When it comes to season three "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino and Sandra "Pepa" Denton-- of '80s rappers Salt-N- Pepa fame-- is there just too much realness?
Both have certainly enjoyed life in the spotlight (undoubtedly, a longer stay for Denton).
And both debuted their self-named reality shows Jan. 11 on cable's VH1.
Denton's show, "Let's Talk About Pep," focuses on her attempts to re-enter and navigate the New York City Dating scene -- with the help of friends Jacque, Kittie and Joumana-- after a self-imposed exile (not to mention a two-year marriage to Treach of the group Naughty by Nature that ended in 2001).
Single gals on the prowl in the Big Apple has always been a winning formula for TV (witness HBO's "Sex and the City"), so Denton needn't worry about whether viewers will stick around.
On the other hand, Fantasia's freeloading family -- Monday night's premiere episode was actually billed as "6 people and one paycheck"-- may be a bit much to take.
Just why the adults in the household aren't working -- personifying the negative stereotype of blacks being shiftless and lazy-- is never explained (only Fantasia's young daughter, Zion, is exempt). Mooching brother, Teeny; her meddlesome Aunt Bunny; Fantasia's mother, Diane; and assorted other hangers-on all appear able-bodied. Monday's debut, in fact, ended with the brother attempting to remodel the pool house on Fantasia's property that he converted into a recording studio under the guise of being a record producer-- apparently, in name only.
"You do record people, but there's no money coming in," the aunt tells the unemployed brother, who also found time to test drive a Ferrari.
Later in the show, we also were treated to a scene of the lavish birthday bash that the "Idol"-winner threw for Zion. A wonderful gesture to be sure, but perhaps not wise in the midst of Fantasia's recent financial woes.
In the meantime, her record label decided not to release one of her new recordings as a single
Slated for eight episodes, "Fantasia, For Real" is supposed to show the star's attempt to reignite her career after her "Idol" success, a few Grammy-nominated hits and her acclaimed role as Celie in "The Color Purple" on Broadway.
Let's hope that it does because after Monday night's debut, there's nowhere to go but up.
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