FRESH from a federal indict ment and subsequent acquit tal comes the Gotti family looking to revive not just “Murder, Inc.” but the former glory with, yes, a reality show.
Mr. Gotti and family want to show the world he’s just a family man with sons to raise.
No, no, no, not the Gottis of the waxed brows and extreme hairdos, whose family has accumulated more jail time than, well, an entire crime family.
This time it’s the other Gotti family.
Bizarrely enough, Irv Gotti, the man who took on the last name of the godfather of organized crime as his own and the name of a notorious, murder-for-hire ring for his hip-hop record label, wants to be Ozzie Osbourne now.
VH1 may not be about the music of earlier decades anymore, but it sure has found success making reality shows – about and with – the musicians of those eras.
And now they’ve got not just “Gotti’s Way,” but also “The Salt-N-Pepa Show” – a reality show about that former hip-hop/pop girl duo who brought us such classics as “Whatta Man” and “Pushin’ It.”
That group split up when Salt – aka Cheryl James – could no longer take what the lifestyle was doing to her (making her bulimic for one thing). She abruptly quit, leaving Pepa – aka Sandy Denton – one condiment short of a full portion.
Strangely, both shows work.
While Gotti’s show isn’t as much fun or as gossip-juicy as Salt-N-Pepa’s, they prove one interesting thing: the ultimate goal of the hip-hop life is the great American suburban dream.
Apparently, fame, fortune and federal money-laundering charges eventually lead out of the city – at least in Gotti’s case.
For Salt, the lifestyle led not just to the ‘burbs, but to Jesus. Yes, the once-spicy singer, we learn, is leading the righteous life with a husband, children and a minivan – all centered around the church and Jesus.
Gotti, on the other hand, who lost his record company and his marriage while spending millions to fight the criminal charges, is now fighting to regain his former status. Still, he finds time to spend in New Rochelle with his not-quite ex-wife and kids.
Both shows take us inside the former celebs’ new lives – and their current dilemmas.
In the case of Gotti, a hugely successful record producer famed for his ability to find new talent, it’s getting back together with artists like Ja Rule to recreate their platinum luster. But this time, he’s looking for popsters – not just hip-hop artists.
For Salt-N-Pepa, it’s the opposite.
Salt is determined never to return to her former success, while Pepa is desperate to revive the group.
Salt is now disgusted that songs like “Pushin It” were blatantly sexual and feels that any revival has to be of the Christian-tent-meeting type, while Pepa wants to get back into the whole music-star lifestyle.
It probably won’t work.
To repent her evil past and save a shot at stardom, Pepa agrees to go to church with Salt to perform “Whatta Man” – with choral accompaniment.
But this time? They’re singing about Jesus!
Both shows are worth a watch if you were ever a fan.
“The Salt-N-Pepa Show”
Tonight at 10 on VH1
“Gotti’s Way”
Tonight at 10:30 on VH1