“I think the fact that nobody’s really tried to make the show about themselves.” This is the reason Ernie Johnson gave behind the show’s success. When it comes to the jokes, everybody is a target! Especially the jokes surrounding Ernie Johnson being half-black; they are never-ending! And Ernie doesn’t mind them a bit, he even goes along with it. So when Timothee Chalamet shared his desire to play Ernie, a lot of them thought, how can a white guy play a black guy? And even if he manages to pull it, what has Charles Barkley warned about?
Well, the Dune star won’t be the first one to have done so. Previously, Robert Downie Jr. has also played the role of a black guy in the movie Tropic Thunder. Jokes aside, Ernie Johnson is more than happy to let the Stranger Things star play him in a biopic. But it appears that doing so might cause some friction between Johnson and Kenny Smith. During an episode of The Stream Room, the topic of the biopic surfaced, and Ernie was quick to share his approval for Chalamet. “See, we’re trying to get Timothée Chalamet on the pod,” Ernie shared, recalling the moment. He admitted that Chalamet’s statement did win him some favor with his grandkids. But what does Chuck have to say about it?
Of course, our Charles Barkley wasted no time jumping in. “First of all, I have no problem with him playing you,” he said. Chuck pointed out that Kenny might not be thrilled by the idea. How so? Well, Chalamet has previously praised Kenny’s dressing sense. Barkley recalled Kenny’s words, “Hey I’m good for the rest of my life”. This led to Ernie pointing out how Barkley always uses this point in his arguments. However, Chuck recalled his prediction about Kenny’s behavior, stating, “No. When I saw that, I just—if Kenny does not bring this up right away, I’d cut off an arm.”
Sure enough, Ernie confirmed, “Which took about eight seconds.” Barkley remembered how happy Kenny Smith was when discussing the news. His words hinted that Chalamet playing Ernie might not go so well with Kenny. Does this mean a potential rift between the hosts? Or just light banter? Only time will tell.
Timothee Chalamet is to be in an Ernie Johnson biopic?
Timothée Chalamet’s passion for sports isn’t just casual fandom—he’s proven time and again that he knows the ball. He once served as the guest picker on College GameDay. His love for soccer is even more evident, as he has spoken extensively about Major League Soccer (MLS) and its top stars.
However, despite his love for the sport, no one could have seen his wish to play Ernie in a biopic coming. While promoting his Bob Dylan biopic, he was asked which famous person he’d like to portray next. Without hesitation, he threw out an unexpected name: Ernie Johnson. “What about the Ernie Johnson biopic?” Chalamet had said.
Johnson himself was shocked but flattered when he heard the news. “I can’t believe Timothée Chalamet said that, but it made me a hero with my kids and grandkids.” Meanwhile, his Inside the NBA co-host Charles Barkley found the whole thing hilarious. This was especially so since Chalamet had previously also praised Kenny Smith’s fashion sense.
In Chalamet’s words, “He has varying style, but he’s also very bold and confident about when he just wants to rock sneakers with a suit—and I admire that.” Interestingly, in response to these comments from Chalamet, Barkley joked, “It’s getting out of hand.” But can this happen?
Chalamet has already impressed with his portrayal of Dylan, and Johnson’s 2017 memoir, Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary, provides a solid foundation for a film. Johnson himself seems open to the idea, telling Chalamet, “Call me, let’s talk about it!” With Hollywood always looking for unique stories, this unexpected biopic might just become a reality.
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