To all the playa haters who said they'd never make it, brace yourself for Huckapoo's long-awaited big screen debut ��in Wordplay, the new documentary about crossword puzzlers opening tomorrow nationwide.
I talked via IM with one of the film's stars � musician and puzzler Jon Delfin � about sharing screentime with Huckapoo.
Radosh: Hey Jon. I want to interview you about your appearance in Wordplay and the cameo of sorts by Huckapoo.
...
Radosh: Do you even know what I'm talking about?
Delfin: I do check your blog a couple of times a week. Huckapoo is the teen girl group?
Radosh: The teen girl group with a capital T
Radosh: For The, I mean, not teen
Radosh: But do you know the Wordplay connection?
Delfin: Fill me in.
Radosh: Honestly I haven't seen the movie yet
Delfin: I have, but I haven't committed it to memory.
Radosh: Francis says that in the scene where you're going in for a piano audition, there's a whiteboard in the background that lists who's in what room
Radosh: And apparently Huckapoo is on it
Radosh: So you were totally in the same building as them
Delfin: So it would seem. Granted, this was filmed in March 2005, so I can't even be certain that I was there.
Radosh: So I guess you didn't notice their name at the time -- though of course as a radosh.net reader, you would have recognized it.
Delfin: A few ifs. If I'd actually looked closely at the callboard. If I was reading your blog then. If I'd made the connection. Can't really say.
Radosh: You could make something up.
Delfin: I'll have to If you're able to get out tomorrow or Saturday, we're doing Q&As after the 7:45 and 8:45 screenings at IFC Center. I'll take note of that scene, but I can't promise anything will come of it.
Radosh: Well, as a word fan, any thoughts on the name Huckapoo?
Delfin: The first time I read it, I checked the bottom of my shoe.
Radosh: You don't need to be a professional puzzler to go there
Delfin: It really does sound like a euphemism, doesn't it? Perhaps of a kind, I got a call yesterday to play auditions next month for something called "Doodlebops." I guess deelybops is trademarked.
Radosh: Do you do anagrams, or should I ask Francis for that one?
Delfin: Anagram of Huckapoo?
Radosh: Humor me
Delfin: Not sure where you're going.
Radosh: For an anagram of Huckapoo. But even I've lost interest now.
Delfin: You're looking for something lascivious?
Radosh: Always. But moving on, I think we should start a Rocky Horror-type tradition with Wordplay. When you see the name in the background, applaud wildly.
Delfin: I promise to make some sort of sound tomorrow, though it may fall short of wild applause.
Radosh: Good enough! Thanks for your time and patience
Delfin: You're welcome. Have Francis work on HUCKAPOO THE TEEN GIRL GROUP. Seems more promising.
Confidential to E.B.: When I do it, it's ironic.
Update: According to this Twiggy Stardom LiveJournal � which is, as the saying goes, fake but accurate � Huckapoo's actual screen debut will be in the forthcoming Doubting Thomas. Assuming the scene doesn't get cut � and why would it? � they will sing Macho Man. Really.
