When Atlanta-based television network TBS approached Cee Lo Green to do a reality show, Green said that he had some reservations.
“I really didn’t think it was for me,” Green noted during the series’ sneak preview screening and panel discussion at SCAD’s aTVfest 2014. However, Green saw an opportunity to branch out into new entertainment possibilities with long-time friends and music partners Big Gipp, T-Mo and Khujo. Together, the foursome make up one of Atlanta’s local favorites, Goodie Mob. “I saw an opportunity to tell the story of our reunion and showcase our relationship,” he said. The whole project began with a simple gesture.
“We were waiting for a chance to get back in the studio together,” Big Gipp (Cameron Gipp) explained. “We’d seen our brother (Green) out doing such wonderful things in the world of music. It only took a phone call to get us back together to try some new things.” The real star of the show is the group’s friendship.
“It feels good to be busy with my brothers,” said T-Mo (Robert Barnett). “Being in front of the camera is natural. Nothing is scripted. This is the authentic side of our pursuits as entertainers and it just feels so good to be doing things again with my brothers.”
For executive producers, Andrew Jameson and Eli Frankel, the show, which is described as a cross between “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and a reality show, came together organically. “We were able to achieve a certain tone and comedic style because everything you’ll see is rooted in true incidents,” said Frankel. “Goodie Mob is so honest and comfortable with each other which is unlike the kind of things normally seen with other celebrities.”
Frankel went on to describe the process for creating each show. “We start with a consult with the group. We ask what’s going on in their lives and then we work with them to pick ideas that will be the most interesting to follow. And any time you ask Cee Lo or Goodie Mob about ideas, they always give us like ten.” The television series will highlight the group’s adventures as they explore ways in which they can provide better entertainment for their fans. Some of those episodes will include the group’s forays into their own animated series, Green’s performance residency in Las Vegas and a lesson on the true personality of tigers.
“My favorite episode is when we got to drive Lamborghinis down the Strip,” said Khujo (Willie Edward Knighton, Jr). “That was fun. You know, any young person who watches television dreams of having his own show, so this whole experience has been like a dream come true.”
According to the group members, doing the reality show is just a natural extension of flexing their creative muscles. They’ve always strived to be original since they first formed their group in 1991 and released their first single “Cell Therapy” from their 1995 debut album “Soul Food.” Their fifth and most recent album, “Age Against the Machine,” was released in 2013 with commitment to innovation.
“Back in the day, no one had done the type of music we were planning to do,” said T-Mo. “Everything coming out of the South was ‘booty-shake’ music—not like we didn’t like it—we just wanted to do something different. We wanted to represent the Black Mecca (Atlanta). We come from the era of Dr. King and educated blacks. We wanted to let people know that we aren’t dumb rappers and we had something to say.”
“We loved each other and we loved what we aspired to, but we hated the stereotype,” Green added. “We set out to be in revolt of that.”
Goodie Mob says they plan to have the same approach to reality television. When an audience member asked if anything was withheld from cameras, Big Gipp gave the answer. “Everything you see on ‘Love & Hip-Hop.’” The aTVfest audience applauded in response.
“No fighting. No drama. None of that,” said Green. “We don’t have any of that anyway.”
“‘Cee Lo Green’s The Good Life’” is scheduled to premiere this spring on TBS.
