(Photo Credit: above photo is Goggin’s “Baby Billy” of The Righteous Gemstones via HBO).
Welcome to The Blackest Side Podcast, Episode 4. Thank you for downloading the podcast 301 times. Awww, shucks, now we are cooking with fish grease (we are doing pretty good)! The best thing about The Blackest Side of Long Covid is that we are a slow-moving locomotive that’s picking up a little steam. I could not be more thankful.
Enjoy the pod!
TL; DL (Too Long; Don’t Listen):
Walton Goggins has been an actor since 1989. In the words of the sometimes beloved radio and talk show giant, Wendy Williams, he has “made his bones.” He has earned every accoloade he’s received. Like many acting veterans, he has made appearances on NYPD Blue, the CSI franchise, and The Big Bang Theory. He just wrapped up two phenomenal roles on streaming service, MAX, formerly HBOMax — and “Rick” in The White Lotus.
Why I Love Goggins —
While trying to survive Covid-19 and Long Covid, tinnitus robbed me of hearing from my left ear while a cataract formed in my left eye. Like a true disabled genius (hey, my fellow geniuses), I created a makeshift theater in my bed with my laptop close. I “met” Goggins when he played on CBS’ The Unicorn — a light-hearted dramedy about a newly-widowed father with two daughters. His “Wade Felton” was extremely awkward, charming, and likeable — the type of character I instantly love. This was the perfect tempo of entertainment I needed as I tried to intentionally rest and pace my way to some form of recovery. I’ve been hooked on Goggins ever since.
I’m so late but when I found out that my guy Walton played in Ant-Man and the Wasp, his stock rose exponentially. I am a woman who loves Marvel movies (or those pre-2020). Walton’s villainous side deserves its own movie. I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that this will happen one day. (May the spirit of the beloved Stan Lee work on this thang!)
“Baby Billy” on The Righteous Gemstones is one of the best characters created. If you ever want to see how a true Southern Baptist preacher acts behind the scenes, Goggins gives a masterclass on the prototype. Stuck in a Bible Belt time warp of the 70s and 80s, Baby Billy is flashy with old school sunglasses, suits tighter than my makeup budget, and has the most fascinatingly teased grey-silver hair. He woos me each Sunday with bronzer on his forehead and cheeks. And just like a few of the esteemed televangelists of old, he’s obnoxious, arrogant, and a menace to the church. He’s more interested in collecting checks than saving souls. And as a former church girl, I’m amused at Goggin’s accurate portrayal of all the most sinister, yet humorous aspects of church culture.
Goggins dominates every role and screen he’s in. He’s not a selfish performer but if he were a lounge singer on a cruise ship, he’d be the one who would pack the house every single night. My eyes never leave him when he’s in any scene. And to me, he’s kinda sexy, too. Mike Hale, television critic at The New York Times, said that Goggins “makes a habit of being the best thing about the television shows he's in,” in his review of HBO’s Vice Principals. (Let me know in the comments if you’ve seen this show. I have not indulged just yet.)
Walton has found a way to separate himself from Hollywood culture. On Instagram and interviews, he doesn’t seem to fit into some standard of celebrity that many have succumbed to over the years. He flawlessly plays the characters we’ve met before in our lives. They may be shady, sneaky, or kind and unassuming. We know them. I’ve even dated people like “Rick” from The White Lotus before. (God, help me.) Also, I’m always attracted to anyone who can do and be more than one thing without apologies because they resonate with me. I am more than one thing.
Walton, can I call you Walton? I hope so because you’re one of my favorite actors ever.
Hey, Black Siders: I will NOT increase paid subscriptions for the remainder of the year. I count it as a privilege that you read my content. If you can, help me reach my goal of having 30 PAID subscribers by June 1. I know we can do it. Thank you.
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