A Family In Denial

ASSI - Brandy and Ray J is hard for me to watch, Ray J seems to be misinformed regarding factual information. For example, he mentioned that he has been in the business for twenty years and Brandy and Sonja, the mother both state that they have been in the business for fifteen years. Ray J claimed that he had the number one dating show for "The Love of Ray J" one and two, but was not really looking for love something all of new, except for the women on the show. On this episode of "Brandy and Ray J, A Family Business" both dealt with relationship issues. Ray J had to deal with reunion show for "The Love of Ray J Two", he was nervous because he neglected to tell Ms. Berry that he had no love for her and was without any future plans for them as a couple. Brandy was dealing with her on again and off again feelings regarding her date with Flow Rider, a rap artist who wanted to take her to the Grammies but Management seemed to think that it isn't good for either artist. However, Brandy wanted to go and was seemingly torn regarding her feelings for Flow Rider but could not stop talking about him and when he makes the decision that they should not go to the Grammies together it dawns on her that she really wanted to accompany him to the Grammy.

Sonja is struggling with her dual roles as Manager and Mother, she agrees as a manager that it was not good business for Brandy to attend the Grammies as Flow Riders date, but as a mother wanted Brandy to go because Brandy really wanted to go. Sonja wanted Ray J to handle things with Ms. Berry in a honest and respectful manner; however, she wanted him to light firer to Cocktail at the reunion show because she felt like cocktail was out of line, and he needed to stand up for himself as a man and not allow a woman to make him look bad. Sonja is the mother bear who refuses to allow anyone to harm her baby cub in any manner. He mother had to bail him out of the confusion with cocktail and he went to cocktail to console her while Ms. Berry was waiting in the wings, the only reason cocktail backed off was due to his mother stepping in and telling her that she needed to leave. He walk around with bottles of Champagne which is probably preventing him from thinking rationally about the situation that he placed himself in for the love of money. Ms. Berry was more poised and mature than Ray J, she gave him an out, and he wasn't mature enough to take it.

Willie, the father needs a little more back bone, he is a little to passive and friendly, which can be good and bad, and he truly sees himself in his son and tries to relate to Ray J without being hard on him. I guess he is being understanding but that's not what he needs. Ray J needs his family to level with him, they all give it a shot but in such a nice and comforting way that he gets it but still lacks the maturity needed to relate to women. However, the show ends with him breaking things off with Ms. Berry over the phone. Why didn't anyone council him to have a face-to-face meeting with her, after all she waited five months to see him and learn if there was a possibility for a love connection with this young man, especially since she had his back during the reunion show and kept it 100 with him. He could have done the same thing with her but chose not to because he lacked the maturity to handle the situation like a man.

I am waiting to see more of a connection between Sonja and Willie....I like that Brandy has a good support system with her friends, it was nice to see her and Kelly Rowland have dinner together, and that her other non celebrity friends went bowling after she learned that she was not going to attend the Grammies with Flow Rider. Ray J is living in a fantasy world but sometimes you have to dream the impossible and take ownership of the things you want for yourself. He seems to be good at that and there isn't anything wrong with dreaming the impossible it is the only way to make your dreams come true.

Celebrity Reality - Take Over

ASSI - Are celebrities taking over scripted reality shows? Is this merely another lucrative acting gig for them? What segment of their shows are unscripted by them or the network? Although I watch many of the scripted reality shows, I do miss well written and acted situational comedies and dramas, and with the a new crop of shows scheduled. I am curious to see what captures my attention. I really liked the family Crews that airs on BET, the finale aired this week, it is one of the few reality shows that I actually like. It has the flavor of the Cosby and Bernie Mac show. Terry Crews, plays the father on "Everybody Hates Chris", he is a handsome man, to me, and one who loves his wife and five children. The baby and only son, Isiah is three but acts like he is five, and is smart, insightful, and cute. I would love to see a second season of The Family Crews and BET should negotiate for more episodes per season.

I also hope to see another season of ":Let's Talk About Pep" that aired on VHI, starring Pep (Sandy Denton) from Salt-N-Pepper rap duo, "Let's Talk About Pep" was the Black version of Sex in the City, Sandy (PeP) and three of girlfriends get together once a week to dish about their dates, and other outings that happened since their last meeting. It might even remind you of the show "Girlfriends." The cast of women include, Jacque Reed from BET nightly news; Joumana Kidd, former wife of NBA player Jason Kidd, and Kittie who is the around the way girl, the Kim Catrel of the group. I did look forward to seeing that show every week and just when it was getting good it was over. I was a little over hearing every week that Pep still had her four years, she felt a need to inform was weekly that she has not had sex in four years. Jacque is looking to have a baby, has never had an orgasm, and has a man check list. It seems that there was much missing in Joumana's marriage due to the fact that she is a recent divorcee, who was interested in finding a hot body to replace the cold one, and Kittie was looking for someone with a higher freak meter than hers but when she meets her match, she couldn't handle it. She broke the girlfriend code and brought the drama. "Let's Talk About Pep" was an entertaining show that I enjoyed watching, I am looking forward to the next season.

