Ever since the “The Real World,” debuted in 1992, the year that I graduated from high school, I’ve been a fan of reality show television…I must say in recent years, I have been shocked by the depth of debauchery, depravity and downright “dumbness” of the reality shows that are allowed to be on television. Still, I do love the concept of seeing real people in real situations.
For the longest time, the religious world was absent from reality show programming, but over the last few years, we are finding a way to be included in this cultural phenomenon.
In January, “The Sisterhood,” which featured the wives of Atlanta pastors, debuted on TLC. While the show generated a lot of heated conversation inside and outside of religious circles, the show was canceled after the first season due to ratings. See my article “The Real Preachers’ Wives of Atlanta” about “The Sisterhood” at Urbanfaith.com.
This Saturday, on “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” Iyanla Vanzant will attempt to fix the life of the popular Atlanta-based gospel group the Anointed Pace Sisters in the episode entitled “Fix My Overweight Family.” I actually went to high school with two of the Pace Sisters. Also, I wrote an article “Can Iyanla Vanzant Fix Your Life?” for Urbanfaith.com
Bounce TV, the nation’s first-ever broadcast television network for African Americans, will premiere its first original non-scripted series, “Forever Jones” Presented by Wal-Mart on Wednesday, June 5th at 9:00 p.m. ET. The new reality series will delve deeper into the daily lives and challenges of the close-knit, faith-based family and gospel group foreverJONES. The series, set in the family’s hometown of Shreveport, LA, will run original episodes Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. over a six-week period.
Oxygen Media has teamed up with Lemuel Plummer, the creator and executive producer of “Vindicated”and producer of “The Sheards,” and Holly Carter, creator and executive producer of “106 & Gospel” and executive producer of “The Sheards,” for the network’s latest series greenlight, “Pastors of L.A.” (working title), an authentic new docu-series set to premiere in the fall of 2013. “Pastors of L.A.” will give viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives, from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit. The cast includes Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon,Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson and Pastor Jay Haizlip.
Will you be watching any of these new reality shows? Are you a fan of reality shows?
You’ve heard those questions before, right? Can women really have it all? And at the same time? If you haven’t heard these questions before, I am referring to the desire for today’s modern women to be wives, mothers and career women. (For the record, these questions are not asked of men…)
These questions and answers were explored in the first episode of “Mary Mary,” the reality show featuring chart-topping gospel duo Mary Mary which will premiere on Thursday, March 29 at 10 p.m. on WE tv. (The reality show will officially start airing on Thursday, April 5 at 9 p.m.) I went to the Atlanta premiere of the show which was held at Greater’s Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Decatur last week.
Mary Mary on the red carpet...
Between Erica & Tina Campbell (they are both married to unrelated men with the last name Campbell. Isn’t that cute?), they have two husbands, six (soon to be seven) children as Tina is pregnant, three Grammy Awards and a thriving career in the spotlight…
Erica Campbell, Rosie Pisani, vice president senior vice president of marketing for WE tv; Tina Campbell..
In the first episode, Mary Mary are presented with an opportunity to perform at Macy’s Great Christmas Tree Lighting concert on Thanksgiving Day. Mary Mary are excited about the the opportunity to perform in Atlanta in front of 100,000 people in Atlanta, as our city is a top city for their fans! However, Erica & Tina, the wives and mothers, are not too excited to be leaving their families on such a special holiday, particularly since Tina’s oldest daughter Laiah will be performing at a glee concert during that time…
Mama Braxton also came to the premiere...
There is also drama surrounding Erica’s pregnancy as she begins having contractions before a performance. (She has actually had a beautiful baby girl, Zaya Monique, since then who also attended the premiere:) And now Tina is pregnant!) And Mitchell, Mary Mary’s manager, and their sister known as Goo Goo, who is their stylist, have a confrontation! I won’t give it all away…but I will say that if Mitchell had his way, Goo Goo would be good and gone!
Nicci Gilbert formerly of the '90s R&B group Brownstone...
Viewers also get to know Erica & Tina’s mother Honey, who was their first choir director at Evangelistc Church of God in Christ in California. My grade of their first show: A. And I’m not saying it because they are a Christian group with their own reality show. I enjoyed the show because it was positive and had enough drama to get my attention. Plus, they are in their ’30s like me, and I appreciate that realistic black women (even if they are superstars) also have a voice in the sometimes unrealistic reality TV genre..More pics from the premiere are below…
Celebrity photographer Derek Blanks was in the house...
Comedian & Minister John Gray interviewed the duo about their new reality show...He was hilarious!
A pint-sized Mary Mary fan in her quest to win a door prize!
They also performed their new single "Go Get It." The album will be available on May 8.
Each person who attended the premiere was asked to bring a canned good, and the canned goods were donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Yesterday, I attended a meeting for TalkBlack Atlanta, an African-American discussion group that meets the first Saturday of each month at African-American-owned businesses throughout the city. Yesterday’s discussion was on the black woman. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing issues pertinent to what African-American women face in our day-to-day lives, and I will be back!
