49 replies to this topic

[ShaNaeNae]

Totally T-Boz, a reality series on the former member of the 90's girl R&B/Hip Hop band TLC debuts tonight on TLC.

Anyone going to watch? I'm not a big fan, but the commercials. Gah! I watch quite a bit of TLC, so I've seen the commercials many, many, many times.

And what the hell is she trying to sing on the commercial? Something about a creeper? Is that an awful rendition of their hit, "Creep"?

I'm hoping after watching I'll like her a bit more, because now she seems, uh, special?

Edited by ShaNaeNae, Jan 1, 2013 @ 2:40 PM.

[Italian Ice]

I can't imagine who this show is supposed to appeal to. Thirtysomethings with 90's nostalgia? IIRC, TLC were big, but not THAT big in the 90's. They got their most press when Lisa died. I seem to recall seeing the remaining members on some Vh1 Divas type show recently singing Waterfalls, and it was horrible. Maybe it was American Idol?

Edited by Italian Ice, Jan 1, 2013 @ 2:46 PM.

[ShaNaeNae]

Italian Ice, that's exactly what I was thinking. And upon doing my search to make sure this thread didn't exist, I came across the fact that the other remaining member, Chili, had a reality show herself. I don't know if anyone watched that one.

It seems their hijinks made more news. I remember Lisa trying to burn down an ex-boyfriend/NFL players house. And her causing a big stink of wearing a condom over her eye. Then her dying.

I was never really a big fan. But I looked her up on Wikipedia after hearing on the commercial for this show some man saying, "She had to learn to WAWK ageen...TAWK ageen", and I guess she had some kind of sickle cell anemia and wasn't supposed to live this long and had some surgery for it several years ago.

[Shortcake2001]

TLC are ranked as the 7th most successful act during the 90's.
They also were the most successful female group of the 90's. Their album, CrazySexyCool achieved diamond status, the first female group to garner diamond status. Their FanMail tour is the highest-grossing tour of all-time by any female group. Throw in the grammy awards and all their other accolades, I think TLC left their mark in the music industry.

[Turkish]

IIRC, TLC were big, but not THAT big in the 90's.

Weren't that big in the 90s? They are one of the most successful acts of that time and certainly one of the biggest female groups of all time. They had some of the biggest hits of the 90s. TLC were huge.

[ShaNaeNae]

It's kind of like I was saying, I remember hearing about them alot more than hearing them. When I first thought of them, I remembered Waterfalls. I had to think of another song and also couldn't figure out what T-Boz was singing so I came to with Creep. I can't think of anymore, but probably could be reminded.

I remember it being big news when Lisa died, but it wasn't as talked about like when Heath Ledger or Amy Whinehouse died.

Maybe it's just that I'm not a big listener to R&B and Hip Hop now and in the 90's.

[PharmGal10]

TLC were huge in the 90s/very early 00s. 'No Scrubs' is one of the most commercially successful songs in American history.

Much as I like her, Tionne needs to give it up. I know she has bills to pay (and she's reportedly broke), but a comeback is not meant to be for her. I feel bad saying this, but her time has passed.

Edited by PharmGal10, Jan 1, 2013 @ 3:36 PM.

[Italian Ice]

Here's what I was talking about. Here's TLC performing on the 2011 finale of American Idol:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Pl8DeE3DUvk

[kemon]

The only thing horrible about that youtube video is the quality of it. T-Boz has gained weight, but I think that is the side effects of what she takes for her sickle cell, not to mention what happens to some females after they have children and just getting older. T-Boz is known more for her vocals, not dancing, assuming that is what the point is about this AI performance.

As for TLC not being that huge in the 90's, I beg to differ.

[Italian Ice]

I'm confused also as to where they think their music will fit. That kind of urban lite stuff was HUGE in the early to mid 90's and was all over pop radio, but that isn't what gets played anymore. Top 40 radio is dance, dance, dance, dance, dance with the occasional weird hit like "Home" that doesn't fit the mold. Not even Beyonce (who as part of Destiny's Child was FAR more famous and successful than TLC), can get played on Top 40 radio anymore. Neither can Mariah, who was also far more popular than TLC.

Their only outlet would be urban AC, but that's still not even the type of music that they play.

I'm confused honestly, and as PharmGal10 has said, their time has passed.

[Ginandtonic]

And upon doing my search to make sure this thread didn't exist, I came across the fact that the other remaining member, Chili, had a reality show herself.

She's also one of the contestants on the upcoming season of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off on the Food Network, so I guess reality shows are how they're making their livings now.

