Fresh off the success of America's Next Top Model and the failure of The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott, this week saw the launch of UPN's latest effort in the talent scouting reality genre with R U the Girl with T-Boz and Chilli. However, don't let the incorrectly spelled title of the show, the premise of the show in general, or the fact that it's airing on mini-network UPN scare you away... because the truth is, this little show has attitude and a little bit of charm as well.
Back in 2002, one of pop and R&B music's best-selling girl-group tragically lost the L of TLC. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident while spending time in Honduras, not only leaving thousands of fans all over the world in mourning, but also leaving band mates Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas without the third member of their Grammy-winning trio, who were perhaps best known for their singles "Creep," "Waterfalls," and "No Scrubs." After the passing of Left Eye, T-Boz and Chilli returned to the studio and finished up producing the final full-length album to feature all three women (Left Eye had recorded vocals for six of the tracks prior to the accident) which was titled 3D, and it was eventually announced that Left Eye would not be replaced in the group and TLC would disband after the initial release and promotion of the album. However, during promotion for 3D, T-Boz and Chilli performed at a concert in the summer of 2003 hosted by New York-based radio station Z100 which featured video footage of Left Eye singing the same songs the surviving two members were performing live. Fan reaction to the performance was strong and was eventually the deciding factor in T-Boz and Chilli deciding not to let go of TLC just yet after all.
This has lead to the surviving two members to develop and produce R U the Girl, UPN's nation-wide search for a talented "triple threat" girl who can sing, dance and rap. Though the show — which seems to be particularly similar to another reality show titled Rock Star: INXS, in which the members of that band are looking for a replacement of their deceased frontman — may make it seem as though T-Boz and Chilli are going back on their decision not to replace Left Eye, both girls have stated in the show and the press that a "replacement" isn't what they're looking for with this series. They're simply looking for a third girl to bring in as an extra vocal on a new TLC single that will be placed on their forthcoming greatest hits package, as well as the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform with T-Boz and Chilli live in concert. The series at first feels like another lame attempt for UPN to try and reel in new viewers with the help of established celebrities, but after sitting through the show's premiere episode, you actually get a bit of a different feel.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - taylor hayes
Hi, Iam a biggest fan of tlc and I noticed that they were sad about lefteye but I know she can never be replaced so keep her close in their hearts forever. lisa lefteye lopes may she rest in peace love taylor hayes
2 - ANA
I LOVE TLC THEY ARE THE BEST GROUP SINGERS EVER I AM THERE NUMBER ONE FAN.
I LOVE THERE SONG WATERFALLS.I ALWAYS WATCH THE SHOW R U THE GIRL.I DONT THINK ANY OF THOSE GIRLS CAN EVER REPLACE LISA /LEFTEYE.SHE IS AN ANGEL WHO WAS SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN SO PEOPLE CAN HERE HER BEUTIFUL VOICE.
LISA/LEFTEYE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
SHE WAS TIGHT.
R.I.P LISA/LEFTEYE
TLC FOREVER
THE L IN TLC IS GONE BUT HER SPIRIT LIVES ON.
I LOVE YOU T-BOZ &CHILLI
3 - michelle martin
hey this is michelle martin it my goal join with u tlc bec i am the deaf i can use sing langauage to song too i do real love u tlc all my heart i like ur way to dance !!!!
4 - Veronica
I love TLC you couldnt even tell they erent related the way they caried themselfs. I know is really hard breaking to lose someone you love not only as a friend,but a sister. I think they are very strong peolpe the way they deal with out the presence of lisa. deep inside they know sheis always with them. thank god they not replacing her because the fans would be upset. I just wanne tell them to keep holding on they will have better days and just remember lise just want them to be happy. GOD BLESS THEM
5 - amber mckithen
I just want 2 say that chlli n t-boz r just wonderfulllllll people they just look like cool peoples 2 hang wit I would love 2 meet them they seem so outgoing by watching the show they just seem like people that u can b yourself arround n its verry hard 2 find stars dat are like that n dats y I love them
Love u t-boz n chlli
RIP left eye
6 - shane
t-boz and chilli wuz craccin im yall # 1 fan i b watchin yall show r u the girl yall ma girl i luv yall a lot and i b watchin yall video i miss left eye a.k.a lisa i was cryin like crazy when i heard wut happen tha same ting happened 2 me i was in tha hospital for 12 weeks R.I.P left eye we'll never 4get u T-boz and Chilli keep up tha good work im sure left eye is prod of u well i gotta go talk 2 u later
7 - KRYSTAL
MAN I LOVE TLC THEY ARE THE BEST FUCK A DESTINY'S CHILD IT ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TLC U KNOW
8 - KRYSTAL HOLLINS
MAN I LOVE TLC THEY ARE ARE THE BEST FUCK A DESTINY'S CHILD IT ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TLC U KNOW
9 - gmiller
I just want to say I was move to tears when Meah was dropped. I truly feel you all just did not understand her. She was a very attractive girl and like most attractive girls there comes people trying to pick out you personality after awhile you get use to it and try to stay strong. She was the best singer and if you felt so strongly about her not fitting you should of never brought her there, or eliminated her early on. I think one of you were jealous of her and I am not talking about Chili. I saw her on the verge of tears at every elimination, that does not show me a girl that was too confident about winning. There was only one girl like that and they know who it was.
