The Partridge Family Episode #18
Hello! I’m glad you’ve decided to join me for my review of The Partridge Family Episode #18. This episode is entitled Soul Club and originally aired on January 29, 1971. I love this episode because it stars Richard Pryor and Lou Gossett, Jr. who are very funny. The Partridges save the day in this episode when some crap bag tries to close down a groovy club.
The episode opens with the family driving around lost in Detroit. It made me think of when Chevy Chase was lost in St. Louis in Vacation. Reuben apparently booked the family at some famous ultra fancy club called The Firehouse. Turns out the club is an actual firehouse in the middle of the ghetto. “In the ghetto….” (Think Eric Cartman.)
Pryor and Gossett
Richard Pryor and Lou Gossett, Jr. are the owners of The Firehouse. They weren’t expecting The Partridge Family. They were expecting The Temptations. I LOVE The Temptations! Anyway, the Partridges were supposed to be in Tucson which is where The Temptations ended up. It was a big mix up. A.E. (Pryor) and Sam (Gossett) were cool to the Partridges, but you know they didn’t want no bubblegum pop crackerhead white boys there.
It turns out that Sam and A.E.’s loan shark (Heavy) purposely caused the mix-up with the two groups so that the boys would fail and therefore lose the club (the firehouse). Shirley offers to perform at the club for free to help them raise money. The boys nicely and politely tell her that it’s not the right kind of music. What they really meant was that white people ain’t got no rhythm or soul. The Partridges decide to play anyway. They get all prepared for the concert and nobody shows up. Hahahaha!
Block Party
No money was made by The Partridges benefit performance so they decide to throw a block party for Sam and A.E.’s firehouse. Keith is excited because he has an idea for a new song. “It’s kind of an afro thing.” Right on, brutha. Play that funky music, white boy.
Danny wanders around Detroit all by himself making new friends and getting people to come to the party. I liked that this little white boy wasn’t bothered or intimidated by skin color. That’s how it should be.
The block party begins and The Partridges are trying to be groovy with their new song. Shirley is rocking it with the cowbell. The camera does a close up and hold of a woman dancing in tight red leather pants. I remember that scene as a kid. What did that signify? Why was it a close up and why was it on screen for so long?
The block party is a huge success and Sam and A.E. are able to pay off all of their debts. Richard Pryor and Lou Gossett, Jr. are very entertaining in this episode. The tag is of Danny becoming an honorary member of the Afro American Cultural Society. He plans to start his own chapter at home. The end.
Thank you for joining me for my review of The Partridge Family Episode #18. Click here to review my other Partridge reviews. I hope you’ll come back again soon.