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PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Thursday 10 December 2015
‘Rich in Faith’ brings young pastors to reality TV spotlight
LYNN ELBER This photo provided by Oxygen shows, DawnChere Wilkerson, left, and Rich Wilkerson in the “Ga- this busy, chaotic world we
AP Television Writer tor Nuggets” episode in season 1 of “Rich in Faith.” live in right now,” he said.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As a While he’s not a reality TV
MTV executive, Rod Aissa (Matthew Burke/Oxygen via AP) watcher, Wilkerson said,
helped develop “Newly- “no matter what you think
weds: Nick & Jessica,” the “What I liked about it for ersons are founding, has a negatively about the status about it, it’s the language
reality series that peered Oxygen is the overlay of certain glitz of its own, with quo of where our nation is of our culture. We want to
into the lives of Nick Lachey the discussion of faith,” he music, dance, strobe lights or where entertainment is,” be people who are trying
and Jessica Simpson. said. “We know from brand and fog machines added said Rich Wilkerson, author to take every opportunity
Aissa, now at Oxygen Me- research ... that traditional to appeal to their genera- of the newly published to spread the message of
dia, believes he’s found things like family and rela- tion. They take their min- “Sandcastle Kings,” which faith.” Faith and reality TV
equally engaging young tionship to God and spiri- istry to the street as well, includes a blurb from Kim have become close com-
marrieds who will appeal tuality are still high on their meeting people on their Kardashian West (Wilker- panions.
to today’s millennials. The (the audience’s) list.” own ground. The Wilkersons son’s optimism and “pas- A number of shows are
twist: the couple featured Rich Wilkerson, who started say it’s their relationship sion for the Word of God based on families for
in Oxygen’s “Rich in Faith” with his parents’ ministry in with God and parishioners are contagious,” she said). whom religion is a visible
are pastors, not pop stars. Miami, brings a celebrity that’s important, not TV ce- “Our idea was to do some- part of their lives, including
The reality show features connection to the series: lebrity or its trappings. thing that’s encouraging, UP’s “Bringing Up Bates,” in
Rich Wilkerson Jr. and his He married Kanye West “So often it’s really easy, es- that’s positive out there. its third season. Others fo-
wife DawnChere, both 31 and Kim Kardashian. pecially for people of faith, We want to show people cus on the clergy, among
and offspring of ministers, Vous, the church the Wilk- to sit around and report you can have faith, even in them Oxygen’s “Preach-
as they launch a youth-ori- ers” franchise that started
ented Miami church and in Los Angeles and moved
grapple with balancing on to include other cit-
work and home life. ies. “Preachers of LA” was
Oxygen, which targets criticized by some African-
18-to-34-year-old female Americans ministers who
viewers, is “trying to con- said the show could foster
nect them to relatable the inaccurate idea that
characters, experiences preachers are in it for fame
and milestones of their and wealth.
lives,” said Aissa, executive Hollywood’s fascination
vice president for original with pairing reality and
programming and devel- faith has dubious roots,
opment. The Wilkersons are said Dave Johnson, a film
appealing, he said, and and TV writer-produc-
the fact that their “business er (“Against the Grain,”
happens to be religion” ‘’Doc”) and a Parents
brings an added dimen- Television Council advisory
sion. board member.q
Kelly Rowland looks to create girl group on new BET series
Recording artist Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child, poses for a portrait in Atlanta. Rowland Beyoncé and Rowland’s But Rowland believes
is recording a solo album and filming a documentary series called “Chasing Destiny,” which pre- creative director — audi- there’s room for more.
mieres on BET in April. tioning talent in hopes of “When Destiny’s Child was
finding the next superstar around I remember there
(AP Photo/John Bazemore) girl group. was Xscape, there was
“I don’t care where they SWV, there was En Vogue,
J. LANDRUM Jr. one anytime soon. premieres on BET in April. are, where they live, where there was the Cheetah
Associated Press These days, Rowland is fo- She completed a three-city they’re from, their back- Girls,” she said.
ATLANTA (AP) — If fans are cused on recording solo quest in New York, Atlanta ground — I just want to “There were all these dif-
anticipating a Destiny’s music and filming a doc- and Los Angeles with vet- make sure that I have girls ferent types of groups, and
Child reunion album, Kelly umentary series called eran choreographer Frank in the group who are not these different types of girls
Rowland says don’t expect “Chasing Destiny,” which Gatson — who serves as afraid to work, who are ex- groups, and there’s just
cited about a great oppor- one (now) — you’re kid-
tunity, who have goals and ding me? Like, get out of
think, and breathe, and here. It should definitely be
sleep music,” Rowland said more.”
in an interview last week. Rowland said she and Gat-
The Grammy winner said son aren’t sure how many
she wants to create a girl girls will be selected for the
group for this generation of group. Gatson said he al-
music fans. The pop charts ready held two secret au-
currently include Fifth Har- dition sessions in New Or-
mony, who had a major leans and New York with-
hit this year with “Worth It,” out Rowland, in hopes of
and British group Little Mix, finding more candidates.
who won “The X Factor” More than 70 prospects au-
in 2011 and released their ditioned for them in each
third album last month. city. q
