Taking "Every Little Step" with Bobby

Bostonist has always been honest about its reality-TV obsession, but when we heard about the newest one this week, we were a bit skeptical. One of the original boy bands of the 1980s, New Edition, hailed from Boston and included Roxbury boy Bobby Brown. In the days before he was arrested for drugs, not paying child support, and even a Disney World brawl, Brown was pretty famous in Maurice Starr's New Edition and then branched out with a solo career, which included "My Prerogative" (Bostonist had the cassette tape. Jealous?). So Brown was hot for a while and then got cold like most teen stars do. He was back in the spotlight once he married pop queen Whitney Houston in 1992 and the two of them have been in and out of court and tabloids ever since.

Television executives have decided to put that drama where it belongs - on TV - in "Being Bobby Brown," airing this Thursday at 10 p.m. on Bravo, "the film and art network." According to the many articles swirling about the show, Brown and his family were taped for six months, which includes Brown almost going to jail and picking the lock of a hotel mini-bar, as well as posing with adoring fans. Bostonist was intrigued at the idea of another screwed up reality show, but the New York Times review says it downplays the drama: "...those expecting a train wreck will have to settle for a major fender bender. While 'Being Bobby Brown' has its share of bizarre moments, viewers are given the opportunity to see Mr. Brown as both a doting father and loving husband, one who often doles out hugs and kisses."

Bostonist is torn on whether to invest our precious time in watching "Being Bobby Brown" or a re-run of E.R. A tough call, indeed.

Photo courtesy of MTV News