Today, we look at the time that Angela Bassett made an oddly prophetic appearance on thirtysomething.
This is Past Was Close Behind, a feature that spotlights moments, exchanges, etc. from older TV shows/movies/songs that take on a brand new light when read in concert with later TV shows/movies/songs. Basically, stuff that looks hilarious (or interesting) in hindsight.
In the fifth episode of Season 3 of thirtysomething, Michael (Ken Olin) and Elliot (Timothy Busfield) are on a flight home from a work trip when their plane almost crashes. It deeply affects both guys. However, before that moment, Elliot is reading the book, I, Tina, Tina Turner’s 1986 autobiography…
Here is he with the book (released in paperback in 1987), which was a big hit at the time of the 1989 episode…
Well, later in the episode, Michael and Elliot throw a dinner party at Michael’s home, and invite some co-workers and their wives, and one of their co-workers’ wife is played by Angela Bassett (her future husband, Courtney B. Vance, appeared in Season 2 of the series. They weren’t dating yet at the time, though)…
And, of course, four years later, Bassett was nominated for an Oscar for playing Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to do With It, the hit film based on I, Tina!
Funny stuff.
If you have a suggestion for a future Past Was Close Behind, drop me a line at brian@poprefs.com
