Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > October > 06
Monday, October 6, 2008
10/7: Real Housewives of Atlanta debuting tonight, “Poprah” out on Diddy show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey, check out my article on the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” here.
The show debuts tonight at 9 p.m. on Bravo. If you enjoyed the first two incarnations and got a kick watching rich women shop, dine and be catty, well, Atlanta won’t disappoint. Watch especially for power buddies NeNe and Kim, two Type A personalities who define the word “sassy.” The tension between NeNe and Sheree (former wife of NFL player Bob Whitfield) is also palpable and delightfully entertaining.
Atlanta’s own Kim “Poprah” Kearney was fired by P. Diddy last week but they left it as a cliffhanger. Could “Poprah” talk her way back into his good graces?
Well, tonight, VH1 showed the aftermath of her showing ‘tude toward Diddy when she couldn’t come up with a VIP list for him in a timely fashion. Her ‘tude was mild to me, at least relative to her usual attitude, but it didn’t sit well with Diddy and his assistants weren’t going to overturn his decision. Poprah argued awhile (again, in a relatively low-key way) but gave up. To the cameras, she figured she was overqualified anyway (which in a way, she is) and maybe one day he might work for her. Hah!
But that wasn’t really the best part of the show. The best one was poor, naive Stefanie, the youngest of the lot. She had to provide three “gifts” to Diddy to show who they are. Stefanie’s third item was a Jack-in-the-Box, to show she can surprise him. Her problem: the puppet that leapt out of the box was “Sambo,” a “shuckin’ and jivin’ … blackface” monkey, as Diddy tried to explain. Stefanie had no idea what he was talking about. She really did surprise him. “What is a sambo?” she said. “I’m kinda confused.” Diddy laughed afterwards. Funny-funny-funny!
Stefanie was ousted soon after. Suzanne Siegel ended up winning (with Mike getting hired, too). She was actually a regular fixture on Q100’s the Bert Show, known as Around the World Suzie. Back in the 2005-06 time period, she travelled the world for a year, checking in with the show from time to time. The Bert Show mused today that she has put on much more of a hip-hop vibe now that she’s working with Diddy.
Here’s the interview Suzie did before the finale.
Her take on Poprah: “It’s not an act. It’s really her!” Then she added,”She’s a poisonous, poisonous person. It’d be like letting a snake into your house!”
Bert said: “She’s a cancer for any team you’d ever put together. I can’t see how he could possibly choose her tonight.”
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10/6: Rickey Smiley debuts on Hot 107.9
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Comic Rickey Smiley debuted this morning on Hot 107.9, with his support team named Deez Nuts. He replaces the “A Team,” which lasted nearly four years with Rashan Ali moved to mid days and Emperor Searcy in afternoons.
With the success of Kiss 104.1’s Tom Joyner and Grown Folks’ Steve Harvey, syndicated morning hosts have taken urban radio stations by storm. This leaves Frank Ski and Wanda Smith as the only major R&B/hip-hop local morning show left in Atlanta (and even they attempted syndication a few years back but are now a purely local show.)
Smiley’s Web site immodestly describes it as the “funniest, most entertaining morning show in the country!” Here’s the selling point:
The surrounding cast of “Deez Nuts” all play their roles with perfect timing, knowing just when to jump into and out of the conversations that revolve around the hottest hip-hop and R&B on the air today. With established features such as “Paternity Test Tuesday”, “Wake Up Wednesday” (political talk), “Gary’s Tea”, “News You Can’t Use”, “Joke of the Day”, and others, the RSMS is a blend of laughter, serious discussion of social issues, political awareness, and community outreach.
Smiley has a fairly large support team. Here are the site’s descriptions of his buds:
Co-Host - Ebony Steele -Rickey’s friend from way back in Birmingham, Ebony is sexy, sassy, opinionated, and always willing to go toe-to-toe with Rickey on any topic of discussion. She can be counted on to be quick to jump in or get back with Rickey, callers, and the other “Nuts” at any time. Oh, yeah, and Ebony also gives the best advice on relationships, because Lord knows she has enough of them behind her…..” Can somebody PLEASE FIND ME A MAN!!”
HeadKrack - “Yo, What Up B!!” This native New Yorker, is fast-talking, aggressive, and the true “hip-hop head” of the RSMS. He not only runs the board for the show, but is always up on the latest in hip-hop happenings. Krack also is a rapper with a sick freestyle flow and the ability to rock the mic with no fear and no hesitation. Don’t challenge that boy…he’s nice wit it, “FOR REAL, SON!!”
