Keepin’ it ‘Real’
‘Idol’ star Fantasia Barrino breaks out on VH1 reality show
By Amy Amatangelo
Monday, January 11, 2010 - Updated 10h ago


It’s the rare reality show that makes the viewer like its star more.

VH1’s current bread and butter is taking C-list celebrities and turning their problematic lives into TV series. Think “Rock of Love” with Bret Michaels, “For the Love of Ray J” or “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”

Given the channel’s history, “Fantasia for Real” is a delightful change of pace. The half-hour show follows Fantasia Barrino, the season three “American Idol” winner, as she records her third album, studies for her GED, returns to Broadway and supports her family.

She comes across as the same plucky, dedicated performer and devoted mom viewers voted for in 2004.

The opening minutes of the series recount her post-“Idol” life - her successful first album, No. 1 single and tour with Kanye West.

“I was on top of the world,” she says. “Things were great. It was like a fairy tale.”

But like many granted instant fame, Fantasia faltered. Her second album didn’t do well. One of her homes went into foreclosure. She missed 50 performances of “The Color Purple” on Broadway.

“I almost lost everything - my house, my career, my identity,” she said. “I could have gave up, but I didn’t.”

Her biggest problem is that she must support five members of her family solely on her income. In addition to her daughter, Zion, her mother and her three brothers rely on the singer for all their needs.

“Fantasia’s family affects her career 100 percent,” her manager Brian says.

The worst offender is 28-year-old brother Joe, who goes by the nickname Teeny. He still lives in Fantasia’s home and doesn’t think he has to work.

“He’s never contributed financially. His sister has totally taken care of him. She’s kind of disabled him as an adult,” Fantasia’s mother, Diane, says.

Fantasia has decided that she can no longer support Teeny. She tearfully tells her brother that when she returns from a trip, she expects him to be able to show her what he’s done to start contributing.

Instead, Teeny decides to test-drive a Ferrari and tear apart the pool house to turn it into his own recording studio.

It would be nice to think that Teeny is showboating for the cameras, but it doesn’t seem that way.




THE FACTS
Pepa’s reality series set to premiere in January.

THE SPIN
Have you heard about Pepa’s attempt to become the black reality TV version of Carrie Bradshaw?

If not, you will soon as one-half of Salt ‘n Pepa is set to premiere her new series, Let’s Talk About Pep.

The show will focus on Pep and her other four friends’ quest to find love. Those friends included journalists Jacqui Reid, ex-wife of Jason Kidd, Joumana Kidd, and radio personality Kali “Kittie” Troy.

On the show, Pepa told VIBE:

“It’s similar to Sex and the City; it’s definitely the Black, reality version. Real lives, real issues, and real friends. You’re going to see us date celebrities and regular guys. People that we really know.”

As good as it looks, my thing about reality TV is that it’s nearly as scripted as a real sitcom, only at a much cheaper costs. In any event, no worries about Cheryl “Salt” James – she’s co-executive producing the series.
That translates into those two have a production company together and she was going to see a check anyway. I am curious to see what involvement she has in the show, though.

Both show's premire tonight 1/11/10 on VH1

yup as trashy as they will probably be. i'll be wtaching lol!

Somebody mentioned Pep's show to me so I'll check it out since it's about dating & gabbing about dudes. That nose is still hard to look @ & I'm sure it'll be overly scripted but whatevuh...

I was planning to skip Fantasia's show but after reading the blurb I may give it a shot. If it doesn't hold my interest after 2 Eps, it's gone.

Tivo curiosity.....

Pepa looks kinda bloated in that pic

dancerella said:

if you do, you must tell the org the moment fantasia breaks her foot off in teeny's ass....i'm hoping, anyway. not working, and tearing up my poolhouse to build a recording studio?! oh. hell. no.

I would be glued to the set for Pep's show if I had VH1

probably not tonight, but more than likely one of the other million times they'll be replayed fucking with vh1

no

kibbles said:

Oh Hell No is right! I just watched it and he tore her shit up... He need his ass kicked

She got a banana on this episode?? Is Fantasia doin' splits??

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Oh Lawd!!! Pep's date Jheri curl caught on fire in the damn Jacuzzi..

Cinnie said:

Pep's show is kinda freaky.... Kittie (one of Pep's friends on the show) goes on a date with a dude who has a foot fetish and he sucks her toes in the car and says that her feet taste like Meatloaf...

banks said:

....and goes on 2 say, "I like meatloaf".

Graycap23 said:

yeah that was funny... but Pep's date Jheri curl catching fire almost made me piss on myself... that shit was funny... I'm saying who the fuck rock a S curl in 2010

banks said:

Dude looked like a 1960's Detroit Pimp.

Re Fantasia, who is Teeny?

scriptgirl said:

Buster ass brother of Fantasia.
[Edited 1/12/10 12:52pm]

Why call him a busty ass, lol?

Fantasia show was a hot mess it has that keyisha cole vibe with the crazy family and pepa's I didn't even watch I know the salt and pepa show was better

Thought I'd like Fantasia's show more than I did -- kinda blah. And I enjoyed Pep more than I thought -- like her spin on Atlanta Housewives meets Sex and the City. cute.

scriptgirl said:

28 years old
No job
no future
and bumming off of his lil sis.
What would u call it?

I just never heard that term before

scriptgirl said:

Lol.....

banks said:

what is wrong with people?

banks said:

I DID 2! I hadn't laughed that hard in a VERY LONG TIME!

babybugz said:

I didn't get the Keyshia Cole vibe from Fantasia's family... She has a tough talking Aunt who tells it like ut is in regard to Teeny, but her mom and the rest of her family seems nothing like Keyshia's Clan