BIG FREEDIA: QUEEN OF BOUNCE: GOODBYE VERA (TV)
Summary
One in this reality series about outrageous gender-bending performer Freddie "Big Freedia" Ross, who specializes in bounce music, a New Orleans-based blend of hip-hop and dance styles.
In this episode, Freedia explains that he was in Portland on April 1, 2014, when he got the call that his beloved mother Vera had passed away. He returns immediately to New Orleans, explaining that he regrets not being with her at the moment of her death. Freedia's stylist Torelle visits the home of Katey Red, Freedia's best friend, and the two of them cook a vast array of dishes as they discuss Vera and worry about Freedia's emotional state. Freedia's sister Crystal and many other relatives gather at Vera's house to plan the funeral and write the obituary for the newspaper. Elsewhere, the Shake Team gathers for a rehearsal and talks about witnessing Freedia's grief after receiving the fateful phone call. Tootie asserts that Vera would have wanted Freedia to be out touring rather than sitting by her bedside, though the other dancers are unsure how Freedia will handle the situation in the weeks to come.
Tootie and Steph drop off some flowers and balloons on Freedia's front porch, and Freedia, Crystal, and their uncle Percy, Vera's brother, create a funeral outfit with "a touch of class" for Vera. Later, Tootie and Steph visit with Freedia and assure him that they will be there for support; Freedia tells them that they will take a short break from performing and then "shoot for the stars." Freedia opts not to allow cameras inside the church for the heavily-attended service, but he explains that a "jazz funeral" also features an outdoor procession with a horse and carriage and a performance by the Second Line Brass Band. Freedia's many friends and family members dance through the streets in celebration of Vera's life, and footage is shown of Vera's funny and poignant moments in past episodes as Melvin comments on her "feisty" and strong-willed nature. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Fuse
- DATE: 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 116795
- GENRE: Reality
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection; Reality; Music and musicians
- SERIES RUN: Fuse - TV series, 2013-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Fenton Bailey … Executive Producer
- Randy Barbato … Executive Producer
- Tom Campbell … Executive Producer
- Benjamin Hurvitz … Executive Producer
- Michael Dugan … Executive Producer
- Sal LoCurto … Executive Producer
- Diane Robina … Executive Producer
- Renee Moncada-McElroy … Co-Executive Producer
- Melvin Foley … Co-Executive Producer
- Josh Ferrazzano … Co-Executive Producer
- Harris Fishman … Co-Executive Producer
- David Shafei … Co-Executive Producer
- Jada Ford … Supervising Producer
- Christy Wegener … Supervising Producer
- Natalie Miller … Associate Producer
- John Guevara … Segment Producer
- Kenneth Leslie … Supervising Story Producer
- Jamie Hardesty … Story Producer
- Carlton Jordan … Story Producer
- Curt Hutson … Story Associate Producer
- Melvin Foley
- Vera Johnson
- Torelle LaFaye
- Katey Red
- Crystal Ross
- Freddie "Big Freedia" Ross