Back to school means back to detention with a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. It’s hard to imagine the cast any other way than what turned out to be the Eighties’ Brat Pack, but back then, John Hughes was charmed by meeting Todd Bridges on a plane and invited him to audition for the film. Bridges, who starred as Willis on classic sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, told an audience at July’s Fanboy Expo Knoxville that he walked away because Hughes’ associate had told him, “We don’t know how to write for Blacks.” While sadly not coming as much of a surprise, this recent revelation gives the audience something to consider while revisiting a cultural touchstone. – Kat McNevins
