Cosmic Slop (1994) (TV)

Directors:

Reginald Hudlin
Warrington Hudlin

Writers:

Derrick Bell (short story "The Space Traders")
Trey Ellis (writer)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the tradition of The Twilight Zone, this bizarre, thought-provoking trilogy addresses the destiny...

Plot Keywords:

African American | Revolution | Alien | Cultural | Hispanic

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jorge Ameer	...	Possessed churchgoer ("The First Commandment")
Larry Anderson	...	Stryker O'Rourke (segment "Space Traders")
Noëlle Balfour	...	Virgin Mary / Oshun (segment "The First Commandment")
Jason Bernard	...	Bernard Shields (segment "Space Traders")
Arthur Burghardt	...	Justin Jasper (segment "Space Traders")
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
George Clinton	...	Host
Edward Edwards	...	Chief of Staff (segment "Space Traders")
Efrain Figueroa	...	Padrino (segment "The First Commandment")
Tom Finnegan	...	General Wright (segment "Space Traders")
Robert Guillaume	...	Gleason Golightly (segment "Space Traders")
Richard Herd	...	Cardinal (segment "The First Commandment")
Casey Kasem	...	Special Appearance
Craig Kirkwood	...	Lenny (segment "Space Traders")
Jay Koch	...	Alien Press Secretary (segment "Space Traders")
Liz LaRou	...	Ute (segment "Space Traders")
George Logan	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
Chi McBride	...	T-Bone (segment "Tang")
Joseph G. Medalis	...	Defense Secretary (segment "Space Traders")
Ana Mercedes	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
Kelly Jo Minter	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
Daryl Mitchell	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
James Noah	...	Interior Secretary (segment "Space Traders")
Paula Jai Parker	...	Tang (segment "Tang")
Brock Peters	...	Minister Coombs (segment "Space Traders")
Brian Reddy	...	V.P. (segment "Space Traders")
Michele Lamar Richards	...	Gail Golightly (segment "Space Traders")
Marcus Salgado	...	(segment "The First Commandment")
Marte Boyle Slout	...	Helen Hipmeyer (segment "Space Traders")
Ebonie Smith	...	Jennifer (segment "Space Traders")
Nicholas Turturro	...	Father Carlos (segment "The First Commandment")
John Witherspoon	...	(segment "The First Commandment")

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Company:

Hudlin Brothers, The

Trivia:

The title is taken from a song by funk legend 'George Clinton''s band, Funkadelic.

"The Space Traders"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Having recently read Derrick Bell's "The Space Traders" and then viewed this adaptation of it, I am pleased to see that the TV version corrects or modifies many of problems I have with the original short story. Also, I feel much of the humor of the story is augmented by the inclusion of visuals, such as with the alien herald who resembles Ronald Reagan and the ridiculous alien space craft.

Also, the few additions made to the plot by the adaptation are both appropriate and very often hilarious. The brief scenes involving Stryker O'Rourke are side-splitting, and I still find that name to be the most appropriate moniker ever ascribed to a pretentious, story-seeking news caster. Robert Guillaume is also show-stopping as Gleason Golightly, especially as he addresses the black congregation.

I also appreciated the way the TV version treated the serious issues presented in the original with a bit more taste and discretion. For example, I was glad to see that the plot was modified so that the departing African Americans are permitted to board the alien vessels completely clothed, rather than, as in the story, reduced to their under garments, a painful and blatant reference to the slave trade. In all, I think the TV adaptation does a fine job of tightening and improving upon the story without losing any of its social relevance or impact.