Sista Sondra - The true Neo-Soul child of the show, Sis Sondra is the afrocentric, conscious sister that would probably be just as comfortable rocking a wrap dress on a Jamaican beach sipping on a nice island cocktail as she is hanging in the studio with rappers, singers, and other entertainment types. Don’t get it twisted, though. Sis Sondra loves doing what she does and can be counted on to jump into the mix with quick wit and hilariously dry sense of humor. BTW, her fellow “Nuts” dare not mispronounce a word with Sondra on the mic. She’ll be sure to correct you. On the air. And laugh about it……
Gary with the “Tea” - Just one listen to “Gary with the Tea” and you are HOOKED. Funny, Fabulous, Flamboyant, and Charismatic. Gary is everyone’s favorite diva, dishing the gossip on everybody who’s anybody in the world of entertainment, and always sending you off with a “Colour” of the day. Unlike R. Kelly, there is absolutely nothing “Trapped in the Closet” when it comes to “Gary with the Tea”…… (Hmmm…. Miss Sophia at V-103 has some competition now, eh?)
Rock T - The Sports Guy - Rock T played pro baseball and is the man with the info on all your sports stories every day. Rock is also a well-known DJ who is known for rocking parties as well as being a recently engaged father of two beautiful daughters….he’s still in pretty good shape from his playing days, so be careful who comes calling on Daddy’s girls!! And by the way, that uncontrollable, often inappropriate laughter you hear in the background on the air is usually Rock, as he thinks every d**n thing is FUNNY!!
Anyway, here’s a sample hour. I started listening at about 6:50 a.m. with Unk’s “Walk It Out.”
Ebony’s bit today at 6:55 a.m. was called “Why ain’t nobody sayin’ nothing?”
Ebony: “Why do we buy hotdogs in 10 and buns come in packages of 8? why is abbreviated such a long word? Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor. But dishwasher liquid made with real lemons? Why is time of the day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? How is Popeye a spinach expert. What does he know about chicken?”
“What have you been smoking to come up with this?” said Rickey, who doesn’t really add anything of value to her comments.
At 6:57 a.m., Paula Phillips does the news.
Then ads from Le Cordon Bleu culinary program, a movie called “Express,” Safe Auto, Club H20 and Lasik Plus Vision Center.
At 7:02 a.m., Dr. Phil does an early morning music mix, kind of like V-103 called the “monkey bath mix.”
At 7:11 a.m., Ebony says new poll shows Obama leads 61 to 32 under age of 30. McCain leads him with people over age 65. There’s a 30 point swing between youngest and oldest voters. So they encourage the listeners to register.
HeadKrack then gives some entertainment/hip-hop news. he says Hoopz won “I Love Money.” Then Rock T hits the sports.
“Bad week for black folks,” Rock T says, after noting O.J. being guilty, Kimbo Slice getting knocked out in 14 seconds and the Lions losing again.
At 7:15 a.m., Wal-Mart ad, followed quickly by traffic from Paula Phillips. Then it’s ajn ad for Velvet Room (Diddy at a party), McDonald’s, Battle of the bands, another ad for Velvet Room.
At 7:22 a.m. The Game “My Life.”
At 7:26 a.m., it’s gossip with Gary. Oprah cried, he led, at the Tyler Perry studio opening. He mentions Howard Stern got married. Then Janet Jackson begin sick, perhaps pregnant?
At 7:31 a.m., more ads: Evercleanse weight loss, sandwiched by traffic, that Velvet Room ad again, Kit Kat, Lasik Plus, Ten Pan Alley, MyNetwork TV, a promo for Rickey Smiley live on stage at Rialto Theater at October 17.
7:38 a.m.: A call from someone congratulating Smiley for making it to Atlanta, then into Bun B’s “Damn I’m Cold.”
7:43 a.m. Some ghetto character named Kiki who complains that two dudes are sharing an umbrella and calls them “scrangers” for “strangers.”
7:45 a.m. Geico, the another ad. Paula does traffic (sponsored by Scana and Havelin). Le Cordon Bleu, Club H20, Safe Auto, McDonald’s into 7:50 a.m
One thing’s for sure. Rickey runs a lot of ads.
That was about 22 minutes of ads over one hour, even if you block out Paula’s traffic. I need to inventory some other morning shows to see if that’s unusually high for a morning show but it seems to be awfully high. That seems to be along the lines of what news/talk stations would air.
Any early impressions?
