T is for Truth

No doubt the best birthday present I ever gave someone was the Mr. T cassette, "Be Somebody, or Be Somebody's Fool!" Ms. Ellie was the lucky recepient; after school we'd cruise the streets of chicken town singing along with T:

Treat her right, treat your mother right

Mother

There is no other

Like mother

So treat her right

Glad to hear Laurence Tureaud (his real name) is making yet another comeback, this time in a forum that should suit him well.

The TV Land network announced Tuesday that it will start "I Pity the Fool," a series where "The A-Team" star travels across the country dispensing inspiration and advice.

"The `t' stands for talking," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm going to talk it up. It's what I've been doing all my life."

Hey, if we must have a national scold, better it be T than the unctuous Dr. Phil.

"My show ain't no `Dr. Phil,' with people sitting around crying," he said. "You're a fool — that's what's wrong with you. You're a fool if you don't take my advice."

One footnote: Ms. Ellie ill-advisedly gave the tape to my senior prom date (who became a militant lesbian in college ... I take neither the blame nor credit for that one). I wonder what Mr. T would say about that?