Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!

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Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!
Directed by Jeff Margolis
Written byPeter Elbling
Paul Raley
Paul Willson
Produced by Topper Carew
Starring Mr. T
Production
company
Big T Productions
Distributed byMCA Home Video
Release date
  • 1984 (1984)
Running time
52 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! is a 1984 motivational video hosted by American actor Mr. T and distributed by MCA Home Video. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

The video proceeds strongly from new wave and R&B culture of the mid-1980s to appeal to children to respect adults, avoid peer pressure, and build self-confidence. It features a showcase of emerging talent, including Ice-T, New Edition, Fergie (credited as "Stacy Ferguson"), Kelly Jo Minter, Martika, Janice Kawaye, Tammy Townsend, Bumper Robinson, Shanice and Valerie Landsburg. Several years later, the video has led to a proliferation of video clips that are posted on the Internet. [2]

Production

The project was produced by screenwriter Topper Carew, who had previously wrote and produced the film D.C. Cab , in which Mr. T also appeared.

The video was accompanied by a soundtrack album released by MCA Records and a companion book published by St. Martin's Press.

Mr. T returned to motivational roles for the 2006 reality television series I Pity the Fool .

Segments

Be Somebody consists of many segments, with each delineated by a title caption at the bottom of the screen. These include:

References

  1. "Buy Somebody". Billboard . December 22, 1984. p. 34.
  2. Susan Stewart (October 27, 1984). "Mr T.'s not just foolin'". Wisconsin State Journal .