Category Archives: Mary Mary

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Tongues, Tears & Tina: Mary Mary Season 4 Finale Recap…

marymary

Hello World,

It’s time for your weekly recap of the Mary Mary reality show, but I’m sad to say that as of tonight, this will be my last recap as this episode was the FINALE of Season 4…And what a finale it was y’all…Last week was all about Erica and her 1,2,3, 4 Dove Award nominations (see last week’s recap for the explanation of 1,2,3,4 instead of four or 4) and ended with Tina basically ignoring all of Erica’s accolades and asking her sister to sing background on HER solo project…

Erica’s Awards…

Well, if 1,2,3,4 Dove Award nominations wasn’t enough (she won one of the 1,2,3,4), this week’s episode begins with Erica finding out she is also up for a two Grammy Awards!!! I’ve got to admit that securing 1,2,3,4 Dove Award nominations and two Grammy Award nominations for a debut album is awesome!!! But before we find out if she won anything, we discover that Tina has to take care of some business…

Snitching On Mitch…

Now that Tina’s sisters have snitched on Mitch about his shenanigans at Tina’s wedding, she confronts Mitch during a lunch meeting at a restaurant…Mitch doesn’t lie about nor downplay his actions…”It was not one of my prouder moments,” he explains. He admits that he “spun around and lost it like a crazy man.” Tina shares that she, too, used to be controlled by her emotions, but she finally learned that doing the same things and expecting different results is the ultimate in crazy…Those are some of the wisest words ever said…Please believe them…We don’t get to see the end of the conversation so there is no telling what else transpired…Will Mitch manage Tina’s solo career? From the snippet we saw from the lunch meeting, I could not make any conclusions…

Grammy Awards…

At first Erica tries to be just happy that she was even nominated but a short while later, she starts begging Jesus again to win an award…And she does! She wins Best Gospel Album for her album “Help.” “To have your music acknowledged this way is priceless,” Erica says…

One-Woman Show…

Teddy and Tina discuss what Tina is going to do next in her solo career. Tina explains her vision to her husband….”I don’t want to do a regular concert. I don’t want it to be all about music or storytelling.” She proposes an “Evening With Tina Campbell” to be held at their church In His Presence Church (pretty name) in Woodland Hills, California. “It will be the most ‘truest,’ honest version of me the world is going to get.”

But as we found out in last’s week episode’s Tina’s vision for her one-woman show includes her sister’s background vocals. So Tina goes over to sister’s house to convince her sister to sing for the show…When she shows up at Erica’s house, she finds Erica in the kitchen shining her Grammy Award…Tina shares her joy, at least initially. When she found out that her sister won a Grammy, Tina says she “screamed for five minutes straight.” After she congratulates her sister again, Tina tells her sister about her one-woman show idea which will incorporate her music as well as excerpts of her book.

However, Erica, especially now that she is a Dove Award and Grammy Award -winning solo artist, says that her schedule is full and doesn’t know if she can fit in her sister’s show. She concludes by saying that she will do the best she can to make time to be her sister’s background singer…Tina may be a less fiery version of her former self, but she aine trying to keep her feelings to herself. ” Why don’t you stop the spit-shining and come sing?” Tina says to Erica.

Meanwhile at My Block…

So Warryn is feeling pretty good about his award-winning wife until he gets a call from Sony….He has been summoned to meet at its location but the reason for the meeting is not revealed…He concludes that it can’t be good. “Why does this feel like I’m going to principal’s office?” Warryn says…

However, in the next scene, we see that some potentially bad news is tempered by some good news…He calls his wife to tell her what’s going on…He briefly tells her about the Sony call, but then he shares the good news…Erica has been asked to perform at Lakewood Church….”They want you for the whole weekend,” Warryn says…It is the SAME DAY as Tina’s one-woman show…Sister or not, she decides this is too good of an opportunity to let slip by…

In the next scene Erica is at My Block studios with her husband…I’m no fashionista by anyone’s definition, but the first thing I notice is an old school Gucci purse…The one with black “G”s and the red stripe down the middle…Also, Erica is wearing black cat-eye framed glasses and has a top knot…The whole look is fabulous…While she is at the studio, she won’t be there for long as she prepares to leave to fly to Texas…Tina and more of the Atkins’ sisters are expected to arrive at the studio shortly, but Erica asks her husband to explain what had happened was…

