Lou Rawls Parade of Stars

This parade was short indeed, but it certainly was packed with stars. Singer/performer Lou Rawls hosted this hour-long variety show with musical guests like Sammy Davis Jr. and Lionel Ritchie, and such big-name stars as Mr. T (I pity the foo’ who grew up in the 80’s). Mostly a showcase for African-American talent, it was the predecessor for such programs as Showtime at the Apollo. From what we can discern, the only person who nearly got naked from the show was actress Diahann Carroll, who almost showed us her gumdrops in the bathtub scene of the 1975 film Claudine. Once considered one of the most beautiful black women in Hollywood, she received an Oscar nomination in 1975 for that film but lost--leaving it wide open for that overrated ho-bag Halle Berry to grab it during the “Black Sympathy Vote” edition of The Academy Awards twenty-five years later. (Although Denzel Washington’s award was a long time coming).