Calling All 30-Something Grandmas! Reality TV Wants You

December 23rd, 2011 - By Brande Victorian

Get ready to have your “things can’t get any worse” card trumped because a major cable network has issued a casting call for women who are real-life examples of the perpetuated teen mom cycle:

According to Jezebel, TheCastingFirm.com has linked with a cable channel to find the following:

“Seeking young grandmothers for a starring role in the brand new series ’30 Something Grandmas.’ The show will showcase the stories of extraordinary women whose lives have been changed by the unexpected arrival of a new family member and the even more surprising title of ‘Grandma!’”

I don’t think I’d be wrong for saying we can safely assume who will be exploited on this show. The last thing we need is another reason to get famous for foolishness.

What do you think about this show idea? Would you watch?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • Courtluvvdc

    Smh. My nana had my mom by 17 & My mom had 3 kids by the young age 20. By the grace of god my older sister(22) and I(20) have broken that cycle! We refused to becone like the rest of the girls that live in our area. We are both working, live on our own & im now a sophmore in college. And I will say many of the young women I know are doing their thing w/o children! But I do know plenty of girls w/ kids in college and are doing just as well as me. I applaud those “30 Something Grandma’s” who showed their teen daughters that you can still go to college and be highly successful

    • guest

      I am 26 years old and I have been asked on numerous occasions “when am I going to have kids?” My response has always been the same: when I graduate college (in May), when I am financially stable, and when I am married, I will consider parenthood.

  • Justme

    I was a teen mother. The most important thing is talking to your kids early. I’ve always let them know the consequences of my actions. Always. You don’t just tell them not to do it, explain why. I’m 34. My oldest is 19 and I’ve let him know, it’s time consuming to be a parent and you will come out of pocket something serious. Explain the freedom of waiting vs what really happens when you become a parent. I recently met up w/an old h.s. friend and she said she’s a grandmother. My mouth hit the floor. I’m praying my kids listen. Head to college and have some single, free time before they move into parenthood.

    • FromUR2UB

      You sound very wise.  Even if you end up becoming a grandmother before you get out of your 30s, at least you’ve been honest with your kids about your mistakes and try to give them the benefit of your lessons learned.  I hope they listen to you, too.  All a parent can do is try to give their kids options.  One more thing, I hope you’ll take it one step further and push marriage before parenthood with them. 

  • FromUR2UB

    I won’t be watching.  I keep waiting for the popularity of reality shows to fade, but they seem to be here to stay because they can always find people who don’t mind being exploited as long as someone lays some cash on their palms.  The only advantage I can see to being a 30 something grandma, is that people will tell them how young they look to be a grandma.  I’ve heard a couple brag about looking young as a grandmother, as if people don’t understand that they had to start young to have become a young grandmother.

  • Rebel2Society

    Slap yourself. Because I’m a black woman and NO ONE can make me look like a fool. If there’s black women out there doing foolishness wth does THAT have to do with me?! Go ahead and make yourself look stupid. I chose to do things the hard way. Compared to these dumbasz self proclaimed women who wanna take the easy way out of life. Who cares about the media tho? I’m not influenced by any of this crap I was raised properly. Meh… Just because some black women are doing certain things doesn’t mean u should throw all of us into one box & say we are the same. Saying black women do this & black women are always doing that. Smh you’re ignorant. Cause u don’t know me & ya can’t tell me what i do & what I’ll do. So stfu k thanks.

    • maccheese

      You are right. Nobody can make you personally look like a fool, but what people put on tv can be portrayed as to society as some representation of that race. I don’t understand why a 30 something grandmother would want to be on tv unless they are doing something positive and breaking that cycle. I can only imagine they are going to have some 30 something grandmas that are acting like its cute, not handling their business, and other negative things that are a result of young families. This show won’t make me look like a fool, but I’d love to proud of some of the ways our race is portrayed to the rest of the world. When are they going to have a show about successful black people.

  • Lawaza Robimson

    Where do I go for the casting? Hello my nam is Lawaza Robinson and I am a 34 year old grandmother of two beautiful little girls. Please contact me at lawazarobinson@ymail.com

  • Natasha T

    WTFH?! This ratchness makes me so happy I had my daughter at 26 and she’s my first and only child and my mom was 64 when she was born 3 1/2 years ago. This is why I don’t watch reality TV anymore, I’m better off watching PBS Sprout and Nick Jr.. I’m 30 now and my daughter is a preschooler, THANK GOD!!!

    • maccheese

      Same here. I wish people would actually understand its not cool to have kids a young age. The problem is it continues to be acceptable. No, the acceptable thing to do is wait until you’re married or have kids later. Not be a high school drop out, settle for minimum wage, and live in the hood with multiple children.

  • http://twitter.com/C_Rich75 C_Rich75

    Respect is always earned. We can all start by elevating our moral standards. Just a suggestion.

  • http://twitter.com/C_Rich75 C_Rich75

    This is the last thing anyone needs..more buffoonery,stupidity & foolishness. When will some people wake up? Are we content on being the laughing stock of the world? *perplexed look*

  • http://www.facebook.com/barbara.codner Barbara Codner

    It would be nice if we weren’t the kind of people who had 30 year old grandparents.  That’s the real issue.  Stereotypes wouldn’t exist if people didn’t perpetuate them.