All My Sisters Except Me…

But before she gets away without having to explain to Tina face to face, she runs into her sisters in the parking lot…Erica has to explain about her performance at Lakewood and the fact that she is getting ready to fly out of town…Tina tries to convince her sister to stay…”I aine asking you to cancel. I’m asking you to delay.” But when Erica is not convinced to stay or delay, Tina raises her hand in the air and states, “Daddy, this is the kind of child you raised.” Deep. Now, that’s a guilt trip to from Heaven to hell… “Me and the rest of my sisters gon get the job done,” Tina concludes. Erica is a little upset too. “I’ve got 172 sisters and ain’t none of them can be on my side?”

Showdown at Sony…

The student aka Warryn arrives at the Principal’s Office aka Sony…And just as Warryn thought, it’s not good. The last Mary Mary album came out in 2012 and Sony wants another one…yesterday…Warryn tries to explain how the sisters are pursing solo projects, but Sony is not having it…In fact, he is told that if there is no Mary Mary album, then Tina can forget about a solo album….”I spent weeks breaking them up and now I’ve got to get them back together again,” Warryn says….

tina teddyFrom Test to Testimony…

It’s the day of Tina’s one-woman show “An Evening With Tina Campbell,” and Tina is coughing in spasms it seems…”I’m losing my voice of the worst possible time,” Tina shares…She prays…”God, you’ve got to heal me tonight because I need my voice tonight.” But it’s not just Tina’s voice that is wavering…Her faith is wavering…She feels emotionally drained…She doesn’t want to be a hypocrite…She is unsure about her songs because they are a departure from her Mary Mary music…She alternates between crying and praying…

She finally begins speaking in tongues…Even though she feels she may look weird, she explains, “When you are struggling in your faith, you pray in your Heavenly language.” Teddy also tries to comfort his wife…”God responds to faith,” he declares. “Look what you birthed out of being in pain.” As all of this was happening, I thought of two things…Maybe God was allowing Tina to go through all of those emotions so she could sing out of a place of total reliance on God and that was what she was supposed to be ministering about in the first place…The second thought I had came a result of Teddy’s statement about birth…Maybe was what was going on backstage was like the labor process because she was about to literally share new life…

Babeee, in spite of Tina’s nerves, her hoarseness, lack of faith, etc., her voice combined with her testimony of feeling schizophrenic and homicidal and turning to the Bible for comfort ministered to the audience…Teddy says, “She’s shining and I can’t believe she’s mine.” Sweet…Shoot, he has more of a testimony that Tina in my opinion…The two of them even performed together….

Tina is euphoric after her performance and thanks her sister who called to encourage her. “Thank you for pushing me out,” Tina says to Erica…More pregnancy imagery…Erica’s performance at Lakewood, by the way, seemed to go well from the little bit of the performance that was included in the episode…

Mitch, however, was there to see Tina’s performance…”Maybe the fact that I’m here and Erica is not speaks volumes.” I don’t know how good of a manager he is, but Mitch always comes through with the drama…

Sony or Solo?

Although Erica & Tina were high after their respective solo performances, a crash had to come…Warryn meets with his wife and sister-in-law aka Mary Mary to tell them about Sony’s ultimatum….But neither one of them bows down to Sony’s demands…Warryn finally realizes that his original plan worked too well…”Dear Jesus, I’ve created a two-headed solo monster.” And he can’t be mad about it because he did it…

So that concludes Season 4…No Mary Mary album on the horizon, but there is more solo praynews to share…Yesterday, on the National Day of Prayer, Tina released her new book I Need A Day To Pray and her album “It’s Personal.” Another “Evening With Tina Campbell” will be held at her church In His Presence in California on May 30. Go to eventbrite.com for ticket information.

In addition, according to Billboard Magazine, Erica has started a 20-city national tour entitled “Help 2.0,” which is the name of her latest album…She has also created “More Than Pretty,” which is a “female empowerment movement” that will begin at Los Angeles’ Faithful Central Bible Church on May 23.

So there you have it…For now, at least Mary Mary is now Erica & Tina…

Any thoughts?

