We are all painfully aware that the American Black family comes in many different shapes, sizes and circumstances. Throughout the years, television has given us many images of "the way it is" in our communities, from Good Times to The Cosby Show--the proverbial outhouse to the penthouse, so to speak. So the message is clear: we've been through it all, yet nothing can hold us down. We can thrive, even. Now, with the gorgeous Obama family becoming the standard bearers, with their relationship being the ultimate level for everyone, not just Black families, to hopefully aspire to, family values are once again front and center. So it's a new day. And a good day for all. Right? Well, someone forgot to pass that memo along to BET. Because in the afterglow of everything recently that's taken place, the woebegone network still depends on its "original programming", shows like the new Brothers to Brutha and the returning Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is as their familial standard bearers. Their seasons bow tonight. And so it continues.Below are brief descriptions of the show from the network press release, followed by my comments in italics.
BROTHERS TO BRUTHA (Thursdays, 10:30PM EST) The emotional new series BROTHERS TO BRUTHA follows the lives of the Harrell brothers--Jacob, Cheyenne (aka Papa), Jared, Anthony and Grady--as they attempt to find the balance between family and fame. Signed by Jermaine Dupri to Island Def Jam, under the management of their uncle, Donny "Drano" Harrell and the tutelage of the late Island Def Jam EVP Shakir Stewart, Brutha hopes to realize their family's lifelong dream of success. Under the pressure to be perfect at every turn, the lines between blood and business become blurred and brothers are put to the test. Will the industry wound the family even more, or will it keep them brother to brother?
I know, I know...the description makes the show sound more homogenized than whole milk, and the title is horrible (what, was OH, BRUTHA taken?), but still, as far as train wrecks go, it doesn't seem like that bad of a crash. Most likely after two episodes, I'll be deleting it from my DVR, but any show that gives us the possibility of a group member named "Papa" breaking down and crying, and an uncle living vicariously through his nephews, is worth at least a few looks. Seriously, this might be as close to the Jacksons as we get. Or not. Either way, I'm in. R.I.P. to Shakir, though. Damn.
KEYSHIA COLE: THE WAY IT IS, SEASON THREE (Tuesdays, 10:00PM) , This season finds the family making progress and discovering their own personal paths. Frankie, Neffie and Keyshia attempt to truly step above their past hurts. During the process, Keyshia finds herself on the path to becoming the woman she is destined to be, leading her family and her business down the road to success. This new path also opens Keyshia's heart.and she is finally ready to allow herself to find love once again.
So basically, Neffie cries, Frankie yells and dances drunkenly in public, and Keyshia does Hell Date while staying farrrr away from her mom and sister. Nice. Just like the first two seasons. I can't co-sign for this show. At all. Sure, you can get caught up in the drama and be mesmerized each time Frankie's weave appears on screen, but I'm thinking that one season of this was enough. Now, with everyone "on the path" to success, any sense of reality has gone out of the window. But that's just me. Watch at your own risk.
So if you happen to tune in tonight to get your dose of BET's original programming, please be sure to counteract that with something of value, like a newspaper article about the new First Family. This way, you'll balance out your brain and realize just how far off BET is from raising the bar. All in the name of "reality." Booo.