"Lisa Raye the Real McCoy" aired Thursday night at 9:00 pm on TVOne, it was a double header two episodes in one night. I am happy that Lisa Raye is back to business, focused on her career, and doing whatever to get that paper. Lisa revealed that White is her signature color and she wears it well. What's up with all the flamboyant stylist on these shows, most of them look a hot mess, but are trusted and revered by their celebrity clients. How and where do they meet these people? Why is it that a gay man can dress a woman, seemingly, better than a woman. Are there any lesbian women dressing men? According to Lisa Raye, she has a Rolls Royce that her former husband, Michael Eugene Misick gave her as a gift, but she is paying the $9,000.00 a month note. Attention ladies, Lisa Raye married her husband a month after meeting him, and within two years everything fell apart. It seems that his representative misrepresented him, made him out to be someone that he wasn't, and now she is fighting to settle the financial terms of her divorce. She is an extremely overly affectionate mother who loves-up on her daughter, with lots and lots of kisses, initially it caught me off guard, it felt a little incestuous, but I understand the unconditional love a mother has for her child. However, it is classic "It is not what you do but how you do it" situations.

Tiny and Toya are back for another season, premiering Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:00 pm on BET...from the promos airing it looks like Tiny has finally opened her nail salon or will open it during the season, she has owned the shop for over a year, but had not been proactive regarding getting it open, she had other priorities to deal with, TI who is her significant other and Rap star and father of one or two of her children was top priority, last season he went to prison for attempting to purchase fire arms from an under cover cop. With TI temporarily out of the way she can focus on other ventures like her music and shop, I am sure when he returns things will be all about TI. It appears that Tiny made herself over during his absence. Hopefully he will like the changes. We will see Toya come into her own, according to the highlights she styled the young girl group that Tiny put together, and maybe we will learn what became of Toya's meeting with a publisher, she was interested in writing a book. It seems that family is big to these Southern Black Belles, I am hopeful that Toya made a difference in her mother's life, perhaps the mother entered rehab for her drug addiction, and just maybe we will learn if Toya is still dating that football player she went out with last season. I did see them at the BET Awards show together. I will probably catch the second run of the show, BET will air it a couple of times a day, and have a marathon leading to the final episode.

Brandy and Ray J, the sister and brother, acting and singing team are allowing the cameras into their lives, so that the public can better understand their family ties. Their show "A Family Business" can be seen on VHI on Sunday at 9:00 pm. I am unsure if this one is going to hold my attention, I am already a little bias toward the mother, I think she is a bit brash, cold, and down right rude. An over bearing mother with nothing to do but try and control the lives of her children. I am unsure if it is her camera persona or the way she really is, and the father seems to be a down-to-earth fun-loving-guy who has lots of patience.

What is Chili from TLC on? Have you seen the promos for her new show? "What Chili Wants" that airs on VHI on Sunday at 10:03 pm. She is looking for The One but her criterion list seems a little unrealistic but obtainable if that's what she really wants. According to Chili, the man must be gorgeous, sensitive, charming, love God, love her son, love her mother, and cannot drink or smoke, or eat pork. To help her find a man that completes the check list. She hires, Tionna Tee Smalls, author of "Girl, Get Your Mind Right" a no nonsense young woman from Brooklyn, New York to guide her to The One. However, to Chili, she is not understanding why she is unable to find love. She is a talented and attractive woman, who is handling her own, so why is it difficult for her to seal the deal? Is she really looking for love or is this just an avenue to make some revenue? Rarely does any of the men or women who are so call looking for love find it, but they seem to have a good time on during the journey. It is not for everyone but for those who subscribe to dating different men and women at the expense of a network, have a producer plan excursions, dates, and outings with handsome men and women all vying for your attention, have a stylist dress you in the finest designer wear, eat at the best restaurants, live life to the fullest on camera for thirty to forty five days, and receive a pay check for doing so? All I have to say is, "Sweet!"

Shauni O'Neal, the soon to be ex wife of NBA, Player Shaquel O'Neal, developed a show for VHI titled what else, "Basketball Wives" what will viewers learn from the scripted show, I don't know, but I am sure to tune in to see what I am not missing. It airs on Sunday at 10:00 pm.