CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story

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CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story
CrazySexyCoolFilm.jpg
Promotional poster
Screenplay by Kate Lanier
Story byKate Lanier
Directed by Charles Stone III
Starring Keke Palmer
Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland
Drew Sidora
Narrated byKeke Palmer
Drew Sidora
Theme music composerJay Wadley
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersBill Diggins
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
Keri Flint
Kate Lanier
Maggie Malina
Rick Krim
Alexander A. Mortlagh
Jill Holmes
Jeff Olde
CinematographyEric Maddison
EditorJohn Roberts
Production companiesDiggit Entertainment Group
In Cahoots Media, Inc.
The Popfilms Movie Company
VH1 Productions
Original release
Network VH1
ReleaseOctober 21, 2013 (2013-10-21)

CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story is a 2013 American biographical television film about the R&B and hip hop musical trio TLC. Directed by Charles Stone III, written by Kate Lanier, [1] and named after the group's 1994 album CrazySexyCool , the film stars Keke Palmer as Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Drew Sidora as Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins. [2] The real-life Thomas and Watkins also served as executive producers of the film. [3]

Contents

The film's premiere on VH1 on October 21, 2013 [4] generated 4.5 million viewers, making it the highest-rated television film premiere of 2013, as well as the highest-rated original film premiere in VH1 history. [5] [6]

TLC released a compilation album, 20 , via LaFace and Epic Records on October 15, 2013, marking both the band's 20-plus years in the entertainment business and the film's release, which largely inspired the album's track listing. [7] The film was released on DVD on October 21, 2014. [8] [9]

Plot

In 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia, Tionne Watkins's friend Marie Davis persuades her to audition for a girl group Ian Burke is forming for LaFace Records. Although reluctant, she brings Crystal Jones, the group's founder, to meet her rapper friend Lisa Lopes. The trio performs "Meeting in the Ladies Room" in January 1991 for Perri "Pebbles" Reid and her husband Antonio "L.A." Reid, co-founder of LaFace, who approve Tionne and Lisa. Lisa calls her family in Philadelphia but learns her father Ronald has died. Later that year, Rozonda Thomas, a backup dancer for Damian Dame, notices Pebbles speaking with her dance teacher; she rushes over and amazes everyone present with her vocals. She meets Lisa, Tionne, and Tionne's longtime friend, music producer Dallas Austin; the girls immediately bond and successfully audition with "What About Your Friends". To preserve the name TLC, Rozonda is rechristened as "Chilli".

Pebbles informs the trio that they will be monetarily compensated beyond their weekly $25 stipend once they have sold records and tickets to shows. Before departing for a meeting one day, she instructs Dallas to keep the girls rehearsing, but instead, he instigates a food fight with them and romances Chilli in a sound booth. Pebbles reprimands the quartet's behavior upon her return, suspends Chilli and announces auditions for her replacement. Dallas comforts an upset Chilli, leading to sexual intercourse. Following her reinstatement, she notices her pregnancy and undergoes an abortion. After she recovers, the trio shoot the music video for their debut single "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" from their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip . Midway through their successful first nationwide tour in 1992, Tionne is hospitalized following a post-concert collapse backstage. She publicizes her previously-undisclosed sickle cell anemia, undeterred by the grim prognosis. Upon returning, the trio decides to buy Pebbles out to obtain more artistic freedom for subsequent albums.

In 1993, the girls begin recording their second album CrazySexyCool . At a nightclub one night, Lisa meets Andre Rison, a wide receiver for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. In 1994, Chilli discovers another woman's pregnancy with Dallas's child, pouring her heartbreak into "Creep". On June 8, Dallas reconciles with Chilli, while Lisa and her friend notice newly-purchased tennis shoes on Andre's bed; she retaliatorily burns them in the bathtub, unintentionally torching the house. Eventually sentenced to 5 years of probation and fined $10,000, she is released during her rehabilitation for two recording sessions with Tionne and Chilli, contributing an introspective rap verse to their biggest hit "Waterfalls".