 

 

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Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell Appears On Exhale’s First Show of the Season Tonight!!!

exhale

Hello World,

ASPiRE, the network that provides a different reality for African-American viewers, announces the season three premiere of its hit weekly talk series, “exhale” (@exhaleTV).  Hosted by five dynamic, diverse and successful African-American women, “exhale’s” new eight-episode season will bring viewers honest, candid and entertaining discussion on a wide range of topics affecting African-American women.  Season three will premiere on TONIGHT at 9:00 p.m. EDT only on ASPiRE.

“exhale” is co-hosted by journalist and media maven Angela Burt-Murray; comedian Erin Jackson; director, writer and actress Issa Rae; blogger, author and TV anchor Rene Syler; and actress Malinda Williams.  “The ladies of ‘exhale’ are back!,” said ASPiRE General Manager Paul Butler.  “Our viewers are going to love the way ‘exhale’ delivers the perfect blend of real talk on important topics, along with real laughs and emotion.”

In the all-new episodes a wide range of topics affecting African-American women – including friendships, stereotypes, domestic conflict, secrets and entrepreneurs – will be examined.   Each episode will feature intriguing range of special guests, from celebrities and authors to religious leaders and other experts.  ASPiRE and the hosts further connect, engage and continue dynamic, nimble dialogue with the audience through social media.  For more information, please go to www.aspire.tv/exhale, Twitter on @ExhaleTV, and Facebook at facebook.com/ExhaleTV.

The first four weekly episodes include:

 

FRIENDSHIPS – Season Premiere – Airs Wednesday, May 6, 9 p.m. EDT

Whether you’re besties, frienemies or a work spouse, all friendships can become quite complicated!  The ladies of “exhale,” along with guests, discuss the importance of friendships between siblings and spouses, reveal the secret to maintaining long-lasting friendships, and answer the age old question – can men and women really be just friends?

GUESTS:

·        Erica Campbell, Gospel Singer and Reality TV Star (@ImEricaCampbell)

·        Johnny Gill, R&B Singer and Songwriter (@RealJohnnyGill)

·        Hasani Pettiford, Speaker, Author and Relationship Expert (@hasanipettiford)

·        Eve Marie Ford, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

 

STEREOTYPES – Airs Wednesday, May 13, 9 p.m. EDT

From colorism, to reality TV, to racial profiling, the ladies of “exhale” and guests tackle the controversial topic of stereotypes.  Together, they’ll breakdown the misconceptions, half-truths, and the consequences of “judging a book by its cover.”

GUESTS:

·        Justin Simien, Writer and Director of the film Dear White People (@JSim07)

·        Bill Duke, Actor, Writer, Producer and Director of the documentaries Dark Girls and Light Girls (@RealBillDuke)

·        Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Author, Co-Founder and CEO of the Women In Entertainment Empowerment Network and former Obama Administration Staffer (@valeisha)

·        Marlo Hampton, Former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Co-Star, Stylist and Charity Organizer (@iheartMarlo)

·        Dr. Lisa Williams, Educator, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur and the Creator of the “Positively Perfect” Doll Line (@PositivePerfect) 

SECRETS – Airs Wednesday, May 20, 9 p.m. EDT

In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” and guests are going to reveal the truth about Secrets.  From family secrets to infidelity to gossip, are there some secrets that should be left unsaid? And how can keeping secrets actually affect your physical and mental health?

GUESTS:

·        Judge Mablean Ephraim, Attorney, Author, Speaker and Host of “Justice With Judge Mablean” (@JudgeMablean)

·        Lacey Schwartz, CEO and President of the Non-Profit, Truth Aid, and Producer/Director/Filmmaker of the Documentary Little White Lie (@laceyschwartz)

·        Deya Smith, Producer for the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” Author and Life Coach

·        Denise Boutte, Actress (@DeniseBoutte)

·        Dr. Dion Short Metzger, Adult Psychiatrist (@dionmetzgermd)

ENTREPRENEURS – Airs Wednesday, May 27, 9 p.m. EDT

From startups, to franchises, to everything in between, owning your own business is part of the American Dream. But do we actually have what it takes to make it?  In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” get valuable insight on the risks and rewards of becoming an entrepreneur, as they learn the secrets to success from their experienced and successful guests.

