(C) 2013 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may
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KeKe Palmer - TV
By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
KeKe Palmer
Plays Chilli In The TLC
Story
Photos Direct TV/VH1/RMMS
 |
| KeKe Palmer |
She has been gracing the big and little
screens since the age of ten and quite convincingly at that. Almost fresh out
of the gate KeKe Palmer was turning in performances that saw her nominated for
many major awards and snagging a couple like four NAACP Image Awards. In a
short career (Palmer is only 20), she has starred in over 14 films and many TV
show guest roles including having her own Nickelodeon Television Series “True Jackson VP” for three seasons and
is currently on The TV Series “Winx Club”
playing Aisha. As if acting is not enough on her plate, Palmer is also a
recording artist with a boat load of fun and saucy videos out and a new album
in the works. The month of October will see her on screen with two new major
projects.
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| Chan'dra (Palmer) in restaurant "Full Circle." |
The first offering is a show is titled “FULL CIRCLE” and is a new type of
combination drama/soap opera that is shot like a movie with 10 episodes that
come to an ending. This format has never been done before and Direct TV being
somewhat new to TV programming hopes this project will get them in the door and
off to a good start to catch up with HBO, Netflex and the other distributors
who entered the content production side of the market. On the show, Palmer
plays Chan’dra Stevens whose gay high school age younger brother took his life
after a joke that over-the-top and outlandish comic Jace (played by David
Boreanaz) told which brought bullying and shame to him.
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| Jace (David Boreanaz) in restaurant "Full Circle." |
Their scene takes place
in a restaurant where Jace invited Chan’dra to meet him to try and make amends.
Palmer showcased an awesome display of mature, veteran acting chops in her
scene with Boreanaz, flawlessly spiting out tons of lengthy dialogue that the
scene required. But this is the high caliber of a script you expect from the
series’ creator, co-producer and award winning screenwriter and playwright Neil
LaBute.
Palmer’s appreciation for her “Full Circle” role is expressed when she
explains, “I felt like this is something I’ve never done before. These are the
types of things I need to be doing. I just felt like there’s growth and I can
continue to grow as an actor and it is only going to challenge me that much
further. This was challenging in the perfect way.” So does this mean the young
Palmer is looking to do more adult roles? Her eyes twinkle, “I really do and I
look for things that I’ve never done before.”
“Full Circle” premieres
Wednesday, October 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Direct TV.
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| L-R: Drew Sidora (T-Boz), KeKe Palmer (Chilli) & Lil Mama (Left Eye.) |
Second on the menu is “Crazy, Sexy, Cool, The TLC Story.” Palmer plays TLC member Rozanda
“Chilli” Thomas. The made for TV movie makes its premiere on Monday, October
21, 2013 on VH1.
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| KeKe Palmer as "Chilli" |
Palmer was excited about this one. She is all smiles when she
says “Again, I felt challenged because like “Full
Circle,” I had never done something like that before. I’ve never had a
romantic relationship on screen. They talk a lot about women’s issues,
pressures and the choices that women have to make in their lifetime, not
knowing if they are making the right ones. And there is that other thing about
being a superstar before an audience. A lot of people don’t believe or realize
that a lot of the stuff they were singing about, they went through and knew
about it, they had experienced these things. I think the movie is going to make
a lot of people’s eyes open and they are going to have a lot more appreciation
for the group."
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| The real TLC: L-R; Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas |
KeKe Palmer
Hollywood seems to
promote the negative stuff when it comes to child actors and entertainers when
they grow up. As an aspiring entertainer myself, I remember so many
negative things that was and still is being told to me by my own family
members. To keep my sanity I seek out for role models that I can look up to that may
not fit the typical TMZ report. Because of that, one of my favorite
role models is Keke Palmer. She’s done so much in the industry and somehow
stays out of the “Bad/Naughty Girl” Mix-Up with drugs and other Hollywood
Shenanigans. Since her film debut in “Akeelah and the Bee”, in
2006, I knew she was destined for stardom.
This may sound strange
since I was about four years old at the time. However, this was the same
time that I performed one of my first comedy performances on stage. I don’t remember much from
that time in my life but I know that seeing her on the Big Screen, doing that
Spelling Bee, is one of the reason’s I can stand in front of an audience and do
comedy today. I’m looking forward to its debut film to be aired in a few
weeks. I think Keke Palmer will be a perfect fit for playing Chilli in
the group TLC. For those critics, here’s a thought… wait to
criticize before commenting about Keke playing the role. Keke Palmer in
my opinion can and will do an incredible job.
Editor's note:
To see Leroya's
performance at the Beverly Hills Country Club click on www.youtube.com/watch?v=abb1bBcaDvg or go to youtube and type in
"Leroya Poetry & Comedy at the Beverly Hills Country Club."
To see her on ABC-TV's
"The View"click on
www.youtube. com/watch?v=wf7y9joqIJI
©
2013 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM
(You
DID Hear It From Me!)
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook
