DARE TO BE TRUTHFUL
Originally aired on the Showtime cable network in 1992. Written by Julie Brown, Charlie Coffey. Produced by Ken Walz. Directed by John Fortenberry. Filmed in Los Angeles.
--advertising for "Dare to be Truthful," 1992.
During her senior year at Van Nuys High School in October 1976, the sexy, hilarious, and multitalented Julie Brown--actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter, songwriter, producer and director-- was nearly elected homecoming queen. As a result, comedy changed forever. Brown, who was starting her career as a comedienne, began writing and performing songs making fun of everything her friends enjoyed. Songs like "I Like 'Em Big and Stupid," "The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun," "Trapped in the Body of a White Girl," "Time Slips Away," "Earth Girls are Easy," and, of course, "'Cause I'm A Blond." The latter song, which appeared in the soundtrack of the 1989 movie "Earth Girls Are Easy" in which she also played Candy, features the Valley Girl singing and acting like a blond. Speaking of which, as "Just Say Julie" was nearing the end of its run in 1992, the biggest project of her career, which has lasted nearly a quarter century, came.
In 1991, the movie "Truth or Dare," focusing on one of the greatest concert tours of all time (You know which!), arrived in theaters. After seeing this movie, Julie and creative cohort Charles Coffey began writing the script for what would become her biggest success to date. She was 33 years old at the time, but she was excited about this project.
The result was "Medusa: Dare to be Truthful," a spoof of "Truth or Dare." Brown, self-proclaimed as the "Goddess of Comedy," was cast, appropriately, as Medusa, rock's queen of self-obsession, and after many of the principals, many of which are friends and colleagues of hers, were cast, she and director John Fortenberry were ready for the filming of this TV-movie. In addition to co-writing the movie, Brown and Coffey also wrote the musical score, primarily the songs.
Shooting began on "Dare to be Truthful" late in 1991 at either the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, the Universal Amphitheater in L.A., Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California, or the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (depending on whom you believe.) with all of the concert and backstage footage, and the rest of the filming was done throughout Los Angeles.
Our heroine is set to kick off the "Blonde Leading the Blonde" tour at the Coliseum in L.A. The crowd is pumped up, and Medusa, complete with headset mike and all, emerges onto the stage, joined by her backup singer and dancers, to sing "Expose Yourself." As the tour progresses, we see her in all types of situations. While in Canada, for example, a policeman asks her to trim her sexuality for her Toronto concert. (Otherwise, she would be arrested for charges of indecent exposure and public masturbation.) Medusa's response, putting Mae West to shame, is this: "Call me Mr. Brirdseye, but the show stays frozen." In Clarkston, Michigan, (a Detroit suburb), while in town to play the Silverdome in Pontiac (still another Detroit suburb), she goes to the local pet cemetery, to find the tomb of her deceased poodle. Unfortunately, she ends up resting on another tombstone. While performing in Manila, a volcano erupts. (Medusa was told that something was in the air, and she responded, "Lava?!") It just doesn't end here. In still another scene, she sucks on a watermelon ("This is kid stuff...now this is more like it!." she promises.). Still in another, we learn that Medusa is allergic to animal crackers. She was hospitalized for eating an animal cracker, and one concert gets cancelled. And, yes, she is even electrocuted on stage (Who would ever think that a headset mike could cause electric problems?) Plus, all of her dancers and her backup singer even try to sue her! (Interesting sidenote: Charlie Coffey, who played Jeff in this film, played an attorney in "Attack of the 5'2" Women.") And so on.
Through it all, she sings and dances while on stage, even striking a pose here and there. Other songs include "Vague," "Party in My Pants," and the title song.
Strange credit found only in this movie: While in her bed she and her dancers giggled and made comments.
The Official Julie Brown website features photos and footage from the filming of "Dare to be Truthful."
Watch in this film for a very young Kathy Griffin as a backup singer, before she became a costar on "Suddenly Susan"!
Most emotional line in "Medusa: Dare to be Truthful:" "I know I'm not a good singer. I know I'm not a good dancer. My money has money, I've had sex with everyone I want, and yet I'm totally, totally alone. (As was Julie Brown in real life at the time; she remarried in 1993) It is devastating."
This was a second teaming each for Brown and Chris Elliott (Brown appeared in the pilot episode of the sitcom "Get A Life") and for Brown and Bobcat Goldthwait (both starred in the disastrous 1991 movie "Shakes the Clown.")
Watch for game show legend Wink Martindale in one hilarious scene.
Co-writer Coffey also appears in this, as a character named "Jeff."
The premiere of "Medusa: Dare to be Truthful" on Showtime, on December 2, 1991, was the highest rated broadcast in the cable network's history.
"Medusa: Dare to be Truthful" received Julie Brown her only Cable ACE Award in 1993 (for "Outstanding Comedy Special;" it received four nominations, all of which she received, either in entirety or shared.) She and Charlie Coffey also received a Writers Guild award for this TV-movie.