GUESTS:

·        Pat Neely, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Author and Celebrity Chef (@PatNeelyBBQKing)

·        Melinda Emerson, Small Business Expert, Author, Speaker and Founder & President of the Quintessence Group (@SmallBizLady)

·        Frank Rice, Former NFL Player and Franchisee (@Iamfreshfrank)

·        Kiya Tomlin, Designer and Founder of Uptown Sweats (@KiyaTomlin)

Follow our hosts at:

·        http://exhale.aspire.tv/

·        Angela Burt-Murray on Twitter @AngelaCocoaFab, and on her websites cocoafab.com and cocoafab-tv.

·        Erin Jackson on Twitter @EJthecomic, and on her website erinjackson.net.

·        Issa Rae on Twitter @IssaRae, and on her website awkwardblackgirl.com.

·        Rene Syler on Twitter @goodenufmother, and on her website goodenoughmother.com.

·        Malinda Williams on Twitter @MalinsWorld, and on her website malindawilliams.com.

Any thoughts?

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Erica’s Got the Big Head : Mary Mary Season 4, Episode 9 Recap…

marymary

Hello World,

So y’all this show was mostly about Erica and her 1,2,3,4 Dove Award nominations…and that is where is this episode of Mary Mary’s reality show begins…As Erica is cleaning up the backyard of her L.A. home, she gets a call from Warryn whom she addresses as “Husband.” After she answers the call, he asks if she is sitting down. Once she tells him that she has sat down, he gives her the good news that she has been nominated for 1,2,3,4 Dove Awards!!!…The reason why I’m writing 1,2,3,4 instead of four is because Erica makes a point of making sure it is known throughout the entire episode that she has been nominated for four separate categories…In other words, don’t get it twisted and think she has only been nominated for one or two or even three, it’s four…Okay, so back to what had happened…She screams and says, “This is so huge for my solo career.”

SIDEBAR: Even though I’ve been writing about this solo career saga for a few weeks now, I still don’t completely get why it’s so important for Erica and by default Tina to pursue solo careers…Even when they perform together, they still have the opportunity to shine separately so what is that much different when you’re performing as a solo artist except for being on the stage alone? I’m not a singer so maybe I cannot understand…

Okay, so back to what had happened again…Erica and Warryn congratulate one another for being a good team. “What had God has put together, let no man put asunder,” Warryn concludes. Amen.

Tina & Teddy

While Warryn & Erica are congratulating themselves on getting Erica’s solo career off to a strong start, Tina is still coming up with song ideas and discusses them with her husband Teddy…Just before she starts to explain what she is thinking, Teddy lets out a huge burp…What is it about men that make them think that loud body noises are okay? But I digress…After getting on Teddy about his loud burping, she tells him her idea to have the Atkins sisters sing background…Does she really think Erica will allow her to pull a Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child move? Teddy doesn’t think so and reminds her about her sister’s very busy schedule. He says Tina needs to be “realistic.” “Forget realistic, she’s going to have to find some time,” Tina declares.

Goo Goo

Mary Mary’s stylist and sister Goo Goo also known as Goo has opened up a showroom for her clothing and Erica, who has been nominated for 1,2,3,4 Dove Awards, stops by to check it all out and try on some clothing for the Dove Awards to be held in Nashville. Erica tries on a fitted red dress that doesn’t hide a single curve. Goo says that her clothing choices for Erica in Mary Mary are different than her clothing choices for Erica the solo artist. “As a solo artist, [she] is really wild.” Ironically, while Goo is helping Erica get her solo artist gear together, she gets a call from Donald Lawrence to help style another gospel sister duo – Tobbi  & Tommi. They will be having a photo shoot in Nashville, and as Goo will be in Nashville with Erica, the scheduling works out perfectly…a little too perfectly, but even “reality” television programming has to have some type of planning involved…