[kemon]

From what I understand, this show is not about a comeback, but a showcase of what Tionne has been dealing with, her daily life as a mother and how she has continued working in the business by writing songs. She mentioned in one interview she was still living and working although she is not in the limelight like she used to be. She also struggled with a brain tumor that caused her some blindness and some partial deafness.

[ShaNaeNae]

Here's what I was talking about. Here's TLC performing on the 2011 finale of American Idol

I don't know if it's bad so much as it just seems put together at the last minute. It looks like they ran in, grabbed a costume and mic (that doesn't fit T-Boz) and just jumped on stage. The lip synching looks bad, it looks like parts of it were lip synching.

so I guess reality shows are how they're making their livings now.

When I went looking for that bit on Wikipedia, it mentioned T-Boz was on the Celebrity Apprentice. I'm an avid watcher on CA and I have to admit, I have no recollection of her being on there. I went to You Tube to see and I recall someone getting fired the way she did, but still didn't remember it was her. And, yeah, it kind of sucked how she got fired (volunteering to go in for execution).

From what I understand, this show is not about a comeback, but a showcase of what Tionne has been dealing with, her daily life as a mother and how she has continued working in the business by writing songs.

I'm pretty sure it is about a comeback. In the commercial they keep showing ad naseum, they do show her and Chili getting back together, posing for official photos, practicing dance moves and her agent giving her that talkin to about not being focused and how she may not have that opportunity again. And her VO she specifically says she's back and ready to reinvent herself.

[PharmGal10]

From what I understand, this show is not about a comeback, but a showcase of what Tionne has been dealing with, her daily life as a mother and how she has continued working in the business by writing songs.

In an extended trailer I saw, her manager or agent (I'm not sure which) explicitly mentions her trying to make a comeback, saying this is their last chance. From what I see, it is about Tionne getting back out there.

[kemon]

Thanks for the correction. I have not viewed any trailers for this show, only two interviews that Tionne gave on local news shows.

I watch Celebrity Apprentice and remember when Tionne was fired.

[discoprincess]

I guess reality shows are how they're making their livings now.

Salt N Pepa had a reality show a few years ago too when Pepa tried to spark a comeback. Kandi (who wrote TLC's hit "No Scrubs") is on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Kandi's former bandmate Tiny has a show with her husband and their kids. Many of us are familiar with Braxton Family Values. (To be fair though, the show was actually Tamar's idea, not Toni's.) So a lot of acts who were big in the 90s have been getting reality shows.

I wish T-Boz luck though.

Edited by discoprincess, Jan 1, 2013 @ 6:02 PM.

[LIamsmom617]

Not sure this will be must-see TV for me, but I like T-Boz. Wonder if the weight gain is just the post-40 thing (which that freak of nature Chilli has somehow evaded) or due to her meds? Anyway, I too doubt a comeback is really gonna happen for T-Boz, but if anyone deserves one, it's her.

Edited by LIamsmom617, Jan 1, 2013 @ 9:08 PM.

[ShaNaeNae]

I missed the first 20 minutes but I liked it. She comes across as a likeable gal. I don't know why I like it when you see best friends, one who is white, one black. It just shows such openness so I liked watching that.

I had to laugh at her obese family member (didn't catch her name) who has to have a motorized wheelchair but stands up to get down!

At least now I saw where her singing Creep that way came from. She was being funny about being old and still singing it. Because watching on the commercials, I thought she was really singing it that way and thought maybe she doesn't know she's getting up there in age! (And it's not that old, I'm her age)

Loved the cousin and brother talking in the barber shop and the barber talking about "womanly weight". I wish guys I dated were that understanding about my womanly weight!

[ChainofFools]

Just watched the first episode and while I wish Tionne the best and with all she has been through, she deserves it, but I doubt I will be returning. The show was painful to watch and both Tionne and Rozonda need to accept the when Lisa died, TLC died and at their ages, barring a miracle, a second chance at stardom is not likely to come their way.

[Dream Boy]

I've always been a TLC fan and T-Boz has always been my favorite member, thanks to her distinctive voice and overall coolness. And I love the chemistry between the members which is always evident during their interviews and interactions. I thought it was a decent show and I will check it out again. But I agree that the ship has sailed on TLC. She needs to focus on writing. The song she wrote for Lil Mixx is hot and she does guest vocals. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=zF19knMLUY8

And I howled at the barbershop scene. "She still skinny?" Crickets. LOL

[charmed1]

I feel bad saying this, but her time has passed.

I don't feel bad, so I'll say it for you. T-Boz was and still is one horrible singer. I was a huge En Vogue and Jade fan and I could never understand the appeal or success of the shitty singing of TLC. I didn't hate them, but T-Boz's horrible vocal fry gave me nightmares and I was happy to see them fade into obscurity. Not to mention their creation of those stupid nicknames to cover for kicking their friend and founding member out of the group.

I don't appreciate seeing countless commercials for her cheesy "come and watch me and my wacky friends and our totally non-scripted hijinks," in the middle of watching my 8 thousand pound people marathons. It's such a distraction.

Edited by charmed1, Jan 1, 2013 @ 9:42 PM.

[Wanda Overthere]

I thought the whole point was Tionne DID want to move on from TLC. It seemed everyone, including Chilli, were trying to railroad her back into doing the TLC thing. She wants to do her own thing.

[Stardancer2001]

I agree with Wanda. T-Boz knows that the TLC ship is sailing away and she wants to do other things in the music industry. I would love to hear solo albums from them! TLC died with Lisa and Chili should understand that T-Boz should be allowed to move away from that legacy to continue her brand. Plus more money can be made from the songwriting and production side than from performing.

[diorella78]

No interest in this one. As I kept seeing the commercials all I could think of was "Wow, it's true. ANYONE can get their own reality show these days." I liked TLC well enough, I guess...but not to the point where I actually wondered "man, I wonder what T-Boz is up to now!?"

[Liquid6]

I believe at this point, neither T-Boz or Chili are naive when it comes to a TLC "comeback". They're not looking to blow up the charts again, but they are both aware that there's money to be made from a nostalgia tour. Most cities have summer festivals that feature older acts that people do flood out to see. I myself went to one last summer where Salt N Pepa headlined and I had a damn good time. Point is, Chili seems to know that there's easy money to be made out there and T-Boz is messing up the money.

[EndoKE]

This makes sense to me. Evelyn "Champagne" King still performs live and many, many people still come out and see her. There is a HUGE market for acts that are no longer played on the radio today, especially when their fans are Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers. I mean most of the people in this country are Boomers and X'ers.

[Turkish]

Bands from the 80s, like Poison and Motley Crue are still touring. The Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block decided to join forces and do tours and cruises for their fans. I think they even put out an album together. Somebody is going to these things because they are all still doing it. I'm sure TLC could probably do something similar. Hey, maybe they should join forces with Salt N Pepa.

[PharmGal10]

I was a huge fan of TLC (Even had the satin jammies from the Creep video), but imo, a tour wouldn't be that successful unless TLC was doing a major nostalgia tour that included other groups like New Edition or Boyz II Men. TLC worked because of Lisa, Tionne, and Chilli. You take one person out (Lisa, RIP), and the chemistry just isn't the same. BSB/NKTB works because everyone came back (Kevin has been in and out for personal reasons). New Edition reunion tours work because the original line-up is there. Same for Salt n' Pepa.

There was a reality show years back (Are You The Girl?) that was supposed to find a replacement for Lisa in TLC, and then they decided it would be a show about someone who would be featured on one TLC song. It was very weird, and didn't work.

[qtpye]

There was a reality show years back (Are You The Girl?) that was supposed to find a replacement for Lisa in TLC, and then they decided it would be a show about someone who would be featured on one TLC song. It was very weird, and didn't work.

Sadly, I remember that show. They went to a lot of trouble, when the girl they wanted did not have to audition and was in from the beginning. I think her name was Krispy Creme (I wish I was making that up). I watched the show, thinking that they were looking for a replacement for Lisa, but it turned out they only wanted to feature that girl on one song, which was totally stupid.

TLC was huge with people in my age group. They had some fantastic music and were proof that bad music contracts were still screwing artists over, even in the nineties. I remember them filing bankruptcy even though they were commercially successful.

I always felt that Tboz was always overlooked, because of Chilli's sexiness (she was so pretty) and Lisa's crazy antics. She always came off very cool (hence CrazySexyCool) and seemed like the type of chic you would like to hang out with. However, I do not know if this is enough to sustain interest in a reality show.

Edited by qtpye, Jan 2, 2013 @ 11:19 AM.

[swankie]

I remember them filing bankruptcy even though they were commercially successful.

I don’t know why anyone would do business with LA Reid and Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds. They are notorious for screwing over the finances of the people they represent. Toni Braxton is another example of their victims. I think they overinflate the cost of videos, tours and production so much that the artists’ cut after paying all that back is practically nothing. As famous as TLC was with hit after hit, there should have been no way that each of them had to file bankrupt. The same for Toni Braxton.