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.
No comments:
Post a Comment