“The Frankie and Neffe Show” Holding “Us” back?
Maybe it’s all Keyshia Cole’s fault.
The Oakland, California-raised singer could have done what countless other music sirens have done before her, she could have just sung.
Sung with her heart out and let the fans decide if she stays around or not. But Keyshia, in a marketing and promotion masterstroke, hit us with a secret weapon, something so wrong but so, well, unlookawayable.
She gave us Frankie and Neffe.
And now we have “The Frankie and Neffe Show”.
But is that a good thing or bad thing?
Judging from the harsh comments many fans have left on discussion boards and forums across the Internet, the new reality TV show – which shows the mother-daughter tandem cutting up across Atlanta — on BET needs to be cancelled quick.
An online petition has even popped up, hopping to gain enough signatures to elicit a response from the show’s creators. The petition itself could use some work. It reads in part:
“Why … do we allow this buffoonery to continue? …. I’m not into making mean comments about anyone or take money out of their pocket but, These pictures saids it all.”
Is this person calling a spade a spade, or is it a great big pitcher of Hatorade?
The show, which Keyshia Coles does not appear in, is the latest offering from a channel that stresses itself as Black Entertainment.
To be sure the show certainly meets the criteria for entertainment.
Neffe, who can cry at the snap of a finger, certainly will hold your attention, as she courts her fiancé and goes about her daily business showing a range of emotion from joyously happy (you can tell from the tears) to outrageously upset (tears again) in mere minutes.
But the draw of the show is Frankie, who will act out in kind of sad but deliciously silly ways. The makers of the show hope that the viewers get it, that they see the sideshow as a maturation process. Producer James Dubose told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper this spring that the TV series “will show [Frankie and Neffe’s] growth and independence in their personal lives.”
But many people aren’t amused.
The show is evoking the same reaction as such shows as “Good Times,” which originally set out to show the triumphs and trials of a black family in the inner city but gradually morphed into a showcase for depicting “J.J.” as a clown, to the dislike of cast members.
The late actor Esther Rolle, who played Florida Evans on the show, reportedly said she exited the show specifically because it killed off the husband (James Evans) and displayed more of the silly antics J.J. became known for.
To be sure, many African-American shows have had flawed characters. “George Jefferson” of “The Jeffersons” was seen by many as a black role model, yet his character was written as a bigot who couldn’t stand race mixing.
But Frankie and Neffe aren’t acting. They aren’t seen as “characters.” When you see Frankie jumping around, and Neffe having a meltdown? That’s them. Dubose told the AJC, “Everyone has a Frankie and Neffe in their family.” And maybe that’s why the show brings forth the emotions that it does.
When viewers analyze Frankie they see the remnants of a very serious drug addiction, one that shouldn’t be displayed with such abandon, not by family members anyway.
When many viewers see Neffe they see someone who needs professional help, which is what family would do.
If they were in your family, would you celebrate their success or ask them to digress?
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Really, how is this show or any other show “bafoonery?” Black people really need to stop worry about what “White folks” think about them. It’s that whole slave mentality…like i used to hear some of the old folks say when I was growing up…”girl you better stop acting like a fool in front of these damn white folks.” That’s the majority of our problem. We are so concerned with how white people percieve us. I have doctor’s and lawyers in my family as well as former drug addicts, incarcerated people. Frankie and Neffe represents ONE slice of African-American life. They don’t have to be the picture of EVERY African-American in the country….GEEZ. My one complaint, if any, is that there is not a balance in the representation of different “slices”….
Why stop and start with the so-called reality shows that air on BET? I don’t think any of them ever portray us anything beyond stereotypes and the most negative and silly ones at that. Flavor. New York. The Real Housewives of ATL. Apparently, some of us can’t get enough of it. We watch as if our “Blackness” depends on. To each his or her own. That mess will never define me and mine . . .
At first glance, it appeared that The Frankie and Neffe show was going to be something negative and more of them fighting and just going at it. But upon watching the show I see how much Neffe wants to do better and wants her mother to do better. These women are in the process of bettering themselves. But at the same time their personality are their personality and how they present themselves on camera is who they truly are. Yeah, they are loud but at the end of the day they want what alot of people want in their lives…stability, peace, and be surrounded by the people they love.
And just to reiterate what has already been said…I saw the same backlash against the Tiny and Toya Show. People focused so much on how they talked that they didn’t see yet another set of women wanting to better themselves.
Bottom line, the Frankie and Neffe show is nothing like Flavor of Love or I Love New York shows. Those shows were ridiculous.
