BET Brings New Edition to a New Generation

For those who are unfamiliar, New Edition is a five-man band from Boston that paved the way for other groups including New Kids on the Block, N’Sync, Backstreet Boyz and Boyz II Men. Its original members were Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie Devoe and Bobby Brown. Part one of the miniseries follows the group from its inception in 1978, through the guys’ formative talent show days, and up until just before the events leading to Brown’s departure in 1984.

It opens on Brown (Woody McClain) being interrupted during his performance of “My Prerogative” by Bell Biv Devoe, a group comprised of three of his ex-bandmates. It seems he’s gone well over his allotted time, something he was apparently prone to do. A fight ensues both on- and off-stage. A gun is pulled, then fired, and before we can see what happens we’re rolled back to 1978 where it all began.

This kind of story’s been told, and all the familiar elements are there -- the impromptu audition for their first manager, the training montage, the early seeds of dissent, the labels not paying them, etc. The real draw of this miniseries is the attention it pays to authenticity. Every New Edition alumnus is credited as a co-producer. This tells me that, unlike posthumously made biopics, the depicted events and their details come straight from the horses’ mouths as opposed to the usual move of relying on old footage and third party interviews for accuracy.

Now, even though I’m speaking as someone who’s just young enough to have missed the wave, I still understand the dedication of true fans, and this series is definitely for them. The hits from both the original group and all its variations are a character in this story that shares as much of the limelight as the drama and the multi-talented cast that brings it to life.

Speaking of casts, this one has its fair share of familiar faces. Adult Michael Bivins is played by Bryshere Y. Gray, also known as Hakeem on Empire. Young Ricky Bell is played by Caleb McLaughlin whose claim to fame is a starring role in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Adult Ronnie Devoe is played by Keith Powers who recently played Dr. Dre’s younger brother in Straight Outta Compton. Michael Rapaport plays the group’s second manager, and Wood Harris plays their first. Comedian Faizon Love also makes an appearance as Maurice Starr, the man who first signed the kids to a label. (Pictured below, left to right: Executive producers Jesse Collins and Chris Robinson with stars Luke James, Woody McClain, Elijah Kelly, Algee Smith and Keith Powers promoting The New Edition Story at the Winter 2017 Television Critics Association tour.)

Specifically, my favorite two cameos (so far) are La La Anthony and Yvette Nicole Brown who play DeVoe’s and Bivins’ mothers, respectively. La La is recognizable from her career as a radio personality and ex-host of MTV’s TRL, and as far as Brown goes, she’ll always be Shirley from Community to me (which is funny considering her character’s name is Shirley in this as well). The rest of the cast, although not as well known, does collectively hold credits from various on and off-screen productions that include the likes of 30 Rock, Everybody Hates Chris, Black Nativity, Earth to Echo, The Lion Kingand Urban Holiday Soup, among others.

This mini-series is entertaining as hell as well as educational. It gives someone like me, who had little to no prior knowledge going into this, a crash course on the lives and music of this legendary group. Plus, as wholesome and innocent as their beginnings may have been, the boys do eventually grow up, and I’m eager to see the real life drama that caused New Edition’s many infamous issues play out. Way to grab me for six hours.

The New Edition Story premieres on BET January 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

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