10 - Jackie
Tlc you are the best Are you still doing the same show I hope because ilike it.I miss Left eye.Are you DEstiny child friends because i like them too also Jlo Alicia Keys ciarra. You all going to be in my heart
11 - shae
I absolutely enjoyed the show ,the last three episodes I honestly thought that Oh So Crispie would win and that she truly deserved to win !The show was great !I wish the group much sucess.
12 - akapearl
O, So VERY WRONG. Her voice, her look, her everything makes me not want to listen to TLC ever again. I didn't even make it through the song I Bet
13 - KIM HANDY
HI
I ENJOYED WATCHING THE SHOW. I ENJOYED THE FRIENDSHIP THE TWO LADIES HAVE WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT REMIND ME OF MY BEST FRIEND THAT I HAVE HAD FOR OVER 40 YRS. WE HAVE OUR OWN LANGUAGE TOO. YOUR CHOICE WITH O SO KRISPIE WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT. I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO WIN, SHE FIT WITH YOU LADIES. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE SINGING WITH O SO KRISPIE TO MANY MORE SONGS. LOVE YOU
14 - taylorlife
I must say I was O'so disappointed. o so krispie is very talented but I did not see her fitting in. She looked liked one of the background dancers. But to end on a positive note. It was TLC's decision and I will continue to support TLC. Thank you TLC for sharing your world with us.
15 - cici
hey wussup ya i knew that O So Crispie was going to wi from the jump she was basically at the end the only won who could sing, dance, and rap, to me she is what they need even though she's young she will around for a long time after them. That girl is gifted, she is the s@#$.
16 - moex
Reading the comments proves that there's never a way to please everyone. I really enjoyed the RU the Girl show. Lisa "Left Eye" was an original and unique person and no one can replace her, but if you are a true fan of the group, why wouldn't you want them to continue forward making new music with someone like O'so Krispie, who has so much talent and energy. I hope that they keep her, she brings fresh air, life and level of new energy to the group.
17 - Khoshay
hi,
my name is khoshay
and i think the show was great. This was a great way for the world to see t-boz and chilli in a different light. I think that they should do another season. I don't think that they have any intentions on replacing left-eye this is just a great chance for people to get their chance to shine. It's not everyday that you get to meet someone you truly admire or more so get to know them and get a chance to do what they do which you admire so much.The show is a Hit.....
18 - Shi
I do agree about o/so..i do think she is talented but a little quirky just like left-eye was & they didnt want someone who was too much like her. But, I guess they know what's best for TLC & it happened to be O'SO..I still wish them the best of luck:-)
19 - nel
i think they made a good choice but it would had been better if they could have kept them all. Ilove that new hit i bet. Love yall
20 - Lilly
I love 'O so Crispie!!! She is a beautiful and talented young woman. Who would know the best for T.L.C. other than Tboz and Chilli?? Noone. Their choice was for the best and it was a perfect choice. The best of luck for their new future together as a trio! I support you all the way!
Lilly L.
Salt Lake City, Utah
21 - bagalocks75
so i was watching that show "CHEATERS" the other night, and that girl CRYSTAL DAY from dallas texas was on there showing her ass! crystal was on ru the girl, but she didn't make it. it was reallt funny to see her on there because i watched her on ru the girl, and she seemed really quiet and nice. on this "cheaters" t.v. show her boyfriend nick was cheating on her..there was a small girl fight! very funny! EVERYONE CHECK IT OUT!
P.S crystal should have used that "showgirl kick" move when she was fighting on "cheaters"...hehe
22 - Bob A. Booey
Did anyone ever see the "Cheaters" episode where that crazy white trash redneck on the boat stabbed creepy host Joey Greco in the stomach with a knife and Joey fell in the water? They ended the episode with some insincere voice-over guy with a deep, jive announcer voice thanking Joey for his "service" to the show and then had the equally creepy guy who's now the host on the hilarious "Eye for an Eye" Jerry Springer meets People's court show presided over by "Judge Extreme Akim."
Trashy reality TV is great.
They rarely have any hot chicks on "Cheaters" anymore, only fat people.
It was hilarious when there was one episode where a fat woman kept asking her cheating husband to bring home some Arby's on her cell phone calls.
That is all.
23 - brandy
I wanna say that i luv tlc and that i will never forgeyt ytal'll. I watched the showed and i am dissapointed to say that i actually believed that Mirror should have won.She could rap, sing, write,dance, do poetry and she was t-boz and chilli's age. But that's just my opinion and i do love that song i bet it's off the chain.
24 - tia
I think Mirror should of won to and i believe that O so burnt should slow it down because her moves are a little off. But i guess i can deal with you bein apart of tlc now.....NOOOTTTTTTTTTTT
25 - cabrina
I Love T-boz n Chlli n Lefteye Rip.I Love.ALL of you I Love your new group. BUT its not the some with out Lefteye.BUT no one can REpleace her. I Will never 4 get her.or you or chlli please write me back.Love Cabrina n my 3yearold son J'aquan.