The History of White People in America

The History of White People in America was a series of 30-minute mockumentary-style vignettes, first broadcast, beginning in 1985, on Cinemax, and later re-edited for videocassette release.[4]

The History of White People in America
Directed byHarry Shearer
Produced byAllen Rucker[1]
Martin Mull
Kevin Bright
Written byMartin Mull
Allen Rucker
StarringMartin Mull
Fred Willard
Mary Kay Place
Edie McClurg
Christian Jacobs
Amy Lynne
Eileen Brennan
Steve Martin
Jack Riley
Harry Shearer
Michael McKean[2]
Stella Stevens[2][3]
Jeannetta Arnette[2]
Distributed byHBO
Release date
1985
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Broadcast

Martin Mull Presents The History Of White People In America, Part 1: In Search Of was broadcast June 4, 1985 at 9:30 PM.[5][6]

It was hosted by Martin Mull, and starred Fred Willard, Mary Kay Place, Amy Lynne, Christian Jacobs, and Edie McClurg.[7] It was written and produced by Martin Mull and Allen Rucker, and directed by Harry Shearer. Mull's wife Wendy Haas contributed the music.

The History of White People in America was done in the style of documentaries about minorities in the United States. The focus is a family of empty-headed white people clueless about the complexities of the world around them. Each 30-minute segment focuses on a particular theme (e.g. religion, crime). Martin Mull plays a reporter after the fashion of 60-Minutes investigative TV journalism, interviewing participants as well as providing narration or commentary directly into the camera.

Volume 1

Volume 1 begins with introductory "testimonials" by Steve Martin, Teri Garr, and Bob Eubanks, who explain what being white means to them. Martin admits he's a white person, but apologizes for not being a very good one. Garr claims to be one of the few white people who can dance. Eubanks says he's only recently come to terms with being white, and if going public can help others to cope with their whiteness, he'll consider his public declaration to have been for the best.

Mull as the narrator then discusses how recent films and television shows have celebrated ethnic diversity, but none have covered white people. He cites the miniseries Roots as an example, but focuses on Ben Vereen's portrayal of Chicken George as the supposed highlight. He also includes the miniseries Shōgun, sarcastically remarking that it is the history of Japan as told by Richard Chamberlain.

Part I, "In Search Of"

Mull introduces the viewers to the average white family in America, the Harrisons of Hawkins Falls, Ohio. Highlights include the Harrisons hosting a backyard barbecue and interacting with their neighbors, all of whom are equally average and equally white.

Part II, "A Closer Look"

The Harrisons are shown reacting to appearing on television in Part I, with Mull explaining how "getting in touch" with their whiteness has changed them. Daughter Debbie uses her increased confidence to win election as president of her high school's student council, where she arbitrarily enacts edicts including mandatory deodorant dispensers for the student bathrooms, "especially the boys." Wife and mother Joyce Harrison begins a support network for other women in the neighborhood to explore what being white means to them, beginning with the members of her Amway group.

The Harrisons are later shown individually discussing sex on the phone with friends, with Debbie shocked after a friend tells her the real thing is better than what was depicted in Porky's and Joyce expressing dismay at a friend who says her husband and she prefer to leave the bedroom lights on when they're intimate. Tommy attempts to learn breakdancing, which causes his parents to bring him to the Institute for White Studies in Zanesville for retraining.

Husband and father Hal attempts to learn about other cultures by inviting a rabbi (played by Harry Shearer) to his home, but the discussion doesn't go well, as Hal commits several faux pas, including offering the rabbi ham and asking when Jews put propellers on their yarmulkes. Joyce attempts to visit a sick neighbor, but discovers the neighbor isn't sick, but Sikh.

Part II closes with the Harrisons taking part in a local civic club's "White Pride Night," including a costumed song and dance routine that celebrates white peoples' contributions to American history.

Volume 2

Part III, "White Politics"

Part III, "White Politics" premiered October 24, 1986 on Cinemax.[8]

Part IV, "White Stress"

Part IV, "White Stress" premiered November 8, 1986 on Cinemax.[8]

Sequels

Two sequels for videocassette release were made:

  • The History of White People in America: Volume 2[9][10][11]
  • Portrait of a White Marriage.

As of September 2008,[12][13] it has not been released on DVD and is only available on VHS.

Books
  • Mull, Martin; Rucker, Allen (October 9, 1985). The History of White People in America. Perigee Books. p. 143. ISBN 9780399511936.[14][15]
  • Mull, Martin; Rucker, Allen (October 1, 1986). A Paler Shade of White: The History of White People in America: Volume II. Perigee Books. p. 158. ISBN 9780399513008.

Reception

1985 CableACE Award for Comedy Special was given to Martin Mull (executive producer), Allen Rucker[16] (producer), Kevin Bright (producer), and Cinemax, for The History of White People in America.[17][18]

Adaptations

In 2007, The History of White People in America was adapted for the stage by Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Illinois for the Drama & Group Interpretation State Final Competition of the Illinois High School Association.[19]

See also
  • An American Family - a 1971 documentary TV series parodied in The History of White People in America.
  • Fernwood 2 Night - a 1977 mock talk show series starring Martin Mull and Fred Willard employing similar social satire.
  • BabaKiueria - a 1986 Australian mockumentary about an oppressed white minority in a society dominated by Aboriginal Australians.
  • White People - a serious 2015 documentary that explores white culture and privilege in America.

References
  1. Stein, Ellin (June 24, 2013). That's Not Funny, That's Sick: The National Lampoon and the Comedy Insurgents Who Captured the Mainstream. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 448. ISBN 9780393074093. Retrieved 2020-05-20 – via Google Books.
  2. Volume II (1986)
  3. Leo Verswijver (2017-09-25). "Stella Stevens: "I had the pleasure to work with a lot of great directors, but Vincente Minnelli was just wonderful"". FILM TALK. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  4. Hunt, Dennis (November 1, 1985). "Mulling Over 'History Of White People'". Los Angeles Times.
  5. "Martin Mull Presents The History Of White People In America, Part 1: In Search Of (TV)". Paleycenter.org. 1985-06-04. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  6. Shales, Tom (1985-06-04). "TV Previews". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  7. McClelland, Ted (2008). The Third Coast: Sailors, Strippers, Fishermen, Folksingers, Long-Haired Ojibway Painters, and God-Save-the-Queen Monarchists of the Great Lakes. Chicago Review Press. p. 352. ISBN 9781569765050. Retrieved 2020-05-20 – via Google Books.
  8. Shales, Tom (1986-10-25). "A Mind of Her Own". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  9. Novak, Ralph (June 29, 1987). "Picks and Pans Review: The History of White People in America: Volume II". People (magazine). Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  10. The history of white people in America (VHS tape, 1985). [WorldCat.org]. OCLC 13036233. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  11. Bernard A., Drew (2013). Motion Picture Series and Sequels: A Reference Guide. Routledge. p. 416. ISBN 9781317928942. Retrieved 2020-05-20 – via Google Books.
  12. "The History of White People in America (1985)". MUBI. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. "The History of White People in America (1985) starring Martin Mull on DVD". DVD Lady. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  14. Wald, Eliot (1985-09-29). "Paperbacks; Folks With Refrigerator Magnets". The New York Times Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  15. Martinson, Connie (October 1985). "Martin Mull and Allen Rucker interview". Connie Martinson Talks Books. Retrieved 2020-05-20 – via Claremont Colleges Digital Library.
  16. Boyle, Deirdre (1997). Subject to Change: Guerrilla Television Revisited. ISBN 9780195043341. Retrieved 2020-05-20 – via Google Books.
  17. "Allen Rucker: Community and Activist Video". Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  18. Kunerth, Jeff. "The Florida White -- An Ethnic Joke". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  19. "2007 IHSA Drama & Group Interpretation State Final Schedule". Illinois High School Association. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
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