VH1's "SIngle Ladies"
“Single Ladies,” VH1’s scripted “romantic comedy series” debuted Sunday night in a 2-hour episode starring Stacy Dash, Lisa Raye McCoy, and Charity Shea, executive-produced by Queen Latifah. The premise: three women living in Atlanta, navigating tumultuous dating/sex lives with the attitude and confidence of a Beyaki single. However, stale acting and recycled scenarios with little comedy or romance, resulted in lukewarm reception.
Stacy Dash’s character Stacy Dash “Val” is dumped by her NBA asshole boyfriend of (5) years within the first 10 minutes of the show. Her rebound reactions include throwing herself into her business (boutique owner/stylist), buying a new car, and having unprotected “different” sex with a random white boutique patron and her sorry, dusty, ex-boyfriend. That’s right, both in the same time frame. A bastard fetus and (2) possible sperm donors are only temporary stresses as *poof* false alarm on the pregnancy! Stacy’s saving grace was her acting in spite of the script, and her fountain of youth skin (she’s 55 but looks 23).
Lisa Raye’s character Diamond “Kiesha” is a former/pt-time-when-the-money’s right video vixen, also hourly at Dash’s boutique (of course). Known for her sexual prowess and large ass, she juggles men like a circus act, but can’t stop stealing icy jewelry from video sets?!?? In the most confusing plotline, Lisa Raye is blackmailed by another “video vixen” played by Kim Porter (Diddy’s Swag’s BabyMama. *Shudder*). Aside from unbearable delivery by Porter and Camron (WHY was he the featured rapper?!), the cat burglary was hard to take seriously. Very.
“April” (Charity Shea), the token white woman character is married to an affluent and doting Black man (of course) yet she is compelled to begin an affair with the Mayor of Atlanta, played by Common (a lesser-man’s Kasim *shrug*). Her character had the least development (and that’s saying a LOT) and other than her heaux-activity, audiences know little else about her privileged, sneaky, and wealthy lifestyle.
An obvious attempt at HBO’s Sex and the City relevance circa 2000, but more like a made-for-tv version of a popular “Urban” paperback – author fresh out of prison, the first episode shows no promise of an Emmy-littered future. Like many television offerings catering to US, this is devoid of realistic portrayals of Black women, but similar to a soap opera offers addictive, cheesy, appeal. Keeping all working elements in perspective, and that Black women deserve telenovela-type programming too, Single Ladies wasn’t so bad at all. It’s better than the traditional, ratchet “reality” tv shows on the same network *Side Eye* What did you think?
Peace,
Dawnavette
Dawnavette.com
VH1’s Single Ladies: A Review
May 31
Posted by Dawnavette
VH1's "SIngle Ladies"
“Single Ladies,” VH1’s scripted “romantic comedy series” debuted Sunday night in a 2-hour episode starring Stacy Dash, Lisa Raye McCoy, and Charity Shea, executive-produced by Queen Latifah. The premise: three women living in Atlanta, navigating tumultuous dating/sex lives with the attitude and confidence of a Beyaki single. However, stale acting and recycled scenarios with little comedy or romance, resulted in lukewarm reception.
Stacy Dash’s character
Stacy Dash“Val” is dumped by her NBA asshole boyfriend of (5) years within the first 10 minutes of the show. Her rebound reactions include throwing herself into her business (boutique owner/stylist), buying a new car, and having unprotected “different” sex with a random white boutique patron and her sorry, dusty, ex-boyfriend. That’s right, both in the same time frame. A bastard fetus and (2) possible sperm donors are only temporary stresses as *poof* false alarm on the pregnancy! Stacy’s saving grace was her acting in spite of the script, and her fountain of youth skin (she’s 55 but looks 23).Lisa Raye’s character
Diamond“Kiesha” is a former/pt-time-when-the-money’s right video vixen, also hourly at Dash’s boutique (of course). Known for her sexual prowess and large ass, she juggles men like a circus act, but can’t stop stealing icy jewelry from video sets?!?? In the most confusing plotline, Lisa Raye is blackmailed by another “video vixen” played by Kim Porter (Diddy’sSwag’s BabyMama. *Shudder*). Aside from unbearable delivery by Porter and Camron (WHY was he the featured rapper?!), the cat burglary was hard to take seriously. Very.“April” (Charity Shea), the token white woman character is married to an affluent and doting Black man (of course) yet she is compelled to begin an affair with the Mayor of Atlanta, played by Common (a lesser-man’s Kasim *shrug*). Her character had the least development (and that’s saying a LOT) and other than her heaux-activity, audiences know little else about her privileged, sneaky, and wealthy lifestyle.
An obvious attempt at HBO’s Sex and the City relevance circa 2000, but more like a made-for-tv version of a popular “Urban” paperback – author fresh out of prison, the first episode shows no promise of an Emmy-littered future. Like many television offerings catering to US, this is devoid of realistic portrayals of Black women, but similar to a soap opera offers addictive, cheesy, appeal. Keeping all working elements in perspective, and that Black women deserve telenovela-type programming too, Single Ladies wasn’t so bad at all. It’s better than the traditional, ratchet “reality” tv shows on the same network *Side Eye* What did you think?
Peace,
Dawnavette
Posted in Commentary
5 Comments
Tags: romantic comedy, Single Ladies, Soap Opera, television, VH1