Why I’m Concerned about Lala and Her Fake Full Court Life

March 20th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Tamargo/WireImage

I’ll be honest, I feel like Lala is my celebrity BFF. Last season I only watched her show because it filled a gap somewhere in between my Monday night TV lineup, but after a few episodes I realized she wasn’t boring, she was the type of down to earth, unwaveringly loyal friend, mother, and wife of a pro athlete that I think I would really like in real life. Her show and her personality definitely grew on me. With the premiere of season 2 last night, I was pretty excited to see a group of girls hanging out together, sharing laughs, and catching up—especially after the foolishness that came on before her show—but unfortunately that’s not exactly what I got.

Overall, the premiere episode was decent, but there was just a hint of artificial drama bubbling below the surface that I could have done without and that I hope won’t be a running theme throughout the entire season. The premise of last night’s episode was doubt; a more appropriate title would be instigated insecurity. From concerns over Carmelo hanging out at strip clubs to him sleeping with his young, female assistant, Lala suddenly became insecure and paranoid about Melo’s fidelity all because a few friends and associates were putting thoughts in her head—so much so that she decided to confront his assistant, Asani, while out to dinner and blatantly ask, “are you sleeping with my man?”

In all honesty, I think the drama over the whole assistant situation was half real and have reality TV. Carmelo is an athlete who travels regularly, and well, these two didn’t make it on MN’s chemistry clash list for no reason. He always seems less than half-interested in Lala (from an outside, sitting on my couch looking at this couple once a week on the TV point of view) which would make you think he’s more interested in someone else. But I also think the producers felt the need to try to introduce a female cattiness element and they got the cast on board with it, which bothers me.

This is one of the few reality shows that proves women can actually enjoy one another’s company on a consistent basis without tossing drinks, pulling hair, or calling someone out their name—keep it that way. Of course, you can never put cheating and sneakiness past anyone, but there was nothing about Asani doing her job that made any viewer question whether Melo might be tapping that on his away trips. And as Asani talked about it being sad that a woman can’t be beautiful and proficient at her job without there being speculations of her sleeping her way to the top, it’s equally sad if VH1 thinks it can’t garner enough viewers without inserting fabricated drama to see two women go at it.  As I recapped the episode to my real best friend she kept asking, “So what did Carmelo say when Lala asked him about sleeping with his assistant?” And for the twelfth time I told her, as far as we saw, she didn’t ask. That’s because the whole show was about trying to cook up beef between these women for no reason. Luckily, even in that short segment of confrontation on-screen, no one got beside themselves. Unfortunately, it looks like they may down the line.

In the preview of what’s to come this season, there was an interesting spot where Lala and Po get in each other’s face asking “who you callin’ a b****,” and then Lala slaps her. Initially, I thought you can’t be serious, but after seeing that part over and over after watching all three encore presentations of the show last night (because that’s what I do) the scene almost looks totally fake to me, as if they are rehearsing for an acting job or something—except that slap looked pretty hard. Either way, it’s what VH1 thought would draw viewers in to see what drama unfolds between Lala and her main girl so they put it in the teaser footage. And you can’t really be surprised considering the success of its “Basketball Wives” series which makes a killing off of girl fights.

I’m going to keep giving Lala a chance because I think she’s smart enough to know being a drink-tossing, b-word slanging basketball wife is not only not a good look, but not a smart move professionally—not to mention the antithesis of who she appears to be in real life. But money does talk rather loudly so I hope she hasn’t buckled too much to pressure from the network to up the drama factor on her show.

What did you think about the season premiere? Did the drama seem a bit contrived? Do you plan on tuning in for the rest of the season?

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

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  • mom#1

    Carmelo doesn’t seem impressed or happy at all about this show. I think he just wants a wife who pursues her career without all the fakery. I know kim k has taught her how to seek camera attention but a man doesn’t want people all in his business and the lack of chemistry shows constantly on the show between her and carmelo.  Also all she does is complain about her life. Yet she says she is blessed and happy. Every episode we hear how stressful her life is and all she is doing is going on auditions and living it up because her husband make millions. I get sick of hearing her complain. Now let me say this comment is coming from someone who use to be one of her biggest fans but she is truly degrading herself more and more on her show. Pulling her pants down and showing her butt (even slightly blurred) and you think your husband is happy with that. She actually thinks that is a way to present herself for her son? I think she needs to scale back on the reality tv show before it costs her , her marriage because things don’t look so good no matter what she says. You can just tell by his body language. Also check his fb page, his twitter account, his website. very few pics of his wife if any and very few mentions of her if any. Actions don’t lie! She just seems to be trying to hard to be relevant and she doesn’t have to do that because she is alreay accomplishing so much. But kim k is the wrong person to be trying to mimick your life after. 

