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| Ben Vereen, at right, with Jeff Goldblum in the TV series "Tenspeed and Brownshoe". Source: http://www.tv.com/topics/general-tv-discussion/community/ post/ching-ching-the-tenspeed-and-brown-shoe-pilot-review-1426402810/ (May be subject to copyright) |
It was the consequence of a cock fight where two chickens, each with razor-sharp claws mounted to their feet, fight to the death.
Pointing out it was a black man is important, because he wasn’t any black man, he was “Chicken George”, a slave in the American South in the 1840s whose express purpose was training chickens for the fights.
He was played by Ben Vereen, an actor who is still acting more than 40 years later.
I recently saw him guest star in the re-boot of “Magnum P.I.” and it reminded me of his career.
Private eye
As the 1980s started, Ben Vereen co-starred in his own series with Jeff Goldblum. It was called “Tenspeed and Brownshoe”, and Vereen played E.L. “Tenspeed” Turner. The show was the creation of one of my writing heroes and role models – Stephen J. Cannell. In fact, it was his first independent production.
As the 1980s started, Ben Vereen co-starred in his own series with Jeff Goldblum. It was called “Tenspeed and Brownshoe”, and Vereen played E.L. “Tenspeed” Turner. The show was the creation of one of my writing heroes and role models – Stephen J. Cannell. In fact, it was his first independent production.
“Tenspeed and Brownshoe” was about two private detectives in Los Angeles. Lionel “Brownshoe” Whitney, played by Goldblum, fancied himself a fan of film noir and there was even an episode that paid homage to the Black Dahlia Murders. "Tenspeed" Turner was a con man working as private eye to satisfy his parole requirements.
It only lasted 14 episodes, and I caught the last few on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. Like many shows back in that period, it was not always on as scheduled.
I bought it on DVD a few years ago, and plan to sit down and watch it.
Reprisal
Something I recently discovered was that E.L. “Tenspeed” Turner did not go quietly into that good night after 14 episodes. Ben Vereen reprised that role in five episodes of “J.J. Starbuck” in 1988, starring Dale Robertson. It was another Stephen J. Cannell production, but by then I had left home for university and did not watch a lot of television.
Something I recently discovered was that E.L. “Tenspeed” Turner did not go quietly into that good night after 14 episodes. Ben Vereen reprised that role in five episodes of “J.J. Starbuck” in 1988, starring Dale Robertson. It was another Stephen J. Cannell production, but by then I had left home for university and did not watch a lot of television.
Say uncle
Another recurring role Ben Vereen had was as Webster’s uncle in the 1980s sitcom “Webster” starring Emmanuel Lewis. Trying to capitalize on the success of Gary Colemna in “Diff’rent Strokes”, Webster is a little African-American boy taken in by Caucasian parents played by Alex Karras and Susan Clark. Vereen’s character, appearing in 1984-1985, did not approve of his nephew living with a Caucasian family, and tried several times to adopt him. All those attempts failed and he eventually moved to California.
Another recurring role Ben Vereen had was as Webster’s uncle in the 1980s sitcom “Webster” starring Emmanuel Lewis. Trying to capitalize on the success of Gary Colemna in “Diff’rent Strokes”, Webster is a little African-American boy taken in by Caucasian parents played by Alex Karras and Susan Clark. Vereen’s character, appearing in 1984-1985, did not approve of his nephew living with a Caucasian family, and tried several times to adopt him. All those attempts failed and he eventually moved to California.
The years after
Ben Vereen worked steadily through the 1980s and 1990s, guest starring in everything from “Love Boat” and “Silk Stalkigs” to “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”; “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; “The Nanny”; “How I Met Your Mother”; “Hot in Cleveland”; and much more. He was also in a number of miniseries including “The Jesse Owens Story” and “Ellis Island” in 1984 and “A.D.” in 1985.
Ben Vereen worked steadily through the 1980s and 1990s, guest starring in everything from “Love Boat” and “Silk Stalkigs” to “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”; “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; “The Nanny”; “How I Met Your Mother”; “Hot in Cleveland”; and much more. He was also in a number of miniseries including “The Jesse Owens Story” and “Ellis Island” in 1984 and “A.D.” in 1985.
He also made a name for himself on Broadway and as a singer and dancer, garnering a Tony nomination for “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1972 and a Tony win in 1973 for “Pippin”.
Parting thoughts
Ben Vereen continues to work, most recently in the TV series “Bull”; “Star”; and “Tales” all in 2019.
Ben Vereen continues to work, most recently in the TV series “Bull”; “Star”; and “Tales” all in 2019.
I will always remember him as “Chicken” George Moore in “Roots”. The miniseries took him from a boy through adulthood training chickens then as a father. One of my favourite moments was when his son Tom Harvey, after being freed from slavery, was being terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan. “Chicken” George arrived to defend his son and help exact a bit of payback. It was amazing television.
For that role, Ben Vereen was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama or comedy series.
What impressed me was his versatility, acting, singing and dancing in a variety of productions on stage and screen.
He was another actor who, at first, I did not recognize when he guest starred in the new “Magnum P.I.” When I did, it brought back a lot of great memories. It impressed me that he is still doing well after all these year, at the age of 75.
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