The New Edition Story Part 1 Recap/Review

Let me start by saying I have been patiently waiting for The New Edition Story to air. When BET started playing promos and snippets of the scenes three months back, I knew this was must see TV. I was excited about the cast, particularly Empire’s Bryshere Y. Gray and the movie being directed by well –know industry veteran Chris Robinson.

The movie opens with new-comer Woody McClain as Bobby Brown singing “My Prerogative” on stage in a red leather suit with a crop top and cut out in the back.  Hello 1997! McClain is giving us his best pelvic thrust and the bad boy persona that Bobby Brown was known for.  Ricky, Mike and Ronnie are on the side of the stage waiting for Bobby to finish his set after clearly going over time. One of the members of Bel Biv Devoe decides that Bobby’s time is up and interrupts his performance and calls the rest of BBD to the stage and they begin singing their hit song “Poison.” (I still get hype when this song comes on in the club.)  Bobby is pissed. A fight breaks out and we rewind back to the group’s humble beginnings in Orchard Park Projects in Boston.

Ricky and Mike attend a talent show to see Bobby perform, where much to their surprise Bobby freezes up and runs off the stage while the crowd boos.  After the talent show, Bobby decides that he needs his friends on stage with him.  The boys agree on the condition that they all get to sing. Young Bobby has is fingers crossed behind his back as they shake on the agreement. They add Ralph to the lineup because three members couldn’t possibly make a group…😒

The boys track down Brooke Payne (Wood Harris) in an alley and convince him to manage them.  He makes the group rehearse day in and day out for their performances. The young cast members did not disappoint. The dance moves and singing were on point! Payne gives them the name New Edition and puts them in talent shows across the city. New Edition wins a talent show and the prize is recording a single. Meanwhile, a fifth member (Ronnie DeVoe) is added to the group and “Candy Girl” is born. Maurice Starr (Faizon Love), the producer takes a liking to Ralph’s pure voice and offers him a solo recording contract. Ralph passes and stays loyal to the group on account of ‘not getting down like that’ where his from. Long story short, the group signs with Maurice and New Edition’s first single blows up and they go on to tour the world. Problem is-- they aren’t bringing in any money home.  Two of the mothers confront Brooke in the middle of the night about the lack of coins coming in. New Edition has a number one record and can’t afford to buy lunch at school!  Brooke says all of the money is being spent on the group’s expenses and tells the moms to be patient.

Fast forward to what looks like 5 years and New Edition has gone from little boys to teenage heart throbs, but still singing “Candy Girl” and “Popcorn Love”...😒

After being on tour and still coming home to the projects and no money the moms vote Brooke out and get a new (white) manager, Gary. The group signs a million dollar deal with MCA records and move to LA. Ralph is still getting all the solos on the records and the group is not pleased.  Jealousy is about to rear its ugly head and I can’t wait until tomorrow! Ish is about to get real.

The New Edition Story Part 2 Recap/Review

The group is giving Ralph hell because he's singing solo on most of their songs. During the recording of "Mr. Telephone Man" Bobby is coming through real strong on the hook, trying out-sing everyone else. After their session, the boys head to the limo and get into an argument about who's going to sit where. Mike decide's he's going to take a cab and slams the car door. The limo driver runs over his foot and Bobby calls him a 'lil bitch.' Mike spits in Bobby's face and it's on! Gary (their manager) wants to kick Mike out of the group, but they're not having it. Bobby doesn't want him out so he stays.

The next day, while going over the steps for "Mr. Telephone Man" the choreographer does a mean ghetto girl hip pop and the group is not into it. His moves are too feminine for them. Gary decides to surprise the boys and call Uncle Brook back get the group ready for their tour. Gary makes it clear that he is there for choreography, not to manage New Edition.

 Bobby is getting in trouble every chance he gets. He leaves rehearsal early and is pulled over by the police for speeding and arrested for not having license and registration. When Gary comes to bail him out, Bobby tells him that he's expecting a child. Gary hints that the girl should get an abortion, but Bobby is pro life and keeping his baby! Malika gives birth to Landin and the group all show up to the hospital to see her and the baby. Ralph steps out and call his girlfriend to check on her and surprise, surprise she is also expecting a baby!

New Edition heads home for the holidays and they are still broke and living in the projects. Gary stops by to give the moms a rundown of the finances and they are not pleased with what he has to say. Gary is told to leave and the mothers argue with each other about what should have happened and who is or isn't in charge.

Ralph's girlfriend loses the baby, but he can't be by her side because he has to stay on tour and keep some sort of money coming in for the family.

While on tour, Bobby is at it again. Showboating and thrusting on stage like nobody's business. When the group cuts his solo shine short, he says this will be his last time performing with New Edition and storms off the stage. The group goes into "Cool It Now" and two minutes into the song, Bobby runs back onto the stage and snatches the microphone from Mike and of course they start fighting. Gary makes the group make a decision and they vote Bobby out.

Mike finds out that New Edition is actually signed to A Fast Break Production, not MCA as they were lead to believe. He rolls up into a meeting at MCA to have a word with the execs. He's told that the group is signed to Gary who is signed to MCA. Mike brings the issue to the group and they decide they have to continue to do shows to feed their families. Meanwhile, Bobby is back in Boston selling drugs when Jhery Busby ( played by Tank who actually does a convincing job in this movie) pulls up in a limo and offers him a solo deal. Raph's girlfriend, Zina is in his ear trying to get him to do a solo record as well. He clues her in that he's already working on his solo and tells her to stay in her lane. Mike invites Gary to lunch where he fires him.

Ralph invites the guys over and plays his new music for them and they are not happy for your boy. He tells them how he's being doing all of the work and kicks them out of his house. Ralph pays Jhery a visit and finds out his solo record will only come out after he has finished his last album under contract with New Edition.

When the New Edition comes together to record the new album, Johnny Gill is in the group.  The only person who didn't know is Ralph. He is pissed, and doesn't want to go back to splitting his money five ways. Who can blame him??? They just got out of the hood! Johnny comes in and lays down undeniable vocals on "Boys to Men." He and Ralph chop it up and find out both of them are being played as far as solo deals are concerned. They call a truce and decide the can work together. They head back into the studio and record "Can You Stand the Rain." Johnny's silky smooth voice and Ralph's signature high vocals turns the record out and the group is back on track.

Everything is all good right? Nope, Bobby's going on tour with New Edition. Stay tuned for Part 3!