Posted on 04/13/2008 8:35:57 PM PDT by buccaneer81
Fresh air Sanders and wife look to break stereotypes with Oxygen reality show By Amy Amatangelo Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Deion Sanders had had enough.
The football superstar was tired of the way African-Americans were being portrayed on reality television. So he pitched a show about his life to the Oxygen network. “Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love” premieres Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. on Oxygen.
“We’re doing this really to substantiate the claim that there are many African-American families that live properly and are not necessarily argumentative and in disarray and total chaos,” Sanders said in a recent conference call with reporters.
His wife, model and actress Pilar, agreed.
“We don’t really see that many shows that really depict African-American families in a bright light or in a great manner,” she said. “Many of the shows that are on now bring much dissatisfaction to the African-American community. I think we offer a wonderful balance of conflict, but it’s never conflict that we cannot recover from. It’s never something that goes beyond the boundaries.”
The eight-episode series, which was filmed over four months last summer, follows the couple as they raise five children in Prosper, Texas (two children are from Sanders’ first marriage).
“It will really negate the stereotypes that people had of me,” Sanders said. “Just because I high-stepped and danced on the football field, people thought I partied all the time, and that wasn’t the case. You know, I’ve never drank or smoked or never been high a day in my life. I stopped using profanity my sophomore year in college. So a lot of things that people never knew about me will probably be exposed on this show. They’re seeing that I’m a homebody. I love home.”
In the premiere, the NFL Network commentator helps his oldest daughter, Deiondra, prepare for a date. In later episodes, he helps son Shilo study for a math quiz and Pilar takes the gang on a camping trip.
“The children had no problems being in front of the camera,” Pilar said. “They absolutely love it. They’re definitely made for the camera. Deion, he’s a superstar. So they’re pretty much used to being around cameras and being around people. So it wasn’t too much of a stretch for them.”
Although Sanders plans for many more seasons of “Deion and Pilar,” he’s not banking on the series opening other career possibilities.
“We’re realists. We’re not opportunists,” he said. “We’re not taking this show as an opportunity to launch into something else.”
It is a difficult case for many blacks, I would think. As Deion Sanders explains, he has a “normal”, functioning family and knows other blacks who do as well.
I know that to be true as well, but the problem is that there is a huge illegitimacy issue in the black community that points to nearly a completely eroded family structure. Last time I remember it was around 2000 and the black illegitimacy rate was nearly 70%. That is astonishingly high. I don’t know if it has improved since then.
It is easy to understand Deion’s frustration because he sees firsthand that not everyone falls into those stereotypes. But there is truth to be found in many stereotypes, and this high illegitimacy rate bears that out.
Black dads need to be in the home as positive role models...
Love the idea!
I only wish that a network other than “Oxygen” was picking it up.
What is it going to take to change the focus of network TV away from the most base musings of a 13 year old mind?
So, I’m supposed to admire the man because he’s only on his second wife?
The end of the Cosby Show almost perfectly coincided with the rise of rap thug videos, as almost a conscious rejection of the new media portrayal of blacks as just normal people.
Well, Mr. Self-Righteous, I'M on my second wife as well. Because my FIRST wife of 10 years screwed around at work and left for another man, despite my refusal to get a divorce.
And she got custody of my (at the time) 4 year old son.
You are an a**hat.
You are a complete POS.
Agreed. Cosby could have been the best thing for a large portion of the black community at the time, but as he found out, speaking the truth was politically incorrect.
There are few liberal sins more reprehensible to them than Political Incorrectness is.
Should people only ever be married to one person, no matter what?
Being married once is enough for me.
Yup. Got one on either side of me (address wise.) Two of my good friends.
I thought so, too. But I was wrong.
Now, being 44 and married twice, I can honestly say, "Never again."
Why be an @sshole dude?
yitbos
Carolyn Chambers Sanders is dead? I knew they divorced in '97, but as late as 2005, she was still writing books.
He's not Evil for still being on his first wife. I don't think he was directing his comment toward your marriage.
I was thinking the same thing, but the liberals maintain you gotta aim low with the Black community. Kinda like how Tony Dungy is Super Dad because only one of his kids committed suicide. I'm not saying it's anybody's fault stuff happens to them. It just seems when you're looking for Icons you should pick one people don't have to wonder about.
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