It was just a matter of time before Cyndi Lauper got a reality show. Not just because nearly everyone else has one, but because she's a character. And as we've learned from watching Ozzy Osbourne and the Osbourne family, watching characters be themselves in their real lives is pretty entertaining.
I won't say "Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual" (9 tonight, WeTV) is quite the wackadoo wonder that "The Osbournes" was, but it's just as charming and awfully sweet. And if you're tired of the reality shows with women fighting or the reality shows featuring people famous soley because they're on reality shows, this is a nice place to land.
The half-hour episodes take you through the busy schedule of Lauper. You meet her husband David Thornton -- they've been married 20 years -- an actor who stays home with their 14-year-old Declan.
Naturally, Lauper isn't your typical mom and yet she is. Like all working moms, she's trying to find a work/life balance. She thinks she's missed too much of Declan's childhood and she feels guilty.
In the first episode, Lauper's preparing for an appearance on 'The Voice'; it's an opportunity to sing in front of 12 million viewers and it's surprising to see how nervous Lauper still gets; it's also interesting to see how serious Lauper is about her voice. The next episode shows a somewhat ill-fated visit to the Kentucky Derby.
Through it all, Lauper is endearingly goofy and delightfully down to earth. She and Thornton are like an old married couple; they tease and laugh easily. He knows when she's in a mood and how to diffuse the tension. He's supportive and she's attentive. And this: Lauper doesn't take his calls, but immediately picks up for Declan, and he understands.
"Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual" shows that what's really unusual is that, unlike other reality show types, Lauper works hard, hones her craft and has a stable home life.
The hair salon has become TV short hand for diva attitude, gossip, fighting, and transformation. It's the reason why the reality genre keeps returning to there, and the reason why my favorite show typically centered on hair salons is Bravo's "Tabatha Takes On." If you're not familiar, Tabatha Coffey's mission is to remove all those characteristics and turn hair salons (and now other places) into place where work takes place.
I'm always intrigued by the inner workings of an entity; in part, wondering 'how they do that' landed me in the world of journalism.
WeTV is paying tribute to Rue McClanahan in the best way possible: They're laying a "Golden Girls" marathon on us tomorrow (Friday, June 4).
Troy Dunn, aka "The Locator,"
Troy Dunn is a man with a mission, and in tonight's episode of "The Locator," that mission to reunite loved ones and heal broken families once again brings him to North Carolina.