] Orlando: [00:53:46] I like the one I have. I'm going to stay grateful for the one I.
[00:53:51] Karama: [00:53:51] Okay, which is the one you have on
[00:53:53] Orlando: [00:53:53] the storyteller.
[00:53:55] Karama: [00:53:55] Okay, great. That's my ticket.
[00:54:01] [00:54:00] Orlando: [00:54:01] I like telling stories. Uh, I like them to be rooted in truth and from hopefully a perspective that you maybe previously they consider. Outlandish and funny and ridiculous, but I like, I liked telling stories that I'm going to, I'm going to be grateful for the one I got, because I love that story simply because that metaphor is a powerful one, but we all have a superpower.
[00:54:24] We all have that quirk, that thing that we do, and not only the discovery of that, but having a tribe of people around us to help us, uh, be able to do that as a way of life and support ourselves so that we, you know, can hopefully be doing the things that we love, uh, as well. You know, make a living is, uh, that's a beautiful thing.
[00:54:43] That's not work. Uh, so I feel like I got, I get to live that. So that's a, that's a special gift.
[00:54:52] Karama: [00:54:52] Okay. So I'll, I'll give this one to you. You, your, your superpower is that you are actually a Nancy and we are actually
[00:55:01] [00:55:00] Orlando: [00:55:01] that's my superpower.
[00:55:04] Karama: [00:55:04] So you're a storyteller, you're a storyteller and you make those changes and you, and you, your stories, and even the stories that you're told tonight have even, um, and, uh, not no matter what ever happened on that show, there's that it will, you literally made history.
[00:55:20] With the few scenes you were in through the species that you gave, um, one of what you wrote. So, uh, you will ever forever. Yeah. And we are so incredibly proud that you were on it, but I want to thank you for being the second guest on the blur girl live and hanging out with me. And in your dungeon with your dragon here, you're incredibly well behaved.
[00:55:45] Right?
[00:55:48] Orlando: [00:55:48] First of all, he's not well-behaved. I just didn't say that they don't. You look at me don't you dare blow your hot fucking breath on me. I wish a dragon would [00:56:00] far. What he likes to do is, and this happened several times. If you saw me adjusting my hat is because he was over here blowing his hot fucking breath on me.
[00:56:09] Okay. And, you know, and. Fine. You know, you know, if you ever been to a laundromat during the winter, like in Cleveland, and then it's so cold outside that you go stand next to the dryer exhaust, it's blowing out all the, and even though. Committee, uh, uh, herpes and syphilis of blowing through the dryer vent.
[00:56:33] You still stand there because it keeps you warm. Okay. That's the way it feels like, I don't know what obsidian eight, but I can smell that he ate something in his breath because he doesn't floss because dragons don't floss and that's a problem. People don't talk about that. They really don't fucking times dumped.
[00:56:58] Karama: [00:56:58] Sorry. [00:57:00] Thank you so much. It's always a pleasure talking to you and you always make me laugh. I have like endorphins for days after our coverage.
[00:57:12] Orlando: [00:57:12] Thank you. Good to talk to you.
[00:57:14] Karama: [00:57:14] Thank you folks. Thank you so much for checking out the bird girl live. Please follow Orlando. Give him your enemy suggestions. Uh, we were little Joe's on Twitter. You can always find me Kara, the blur girl, T H E B L E R D G U R L, Twitter, Instagram and all over the interwebs.
[00:57:32] And thank you so much for joining me. I will see you next week.
[00:57:39] Hey folks. Thanks so much for listening. I hope you enjoy these reposts. And if you would like to see this episode in video form, I've put the link to the video in my YouTube channel in the show notes. Uh, all of the first season is now live and this episode happens to also be closed captioned as always, please follow me across social media.
[00:57:58] I'm the blurred girl everywhere. And don't [00:58:00] forget to check out my Patriot at patrion.com/the blurred girl. See you next time.

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