    • Sun

      So on point with this comment.

  • Soncie

    Yes, it did come off as contrived. As a matter of fact of also rewound the teaser where La slaps Po several times. What I noticed was right before the slap, La looks like she’s working really hard not to laugh. At any rate, unfortunately,this show is sooo boring that I”ve decided not to invest this season.
    sorry La La

  • Eangel872003

    I must say, this is one of your better articles, a great read and not only that I agree with you but I like the simplicity of your opinion- straight and to the point-kuddos!

  • lillias

    I find it hard to watch because it seems so rehearsed and fake. I saw the premier but I will have to sit this one out….

  • Yum_pankakes

    agree with you completely Brande.

  • blackbeauty

    Lala show is very refreshing. Black people kill me. It’s boring bcos no weave pulling, cursing each other out or throwing wine in each other’s faces. Seriously? Lala is beautiful, Kelly is gorgeous, I like how she keeps it light and normal.  People keep saying she didn’t talk to Melo, what if she did but didn’t show that on TV. My only thing is, Melo acts like he doesn’t care about her sometimes. He probably doesn’t want to be on TV but show some support like how Lamar does to Khloe.

  • CriticXtreme

    I wish that many of you would stop living vicariously in these fake people’s lives. Her fake, faux, pseudo show is about as real as her husband being faithful to her. And who crowned this fake broad a socialite? This broad, the Basketball Wives and others are nothing but fems who laid on their backs a got a random basketball player who butchers the english language and who’s as dumb as a strutter trying to be a 911 operator. In other words, these broads are the luckiest fakeazz vaginas on the planet. 

  • http://twitter.com/T_Rocka1975 Leeyah D

    I think that Lala slapping Po in the previews is fake. I think they may be doing an acting scene or something. By golly I hope that is what it is.

  • Kenya_new

    Ive never really watched da show due to its boring factor but after watching Evelyn’s wreckless over the top thinking its sharp to say mf and b every other word butt,  i decided I had enough n needed something lighter. I actually like Lala from how shes portrayed. And yes the issue with Asani did seem out of the blue, random, and contrived. Stay the “unrough” chick dat u seem to be Lala. She is definitely a fresh of breath air.

  • Brandy J Flynn

    I was SO UPSET when I saw the episode and the previews of what is to come for the same reasons that you posted. I was team Lala becuase I was like FINALLY a REAL REALITY SHOW, but she needs to decide which is more important…the fame or her marriage. One thing I can say about Khloe and Lamar with their show is that they are not buying into the drama for the show…but then again it isnt a VH1 show. LaLa please dont fall for the VH1 trap and lose your marriage over stipidity.

  • Blackonyx93

    I saw maybe two episodes and not in their entirety but I like what you have to say in the article.

  • Kari Williams

    I watched three episodes of LaLa’s Full Court Life last season. While I wasn’t particularly entertained (the primary purpose of television viewing), I wasn’t against what was televised either. I can admit that I was just weaning myself off of the full throttle, face busting, B-word pumping Basketball Wives. That may have been what went wrong for me…lol. I do remember thinking, LaLa really seems to have it pulled together. Though there was some glitz and glamour, I felt like it was well deserved. It seemed like she worked for it. I don’t know her from a can of paint but for some reason I felt a sense of pride. Now, in line with the author of this article…I’m concerned. Her show was not broken. Mentally, I wasn’t ready. I loved drama based reality tv because I felt like there was some semblance to my own drama based reality. I’ve been drama free since November 2011 and I’m ready to watch this show. However, the minute someone drops the B-bomb or hits anyone…I’m done. Please don’t fall into what I like to call the “setback sinkhole”.

  • Jonesal2

    why is LaLa famous, it is beyond me…

  • Tiggagirl_00

    I agree with you on this one. LaLa show was one I’d the shows last season that I could actually sit and watch and say “yeah, thats really how REAL women act”! But these past episodes have been like a fake Basketball Wives. I see now I will not last for the end of her season. :(

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