VIEW, THE {THE CAST OF "THE BUTLER": OPRAH WINFREY, FOREST WHITAKER, CUBA GOODING JR., LENNY KRAVITZ, DAVID OYELOWO} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of daytime talk shows hosted by a multi-generational group of women, presided over by Barbara Walters, moderated by actress Whoopi Goldberg, and including comedian Sherri Shepherd and comedian Joy Behar. In this episode, the panelists interview the cast of the new film "The Butler" (2013), the historical drama loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, an African-American servant who worked in the White House for 34 years.
The women open the program by discussing the film, including its effectiveness as a history lesson and its depictions of different generations' views of racism and activism. They are then joined by actors Oprah Winfrey, who plays Gloria Gaines, and Forest Whitaker, who plays Cecil Gaines, the titular butler. The conversation touches on such topics as: Winfrey's decision to return to the big screen for the first time since "Beloved" (1998); the film's portrayal of hard-working African-Americans; how the character of Cecil "kept his emotions in check" while witnessing upsetting political and racial developments; how director Lee Daniels, present in the audience, was affected by his relationship with his teenage son in the making of the film; an upsetting scene featuring Klan members and the very young "Freedom Riders"; Whitaker's research into his role; how Winfrey learned to cry on cue during the making of "The Color Purple" (1985), which also starred Goldberg; reactions from audience members; the film's focus on Cecil and Gloria's romance; how Winfrey avoided her ancestors' history of service positions, thanks to her education; and Whitaker's childhood in Los Angeles, including his encounters with the Black Panthers, also portrayed in the film.
Co-stars Cuba Gooding Jr. (Carter Wilson) and Lenny Kravitz (James Holloway) then join the panel, discussing their respective longtime friendships with Daniels, including Daniels' decision to cast musician Kravitz in his first significant acting role in "Precious" (2009); Kravitz's inspiration from his mother, actress Roxie Roker; Gooding's sense that actors are "vessels for the truth"; Daniels' demands for emotional authenticity, including Shepherd's memories of her role in "Precious."
Co-star David Oyelowo, who plays Cecil and Gloria's son Louis, is the final guest to join the panel, commenting on the complex father-son scenes and the characters' differing views of racial injustice; shooting the memorable scene in which Gloria strikes Louis in anger; how Oyelowo, born and raised in England, learned about America's history of racism and civil rights; Whitaker and Winfrey's dislike of the N-word and why it is used in the film; and how Kravitz's mixed-race identity informed his view of the film's story. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: August 16, 2013 11:00 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:37
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 112658
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - News/Talk; Talk/Interview; Actors and actresses
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The Butler" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - Aczone acne medication
- TV - Commercials - Bounty paper towels
- TV - Commercials - Boys Town National Hotline
- TV - Commercials - Burlington Coat Factory stores
- TV - Commercials - Bush's baked beans
- TV - Commercials - Colace digestion capsules
- TV - Commercials - Colgate Optic White Dual Action toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Famous Footwear shoe stores
- TV - Commercials - Fiber One snack bars
- TV - Commercials - Finish dish detergent
- TV - Commercials - Fitness.gov website
- TV - Commercials - French's sauces
- TV - Commercials - General Mills cereals
- TV - Commercials - Glad trash bags
- TV - Commercials - Habitat for Humanity organization
- TV - Commercials - Hershey's chocolates
- TV - Commercials - Hidden Valley sandwich spreads
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal
- TV - Commercials - L'Oréal Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner
- TV - Commercials - L'Oréal Youth Code Texture Perfector cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Macy's stores
- TV - Commercials - Mr. Clean products
- TV - Commercials - Nabisco Belvita snacks
- TV - Commercials - Old El Paso taco sauce
- TV - Commercials - Oral-B toothbrushes
- TV - Commercials - Oxi-Clean stain remover
- TV - Commercials - Pantene Smooth hair care products
- TV - Commercials - Philadelphia cream cheese
- TV - Commercials - Post Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
- TV - Commercials - Progressive car insurance
- TV - Commercials - Raid bug spray
- TV - Commercials - Revlon ColorStay makeup
- TV - Commercials - Swiffer cleaning products
- TV - Commercials - Symbicort C.O.P.D. medication
- TV - Commercials - Target stores
- TV - Commercials - Tide, Bounce and Downy laundry detergents
- TV - PSA - Ready.gov emergency alerts
- TV - Promos - "20/20: Famous Parents, Famous Problems"
- TV - Promos - "Family Dance-Off"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Lucky 7"
- TV - Promos - "Super Fun Night"
- TV - Promos - "The View"
- TV - Promos - "Trophy Wife"
CREDITS
- Bill Geddie … Executive Producer
- Barbara Walters … Executive Producer
- Jennifer Shepard-Brookman … Senior Producer
- Alexandra Cohen … Supervising Producer
- Mark Gentile … Director
- Christian McKiernan … Writer
- Frank Santopadre … Writer
- Barbara Walters … Panelist
- Whoopi Goldberg … Panelist
- Sherri Shepherd … Panelist
- Joy Behar … Panelist
- Forest Whitaker … Guest
- Oprah Winfrey … Guest
- Lee Daniels … Guest
- Cuba Gooding Jr. … Guest
- Lenny Kravitz … Guest
- David Oyelowo … Guest
- Roxie Roker