I'm me. Plain and simple.
Rockford, IL unfortunately
Joined June 2010
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Roger retweeted
In 1975, Norman Lear called Roxie Roker into his office with a warning. He was creating a new sitcom, The Jeffersons, featuring an interracial married couple—Black woman Helen Willis and white man Tom Willis—who would kiss, share a bed, and simply live as a normal married couple. Lear told Roker he understood if she felt uncomfortable. She reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph: her wedding picture, showing her beside her white Jewish husband, Sy Kravitz, whom she had married 13 years earlier, when interracial marriage was still illegal in sixteen U.S. states. “Does this answer your question?” she asked. She got the part. The show premiered on January 18, 1975, at a time when legal barriers to interracial marriage had only recently fallen and social acceptance was still far behind.
Television executives were nervous about showing an interracial couple so openly. When CBS executives saw an early episode featuring Tom and Helen sharing a kiss, they reportedly wanted the scene removed, fearing backlash from affiliate stations. Producer Fred Silverman refused, and the kiss stayed. For eleven seasons and 253 episodes, Helen and Tom Willis remained married, visible, and ordinary. They argued about dinner, worried about their daughter, teased their neighbors, and lived their lives without their marriage constantly being treated as a lesson. That normalcy was the point. While The Jeffersons tackled racism and other difficult subjects, Roker played Helen with intelligence, wit, dignity, and restraint. She wasn’t simply representing an idea—she was playing a woman who loved her husband and expected to be treated like anyone else.
Roxie Roker continued acting for decades, appearing in productions including Roots, Murder, She Wrote, and A Different World, while also advocating for children in Los Angeles. She died of breast cancer on December 2, 1995, at 66. Her son, musician Lenny Kravitz, and granddaughter, actress Zoë Kravitz, carried her legacy forward. But perhaps Roker’s most enduring contribution was quieter: she helped make an interracial marriage familiar to millions of Americans by showing it week after week—not as controversy, not as tragedy, but simply as life. Sometimes culture changes through confrontation, and sometimes it changes through presence. Roker showed up, stayed visible, and let an ordinary love story become ordinary to everyone watching.
Roger retweeted
On this date in 1952, “I Love Lucy” aired “Job Switching,” the classic episode in which Lucy and Ethel get jobs at a chocolate factory.
BITE-SIZED FACT | The famous conveyor-belt scene became one of the most iconic moments in television comedy.
Roger retweeted
On this date in 1972, The "All in the Family" spin-off "Maude," starring Bea Arthur, premiered on CBS today in 1972.
BITE-SIZED FACT | The sitcom ran for six seasons and aired 141 episodes.
Roger retweeted
The contaminated food list is damn near as long as the Epstein files.
The following foods have now been recalled:
—Frozen blueberries, possible E. coli contamination
—Iceberg lettuce, possible Cyclospora contamination
—Shell eggs, Salmonella contamination
—Mixed berries, possible E. coli contamination
—Pistachio nut butter, Salmonella contamination
—Green powder supplements, Salmonella contamination
—Jalapeño-containing dips, salsa and guacamole products, Salmonella contamination
—Soup kits, Listeria contamination
—Salad dressings, Salmonella contamination
—Granola, Salmonella contamination
—Dog food, Salmonella contamination
—Jalapeño peppers, Salmonella contamination
—Pizza cheese bread products, Salmonella contamination (July)
—Dried herring fish, Botulism risk (July)
—Requeson cheese, Listeria contamination (July)
—Soft ricotta cheese, Listeria contamination (July)
—Infant formula, Botulism risk (July)
—Multiple cheese varieties, Listeria contamination (July)
—Cottage cheese and ricotta products, Listeria contamination (July)
—Organic moringa capsules and powder, Salmonella contamination (July)
—Smoked whole herring, Botulism risk (June)
—Enoki mushrooms, Listeria contamination (June)
—Parmesan ranch seasoning, Salmonella contamination (June)
—Cheese and garlic croutons, Salmonella contamination (June)
—Tahina, Salmonella contamination (June)
—Specialty beverages, Salmonella contamination (June)
—Multiple green superfood supplements, Salmonella contamination (June)
—Powdered beverage mixes, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Infant formula, Bacillus cereus toxin contamination (May)
—Potato chips, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Pork rinds and seasoning products, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Snack mixes, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Sour cream and onion cheese curds, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Flavored popcorn seasoning, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Coleslaw products, microorganism growth risk (May)
—Pita chips, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Chocolate bars, Salmonella contamination (May)
—White cheddar seasoning, Salmonella contamination (May)
—Kippered herring, Botulism risk (May)
—Peeled garlic, Botulism risk (April)
—Raw milk cheddar cheese, E. coli contamination (April)
—Brain tonic supplements, Botulism risk (April)
—Dried croaker fish, risk of harmful bacteria and toxins (March)
—Salmon products, Listeria contamination (March)
—Cream cheese and tofu spreads, Listeria contamination (March)
—Chicken dog treats, Salmonella contamination (March)
—Yellowfin tuna, Clostridium botulinum contamination (February)
—Organic chia seeds, Salmonella contamination (February)
—Green superfood supplements, Salmonella contamination (February)
—Tamales, potential Listeria contamination (January)
—Shrimp paste, lead contamination risk (January)
—Chocolate bars, Salmonella contamination (January)
—Sea Moss Gel Superfood, Botulism risk (January)
—Cheese products, potential Listeria contamination (January)
Roger retweeted
Hayden Panettiere, 'Heroes' and 'Scream' Star, Dies at 36 variety.com/2026/film/news/h…
Roger retweeted
The hip-hop comedy “Disorderlies” starring The Fat Boys and Ralph Bellamy premiered in theaters today in 1987.
BITE-SIZED FACT | The Fat Boys recorded their own hip-hop version of The Beatles' “Baby You're a Rich Man” specifically for the film's soundtrack.
Roger retweeted
The soundtrack for ‘Cinderella' could potentially be released for the films 30th Anniversary, says head of Whitney Houston's estate, and Brandy's Atlantic Records record label.
‘Houston's estate, the film Producer Debra Martin Chase, and Brandy have been in contact to get the soundtrack released’
Via; vanityfair.com/story/cindere…
Roger retweeted
Jared Leto has been accused of criminal sexual conduct by four women, who claim the offenses occurred when they were teenagers.
In a new BBC documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret," a total of 10 women come forward with allegations against the actor and musician. variety.com/2026/film/global…
Roger retweeted
NBC's music video series "Friday Night Videos" debuted today in 1983.
BITE-SIZED FACT | Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's appeared as the first guest host as NBC launched the series to compete with MTV.
Roger retweeted
"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" starring Eddie Murphy and Janet Jackson opened in theatres today in 2000.
BITE-SIZED FACT | The film grossed $42.5 million in its opening weekend.
Roger retweeted
On this date in 1989, Prince's “Batman” soundtrack became the #1 album in America.
BITE-SIZED FACT | Originally asked to contribute only a few songs, Prince became so inspired by Tim Burton's film that he created an entire nine-track companion album.
Roger retweeted
Mariska Hargitay is set to host the #Emmys on Sept. 14.
She is the first woman to emcee the awards show in 15 years.
variety.com/2026/tv/news/mar…
Roger retweeted
Madonna's 'CONFESSIONS II' reportedly "looks set for a six-figure debut" in the US (via @HITSDD).
A proper first week forecast is expected tomorrow.
Roger retweeted
Who says I should slow down at 68..? I’m just warming up! Keep it Moving! Let’s get it! 👊🏽 @BodyCountBand