After the trio announce their bankruptcy at the 1996 Grammys, Lisa details owing $200,000 due to an unfair contract. Their new manager, Bill Diggins, offers them a worldwide headlining tour and an improved profit margin following their next record. During the recording of their third album FanMail , Chilli gives birth to her and Dallas' son, Tron, in 1997. In 1998, during a sickle-cell scare, Tionne pens a poem detailing both a woman's self-image issues and unrealistic popular concepts of beauty, which becomes "Unpretty". During recording, Chilli breaks up with Dallas, citing incompatibility.

In October 1999, Lisa challenges Tionne and Chilli over who is the group's most successful solo member. Following a confrontation before a scheduled appearance on TRL, Bill urges her to resolve her in-group issues before the trio tour to support FanMail, or they will become bankrupt again. In February 2000, Lisa opts to travel to Honduras for spiritual healing and begin work on her debut solo album Supernova . Later, Tionne gives birth to her daughter Chase, despite potential risks. After Lisa breaks down at the 2000 Grammys due to poor international sales and reception of Supernova, Tionne and Chilli comfortingly urge her to return to Honduras for more spiritual healing before working on their next album.

By early 2002, the group is recording their fourth album 3D , with Tionne and Chilli adjusting to motherhood and Lisa contributing raps to several songs before heading to Honduras. On April 25, a devastated Tionne and Chilli learn that Lisa has perished in a car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras, while filming her documentary. The duo vow to stay together despite the tragedy, and 10 years later, they reunite in the studio to record their next album.

Cast

Critical reception

On Metacritic, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story has a score of 57 based on 6 critics’ reviews. [10]

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote, “Director Charles Stone III (' Drumline ') does an admirable job remaking old music videos almost note for note and synthesizing faux vintage footage of varying types into a visually dynamic whole,” but said the film gives disproportionate time to the group's financial squabbles with their record label and not enough time to their accomplishments and accolades. [11]

In a positive review, Brian Lowry of Variety write, “Few stories are more fraught with cliches than the rising actor/musician unprepared for the dizzying view from the top, but the project meshes neatly with VH1’s urban appeal.” [12] He added, “the story and central players are intriguing enough that the combination of music and melodrama pretty well speaks for itself, without requiring much embellishment.” [12]

Willa Paskin of Slate said while the film is “not a particularly well-constructed biopic, hopping from moment to moment like moviemaking was just a matter of checking scenes off a list…it does everything that Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas, the two surviving members of TLC, could ask for: It will absolutely convince you that TLC was amazing.” [13] Paskin added “the movie nails TLC’s particular infectious, rambunctious spirit, their defining characteristic since they burst onto the scene in the early ’90s”, and that ”the three actresses playing TLC, who all bring more to the parts than just looking like them, nail [their] montage scenes and their vibe of deep, silly friendship.” [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Lopes</span> American rapper and singer (1971–2002)

Lisa Nicole Lopes, better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper and singer. She was a member of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Besides rapping and singing on TLC recordings, Lopes was the creative force behind the group, receiving more co-writing credits than the other members. She also designed some of their outfits and the stage for their FanMail Tour and contributed to the group's image, album titles, artworks, and music videos. Through her work with TLC, Lopes won four Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TLC (group)</span> American girl group

TLC is an American girl group formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The group's best-known line-up was composed of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. The group enjoyed success during the 1990s, with nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty". The group also recorded four multi-platinum albums, including CrazySexyCool (1994), which received a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). TLC became the first R&B group in history to receive the million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for FanMail (1999).

<i>CrazySexyCool</i> 1994 studio album by TLC

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The group began working on a follow-up in 1993 but experienced an unproductive recording process due to personal issues, notably those of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who was struggling with alcoholism and her volatile relationship with football player Andre Rison. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished while she was in rehab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rozonda Thomas</span> American singer, dancer and actress (born 1971)

Rozonda Ocielian Thomas, better known by her stage name Chilli, is an American singer, dancer and actress who is a member of the group TLC, one of the best-selling girl groups of the late 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tionne Watkins</span> American singer (born 1970)

Tionne Tenese Watkins, better known by her stage name T-Boz, is an American singer. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Watkins rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of the girl-group TLC. She has won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterfalls (TLC song)</span> 1995 single by TLC

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<i>3D</i> (TLC album) 2002 studio album by TLC

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl Talk (TLC song)</span> 2002 single by TLC

