Why You Should Watch TV One’s Life After Television Series

By Denise Turney

Life After Fame and the Bright Lights of Celebrity

Fame is an intoxicating experience. It shows up suddenly, tossing your life into a fast and exciting spin cycle. It can also end suddenly, putting the brakes on record, movie, fashion and sports ticket sales without warning. Everybody cast beneath the bright lights of fame then removed from its glare doesn’t go on to succeed in another industry or venture. Entertainers spotlighted on TV One’s Life After television series beat the odds.

Actress Jackee Harry TV One Life After Pic by Angela George at Flickr

Life After explores the challenges, some heart moving, entertainers face while (and after) the bright lights are pointed directly at them. You’re shown a glimpse of the entertainers’ childhoods, often enjoying a walk through the neighborhoods the entertainers grew up in. As soon as the camera moves to the hottest spots in the entertainers’ careers, a smile might cross you face as the memories come flooding back. But it’s how these entertainers keep moving forward all these years into their careers that’s worth a closer look. Some of the entertainers spotlighted on TV One’s Life After are:
TV One’s Life After Entertainers Tell Personal Stories

Actress Jackee Harry got her start on Broadway, a little known fact revealed on her Life After episode. What millions of American television viewers remember Jackee for is her sassy role on 227 and her humor and dry wit on Sister, Sister, the hit television show that also starred Tim Reid and the Mowry twins, Tia and Tamera. After Sister, Sister wrapped up taping in 1999 it looked as if Jackee disappeared from the scene. But that’s not what happened to this courageous, trailblazing actress. Quit? No. Jackee Harry returned to live theatre, acting in plays touring the country. She also has played roles in TV series and movies like Let’s Stay Together, Friends and Lovers, Everybody Hates Chris, The Ideal Husband and The Last Day of Summer. Jackee is online at http://jackee-online.com.

Actor and singer, Christopher Williams, is another celebrity who is returning to a first love, music. Keeping up with him on TV One’s Life After might well be one of the only ways you’d find out that he is the world renowned jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald’s nephew. Couldn’t help but commend Christopher on keeping that under wraps during the early days of his career, a time when dropping his famous aunt’s name could have opened doors for him. But that’s what sets these reinventing entertainers apart; as Frank Sinatra sang, they do it their way. Known for his role in the hit movie New Jack City, the film that also stars Wesley Snipes and Chris Rock, today Christopher is in the studio working on new music.

Anyone who remembers the sexually provocative song “Pony,” remembers Ginuwine. This Washington, DC native was only 26 years old when he released his first album, Ginuwine the Bachelor, the same album his wildly popular song “Pony” is recorded on. Since 1996, the year Ginuwine the Bachelor was released, Ginuwine has released six other albums. Elgin, his latest, was released in 2011. Today Ginuwine tours the country performing before live audiences. You can listen to bits and pieces of his new music at his official website (www.ginuwine.com).

More from TV One’s Life AfterOther entertainers featured on TV One’s Life After include:

Christopher Martin (Play from Kid ‘n Play, from the House Party movies; today he works as a college professor. He’s also a talented picture drawing artist and online TV talk show host. )

Christopher Reid (Kid from Kid ‘n Play; today he’s a standup comedian and musician.)

Evelyn Champagne King (her episode is one of my all-time favorites – Evelyn’s official website is http://www.evelynchampagneking.com. Her voice is as rich as ever! She even treats you to music when as soon as you click on her official website.)

Janet Hubert (Broadway actress and mom on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Today Janet creates live stage plays and continues to work as an actress. She also wrote and published a book titled Perfection is Not a Sitcom Mom. Her official website is http://janethubert.com.)

Malcolm Jamal Warner (Bill Cosby’s on in the wildly popular and long running television series The Cosby Show. Today Malcolm stars opposite Tracey Ross in the new television series Reed Between the Lines.)

Actor Malcolm Jamal Warner

Upcoming TV One Life After episodes feature entertainers:

Kim Coles (actress from the Living Single television series – her official website is http://kimcoles.tv)
Countess Vaughn (actress from The Parkers, television series that also starred actress, talk show host and comedian Monique)
A J Johnson (actress in House Party and Baby Boy – her official website is http://www.theajzone.com)
Andre Harrell (Uptown Records executive – his official website is http://www.andreharrellmusic.com)
Antonio Fargas (actor on Starsky and Hutch – his official website is http://www.antoniofargas.com)
Danielle Spencer (actress in the What’s Happening television series – her official website it http://www.daniellespencer.net)
Jayne Kennedy Overton (former Miss Ohio, actress and one of the first women to co-anchor NFL Today)