One of the points that we discussed is how we are portrayed in the media – think “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and how we don’t fight to ensure that the images of us are positive or at least really realistic. One panelist Dr. Alicia Simon noted that years ago, CBS tried to create a reality-based remake of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” in which a rural family would be moved to a Beverly Hills mansion for hilarious mischief and mayhem I’m sure… After public outry including a congressional hearing according to Simon, that reality show was shut down before it even started…
Well, my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sister and line sister Kendra Muñoz aka “Beauty” and her husband Carlos aka “C-Los,” two wonderfully gifted artists, are in the process of developing a family-oriented, positive reality show “GigFlip180.” (READ: You will not find any basketball wives on this show!) This variety show is actually the brainchild of C-Los Muñoz! The duo are currently raising money to fund the production of their first show…Read on for my Q&A about the program…
What is GigFlip180?
GigFlip180 a hip variety stage show where celebrities showcase their hidden talents. Our show “GigFlip180” is designed for the whole family to enjoy, bringing the household back together like the good old shows of yesteryear: one room – one television – one family! The show is reminiscent of “The Flip Wilson Show” with several funny skits, songs & dance grooves to offer side-splitting comedy and a musical display of talent. Celebs come on the show, and they appear on the show right alongside me, (C-Los) & my beautiful spouse and co-host Beauty in awe-inspiring, comedic scenes! Whether they’re an actor, singer, dancer, rapper, or sports figure – they must “flip” the “gig” that has made them famous “180 degrees.”
How & why did you come up with the concept?
As a boy, I was intrigued with television. I used to think tiny people were inside playing around. As I got older, I loved watching “Sanford & Son,” “Good Times,” “The Brady Bunch” and “The Flip Wilson & Carol Burnett Shows.” Those shows taught me life lessons on how to treat people with decency and respect. Because of all those great shows, I was fueled to become an entertainer. So, I built up enough courage to audition and land a gig in a professional theater company. After working with the theater company, I auditioned and landed my first TV role. I was amazed at the fact that I was going to be on TV! I was like Wow! Following that TV gig, I was signed to a major record label. With recording, touring and TV appearances, I wasn’t able to watch any TV because I was too busy being on it. LOL.
Now, today TV has turned into a projection of violence and sexual exploitation. I believe TV was invented with the family in mind where entire families can sit down in one room, watch one television and enjoy a program without fear of explicit content. So I created a family variety show that will help redirect television to its more encouraging, empowering and inspiring roots. This show entertains the entire family with good old-fashioned clean fun. Celebrity guests appear on the show flipping the gig that’s made them famous. They will not perform what has made them known by millions…They got to “flip” it! They must demonstrate they’re worthy of the title of superstar. It’s the return of good, clean TV!
Tell me about your background and what has prepared you to pursue this project.
I got my first big break as an actor, singer, dancer and choreographer in the renowned Boston Youth Theatre directed by Elaine Koury. After that, I landed a lead role in a television special called “Don’t Give Up.” Since I loved the excitement of live performing, I decided to shift my focus to music entertainment, and I began touring and appearing on TV (“Soul Train” and BET) and performance stages across the country with Billboard- charting, Polygram R&B recording group Finest Hour.
Then, I became a member of Marky Mark’s Funky Bunch. In the late ’90s, I relocated to Atlanta, working with Marvelous Development Center and Devyne Stephens’ Upfront Megatainment. During my over 20 years in entertainment, I have worked in many capacities including working as an an entertainment consultant, road manager, choreographer and artist developer. I have worked on several projects with many celebrities including Sean “P-Diddy” Combs, Dallas Austin, Robert Townsend, Patti Labelle, Maurice Starr, OutKast, Jazze Pha, Goodie Mob, Raven-Symoné, Ludacris and Pink.
With a wealth of entertainment experience, I have launched Zonum Media Group, the media production company that is producing “GigFlip180!’
What is Kickstarter & why are you using this service? Why is there a deadline date?
Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design and other creative fields. It is a new form of commerce and patronage. It is not about investment or lending. Project creators keep 100 percent ownership and control over their work. Instead, they offer products and experiences that are unique to each project. Projects are ALL or NOTHING FUNDING, which means a project on KICKSTARTER must reach its funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands.
This policy protects everyone involved. Creators aren’t expected to develop their project without necessary funds, and it allows anyone to test concepts without risk. Each and every project is an independent creation. Projects are big and small, whimsical or serious. We thought that getting involved with Kickstarter would be a perfect opportunity for supporters to directly connect to a project that speaks to their heart…
Some people may want to ask me, C-Los “You’ve worked with a lot of people, know a lot of people – you don’t need Kickstarter, do you?” And my answer would be, I am not too sure it’s about if I need Kickstarter or not. I just know this is the perfect platform to get us, not only connect to our fan base but connect to people that are looking for a refreshing change from what they are used to seeing. Also, when someone puts a pledge behind you, it gives you that feeling of validation that says what you are doing is a good thing and you should continue in your pursuit because we need more positive shows for families in the world…
We have to raise $139,000 by Sept. 6 or we lose it all. To date, we have raised $766. The money is needed to shoot the stage show before a live studio audience, including securing the venue, celebrities, the pay for cast & crew members and other budgeted items.
How do you donate, and what do you get for your donation?
To donate or what we like to say, make a pledge, you must go to Kickstarter.com. (Click on the link.) Incentives for pledging are listed on the website.
Sounds like a worthy cause to me…
Any thoughts?
P.S. Check out a promo video for “GlipFlip180” below…
