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From 1989 through 1991 I art directed and hand built the set and props for “Just Say Julie”, MTV’s first ever clip show starring (Uptown) Julie Brown. Julie was one of my best friends and we had a ball, especially as it was so early in MTV’s scripted show evolution that no one from the network paid much attention to what we were doing so we just went nuts.  We shot 10 shows in three days each of the three years. The art direction budget was insanely small, something like $500. It made no sense financially to do it so my deal was that I could keep everything once the shoot was over. This is when my collection of Kitsch went into serious overdrive. I still have just about everything but none of it so close to my heart as the 14 foot long astroturf couch with sandtrap ashtray and golf club feet that sat in the middle of Julie’s living room.

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Many illustrious guests sat on the couch.

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Even Elvis showed up one day.

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Yesterday, Julie and I both showed up at Street.

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We talked about how much freedom we had doing “Just Say Julie” versus what usually goes on in Hollywood where you’re stripped senseless of any brain material once you sign a contract and are beholden to create by committee. But with the (thank God) rise of the Internet, power has been turned back over to the artist if they have the brains and balls to use it, a topic I’ve been obsessed with for almost 20 years.

We did a lot of eating while we talked. We had Moroccan Spiced Winter Squash with popcorn,

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Tatsutage Fried Chicken,

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Mini Kobe Beef Chili Dogs…

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… and Spinach Varenyky, which I forgot to photograph until I finished.

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Julie was more diet conscious than I and only ate the insides.

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Julie and I have a longstanding history with food. In 1989, she won the Best Food award at my Night of the Living Négligée all girl pajama party with her spectacular “Cabbage In Rollers” appetizer featuring cocktail weenies stuck into a cabbage face with a jar of barbecue sauce sunk into the head.

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I know the beautiful cabbage head is hard to see in the photo. You can see it a little better in this one where I’m demonstrating that the rollers are actually edible as Cyndi Lauper turns away in disgust.

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Always a reliable party guest for showing up with festive pot luck food, Julie brought some delicious mouthwash to my Smock It To Me (Art Can Taste Bad In Any medium) party in 1991.

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All in all, I don’t think Julie or I have lost much of our spunk or drive over the years. I look forward to decades more of friendship, food AND fantastic couches!

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10 Responses to “Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Julie Brown, the Astroturf Golf Couch, Food and more…”

  1. StoryTroy

    The JUST SAY JULIE set belongs in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian…I think it really defined a look that was copied a lot elsewhere down the line. Does the nautical-themed dishwasher live on somewhere?

    As for your party photos over the years, I’ll keep a giant square on my coffee table clear for whenever you finally publish “Party at Allee’s: The Willis Wonderland Soiree Scrapbook.” (merely a serving suggestion)

    Reply
  2. Lynda Wells

    OMG I remember that cabbage head and the party as if it were yesterday! Maxene Andrews was really bummed that she didn’t win the food award, however, since she showed up with ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame” popcorn balls, and an outfield covered in green Rice Crispy Cakes. Maybe it should have been made from green Shredded Wheat astro turf!

    Reply
  3. art holmes

    i still remember an episode of just say julie where she had this thing for kip winger and had in her posession the new unreleased winger vid and i think the vcr ate it. hilarious. loved that episode. at least thats how i remember it

    Reply
  4. Julie brown

    These pictures are so amazing, that show was one of the most insane things I’ve ever done. But like Allee said, no one at MTV was watching us (they didn’t even have offices out here) so we could do whatever we wanted. When does that ever happen now? Allee is a complete genius and her set was a huge character on the show, I can’t even imagine it without her. And the pictures of our lunch for yesterday are stunning, way better than the picture of us that the cute waiter took!
    julie

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  5. stacy d

    I remember that show.
    What an amazing set!
    I would love to have a couch like that and that sputnik too.

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  6. Ellen Quinn

    I love Julie Brown, and now I’m fortunate enough to love Allee too.

    When I get rich and famous, I’m going to weasel my way into one of the soirees with an amazing snack!

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  7. Kathy Cunningham

    Allee…you and Julie were responsible for one of the best shows EVER to hit television!
    I had no idea until today..of your friendship and collaborations! No wonder I’m a Julie fan!
    “Girl Fight Tonight”..”The Homecoming Queen’s Got A Gun”…etc..etc. SO brilliantly talented and under appreciated…BOTH of you!

    Reply