Three years ago, I went to Las Vegas and was surprised to see countless billboards promoting the sold-out shows of Toni Braxton, the hit-maker from the 1990s.
Turns out that Toni is among a tiny handful of entertainers who, even after the hits stopped coming, have still managed to attract massive audiences in Vegas.
Toni is still very much a top draw there.
But last year, Toni, who has lupus, went the reality-TV route with her singing family and came up roses in the surprise WE hit “Braxton Family Values.”
The show, featuring Toni and her four sisters, is a sort of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” meets “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”– but with talent.
The sisters are loud, brash, and relentlessly ambitious, yes, but since they can also sing and entertain, it takes the show a bit beyond those other dreadful franchises.
Tomorrow night, the show picks up from last season to find that Toni, facing bankruptcy, has moved to a giant house in LA, where she is closer to her doctors. But, as one sister observes, “If this what it means to be bankrupt, then sign me up!
Sister Towanda, formerly Toni’s assistant, has moved to Atlanta with her ex-husband and two children. Unfortunately, she’s moved in with Trina and her husband, whose own marriage is rocky and in trouble.
Tamar, meanwhile, has betrayed the sisters and gone off to make her own single for her record, throwing the previously planned family album into chaos.
Fed up with Tamar’s antics, mom Evelyn goes ballistic at her disrespect, and lets her have it. “Next time, I’m going to slap the piss out of you,” she threatens.
“Braxton Family Values” isn’t rocket science — more like rocket fuel — but it’s still fun in a mindless sort of way.