  • http://twitter.com/rich665 .

    SMH

  • Ebony

    I dont know we are always worried about being exposed but the truth is we might need to be…there is a reason that these young ladies are in this position and by showing it it could help both the child and the parent!!!! well thats just my opinion!!!

  • Taunya Curry

    I am a 37 year old grandmother of a 3 year old little girl. No, I would not watch nor participate in a show like this. After watching a lot of the many “reality” shows that are on now or have been, and there is nothing about them that appeals to me. All that it is going to be is another show broadcasting black people in some of the worst ways and situations. Good luck to them though, to each his own.

  • Chisa08

    I’m just glad I broke the cycle. No babies running around. I’m not even having sex. That’s one thing I’m glad God blessed me with a good head on my shoulders.

    • AnnaRenee

      That’s good Chisa08.  Negative peer pressure is the worst thing.  I believe it drives most of the “issues” that black women have, or any race of women, for that matter.
      Continue to think for yourself, and think well.

    • justanote

      I would like see this reality show… “Broken Cycle”, do you think the network would go for it?

      • Chisa08

        I agree! And being 21 and a female who also has hormones, if people just learn to appreciate their worth, i’m sure there can be more people like me in the future. I love my life and my body too much to just throw it away to the first guy who says they love me, and plenty have said it. I believe that when it happens for me, that it will be because i said yes and i truly believe that the guy and i are going to be together.

        • Guess

          Young and smart!

  • Prissy

    MEXICANS can be highly “exploited” as well. WHY is it when the “dirty laundry” of Black people are put on front street it’s a problem?? WE need to combat this (along with plenty of other things as well) within our community. STOP doing it and there won’t be anything to “exploit” or “expose”. There are other MAJOR things we NEED to be complaining about… Herpes, HIV, child abandonment by Black men, abortions, HIGH illiteracy rates, welfare, jobs… etc etc.. Oh and that thing called the Iraq war which is coming to an “end”. #Sarcasm 

    • Guess

      I read somewhere that 60% of Mexican women are mothers by the age of 19.  Not sure if that is true, but if so Im sure that makes for many many 30 something grandmothers.  Anyway, I agree with you.  We complain about the issues of single parenthood, but we often continue the cycle.

      But as far as this show is concerned, 30 something grandmothers come in all colors.  So, Im sure there will be a diverse group of women on this show. And as a teacher, I see many young grandmothers.  I will say without them the kids will be lost because too many young mothers dont have a clue. 

  • Yup

    Yup Nyggers and Spikks!! They have to STOP the madness and clothes their legs NO ONE ELSE CAN MAKE THEM, ITS A SELF RESPECT THING AND nyggers and spikks are running neck and neck in the LACK thereof pertaining to these characteristics/qualities! Oh well!!!

    • Amija

      Madame Noire you need to monitor your boards closer.  These kind of comments need to be able to be flagged.  

  • R Wilson

    in 2012 black women better get ready , they going to make you look like fools.

    • Blondie

      I am a bw and I can say that we make ourselves look like fools. 

  • Wow

    Im sure this is not an issue for the female commentors on Madamenoire.  Most support single motherhood so 30-grandmothers are bound to be the norm.

  • Mrsindependent

    I agree It’s more exploitation of black folks. What’s even sad they are women who will contact this show. Get ready for more negative media about black women. Do we have any black shows that show successfully normal black families , yet? Then again I wonder if there’s an audience for such a show, I bet u most black folks will click pass it to the housewives shows or kardashians smh. It’s time to change how we think and start demanding quality materials.and stop watching crap on tv. If the demand for these degrading shows wasn’t so high, these tv corporations won’t suggest such shows in the first place.

    • http://twitter.com/HighSadiddy1 Tricia Clark

      Its not only black people that have teen pregnancy…that show teen mom has more white girls than black! 

      • guest

        Why is every time someone comments on something pertaining to us there is always the reply of “it’s not only blacks, whites do it too”?  This is a black women’s blog.  We are not talking about whites.  Stope exusing what goes on in our backyard with this cop out.

        • Nicegirl

          @0b04002c2f955983a9462acefb5a3475:disqus  Agreed!  It’s a deversion tactic. 
          When i was growing up I couldnt explain my errors by stating someone else did it.  But clearly my mother was the only parent to emphasize that.

        • guest

          i agree i am tired of hearing that nonsense to every time another race does something negative black folks be ready to show of their negativity and feel they can justify it by saying well when such and such does it it’s okay sick and tired of excuses for bad behavior

        • http://twitter.com/HighSadiddy1 Tricia Clark

          Because even though its a “black person’s blog”, certain stuff that we expose are actually degrading, because its not just our race that does it.

      • Sdennis334

        That’s because MTV chose to cast more white girls than black girls. Could you imagine the uproar America would be in if MTV casted a bunch of black girls for a teen mom show? They already know it’s an epidemic in the Black community and are making a smart move not exploit that on television.