Castmember Ashlei and a friend Dawn. Photo by Barket/BET
Still close to two months away from airing,”Harlem Heights” is generating quite a bit of media buzz. With the success of “reality” shows like “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” BET executives are likely counting on “Harlem Heights” to be the next big thing. If BET is serious about changing their image then let’s hope that “Harlem Heights” is a better balance of interesting “characters” and histrionics than their previous ventures into “reality” TV with “Baldwin Hills”(yawn) and “College Hill (click).”
It will be interesting to see how much of Harlem actually gets shown on the series. BET has been quoted as saying that the show “allow(s) us to capture the beauty of Harlem in a way we haven’t seen before” and “[Harlem] is our true ninth character.“
Who are the other characters? According to the press release they include:
the beautiful, bewitching ex-girlfriend of an international music superstar who is trying to carve out her own identity; a budding magazine lifestyle editor who seeks to shed the label of “spoiled rich kid” by striking out on his own; the struggling actress trying to balance her social life with her career ambitions; a young man with a troubled family past attempts to find success and give back to his community while overcoming his fear of failure; a native Harlem-ite who has turned his life around to make a way for his young daughter; the hard-partying son of a prominent Harlem political leader who struggles to live up to his father’s clean cut reputation and explores a future in politics; an aspiring lawyer with big
ambitions and even bigger opinions; and the driven fashionista seeking to maintain her A-list aspirations.
Harlem Heights is also trying to align itself with the election of President-elect Barack Obama since the show taped in Harlem during November 4th’s victory celebration. For some reason I doubt that viewers will see politics discussed on the show beyond the Election Night footage. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one for sure.
Read more about the show from an article in today’s Daily News after the jump:
“Harlem Heights,” premiering March 2 on BET, captures the “young, black and fabulous crowd” of one of New York’s most famous neighborhoods. The cast includes a lifestyle editor for the basketball publication Dime magazine, an aspiring actress, a fashionista, a young man contemplating a career in politics and even a young dad. It’s a group of friends moving out of college and into the working world.
“This show isn’t ‘The Hills,’ ” said BET president Loretha Jones. “The cast was friends before, so their relationships are natural and they allowed us to follow them in such a way that they were unconcerned with the cameras being there, and let us capture the real interactions.”
Jones also said that unlike some other reality shows about twentysomethings, “Harlem Heights” would explore not only emotional drama, but also professional drama and the excitement and celebrations of last year’s historical election night.
Participant Pierre Downing, who works for a nonprofit organization that does community development in Harlem, said that “Harlem Heights” will change the face of young black America, because he and his castmates aren’t just athletes, rappers or media moguls.
“Here you have college graduates obtaining a higher level of success and that needs to be shown,” said Downing. “All of us are here today to show America we have a voice and need to be recognized.”
“Harlem Heights” creators Kurt Williamson and Randolph Sturrup said they chose the upper West Side not only because of its history, but its future.
“People are naturally drawn to New York and when you add the layer of Harlem, there’s a certain interest and intrigue in that,” said Williamson.
“And with Harlem currently redefining itself,” Sturrup said, “it parallels what our cast is going through in their lives.”
“This influx of young, urban black professionals that are really trying to do it are creating a resurrection of a new Harlem. There’s a new Harlem renaissance,” said Downing. “[Harlem] is our true ninth character.”
Read the whole story: NY Daily News
View a photo album of the cast at Black Voices
Previously on U.F. Harlem Heights on BET
SDG
January 13, 2009
I hope this show brings some quality programming to BET. The station is in dire need.
Landon
January 12, 2009
D. Bell:
Thank you for the write up on Harlem Heights… I am one of the main cast members, and we are all excited about the show. The majority of us did the original pilot and we are happy that BET picked up the positive show. We want to show the kids of Harlem, obtaining an education is the path to make their dreams come true.
AND, Yes we talk about politics outside of Obama… I made sure we discussed Harlem Politics and what changes have to be made in Harlem for the greater good. Please continue your great work. I just subscribed to your blog and I hope you will like the show.
I am President of the Uptown Dems, we would love for you to come to one of our events. If you are on Facebook please look up Uptown Dems… http://www.uptowndems.org website will be on in two weeks.
Best Regards,
D. Bell
January 12, 2009
Hi Landon:
Thanks for writing in. Congratulations on the new series. While I have no doubt that there were profound conversations taking place on the set, I am a bit leery about the number that will actually air. Reality shows are notorious for cutting and splicing what actually happened. Hope the final cut in this case is indeed close to reality. Look forward to seeing the final product.