Picture this: Black Friday shopping riots—but with an awkward black girl.
The Tickle Me Elmo holiday toy craze is likely the most recent time we saw a bunch of moms fighting over the hottest Christmas gift, but old heads remember the Christmas Eve riots over Cabbage Patch Kid dolls in Arkansas.
Oh yes, this is a thing that happened. And it was caught on tape.
According to Deadline, HBO is developing a limited series starring Issa Rae and Laura Dern called The Dolls. The project, from Dern and Jayme Lemons’ Jaywalker Pictures, will center around two small Arkansas towns and the aftermath of a Christmas Eve riot over the Cabbage Patch doll obsession. Rae will be joining as part of her first-look deal with HBO.
HBO has tapped Insecure writers Amy Aniobi and Laura Kittrell to co-write the project with Rae. Insecure producer Deniese Davis will serve as an executive producer on the film, along with Rae, Dern and Lemons.
Though the initial pitch clearly surrounds the fracas over the Cabbage Patch doll frenzy, The Dolls will also delve a bit deeper into conversations about race, class, privilege, and what constitutes a “good mother.”
The Insecure co-creator is definitely about that “can’t stop; won’t stop” life, having recently landed a leading role in Paul Feig-produced American Princess. She’ll also be starring in the Spring 2019 Will Packer comedy Little, along with Marsai Martin and Regina Hall. And she’s still a motherfucking Cover Girl.
Rae isn’t just rooting for everybody black, she’s rooting for everybody’s checks. A queen.