A year ago, a fiery clip of Kiely Williams and Farrah Franklin, formerly of 3LW and Destiny’s Child respectively, surfaced and went all the way viral.
It was lifted from the pilot of a reality show that sought to create a supergroup comprised of ex-girl group members.
There were ample calls from various corners of the net for the show to hit the airwaves.
Well, a year on, the format has been revived and is making its way to BET.
Full story below…
Created by reality royal Carlos King (whose credits include the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ ‘Hollywood Divas,’ and ‘Belle Collective’), the show is officially titled ‘BET Presents The Encore.’
Set for a June 9 premiere, the 10-episode season will unite eight names from notable 90s and 00s groups, as well as as a soloist.
The collective is given 30 days to record an album at a home studio, hone their vocals, and learn intricate choreography.
Wondering who is in the mix?
The talent confirmed are:
Aubrey O’Day (Danity Kane)
Kiely Williams (3LW)
Shamari DeVoe (Blaque)
Pamela Long (Total)
Irish & LeMisha Grinstead (702)
Fallon & Felisha King (Cherish)
Nivea (Soloist)
King, who has been developing the show for over 7 years, said in a statement:
“I felt that girl groups never got its just do … and I, as a content creator, wanted to … educate the masses on who I feel are the forgotten sisters of music. I wanted to pay homage to that industry and really give these women an opportunity to share their stories and their struggles.”
He continued:
“I’m super proud of this show. It’s a love letter to girl groups. It’s a love letter to this genre that I feel like has always been super underrepresented, and I truly hope with the success of this show … it reignites the record labels to invest more in girl groups. I definitely think there’s an appetite for that.”
Tiffany Lea Williams, BET’s executive vice president of unscripted programming and development added:
“Fueled with passion and drive, the leading ladies of ‘BET Presents The Encore’ prove that lightning can absolutely strike twice, and we can’t wait to share the next phase of their journey with our viewers. This series will bring fans behind the scenes in the music-making process, reconnect them with some of their favorite chart-topping singers and deliver unforgettable stories from celebrities they love.“
Now, this is OUR type of TV.
Friends, you already know what we’ll be doing come June 9!
Peep the clip that started it all: