‘Road’ to fame: Rapper Missy Elliott offers shot at ‘Stardom’ on reality show
Missy Elliott’s road to stardom was no walk in the park. “My road to stardom was a whole different ballgame,” says the hip-hop superstar of her early days. “I worked with a group of people who didn’t allow us to do anything. We didn’t have no money. It’s plenty of times we walked to the studio in the snow in Rochester. And we had somebody who would rip our self-esteem down.”
So when the 13 aspiring performers on her UPN reality series “The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott” (premiering tomorrow night at 8 on WSBK, Ch. 38) have to put up with harsh criticism from celebrity judges, a dirty tour bus and 8 a.m. wake-up calls, she feels their pain – up to a point.
“When I look at these kids, they had it hard, but it could get harder,” says the Grammy-winning Virginia native famous for such hits as “Work It” and “Get Ur Freak On” and production work with everyone from Whitney Houston to Mary J. Blige to recent “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino.
“Road” follows the wannabe rappers and singers as they tour the country and participate in performance challenges for judges including Elliott, her manager Mona Scott, r & b hitmaker Dallas Austin and, in one episode, Madonna.
“We didn’t set out to distinguish ourselves (from ‘American Idol’),” says “Road” executive producer Allison Grodner. “We set out to make something unique and original and special for Missy Elliott, and to represent her and her talent and her search for the next great superstar. And it was really about combining a talent search with great storytelling.”
Viewers get a behind-the-curtain peek at the emotionally draining rehearsals and on-the-road character building as well as contestant interactions on the bus. (The series was shot during Elliott’s tour last winter with Beyonce and Alicia Keys.)
In the premiere, Chicago native Jessica reveals that her mother was a crack abuser. The lone Boston aspirant, rapper Heather, grew up with an MTV-banning pastor for a father. (If you want to see the hometown girl in action, plan to watch the premiere).
These “Real World”/”Making the Band” elements are what Elliott believes will set “Stardom” apart from other talent show-based reality programming.
“Because you’re not just seeing people get up there and sing or rap, “Elliott says. “You’re learning about them as people.”
Article by Sarah Rodman, Boston Herald
The Raod to Stardom with Missy Elliot premieres tomorrow, Wednesday, January 5, 2005, at 8 pm ET/PM on UPN
MadonnaTribe brought an exclusive preview of Madonna’s appearance on the show to it’s readers last November 7. To see caps of that appearance just click on the photo below.
Thanks to LIZ