Nashville

Sound Check

Erica has arrived in Nashville and is hype because she will be performing her song “Help” Lecraewith Lecrae at the Dove Awards…Sidebar: About a year ago, I was on a Delta flight from Dallas to Atlanta with Lecrae and his family. Although I had met him before at a movie premiere, I decided to talk to him since it was everyday life, and I was curious about how he would act. He was very nice so it was all good. Obviously, he travels a lot because all of the flight attendants seemed to know him and were joking around with him…So back to the recap. However, although she is performing, Erica is not allowed to go through the whole song in the sound check and feels disrespected as a result. But she is happy to find out that although Tina is not performing nor nominated for 1,2, 3 or 4 Dove Awards, she also shows up in Nashville anyway. “If she’s not singing, she’s not coming,” Erica says about her sister’s normal behavior. But then Tina explains that she is there because she has been asked to present one of the awards for which Erica is nominated. Erica takes that as a sign from God that she is going to win that award, but Tina puts in a pin in Erica’s ballooning head. “You sure are extra these days!” Tina says…

Sidebar: When it comes to “signs” and “wonders,” I have discovered that God sometimes uses them to give me a preview about what He is going to do, but sometimes what I think are “signs and wonders” don’t mean anything after all…Because He is God, I will never be able to figure Him out…Just thought I would share that revelation in my life :).

So later at a luncheon, Erica mentions the sound check again and how she felt disrespected to some people there…Even Warryn thinks she is doing too much…”We don’t need an Aretha Franklin,” he says…(Please Ms. Franklin, don’t come for me…)

ttMitch

So Mitch is in another episode…As I’m watching this unfold, I feel like I have to suspend my disbelief again….No matter how it is presented, it’s hard to believe that Mitch would be allowed to be involved with Mary Mary, Erica and Tina in any capacity after what happened last season but since he is on the show, I have to report it so here it goes…Mitch is also in Nashville and meets with Donald Lawrence, who is the one that introduced him to Mary Mary in the first place according to this episode. Donald tells Mitch that Goo is styling Tobbi  & Tommi at a photo shoot at this very moment per his request…Mitch, who has no confidence in Goo’s styling skills, offers to stop by and see what’s going on…in other words, start some mess…

Pre-Dove Awards

It’s an hour before the pre-show and Goo has not arrived with Erica’s hair, makeup nor clothes. Erica is obviously in her feelings and feeling herself as she says about her sister Goo. “I will fire you like I fired Mitch.”

Speaking of Mitch

Mitch has arrived at the photo shoot, and Goo says, “It smells like something is old and dead in here.” Mitch checks out Goo’s style choices and criticizes her for dressing one of the women in horizontal lines as neither of them are petite women…And I have to agree…Horizontal lines aren’t flattering for every size and shape. No shade. Just truth. He says one piece that Goo chose looks like curtains. He finally calls Donald Lawrence, declaring a “fashion emergency.” I wouldn’t take it that far but hey drama must be created…Ultimately, Donald doesn’t buy into Mitch’s hysterics and the photo shoot proceeds as planned…

Goo, Erica, Mitch & Tina

Now that the “fashion emergency” is over, Goo is free to do what she originally came to Nashville to do: style Erica…Erica puts on the red dress and a wig that reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s signature platinum bouffant bob. Very glamorous. And since Mitch has ceased meddling for the moment, he is also free. He ends up running into Erica before the awards show and apologizes for what happened at the wedding. He even says, “I hope you have a great night.” But Erica is not buying his “fake apologies” and says “when a person shows you who they are, believe them.” That is the gospel truth today, now and forever…In fact, Goo and Erica finally decide to tell Tina about Mitch’s shenanigans at her wedding and say that her new forgiving demeanor is going to cause her to be taken advantage of by Mitch. But Tina ain’t no dummy. “Don’t take my transformation for naiveté.”

Erica’s 1,2, 3, 4, Dove Awards Nominations

After all of that, the time has finally arrived to find out if Erica will win the awards for which she was nominated. One award goes by without Erica winning, and then another and even the one that Tina is presents is not awarded to Erica…Finally, Erica says, “C’mon Jesus, can I just have one?” The Lord answers Erica’s prayer and she wins the Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Song of the Year for her song “A Little More Jesus.”

And you know what Erica says after her sister wins the award? “I couldn’t be happier for her, but what about these background vocals?” She’s wrong for that, but it’s a perfect statement to set up the drama for next week’s episode – THE SEASON FINALE…

Any thoughts?