The problem is we really shouldn’t be looking at a television show to define “us” or that said show is taking “us” back. Like someone previously stated it’s simply for entertainment purposes. The more people watch the higher the ratings and a greater chance that the concept will be repeated by the network.
Here is my take on the show I feel that Neffe is very much confused period. and that she is trying to save her mother just as keshia tried to do. but frankie does not want to be saved . frankie has some past demons she has not address yet. what erk me the most about this show nothing is resolved, all the cursing and the respect is out the window. they ask just like ghetto rats instead of people who have problems who want resolution to their problems. instead they are worst I don’t blame keshia I would of dropped them like they where hot.they bring more shame to our race and that bothers me even more. grow up and deal with the truth and allow healing to come forth.
oh yes, let us not forget that Neffe dress like a hooker and she is a mother of 6 kids. the outfit she wore the day soullow proposal turned my stomach. frankie is straight up ghetto. and the want to use God in the mist of their mess he ain’t in that. this is what we call mess.mess. messsssssssssssssssssss!
The Neffie and Frankie show fit the stereotype of taking a person out of the ghetto but not being able to take the ghetto out of the person. Regardless of how much money they now have, they will never have any class. Constant vulgar language, drinking, drama, and a single black womnn taking care of unproductive man is the icing on the cake. Neffie needs to start taking care of her children so that hopefully, they will become productive citizens. The show needs to be taken off the air.
I AGREE, PLEASE TAKE THESE SISTAS WITH OBVIOUS TRUE DEEP ROOTED ISSUES OFF THE AIR AND GET THEM SOME SERIOUS COUNCILING…AND FOR GOD SAKES HELP GET THE KIDS SOME HELP AS WELL HAS ANYBODY NOTICED HOW THE BABIES ARE BEING EFFECTED BY THIS…THE SMALLER ONES START CRYING UNCONTROLABLE WHENEVER FRANKIE AND NEFFIE START SCREAMING AND HOLLERING LIKE 2 PYSCHOS…THIS IS A FORM OF ABUSE MAYBE NOT PHYSCIAL BUT MENTALLY AND IT IS GOING TO BECOME THE NORM FOR THEM AND IT WILL CARRY ON THROUGH GENERATIONS…THIS ISNT HELPING ANYONE..IT’S TRULY SAD THAT BET HAS COME TO THIS….
I reviewed this show over and over and I must STOP!! I see no growth at all I see is a women acting out with children caught in the middle and the kids look like they need severe make-overs. Neffe’s (3) smallest kids hair is never done mind you her so called stylist/hairdresser is always by her side get some perms in them childrens heads the little baby boy Jalen needs a hair cut and his nose is always nasty and Neffe looks like SH%%..until she finally goes to get her hair done which is falling out on the sides LAWD!!! this show is a mess it’s not GROWTH…Frankie went from being a drug addict to an alcoholic what is the dam% big difference NONE really she is curbing one addiction because she wants the other so bad this is a disgrace to everyone especially black folks like myself whom work hard every day do a reality show on some families like my own that everyone gets up goes to work one daughter is off in college we are grinding and can bring GROWTH and something positive to the airways not this trash I say CAN IT NOW…Las Tuesday show was horrible Neffe fronting with Soulow’s son I respect Frankie for being mad Neffe don’t take care of her own kids the way she should but she going way out for her Non working sit at home ass of a fiance’e who wants to get married so bad he looks high and drunk most of the time he needs to GO….He makes a real man look bad he is a disgrace she says he loves her so much how he couldn’t even buy them a table to eat on Frankie did and in her latest Blog Neffe said the kids broke the legs off the chair no hometraining and she dances when she’s happy and cries like a whale when she is sad this is a sad situation this show needs intervention NOW BET should be ashamed…
The problem is not Frankie and Neffe..it is those who decide to give them a tv show..reality or not…
Call the show The Frankie Show, then you will see growth at it’s best. Neffe is jealous of Frankie for she(Frankie) is a celebrity all by herself. Neffe see’s how much Frankie is growing. Neffe wants to hold on to the past and keep holding Frankie’s past over her head so she can control her growth. If they let Neffe be a guest every now and then it would be a much better show. I love Frankie, she’s been looking at “The Man In The Mirror”
The Frankie and Neffe show is a disgrace!!! It potrays black families to be dysfunctional. That’s probally why Keisha hasn’t made an apperance. Debra Lee shoud be ASHAMED of herself for allowing such garbage on the air! Oprah wouldn’t of allowed it because she has CLASS!
