Welcome back to our series Rembert Explains the ’80s. Every so often, we’ll e-mail 25-year-old Rembert Browne a video from the 1980s that he hasn’t seen. Rembert will write down his thoughts as he’s watching it, then we’ll post those thoughts here. This week’s installment was selected by Grantland reader/hero Joshua Hallatt: a Real People segment with Fred Willard. If you have an idea for a future episode of Rembert Explains the ’80s, e-mail us at hollywood@grantland.com.
0:00 Please say this is an ’80s talk show. I would like nothing more than that.
0:08 The guy on the far right started talking about musicals, and then hair (not the musical), and then this happened:
Unclear who she is, but that’s my BOY George Washington.
0:10 Is that George Washington? Also, this clip is about the “old days” when men wore their hair long. Ha, this is long? Have they seen 2Chainz?
0:12 They just moved on to the next bit, which is troubling because I’ll never know if that was George Washington or not. That’s so embarrassing.
Also, what kind of talk show has three hosts?
0:20 This entire segment is the history of men’s hair. This is incredible.
0:22 Um …
Is this the fourth host? I thought this was men’s hair, and if I’m not mistaken that’s Bo Derek (unless I am mistaken, and that’s David Beckham). Also, WHO IS THIS CHILD?
0:32 They just said “Fred Willard.” Yes.
0:37 Fred Willard is a reporter, about to begin a segment on (I think) hair. Is this a satire? Is this an SNL skit? This can’t possibly be real. The combination of four hosts (one being a child), Fred Willard, and five minutes dedicated to hair just doesn’t equal prime-time programming.
0:38 “Nightlife in New York City” — Fred Willard
Classic. Also, for those of you who don’t know who Fred Willard is (and thus are not finding this completely confusing), he’s a member of the Christopher Guest mockumentary crew, appearing in This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, and most recently seen as Ty Burrell’s dad on Modern Family.
0:47 This show is called Real People. What?
0:50 Fred Willard is at a disco trying to find out about the latest trends. This is the greatest, especially since Willard was probably in his early fifties whenever this was filmed, finding out about “the latest trends.”
0:54 WILLARD
You sly dog, you.
0:56 “Remember when long hair was in? Well, now bald is beautiful.”
What club is this? I really want to find out which Duane Reade got built over it.
1:03 A club full of bald and partially bald women. I can’t wait to spend four more minutes at this club with Freddy.
1:07 Willard is wearing a suit and tie at a rave. That’s amazing. He looks like everyone’s chaperone.
1:13 I was hoping there would be a “Ms. Bald” contest. Dreams come true when you party with Willard.
1:17 “I’m not exactly sure what this person’s qualifications were.”
Willard Shots Fired.
1:24 The guy to the right’s name is Bob Fitzgerald.
He’s the organizer of this event. And Fred Willard is about to talk to him. Why? Because Fred Willard is a freaking reporter, that’s why.
1:33 Told you.
Only the tough questions from Fred.
Also, not to get away from this sure-to-be thrilling interview, but I can’t help but remain confused as to what on earth this show is. Who watches Real People? What is their target audience? And don’t you say “real people,” or I swear I’ll lose it.
1:37 A chat between two real guys:
Fitzgerald: This is a contest for voluntary appearances, extreme appearances.
Willard: Not for people who cannot help the way they look. This is for people who want to look the way they look.
Fitzgerald: Bald-headed women. Women with unusual shaved, partly shaved head styles.
Willard: I find myself getting excited.
Fitzgerald: It is very exciting.
This can’t be real. This can’t be a look of genuine curiosity, can it?
Someone just tell me that Real People was the first Daily Show. Fred Willard is the original Samantha Bee, right? Right?
2:17 Fitzgerald: “Women who shave their heads are more likely to be adventurous.”
This is incredible. Fred Willard invented comedy.
2:24 “So, being an adventurous and somewhat exciting guy myself … ” Willard says as he walks around the dance floor looking like a substitute teacher.
2:34 Completely normal, Fred:
You can’t just go up to a semi-shaved-head bald woman and rub her back tattoos, Fred. There are rules in this game called love.
2:41 And again, this happened:
Owner of that censored booty?
I don’t know what’s going on.
2:48 I think I just heard a laugh track, but I may have made that up. What CBS affiliate is showing this? Did they run out of Maude reruns?
2:55 Willard: “It’s always fun to see people dressed up, looking their best.”
This is more like it. Mocking people outright. This is more my speed, Fred. Thanks for getting there.
3:14 Doing his full journalistic duty, he discovers that there is a magazine dedicated to bald women, titled The Razor’s Edge. They show this clip at all journalism schools now, right? Or is it just at the Fred Willard School of Journalism?
3:51 Oh, you know, just flipping through this magazine with Fred and Bob:
This looks like one of those posters at the barbershop that shows you the 18 different types of ways you can get a fade. Those are my favorite posters ever.
4:03 The conversation between Willard and Fitzgerald couldn’t be more uncomfortable. Fred’s loving this and Bob has no idea he’s being mocked. I’m suddenly extremely interested in Real People as the original “Let’s step inside people’s cultures and make fun of them, especially since they can’t figure out we’re making fun of them” show. I love this.
4:17 I never want to hear Bob Fitzgerald say “erotic” again. He’s said it twice and that’s 17 times too many.
4:39 The finale of this party is women going onstage and getting their hair cut. BY THIS GUY:
4:48 Fred’s starting to get into all of this sexual energy racing through the venue. OMG WILLARD DON’T YOU DARE TAKE OFF THAT TIE.
4:50 Phew. He just loosened it. That was close. In other news, I’m pretty sure he’s had 11 whiskey sodas at this point:
5:02 Fred Willard is dancing and it’s the most majestic thing ever.
A photo can’t really do it justice, but just know that in motion it looks a lot like this:
Yes, that’s two 2Chainz mentions in this completely unrelated article. #4CHAINZZZZZZZ
5:16 Fred Willard is attracted to every woman. And likes to dance. And probably really likes to drink. Those are the takeaways from this.
5:46 WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
