Former Daytime Talk Show Host Rolonda Watts Goes For The Funny on TVOne's Love That Girl!

A journalist, talk show host, actor, producer, writer, and voice-over talent, Rolonda Watts epitomizes what is means to "Rise & Grind" in order to stay relevant in the business of show. Follow Rolonda On Twitter.

LisaRaye Reality Series: A Diamond Tries Moving Past The Rough

TV One’s new docu-series The Real McCoy airing tonight has a gorgeous subject as it’s focal point, as if LisaRaye really needs any introduction.

No one can deny the outspoken film and television actress oozes sex appeal. An over-the-top Chi-town native who loves getting her picture taken, LisaRaye McCoy knows she has it going on.

With her killer gams and perfect eye sockets that can make practically any man hand over his platinum credit card (don’t call her a golddigger – she is way past that now) this former First Lady of Turks and Caicos is officially “back to business” and taking names. Let the shenanigans begin.

But first, the diva who burst on the scene more than a decade ago as the stripper Diamond in Ice Cube’s The Players Club must smooth out some seriously rough edges.

There’s all that post-divorce drama from Premier Michael Misick and the monies still owed to her; the realization that her now 19-year daughter Kai is almost a grown woman; caring for her ailing mother; being supportive of her incarcerated sister, rapper Da Brat; and dealing with her own personal life, which includes fighting for acting gigs in Hollywood as an over-40 African American woman.

If you are a big LisaRaye fan, you’re likely to rate the series an 8 out of 10. TV One follows Lisa Raye and her colorful cast of friends through the streets of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta with an ease and style that is clearly a step above ghetto fabulous.

The non-controversial debut episode has McCoy out promoting "the brand" on the Stevie Wonder owned radio station KJLH, experiencing make-up issues, showing up late to her own rain drenched party to daughter Kai’s disdain, and setting the stage for what’s to come in future outings.

Along for the ride is her gay assistant/cousin Quincy and a slew of celebrities and famous folk that the former All About Us star enchants in her signature white attire.

The best thing about the show, however is the flamboyant stylist Joe eXclusive, who looks a hot mess in the series and in real life, yet clearly has an eye for fashion and the clothes and accessories that bring out the very best of LisaRaye.

At the premiere for The Real McCoy in downtown LA at the hip Standard Hotel, 300 friends and well wishers came out to show McCoy a whole lot of love.

They included singer Brandy and her actor brother Ray J, actress Paula Jai Parker, legendary singer Freda Payne, Love That Girl creator and scribe Bentley Evans, comedienne’s Ajai Sanders, Kym Whitley, Joe Torry, Tommy Davidson and Michael Colylar, actor Christain Keys, actress Tatiana Ali, celebrity models Melyssa Ford and Tocarro, actress Golden Brooks, and newly single Lance Gross, who hosted the premiere party along with Uptown Magazine.

Hoping to hit paydirt with a 2nd season, The Real McCoy is light on conflict that has become standard fare in other series of a similar flavor. While it promises to unveil more about the meltdown and subsequent come-up of McCoy, the jury is still out whether this “unvarnished” look of Black Hollywood can find a viewing audience that's willing to go along for the ride.

Sure, we get a glimpse into the men, the money, the clothes, the hair, and the style that is Lisa Raye. Tears and all.

The question is, does this once bright jewel still have her sparkle and brilliance? McCoy is prepared to find out. Stay tuned!

“LisaRaye: The Real McCoy” premieres April 8, at 9pm on TV One. Thanks to Tosha Whitten-Griggs and Tonie Washington for taking care of 3BAAS Media Group.

Can Michael Baisden Save TV One As It Struggles To Capture Black TV Viewers

Fledgling network seeks a hit ... ASAP!

by George Alexander

Last month, TV One surpassed the 40 million mark in total household subscribers. Yet, as the three-year-old cable network penetrates more African American homes, TV One is still in search of a hot hit. TV One has distinguished itself from its older more established rival—BET. The Silver Spring, Maryland-based network bills itself as an entertainment and lifestyle network targeted to adults 18–49, while its Washington, D.C.-based rival BET, targets the 18–34 demographic.

Enter Baisden After Dark, featuring syndicated radio deejay and author Michael Baisden, one of TV One's newest entrants in the race to win African American viewers. Although Baisden debuted his show Baisden After Dark, on Sunday, October 7, the show will run regularly on Saturday nights. "Baisden did nicely for its first time, especially for premiering out of its regular time slot," says Rose Catherine Pinkney, executive VP of programming and production. Aside from BET, TV One faces competition from cable networks such as TBS, which has won black viewers with Tyler Perry's House of Payne. While that show continues to dominate black households, black-themed shows are not the only shows that resonate with African Americans.

TV One must also face off with broadcast network shows such as Without a Trace and Grey's Anatomy, both of which occupied the No.1 and No.3 spots in black households. TV One's Pinkney acknowledges the inherent hurdles. "I'd like to think that TV One has already put on shows that had the potential to be hits but our biggest challenge as a startup is getting the word out—not just about our shows but about the network in general."

RADIO'S BAD "BLACK" BOY MICHAEL BAISDEN GETS READY FOR HIS CLOSE-UP ON TV ONE

TV Week is reporting that TV One is planning to launch a weekly prime-time talk and variety series starring Black radio personality Michael Baisden in early October.

Production on "Baisden After Dark" later this month at the Occidental Studios in Los Angeles.

Musician Morris "Jungle Love" Day has been tapped as bandleader and sidekick for the program.

The 44 year-old Baisden, born in Chicago, is an author, motivational speaker, former TV talk show host, and host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.

Baisden's first book, Never Satisfied: How and Why Men Cheat, is what catapulted the brother into the hearts and minds of Black folks, especially women.

In 2001, he made a series of promotional appearances on daytime talk shows. He was also host of his own short-lived syndicated talk show entitled "Talk or Walk" in 2001.

Currently, Baisden is host of the nationally-syndicated radio program "Love, Lust, and Lies." Among the cities that broadcast his radio show are Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Dallas, Memphis, and Miami.

Speaking of Morris Day, we just had a flashback: