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Lifetime’s ‘TLC Forever’ Documentary Reveals How TLC Found Strength to Survive Years of Challenges

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‘TLC Forever‘ was three years in the making, initially announced in October 2020 and suffered major production delays due to the covid-19 pandemic. The final outcome was delivered officially to the world with a simulcast on both Lifetime and A&E on June 3, 2023.

The highly anticipated documentary was produced by the One Story Up production company, directed by Matt Kay and executive produced by Roger Ross Williams, as well as Bill Diggins and TLC.

The documentary delivered on it’s promise to delve deeper into the history of TLC, more than they have ever told before, told in the words of T-Boz and Chilli themselves. “And who better to tell it than us, while we’re still here to tell it”, T-Boz told Billboard.

TLC in 2001

The documentary has a unique perspective of capturing the raw reactions of Chilli, T-Boz and Diggins in a private screening, whilst they take time reminiscing about the past, as they watch the footage of themselves and add commentary and thoughts of what they were going through at the time. The footage was largely filmed by T-Boz on a camcorder that she carried around with her as they were on tour in the early days as well as lots of archive, behind the scenes footage, many never seen before.

From the beginning of the documentary, viewers are instantly kept on the edge of their seats, as the scene opens with an emotional T-Boz becoming upset while she reminisces about her struggles with her brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent surgery and recovery. Her main focus was to make it back so that she could continue to be a mother for her daughter, Chase Rolison.

“But she doesn’t want anyone to pity her,” Chilli tells Forbes, adding that she hopes the film will help viewers see that the women of TLC are human, that they aren’t just performers, and that not everything during the height of their career was smooth sailing. “I think that everyone will realize that we’ve never seen this side of Tionne before. I’m always crying, I’m a frequent crier, but in this she cried a lot.”

The synopsis for the documentary is set on documenting TLC’s journey as they prepare to perform at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival, billed as their biggest gig to date. Fans are taken on an emotional roller coaster, as we witness the extra lengths TLC needs to go through in order to get through a show or a tour successfully, ensuring T-Boz gets the appropriate care and rest that she requires to prevent her health from declining.

Diehard fans were delighted to learn than the documentary also touched on the career of TLC beyond the passing of the beloved Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002. TLC revealed that the industry had turned on them once Left Eye passed and deemed TLC to be over. Although they were unhappy with L.A. Reid forcing them to complete the unfinished ‘3D’ album in favor of a greatest hits, the ladies made the most out of the situation and wanted to do the album justice, both for their fans and for Lisa.

TLC in 2000

In unreleased footage that was not included in the final release of the documentary, TLC can be seen in the studio working on songs for the ‘3D‘ album in 2001 with Raphael Saadiq with an unreleased TLC song, “Us“, playing in the background. T-Boz went on to explain why some of the original songs Lisa had completed before she died weren’t featured on the final release of the album.

“The ironic thing was, we did some songs that was unreleased by Raphael Saadiq, and there was this one song called “Us”, T-Boz explains. “It was talking about something happening to you and it wasn’t your time and thanking God. It was just an eerie song to listen to afterwards [after what had just happened to Lisa], and that’s why we didn’t use it because it was actually a good song, but it kinda spoke on what had just happened to her”.

TLC naturally went on hiatus after the release of ‘3D’ in 2002, giving them the chance to grieve the loss of Left Eye. They completed the album promo in 2003, ending with a performance at Z100’s Zootopia, billed as their final show ever. Fans across the world (including myself) made sure to be there at Giants Stadium in New Jersey to see TLC performing for the first, and potentially, last time, as a duo.

Fans were still hungry for TLC to continue, so they agreed to a reality talent show on UPN called ‘R U The Girl with T-Boz and Chilli‘ in 2005, which followed the ladies on a nationwide search for the perfect girl to perform a new song with them, “I Bet“, which the winner O’so Krispie did during the finale.

TLC in 2003

During the years that followed, Chilli recorded a couple of solo singles, launched her Bags By Chilli fashion line, became a Beachbody spokesperson and featured in her own reality show on VH1, ‘What Chilli Wants‘. T-Boz also recorded a couple of solo demos and during this downtime she encountered severe migraines and was later diagnosed with a brain tumor which took over three years of rehabilitation to become healthy again.

TLC took the opportunity to be the guest for Alicia Keys at the 2008 BET Awards, performing alongside SWV and En Vogue. T-Boz then became a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice in 2009 with Donald Trump, winning $20k for her chosen sickle cell charity in the process. TLC returned to the television screens in 2011 as guest performers on American Idol.

TLC on tour in 2021

T-Boz took part in her own reality show, ‘Totally T-Boz‘ in 2013. During this time TLC were also in talks for a potential comeback to the stage after successful spot dates in Japan and Las Vegas. The ladies were then approached by VH1 to executive produce their record breaking biopic, ‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story‘ in 2013.

The success of the biopic brought in a ton of new fans and a new wave of demand for the group. TLC enjoyed success on the festival circuit that year, performing at the Mixtape Festival and Drake‘s OVO Festival. The peak of that success reached when TLC were offered the opportunity to perform on VH1’s Super Bowl Blitz in 2014. With stakes so high, TLC put on the show of their lives and promoters were demanding to book TLC as a result of the high level of production and outstanding performance the ladies provided on the show.

With so many accolades and awards to their name, it would be easy to think TLC have completed their mission to dominate the industry. But not quite yet — as T-Boz says, “we’ve still got a lot to do!” This includes an upcoming TLC Broadway musical that is still in the works, as well as a possible animation based on the music of TLC and possibly a new reality show. Oh, and new music to accompany said projects, of course!

As a diehard fan, I can say that we would love to see TLC finally receive a place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — long overdue! TLC also deserves a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We’d love to see more Lifetime Achievement Awards, too! Let’s speak these things into fruition and give the biggest girl group in the world their flowers!

TLC on tour in 2023

Catch TLC while you can on tour this summer on the ‘Hot Summer Nights‘ tour with Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston! Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com

Watch ‘TLC Forever’ on the Lifetime website HERE.

For overseas viewers, you can still watch it using a VPN app such as Tunnel Bear. Let’s hope it airs officially overseas soon!

Announcement, Appearance, Interview, News, Television, Tribute

TLC are Planning a Reality Show and a Fictional Musical Television Series

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TLC are almost ready to launch their upcoming “Hot Summer Nights” tour next month along with Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston, which coincides with the premiere of their new documentary, “TLC Forever“, which airs simultaneously on both Lifetime and A&E on June 3 at 8/7c.

T-Boz and Chilli have been doing the promotional rounds this week to promote their show and tour. Whilst speaking to Entertainment Weekly, they announced that they have something brewing on Broadway, as well as a fictional series centered around their music and a pilot for an upcoming reality show in the works. 

This will be the first time TLC have featured in a reality show together since 2005, when they starred in UPN’s “R U The Girl“, a reality contest show which followed T-Boz and Chilli on a nationwide road trip to find one special girl to perform and record a new song with them, called “I Bet“. The show also gave us lots of hilarious moments of the duo and the iconic chemistry that they have together.

Chilli went on to feature in her own reality show, VH1’s “What Chilli Wants“, in 2010 which ran for two seasons. She also starred in “Girls Cruise” in 2018 with Lil’ Kim and Mya. T-Boz starred in her own reality show, “Totally T-Boz” on the channel TLC in 2013.

According to EW, “TLC Forever” will document the group’s rise to stardom, the friction that they encountered and how T-Boz and Chilli were able to pick up the pieces after tragically losing the beloved Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002. The show will also reveal the group in rehearsals as they prepared to perform at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival.

“You get to see our raw reaction,” says T-Boz, who captured several of the clips on a camcorder she carried around while TLC travelled the world throughout their 20s. “When I did that, I didn’t realize it would be worth so much to us later on. I’m real thankful we got that footage, all of the great times we had together. To be able to watch it so many years later is such a blessing.”

TLC believe that if they were new artists today in the age of streaming, their music would still be as relevant as it is now. “I don’t know about sales, but I know our music would stand the test of time,” says T-Boz. “I do believe if ‘No Scrubs’ or ‘Unpretty’ or ‘Creep’ came out tomorrow, they would be bumping on the radio just the same.”

The ladies are also very proud of the fact that despite their highs and lows, they never disbanded or replaced members. “No matter what happened, we never broke up,” says Chilli. “I mean, we’re gonna be in this group until we’re not here anymore. And the greatest thing of all is that we still want to do this together. I would not want to do this with any other person.”

TLC also had a fun interview with Xfinity, where amongst discussions about fashion trends and their growth, they reveal which Left Eye verse was their favorite and show the world they also have bars like their TLC sister.

“It was fun going back down memory lane, reminiscing about all the times that we’ve shared together, especially with Lisa”, says T-Boz. “And times that we haven’t forgotten, but they’re just not on your mind at that moment. So yeah, a lot of great memories”, adds Chilli.

T-Boz and Chilli unamously agree that the rap that they would sing if they switched roles for a day would be one of Left Eye’s raps in “Hat 2 Da Back“. After singing the verse together in perfect harmony, T-Boz exclaims, “yeah, we can rap too!” Despite the iconic status of their records, TLC insist that they do not listen to their own music when they’re not at work.

“We don’t even bump it in the car at home”, reveals T-Boz. “We practice [for concerts] 6 to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week — that’s a lot”. Chilli agrees, adding, “In rehearsals, we practice 8 hours a day, it’s a real job, listening to her voice, my voice — play something else, please!”

Tickets to TLC’s “Hot Summer Nights” tour are on sale now!

Tune in to watch “TLC Forever” on Lifetime/A&E on June 3 at 7/8c

Appearance, Interview, News, Television

T-Boz Reveals Her Thoughts on COVID-19 Vaccines, Good As Burgers, Trolls and Why She Has Been Single For 8 Years!

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The beautiful Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins was the latest guest on the Cameron Newton YouTube podcast ‘Funky Friday‘ on May 5.

T-Boz reminisced about her time starting out and forming TLC with Left Eye and Chilli, and was surprised at the lack of girl group’s out today. “You don’t see a lot of girl groups anymore. There’s not a lot of new groups out, and the one’s that were out have broken up”, T-Boz admits. She reveals that being in a girl group can be hard, and a lot of the reasons that girl groups don’t survive is down to egos and cattiness. “Women are usually so envious of one another. Catty, jealous and ego’s like that can break up a group.”

T-Boz mentioned the big age gap between her 22 year old daughter, Chase Rolison, and her 7 year old son, Chance. “Its a big gap like a crazy person. Yes, I started over, but it keeps me young, so I love it. I wanted a boy, so I was like, I don’t care how old I am, I’m about to have this baby boy”, T-Boz admits. “Chase and Chance, those are my world. And my two nieces are my babies, too”.

T-Boz touches on the vegan fast food venture, Good As Burgers, or GAB’s, that she partly owns with her brother Carnoy ‘Kayo’ Watkins who founded the business. “It’s Good As Burgers, but it sounds like, ‘ohh that’s a Good Ass Burger’, because they are good”, she said. T-Boz reveals that she plans on expanding the business when they open more food trucks with 4 locations to date.

Cam asked T-Boz about her Irish heritage, along with her Native American and African American heritage. “I was in my house one day, and I’ve got this really pretty frame. You can tell that they made it, decorated it, it was beautiful”, T-Boz says. “There was this old white lady in the picture, so I asked, who is this old white lady and they said that it was my great grandmother, and that she was Irish. So, yeah, I’m a little mixed up, but I claim El Negro”.

When the topic of Rihanna‘s Super Bowl halftime performance came up, T-Boz was reluctant to comment and reminded Cam about the drama the press created between TLC and Rihanna back in 2014, after being misquoted which led to angry trolls attacking her on social media.

T-Boz reveals that she continues to use her own CBD brand, ‘TLCBD‘, to help with her symptoms of arthritis and sickle cell Thalassemia (Sickle Thal). However, ever since she received the Pfizer jab to vaccinate herself against the COVID-19 virus, her sickle cell symptoms seemed to have worsened. “I honestly think that the [COVID-19] vaccinations — after my last three crisis’ that I had, I haven’t had anything like that — but after that shot — I honestly think it messed me up, I really do.”

T-Boz has mixed emotions over how she feels about the COVID-19 vaccines and admits that she most likely would not have had it if it wasn’t for her job that required her to be vaccinated. “I felt bullied into it, because without it you can’t get paid, you can’t go to work, yeah, that’s how it was for me”, T-Boz admits. “And then I still got COVID anyway, twice — on the massage table, my massage therapist gave it to me, and then recently overseas on tour in Sydney, Australia. I have no earthly idea how I could have gotten it besides the quick change on stage that we share with other artists because they don’t wipe that down. But I have a very low immune system because of my sickle cell”.

On the topic of self beauty, T-Boz recalls why she wrote the 1999 number one TLC single, “Unpretty“. “I thought it was cool to have individuality and be your own woman. It shows you how many insecure women there are in the world. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with fixing something you don’t like, but if you do it, make sure it’s for you”, T-Boz admits. “But I also think there is a stopping point where you can take it too far. You’re starting to look like lions and characters, and you look crazy. Men come and go, getting your asses and titties done, that’s not keeping your man at home”.

Cam discussed the socially acceptable differences between men and women when it comes to enhancing physical features. T-Boz admits that she’d be honest with a man that tried to hide baldness with a wig and tell him to shave it all off. But she wouldn’t accept a man actively seeking a penile enlargement, “hell no, if I saw that in the beginning, I ain’t got no time to be waiting for him to get a fake penis. I don’t want a man into all that crap”.

So, what kind of man will win the heart of Ms Tionne Tenese Watkins? “Dirty nails on men and dirty shoes, I don’t like that. I’m not talking to a man with dirty ass hands. It’s a pet peeve, I don’t like it”, T-Boz states. “These days men are just not men, so we women sometimes have to do stuff that we didn’t always want to do. I am single on purpose, because I don’t want to deal with another grown ass baby. I haven’t talked to nobody in about 8 years! I haven’t even dated in those years”.

