As many of my readers know, I do not watch reality TV with the exception of the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” and Animal Planet’s “River Monsters.” Although I have caught bits and pieces of a few shows, I stand by my claim that most reality shows are neither real nor impart any value with the exception of making the general population more voyeuristic — a dubious benefit.
Case in point, “Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business.” These two have a show that purports to be a depiction of their family life as well as their family business. Now I think that is a good thing, albeit I would not rather swim in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on a hot summer day frying like I was in fish grease than to see such manipulation.
On the show, I saw Brandy, Ray J, a cousin that was a manager, friends and other associates and their parents, but that was it. Never once did I hear the starlet speak of or mention her child, let alone see it. Now if this is reality, then I would suspect that a mother would spend a lot of time with her kids, especially if they loved them and were proud of them.
The truth of the matter is I don’t even know that she has a child, I don’t even know if it is a boy or a girl. Maybe she gave it up for adoption, or maybe she is embarrassed of her little one. I don’t know, but it strikes me as very peculiar that a show focused around the family unit does not show the child of the main character. Brandy’s mother is bonding with her, but Brandy is not bonding with her child. So I only have one question: Brandy, where the baby at? And don’t say behind that preposition.
–torrance stephens, ph.d.For more with Dr. Stephens, visit twitter.com/rawdawgbuffalo and rawdawgb.blogspot.com.