I HAVE WATCHED THE SHOW, NEFFE IS NOT THE FIRST OR THE LAST BLACK WOMAN TO HAVE STRUGGLED WITH HER OWN MISTAKES IN LIFE AND THOSE OF HER MOTHER.SHE IS A GROWN WOMAN AND MOTHER! SHE WANTS TO CONTINUE TO HOLD ON TO THE FACT THAT FRANKIE WASN’T THERE, HER HUSBAND CHEATED, SHE ABUSED ALCOHOL, SHE’S HAD SUCH A ROUGH LIFE! YET, KEISHA CAME ALONG PROVIDED HER WITH NICE THINGS SHE WASN’T USE TO AND LOOK AT HOW NASTY SHE KEEPS HER HOUSE? SHE WASN’T ABLE TO DO FOR HER CHILDREN AS SHE CAN NOW AND INSTEAD SHE RENTS LIMOS’ TO GO TO A BOWLING ALLEY! THE BIBLE SAYS “WHEN THY MOTHER AND FATHER FORSAKE ME-I WILL TAKE YOU UP”. QUIT PLAYING THE BLAME GAME GROW UP! GET SOME SELF RESPECT AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE BETTER MEMORIES FOR YOUR CHILDREN-AT THE RATE YOU ARE GOING WE ARE SURE TO SEE YOUR GIRLS ON MAURY!! YOU AREN’T TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL YOUNG WOMEN OR INDEPENDENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEPENDED ON EVERYONE ELSE CARRYING YOU INSTEAD OF STANDING ON YOUR OWN 2 FEET.GROW UP! GET YOUR TUBES TIED AND BRUNT!! GET OFF THE SHOW! WHEN YOU FAIL WITH YOUR CHILDREN THAT BLAME NEEDS TO BE AT YOUR FEET!!!!!
BET IS IN THE SAME BUSINESS AS MOST MAJOR NETWORKS THEY ARE COMPETING AGIANST, THEY EXPLOIT FOR PROFIT. ASK YOURSELF – WHY IS IT THAT WE ONLY APPEAR ON MAJOR NETWORKS AS COMEDIANS, ARE WE ALL CLOWNS. DITTO TYLER PERRY WHO RECOGNIZES TRUE ACTING TALENT AMONG OUR PEOPLE. SHAME ON YOU BET.
These are the MOST Ignorant people I have ever seen in my life. Why do they want to show how stupid, Ignorant and Ghetto they are. Oh I forgot they are getting paid
As black folks we are so darn hard on ourselves. It is just sheer entertainment and if you don’t want to watch it or have your kids watch it then don’t it is simple as that. Tiny and Toya were trying to do something positive and as celebrity wives or girlfriends sometimes folks want to know what do they in their own individual lives so that is what they were trying to portray as well as find their own individual selves. Frankie and Neffee is just a family that has been terribly broken and it is just interesting to see how they are going about trying to mend the broken relationship.
What about the white shows that are acting foolish as well. No one says anything about that but the minute we do anything here come all of the negative comments. We will never come together as people because we are constanly pursecuting one another. The flavor of luv and I love New York I must say was totally disgusting but when familys are trying to heal maybe that is what we need to see every now and then so we can check our own situations. Tyler Perry always gets criticized but he has put many folks that were out of work for a while back on the map for a minute just in case they may have been forgotten. Some of his stuff is a bit much but overall there is always a message behind the madness.
We need to just support one another and stop all of this nonsense. At least these folks are trying to do the right thing instead of selling sex and gyrating all over the screen. I wish all of them luck, especially Frankie and Neffee. Not only do they need a good luck but a good good prayer……
I think that this show is like a train wreck..noone wants it to happen or is excited and you feel empathy towards everyone involved…but you stilll watch. I think an earlier comment said it best..Neffe needs professional help..and Frankie well Frankie may just keep riding the elevator up and down and not getting off..
That’s it and that’s all.
The sight of Frankie makes me want to vomit. How about we just do away with BET? I don’t think it will be missed.
BET is a minstrel show channel and the head Devil over there calling the shots over there is a white boy name Phillipe Dumas.We have a fool on this air here in St.Louis name Tony Scott aka Tony Snot,this dude has a bit on his show called therapy.He read stupid made up letters from so called black folks with issues,and it does is put us in negative light,just like The Steve Harvey Straw Berry Letter.BET ,Hip Hop and local black radio have sold the black community for the big bucks.
I love the show just neffie needs to let some things go and let her maother do her if you all keep on putting her down she going to break and you all dont want that. And Neffie needs to let sollow take care of her and let god do his thang becaues you came a long way to lose it all. I want to see you all with the entire family with keshia cole to and do a new show with all 7 kids and frankie to I love her stay strong sister god is blessing you keep your head up . Gobd Bless you all