Mr. SOUL!
hot docs Mr. Soul! opens with a montage of classic television shows, such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Bonanza. Though they are admittedly fine shows, the montage clearly shows that every person from dramas, to sitcoms, to commercials was white. When Ellis Haizlip, a producer of Black theatre, was asked to co-create a version of The Tonight Show for a Black audience, he came back with a more original concept – Soul!. Writer and co-director Melissa Haizlip, Ellis’ niece, uses Mr. Soul! to chronicle the development and show run, as well as Ellis’ legacy, showing plenty of tender love for her uncle.
Soul! was one of the first times that Black life was shown on broadcast television, with each episode aired live being used as a showcase for Black artists and culture. The series quickly became must-see TV for Black Americans, who finally got a chance to see themselves depicted on the small screen. Haizlip and co-director Sam Pollard used archival footage from Soul!, as well as a plethora of talking heads interviews to convey how important the show became to the Black community. The directors have included people who worked on Soul!, as well as its guests and those who just simply admired it; they also perfectly balance the show with stories of the man himself. Ellis knew that he wanted to create a Black show, which he wanted it to be “deeper, jazzier, and more controversial”, and that stuck with Soul!’s Black viewers.
With appearances by the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Muhammad Ali, and James Baldwin, it was important to tune into each episode of Soul! because of its varied guests. Ellis gave a platform to every type of Black creative from musicians, to poets, from established artists to newcomers. He also took the time to discuss current events and civil rights, having conversations on such issues as the Vietnam War. Ellis was always gentle in his interviews, keenly listening and often responding with a content “Right on!”, yet still asked thought-provoking questions. The object of Soul! was to offer an experience that provokes the viewer to look into their own thoughts, not to tell them what to think. With the show’s addressing political themes, it was only a matter of time before it fell victim to the Nixon administration, along with plenty of other public broadcasting.
The documentary’s title Mr. Soul! is perfect for Ellis Haizlip, as Soul! was the one of the first markers of Black culture on television. Ellis himself showed that you could be successful as a gay, Black man and that championing the Black experience was a viable source of entertainment. Ellis knew that Black people wanted and deserved to see themselves on screen. Ellis has such an eye for talent and used his platform to positively showcase Black creatives in a time where no one else would. Soul! came in the wake of the civil rights movement, so the only other biased depictions of Black people simply came on the news. Not only does Mr. Soul! tell the story of the show and its producer, but it is also a treasure trove of some of Soul!’s best performances – a tiny dip into its episodic catalogue. Mr. Soul! is an invitation to visit the original show, with the benefit of knowing its behind-the-scenes story and the reasons that render Soul! such an important television programme.