Is it just me or is television becoming more and more “Ghetto Fabulous”?
I remember when being on TV meant that you had a certain kind of talent or flair. As time moves on and the crap that we watch on TV increases, I am beginning to notice that “Ghetto Fabulous” is the way to go.
Let’s start with the First Lady of Ghetto… Wendy Williams. She went from radio to TV with the quickness. And it’s weird because on the radio, you wouldn’t really peg her to be so ghetto. But on TV, she gives herself away horribly. Her TV show, which happens to draw a lot of viewers, is just riddled with ghetto fabulous situations. Let’s start with the whole “How you doin’?” movement. It was funny on the radio because there was a specific time she would use it (those of you who are familiar with her radio show know exactly what I’m talking about). But on the show, she says it all the time, the guests say it, she has parents sending in videotapes of their children saying it… ABSOLUTE OVERKILL!
Let’s address the hair situation. It is one thing to be a wearer of weaves and wigs. But is it really necessary to pull and tug and adjust the wig on TV? Showing us that the part can slide from side to side is not very entertaining. I am glad all of the wigs look real Wendy but … Could you just wear them?
And is it really necessary for her to pick her teeth on TV? Oh and last but not least, drinking and toasting guests with wine, Nuvo, Skinny Girl Margaritas and other alcoholic beverages at 10 a.m. is a sure fire turn-off. How about serving some breakfast with orange juice? Just wondering.'
Let’s move on to those darling little Housewives of Atlanta. When this show first came on last season, I was excited to see women of color who were business savvy, wealthy, fashion conscience and successful. This season, the ghetto fab is just too much for me. The women have now become a stereotype of what people expect to see of women of color …
Lisa Wu-Hartwell is broke and her house is in foreclosure. She had to move. Kandi is going to marry a man with four baby mama’s and six kids (and she has a child of her own). Kim was down with the clique however she mysteriously has transformed into “trailer park trash” and she smokes Newport Lights. Nene (well the name speaks for itself) was always ghetto. And well Sheree is perceived as a gold-digging ex-wife of an ex NBA player who also suffered foreclosure and had to move. The women are now fighting in the street, bouncing checks and are not as prosperous and classy as I first viewed them to be.
People find “Ghetto Fab” entertaining and it is in high demand. It started with the likes of talk show hosts Jerry Springer and Maury Povich and has been on the incline ever since. Then we have stations like BET who promote Ghetto Fab daily. People love it. It is sad because this stuff is viewed worldwide. The way these people look on TV is the way that all people of color are viewed to behave. I don’t know about you but, I am far from the Wendy Williams type.
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