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By
LESLIE ATWATERS
Since the advent of the
reality show format, any celebrity, large or
small, has been a candidate for his or her show.
Of course, the more dysfunctional or downright
weird the celebrity's lifestyle is, the more
interesting the reality show seems to be. How else
to explain shows based on the life of Hulk Hogan,
the Osbournes, the late Anne Nicole Smith, etc.
Run's House, which started its run on MTV in 2005
follows Joey "Reverend Run" Simmons, formerly of
the rap group Run DMC. He is now a minister, and
an entrepreneur, and has a large and seemingly
well-adjusted brood. His wife, Justine, is a
devoted mother, his oldest daughter Vanessa, is a
fashion model and aspiring actress, younger Angela
was an honor-roll high school senior dreaming of
becoming a fashion designer, oldest son JoJo wants
to follow in his father's footsteps and become a
rapper. Diggy wants to be a basketball player, and
the youngest, Russell Jr., is apparently still
trying to decide.
Seasons 1 & 2 are now on DVD, and compared to
other families, Simmons' seems almost
excruciatingly normal. The minister can be strict,
but he's also loving. He rewards good behavior and
good grades, as any average dad would do. The only
weirdness is that these people have way too much
money -- getting your kid a present for doing well
in school one thing, but a Mercedes?
Especially from a reverend who's supposed to be
spiritual and all that? And here's the other
thing: anyone who's been following the news is
bound to be a little disturbed by what happened
recently, which has been filmed and will be
on MTV in the series next season: When the series
ended Run and his wife were expecting a baby, and
two days after MTV started filming the third
season, the baby girl was born with all of her
internal organs on the outside. She didn't make
it. What's really weird here is that the Simmons
knew of the problem, but believed God was going to
grand them a miracle. Justine didn't even tell the
medical staff that was helping her deliver. They
filmed the whole thing. Such behavior is grossly
irresponsible. Even more so than giving your teen
an expensive car. The incident puts season 1 & 2
in an entirely different light.
The DVD contains all 16 episodes on 3 discs, plus
interviews, extended scenes, music videos and room
tours -- room tours? Has the reverend read
his Bible recently? The part about the poor and
the rich, etc.? Sheesh! |