"Girl Talk" is a song by American group TLC. It was written by band members Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins along with Anita McLoud, Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement, and Kandi Burruss for the group's fourth studio album, 3D (2002). Recorded a few days before Lopes' death in April 2002, production on the song was helmed by Clement. Lyrically, "Girl Talk" has the protagonist warning men that if they lack in the bedroom, it will spread on the street amongst the women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creep (TLC song)</span> 1994 single by TLC

"Creep" is a song recorded by American singing group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). Dallas Austin, who tried to write the track from a "female perspective", wrote and produced it. It is based on member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins's experience with infidelity. The lyrics portray the singers as women who cheat on their unfaithful lovers for "some affection". This context was controversial within the group, and strongly opposed by member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who threatened to wear black tape over her mouth on its accompanying music video.

<i>R U the Girl</i> American TV series or program

R U the Girl is an American reality television music competition series that aired on UPN in 2005. The series featured Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, the remaining members of the all-girl R&B group TLC whose former member, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, died in a car crash in Honduras in 2002. Initially promoted by the network as a contest to replace Lopes 3 years after her death, both Watkins and Thomas clarified that the winner of the contest would not be joining TLC full-time and would not be a full-time replacement member; the winner would only provide guest vocals on a new single by the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Lie</span> 1999 single by TLC

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Sidora</span> American actress and singer

Drew Sidora Jordan is an American actress and singer. She is known for her recurring role as Chantel in the Disney Channel Original Series That's So Raven, as Lucy Avila in the 2006 film Step Up, as Tionne Watkins in the VH1 TLC biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, and the BET comedy-drama television series The Game. She joined the cast of the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FanMail Tour</span> 1999–2000 concert tour by TLC

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hands Up (TLC song)</span> 2002 single by TLC

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"Kick Your Game" is a song recorded by the American group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). The "funky" R&B-dance track was written by frequent group collaborator Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal and member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. On August 26, 1995 it was picked by LaFace and Arista Records for release as a promotional airplay single from the album. In the song's lyrics, TLC teaches boys who flirt in a club "the proper way to approach a lady"; Lopes' rap verses reportedly referred to then-boyfriend Andre Rison, whose house she burned down during the making of CrazySexyCool.

<i>Totally T-Boz</i> American TV series or program

Totally T-Boz is an American reality documentary miniseries on TLC. The four-episode series premiered on January 1, 2013. Filmed in October 2012, Totally T-Boz follows Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins as she works on her new music career. As a member of TLC, the series also sheds light on Watkins working on 20th Anniversary plans with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and healing from the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Watkins has stated via Twitter that she has no interest in continuing the series.

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References

  1. ↑ "VH1's 'CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story' Debuts October 21: First Look Teaser". Deadline Hollywood . July 25, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  2. ↑ Black, Elizabeth (February 19, 2013). "Keke Palmer, Lil Mama And Drew Sidora Round Out The Cast Of Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story | Reality TV + Gossip | VH1 Blog". VH1 . Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (July 25, 2013). "VH1 debuts trailer for 'CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story' [Updated]". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ Walker, John (July 25, 2013). "Relive TLC's Pop Star Heyday In VH1's 'CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story' Teaser Trailer (VIDEO)". MTV . Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  5. ↑ Asare, Andrew (October 22, 2013). "TV VH1's 'CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story' scores big in ratings". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 22, 2013). "'CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story' Draws 4.5 Million Total Viewers, Scores as Cable's Highest-Rated Original Movie of 2013". zap2it.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  7. ↑ "TLC Unveils Cover, Tracklisting for New Album '20'". RapUp.com. September 23, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ ""CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story" on DVD This Year?". CyberTLCWorld. June 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ ""CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story" To Be Released On DVD October 21!". CyberTLCWorld. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story". Metacritic .
  11. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (2013-10-20). "Behind the Facade of a Carefree Hip-Hop Girl Group". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  12. 1 2 Lowry, Brian (2013-10-18). "TV Review: 'CrazySexyCool' Looks Back With TLC". Variety . Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  13. 1 2 Paskin, Willa (2013-10-21). "CrazySexyCool Isn't Great, but It Will Make You Watch TLC Videos on YouTube for Hours After". Slate . Retrieved 2022-09-15.
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