…um, boring.
On one hand, you have to give BET a soft golf clap on green lighting something that I feel like my peers and I have been discussing for years. The production and editing was clean and professional. The characters seemed genuine, at times. In the end, however, @mommyjd put it best:
This show sounded better on paper
.
So what happened and what was it that turned off so many, especially the 30 or so in the chat last night, admittedly a small sample?
Quite simply, it wasn’t entertaining. If you’ve ever gone out to a spot, waited in line, paid for an expensive drink, and gotten bored from just people watching and seeing the same old faces, you’ve essentially grasped Harlem Heights. While it may seem underhanded, I do want to give props to the extended family whom I personally know and support for their work and professional package. Unfortunately, the two episodes that debuted last night felt like just that: packaging.
As I scanned the Twitterverse and watched our chat participants, the theme of over-editing and scripted dialogue kept popping up. The images were positive, the vibe was classy, but it didn’t feel genuine. Perhaps it was the Baldwin Hills voiceover or the lack of vested interest in the characters, but contrary to my interview the other day with the Harlem Heights story producer, maybe the show wasn’t intended for me.
While it may be the result of unreal expectation, entertainment wise, Harlem Heights is not The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air nor does it have the replay value of The Cosby Show. Our targeted demographic probably has that point of reference in mind, and the rehashed reality show reputation of BET juxtaposed to images of 106 and Park and BET Uncut, gave cynicism its rightful place at the front row.
So what would make it better?
I’m not sure. I mentioned last night that it probably just needs to scrap the reality formula and make it fully scripted. Add some crazy plot twists, some possible ‘Office-esque’ comedy (I feel like I’m describing the Game), and I think YBP’s will gravitate towards the escape of seeing themselves in unlikely situations, instead of just….watching their peers play themselves…in boring, day-to-day life.