“When I’ve tried to talk to someone regular, they are very insecure. Even men that are supposed to be secure with money are insecure in my business, because I’m around a lot of guys”, T-Boz continues. “I’ve been celibate in those 8 years, I’m not a ho, I don’t do booty calls and all that. I’m more of a relationship person. I had a lot of life stuff happening honestly, with my mom’s health and my daughter almost passed away with Lupus, and then the pandemic happened — it’s cool if God brings somebody who is really a man. Because I’m a real alpha, so it takes somebody special to deal with me. If he’s not coming to me as a man, then why am I playing my role if you’re not playing yours?”

So, how can a man add value to the life of T-Boz, a woman who has everything that she needs? “Come home at night, don’t lie, be a good, honest person. It’s not about money all the time. Been there, done that, got that. I’ve had all the cars, the houses, I’ve done all that”, T-Boz admits. “I’m really simplistic. It’s the attention to detail, like the small things, the things that I like. I’m a real logical open minded person, I’m a very fair person and I’ll do my part, but if you’re not doing your part then I don’t see the reason for you to be here. I pay manly bills, I do manly things, so if you’re not going to be a man, move out the way, I’ve got kids to take care of and things to do. That’s just how I am”.

Watch the full episode below:

Interview, News, Television

Coko: “I Would Love SWV to Tour with TLC and En Vogue Together… and They Can Headline!”

Leon@TLCArmy's avatarLeon@TLCArmy 1 Comment

The world has been tuned in to the latest girl group reality show airing on Bravo, ‘SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B‘, documenting the journey of the two legendary girl groups as they find a way to put on a concert together.

SWV and Xscape were born in the early 90’s and both achieved a ton of success throughout the decade before they both disbanded around the same time in 1998. They experienced a huge revival when they agreed to participate in a Verzuz event in 2021, celebrating their most loved hits back and forth with each other.

The Verzuz episode led to television producer Mona Scott Young offering the ladies an opportunity to continue their working relationship with their own reality television show, leading to them both co-headlining a concert together for their fans.

The groups were both excited about the opportunity and already had formed a close friendship with each other over the years. Frictions occurred when Xscape member Kandi Burruss raised concerns over which group would be the headlining act the show, and felt that her group has a bigger following than SWV, so should headline the show.

This did not go down well with the ladies of SWV, who refused to be an opening act for Xscape and reminded the viewers that they have sold millions of more records than Xscape, so they felt insulted at the suggestion as they were informed it was to be a co-headlining show, a collaborative effort.

SWV (Coko, Taj & Lelee)

Time will tell if the groups were able to fix their differences on the show, which airs every Sunday night on Bravo and streaming on the Peacock app.

Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, the lead singer of the group SWV, took some time out this week to chat with reality television producer Carlos King about her thoughts of the show. Although Coko was not interested in being an opening act for Xscape, she was completely open to doing a tour with, and opening for, En Vogue and TLC!

“Oh, we would love that, but TLC is on tour with En Vogue now. They took En Vogue and they did not ask SWV, like girls, come on!”, Coko exclaims. “I would love that though — I would be an opener for that! We ain’t trying to co-headline, we’ll be an opener. Give us a good 30 minutes! That’s TLC!”, Coko laughs.

SWV has toured with both TLC and En Vogue separately in the past. During an episode on their current television show, Taj George recalls having a blast doing shows with both groups and being treated fairly. “We have toured with tons of girl groups, and none of them have treated us the way those gals have treated us”, Coko said during the episode, referring to Xscape’s demands to headline the show.

“It was a pleasure working with En Vogue. It was a pleasure working with TLC. And both of them have outsold both of us [SWV and Xscape]”, Taj admits. “Xscape can learn a lesson from En Vogue — with their 7 million records!”, Coko adds. For the record, SWV has sold over 30 million records to date.

“That’s the thing about us, we are honest. We know what it is, I do not mind”, Coko says about opening for TLC and En Vogue. “TLC is huge! Are you crazy? I don’t want to come on after no TLC! No, no, no, we ain’t stupid!”, Coko continues humbly.

“We don’t want to come behind TLC, and we respect En Vogue to the upmost. Like I said, if there were no En Vogue, there would be no SWV. So, if you want us to go on before you, we’re going to do that, because that’s how much love and respect we have for both of them”.

Coko with Chilli and T-Boz in 2015

It is beautiful hearing Coko be so open and honest about how she feels about working with other girl groups, especially TLC and En Vogue. A joint tour with all three groups would be a dream come true for many fans of 90s R&B girl groups — so let’s hope it can happen one day!

Alicia Keys would be the first person in line at such a show. These three aforementioned girl groups were amongst her favorites, and she invited all three groups to join her on stage at the BET Awards 2008 to perform their greatest hits with her during her performance.

TLC with En Vogue at the BET Awards 2008

Check out the full Coko interview with Carlos King and tune in to watch ‘SWV & XSCAPE: THE QUEEN’S OF R&B’ on Bravo.