Newlyweds Carmelo Anthony and La La Vasquez are the latest celebrities to jump on the reality T.V. bandwagon. With a new show airing on VH1 this Sunday, September 19, the two will chronicle the preparations and ceremony for their marriage. It’s a five-episode series.
This move from the Anthonys begs the question of whether reality shows help or hurt a celebrity’s career.
From Chilli’s long checklist in ‘What Chilli Wants’ to the making of Monica’s latest album in ‘Still Standing,’ we’ve witnessed more and more celebrities spreading their lives open for all the world to see. Most of us wanted Chilli and Usher get back together… that is until we watched her break down her very detailed checklist in her reality show on VH1. And while some could relate to the singer wanting her demands met, others considered her unrealistic and hard to date.
Then there’s Ray J, the fame Slore. Ray-J had sold just a few albums before his reality star fame, and was still known as Brandy’s little brother, until he decided to find love on VH1, (or was it after the release of his infamous footage with Kim Kardashian?). Whichever came first, he proved to have more luck on camera, acting his “real” and regular foolish self than behind the booth, trying to be a music professional.
What’s more, “love” seems to be the overall theme in celebrity-related reality shows. And although no celeb really ends up with the winner of these “love” shows, people still think it’s good television to watch women (or men) pine after famous faces–knowing very well that they couldn’t ever be a celeb’s main squeeze, otherwise there wouldn’t be a show!
Pepa too tackled love in her VH1 show, ‘Let’s Talk About Pep,’ and no topic was off limits for her crew of friends, whose dating lives were chronicled for the world to witness. We even got the chance to see another side of conservative journalist, Jacque Reid, who was quite open about her sexual orgasms, or lack thereof.
But music artists aren’t the only celebrities who’ve chosen to allow cameras into their lives. Football players, Chad ‘OchoCinco’ and Terell Owens have won and lost a few fans as a result of their reality show stints.
Although scripted, these reality shows expose the personalities of celebrities that wouldn’t be exposed otherwise.
As the popularity for reality shows continues to grow, we’ll see more and more celebrities become reality stars as well. But will it be a good move for their ‘real’ careers? It’s hard not to wonder whether fans still respect them as artists after seeing their true colors.
