Like fellow demo-specific entertainment networks BET and Lifetime, TV One had found success by cutting into the ‘biopic pie,’ namely of musicians.
While BET’s New Edition mini-series and Lifetime’s Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and Aaliyah made-for-TV biographical films have led the ratings race for the past few years in the particular genre, TV One took home a relative win in 2016 with their take on the life of Grammy-nominated R&B unsung beauty Miki Howard.
Hoping for a redo of that ratings magic, TV One tapped former child star Ty Hodges to direct an unauthorized recount of the life of pop icon Whitney Houston‘s only daughter Bobbi Kristina. Titled ‘Bobbi Kristina,’ the film depicted her very public life as the child of two well-known (and troubled) celebrities – Houston and husband Bobby Brown – to her own tumultuous teenage years and untimely passing at the age of 22 in 2015.
The movie, despite being preceded by a controversial disapproval from the Houston estate as well as a lawsuit from Bobby Brown (click here to read more about that), still marched onto TV screens Sunday, October 8th at 8p/7p CST. The problem? Not many people were waiting for it there…
Viewership = 660,000
Rank = #46
–source
Without context the numbers do look troubling at first glance, but there are things to consider. First, the figures above only reflect the program’s premiere hour ratings. Over the course of the night, thanks to reruns, its overall viewership = 2.2 million.
Next, when not compared to the night’s overall list of programs (i.e. live sports and news broadcasts), the original movie came in at #3 among scripted showings in its time slot and #1 in African American households for the 8p/7p CST hour.
Arguably, while its a matter of the lens you choose to look through, when undoubtedly compared to the 4.5M drawn to her mother’s Lifetime original and the ratings wins of other music (or music-related) figures, ‘Bobbi Kristina’ will go down as a loss.
![Whitney Houston's 'The Concert for a New South Africa' Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Live Album Release & New Song 'Love Is' [Stream]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/whitney-concert-live-south-africa-album-2024-stream-thatgrapejuice-houston-464x260.jpg "Whitney Houston's 'The Concert for a New South Africa' Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Live Album Release & New Song 'Love Is' [Stream].")
No one was expecting this to be a hit anyways
Excellent article, I really like being here, content of extreme relevance, congratulations.
Are you one of the TGJ writers???
Probably
No surprise there
It was more than the OTR tour on HBO.
Keep that shade yourswlf queen is number 3 on the charts. But we also don’t care about charts
The dramatic performances by the actresses playing Bobbi Kristina & Whitney Houston were SUPERB. The actress portraying Whitney had her mannerisms and voice patterns down pact. The younger actress portraying Bobbi did an amazing job of capturing her aura, her vocal tone, facial expressions and image. The ladies did a fantastic job in that regard.
I was looking forward to seeing this film and turned to TV One at 8 PM only to find a rerun of a “Fatal Attraction” episode playing! I was forced to watch it online after that. Of the course the movie will flop when the Network airing it cannot even air it on schedule!!!
Lol ratings like beyonce lmao ?
You must’ve been fired by Beyoncé. You waste no time coming on posts to talk about her. Loser
This movie shouldn’t have come out, that girl deserves to RIP. Demetria McKinney should have wasted her money somewhere else advertising her album & more money should have been spend on the domestic violence time.
I actually thought that her movie was better than the one they made about her mom. I accidentally found it flipping through channels and watched it. It wasn’t the best movie I’ve ever seen but I think it was a good movie that showed a side of a child bright up by tragic circumstances with only the experience of seeing her famous parents fight and spiral into addiction.
I am so happy, I was,so busy I didn’t watch this b*******, making money off of humans grief, thedvonly trut h I ever watched, I knew to be true, was Showtime, whitneyd, Can I Just Be Me?,
This Movie was A Flop!.. If I Ever Seen A Flop!.. This Movie was unnecessary and unneeded!!.. ?♂️?