21 February 1998
On Rikki Lake there was a black man dressed in an Egyptian costume. He had on a baggy white loincloth and white
vinyl boots and one of those towel things on his head like Linus wore when he played the shepherd in the Christmas
pageant. He was there to prove to an old friend that she shouldn't have dissed him back in the 70s for being a
nerd. It seems she used to liken him to Roger from "What's Happening?" and he's never quite gotten over
it. From behind a veiled curtain he announced that he's turned into "one of the most successful male dancers
in the Washington D.C. area"; a real catch. When he greeted her onstage he performed a bit of his act, prancing
about with the loincloth flappin' and his face set in a determined, hard look with only the slightest hint of tongue
sticking out as he concentrated on showcasing his wares. Although the audience seemed appreciative of his talents,
said friend simply looked at him and shook her head sadly, unable to say a word. "Dance like Roger,"
Riki urged, apparently hoping to spark juicy conversation about the old days. "I can't dance like Roger,"
he said, "But I can dance like Rerun." Then he busted a move that is impossible to explain, yet instantly
identifiable as vintage Fred Berry.
I thought it was cool that he could do that off the top of his head.