Did anyone catch this on TV One? I'm watching it now as I sit here with my sleep all in my eyes. I learned a few things. I didn't know Jam gave them their group name. Good show, but could have a few more facts or background added.

daPrettyman said:

Nope! I didn't catch it. I'll have to catch it another time. ABC! BBD! lol

ViintageJunkiie said:

It's on now (about to go off, though). It's good, and they are being pretty honest about what's going on with NE.

They are failing to discuss BBD's 3rd album and what went wrong with the project.

When's the next time they're gonna be on?

Timmy84 said:

Not sure. I caught the 2nd run at midnight. I know it comes on during the week, but not sure what day.

daPrettyman said:

Oh OK... I'm not good with TV schedules at all.

Yeah, Jimmy Jam gave them that Bell Biv DeVoe idea. Genius! I knew that from a biography I read back then.

Yeah I saw this last night. Seems like they focused too much on New Edition's earlier days instead of the group as a whole for the whole hour. It was really interesting how they formed cliques in the group, I mean not surprising because it happens, but just how they were separate from the lead singers. And that was messed up how Ralph did Biv's mom. I know he was ready to beat him down. Then they had to lie on the special for Ralph saying that he was sick, but they really had no idea where he was at. I keep forgetting how hot "Poison" used to be and most of the songs off that album. It's like they was here, and then they wasn't. Then it was like, well they had nothing else really going on after the 2nd album failed and just went trucking on back to New Edition.

I wanted to know more information on this movie that they said they were going to do. Was this going to be a movie about them, or a movie where all of them would star in it? And this book deal, I assume that was going to be about NE too? Just seems like they had all these great "ideas" that never went through....and that its the other guys (ironically all the lead singers of NE) who are holding up stuff, or not in agreeance with them. And aren't Ralph, Bobby, and Johnny touring together too as a group called "Head of State"? I could have sworn that was what Bobby said on his "Behind the Music" show that just aired.

Timmy84 said:

www.tvguide.com
www.titantv.com

missfee said:

I, too, was a bit confused about the movie. All Biv said was they had big plans to celebrate NE's 25th anniversary. He didn't really discuss any details.

I did learn that Ralph was a part of the reason they broke up. What I really want to know is why were they still living in the projects when they were selling millions? Their MCA debut and All For Love were big albums and their mothers were still in the hood? That's crazy.

You did hear right that Bobby, Ralph and Johnny did form a group called Heads of State. They didn't really address that in this special, though. http://www.eurweb.com/sto...r49158.cfm

In all, I thought it was a good special. I thought there were a few holes and gaps that should have been addressed. Come on, why wasn't BBD's 3rd album even mentioned? That album should have been mentioned and I would love to hear why they think it didn't do anything.

daPrettyman said:

Yeah i remember them talking about their Heads of the State project
last year. I did catch bits and pieces of the BBD special last night.
These guys(new edition)have just as much drama if not more
than Guy/Blackstreet but somehow always seem to come together.

phunkdaddy said:

You know, I think NE's problem comes from outside forces. If you think about it, Bobby and Johnny have had much better solo careers than the other guys. I say that only because they had more than one hit album as a solo artist.

I think NE just needs to realize that people don't want to see them separately. They want them to be a group. If they realize that, then they will be successful.

daPrettyman said:

I think the problem with them being a group is that a lot of their
fans have outgrown the bubblegum songs from the early years while i
think their outside projects have shown a more edgier side particularly
BBD and Bobby Brown.

phunkdaddy said:

You must remember, NE's biggest album wasn't bubble gum. I think it's more about being the clean-cut group vs being the sex/party music as Bobby and BBD did.

I remember watching that Lou Rawls special and wondering where the hell was Ralph, now I know.

When I think about them though, it just all seems so sad. They should had been bigger than they were. And the whole rags to riches to rags story is just still unbelievable in itself. I guess their managers had control of most of the funds coming in, then by the time it was time for the group to get paid it was like "oh well here's what we have left for you". I know in the special last night they said that they fired all their managers and stuff, but its like they just couldn't seem to get themselves together for anything. Ralph acting a fool, Bobby was actin a fool, then Johnny had other plans after the "Heartbreak" album. The "Home Again" (which is a great album by the way) reunion was a big fiasco. Then they had that album with Bad Boy a few years ago, another fiasco. I have to admit, it was shocking to see them on the BET awards to do the MJ tribute, I'm glad they came together to do that, but my gosh, Ralph sounded awful. Bobby wasn't that great either, the only one who could hold a note, it seems, was Ricky. Wonder why that was so?
[Edited 10/26/09 10:31am]

missfee said:

You know, a friend of mine and I have debates constantly about NE and its offsprings. He seems to think NE has a chance for a comeback and are still great "artists". I tell him that they are a manufactured group (even their offsprings) and they will never be big ever again.

I was happy to see them reunite for the BET tribute, but they did sound horrible. We know about Bobby's drug past, but we don't know about the other guys. I wouldn't be surprised if Ralph was/used drugs and messed his voice up like Bobby did.

daPrettyman said:

Child who knows what Ralph was doing. Speaking of which, didn't Ralph and Ricky get married to their wives in the same ceremony? I could have sworn I read something about that a while back but it's not crystal clear. Anyway, back on topic, I wouldn be surprised if Ralph was dipping in and out of drugs himself. All I know is that they should have had Ricky, whom they probably deemed (just one of the back up guys) to sing lead on the songs...of course, I know egos wouldn't have let that happen.

And Ralph used to be so good looking too. Lawd have mercy he used to be so sexy, now he just looks so...old.
[Edited 10/26/09 10:54am]

missfee said:

Well, all of us age. Not to mention, I think Ralph must have done a pretty good amount of drugs because he and Bob look pretty rough.

daPrettyman said:

Well thats what I'm saying!!!!! I know about all of us aging, but you don't look older than what you should unless you doing something extra that you shouldn't be doing.

Bobby was far from the only member of New Edition to do drugs so I'm sure Ralph did his little business too.

Timmy84 said:

LITTLE?!?!?

daPrettyman said:

You know what I'm trying to say, I'm not trying to say he did a little drugs. Hell he and Bobby probably shared crack together, lol

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

or the same pipe.

missfee said:

daPrettyman said:

I didn't know it was their biggest album but definitely the best
and the only one i can really listen to assuming you're talking about
NE Heartbreak. I remember even around that time Ralph even admitting
that Bobby was killing them with the Don't be Cruel project because of
the edgy Don't be Cruel and My Perogative and NE was mellowing out with
If it Isn't Love.

phunkdaddy said:

Heartbreak stayed longer on the charts, but didn't peak at number one on the pop chart. However, their reunion album did peak at number one on the pop chart, but only lasted on the chart 39 weeks vs. Heartbreak's 62 week run.

I'm glad they stated that the 2nd album suks

Because it did..

Yeah I gotta catch this, too.

As I've been saying for years, after NE's debut lp [bRalph was always the 3rd best singer[/b] in the group. There's nothing to be surprised about him sounding like crap these days, because he always did. LOL. What is surprising is that he remained the front man in spite of that. But I digress.

BBD's 2nd lp dropped in 1993 when R&B music was going through a transition. I believe yhey would have had better successs if they had released an lp in 1992, or waited til 1994 had had a more mature sound TLC did.