In the early to mid-1970s, there were a ton of so-called 'blaxsploitation' films made in Hollywood. In these films, black heroes and anti-heroes had many violent adventures. When seen today, they often seem rather campy and it's no surprising these sorts of film spurred on various parody films (such as "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Black Dynamite") because they are so incredibly over-done and, occasionally, silly. Well, apparently, "Hawaii Five-O" was trying to cash in on the blaxsploitation craze in this episode and you almost need to be a fan of these films to understand much of the lingo. Seeing McGarrett referring to 'Macks' (pimps), 'Trick City' (the district where prostitutes hang out) and the like is amazingly surreal! The show begins with the local pimps getting together to talk about the increase in the protection money they are paying to a local thug. To prove he means it, the thug has one of the pimp's head blown off shortly after the meeting! This was pretty funny, as the dead pimp was played by Ron Glass ("Barney Miller") and the evil mob boss was Gregory Sierra (he played 'Julio' on "Sanford and Son")--an interesting pairing to say the least.
The King Pimp (or whatever you'd call him) is worried--it looks like a war might break out between Sierra's men and the pimps. This leader was played by Glynn Turman--who himself starred in possibly the worst blaxsploitation film ever "JD's Revenge"--but he was good in this an MOST everything in which I've seen him. Anyway, he and the gang 'o pimps decide to contact an assassin from Detroit to take care of Sierra. But wait...there's a lot more to this plot than you'd imagine. Tune in and see.
This is certainly NOT one of the more cerebral or intellectual offerings from the show. In fact, it's a bit silly since you almost NEVER saw black people on this show--yet here, it's like a giant pimp convention flown in just for this episode! But, it also is highly enjoyable--and for those who lived through the 70s or love blaxsploitation, it's a definite must-see.
The King Pimp (or whatever you'd call him) is worried--it looks like a war might break out between Sierra's men and the pimps. This leader was played by Glynn Turman--who himself starred in possibly the worst blaxsploitation film ever "JD's Revenge"--but he was good in this an MOST everything in which I've seen him. Anyway, he and the gang 'o pimps decide to contact an assassin from Detroit to take care of Sierra. But wait...there's a lot more to this plot than you'd imagine. Tune in and see.
This is certainly NOT one of the more cerebral or intellectual offerings from the show. In fact, it's a bit silly since you almost NEVER saw black people on this show--yet here, it's like a giant pimp convention flown in just for this episode! But, it also is highly enjoyable--and for those who lived through the 70s or love blaxsploitation, it's a definite must-see.
