Copie's Choice for the weekend of September 23

Published: Fri, 09/23/22

Happy Friday!

I hope you’ve had a good week. I’m back to tweaking my new play "Grandma & Me: An Ode to Single Parents." Opening Night on October 8 is already sold out, which is a great sign! The audiences for previews have been very kind in their reception of the show as has the advance press. Fingers are crossed for what the critics think on Opening Night! There are three preview performances left. They are tonight at 7:30, Saturday at 5 and the October 7 at 7:30. Go to www.themarsh.org and get free tickets for those shows when you used the code “Grandparent." Proof of vaccination and masks are required.

Broadway World did a wonderful piece you can read here.

The San Jose Mercury News just released an interview they did with me as well.

And I had the pleasure of being a guest yesterday on KALW’s wonderful On the Arts program.

I’ll be taking a break from the new show next weekend (Friday, September 30 and Saturday October 1) and going back to the beginning to present "Not a Genuine Black Man" at the new Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. "Genuine" is the longest running solo play in San Francisco theatre history and this is the first performance of the play in San Francisco in over five years, so these are very special performances. The Presidio Theatre is a beautiful venue to see it! Tickets are on sale now at www.presidiotheatre.org. Masks are required.

On a personal note, people have been asking me all week if I’m a grandfather. Not yet. Carolyn’s baby is due any time now. She is a real trooper and hanging in there during these last uncomfortable weeks. She’s also under strict instructions not to let me know she’s in labor if it happens before a performance. If she does, I’ll be a babbling idiot on stage for two hours and won’t remember a line!

Got a couple of things you should check out this week…

WATCHING

"Reboot"

Hulu

My friend, Bay Area broadcasting legend Jan Black, turned me on to this after she almost busted a gut watching the pilot. She told me that I absolutely had to see it and she was right. It’s got a great premise.

Rachel Bloom stars as writer Hannah Korman, a young writer who convinces Hulu to reboot a cheesy sitcom from the early 2000s called "Step Right Up." Her plan is to reunite the original cast and do an edgier, more emotionally honest version of the show. She reunites the dysfunctional cast, played by Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Callum Worthy and the always wonderful Judy Greer.

What no one knows is that the show was created by Rachel’s estranged father, played by Paul Reiser. As creator, he has a seat at the table or there is no production. The clash between the writing styles of the father and daughter duo is hilarious, as is the interaction and baggage of the cast, thrown back together after 20 years and nursing their own grievances. It’s just great!!

COPIE’S CHOICE: Watch!!

PODCAST/TV

Back in 2014, the podcast "Serial" debuted with a season dedicated to investigating the case of Adnan Syed, a Baltimore man who was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 17 for the murder of his high school girlfriend. The podcast captivated the world, being downloaded by millions. It also won a Peabody award and spawned several other books, specials and podcasts debating the case. The reason for the fascination in the story, is that if you look at the evidence, it’s clear that Adnan didn’t do it, yet he’d been sitting in a prison cell since 1999 for it. It’s a fascinating story.

This week, the conviction of Adnan Syed, now 41, was vacated. After 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, he’s finally a free man. After his release, I’ve gone back and listened to that first season of "Serial." I recommend it to you as well. A lot of the evidence uncovered was cited by Baltimore prosecutors in their motion to vacate the conviction.

The four-part documentary, "The Case Against Adnan Syed," that HBO did, shed even more light on the faulty methods that put a teenager in prison for almost a quarter of a century. I’m re-watching that as well.

I’d like to recommend both to you for this weekend. You’ll be as infuriated as I am when you see how shoddy investigations, corrupt police and prosecutors and incompetent defense attorneys can lead to the taking of liberty so easy. Adnan Syed could be any one of us under the wrong set of judicial circumstances. And, once you’re convicted, trying to prove your innocence or even getting the powers-that-be to even look at new evidence that clears you is like climbing Everest.

"Serial" season 1

Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Copie’s Choice: LISTEN

"The Case Against Adnan Syed"

HBO MAX

Copie’s Choice: WATCH

Have a great weekend! I hope to see you at the theater.

Copie

BrianCopeland.com

1271 Washington Avenue #146
San Leandro California 94577
USA

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