Radosh.net

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.

Posted by Daniel Radosh

1:15 PM