My Momma Told Me

Episode Title: Reality TV Ain't Real! Pt. 2 (with Kevin Fredericks aka KevOnStage)
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Langston Kerman & David Gborie
Guest: Kevin Fredericks (KevOnStage)
Producer: Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this lively and hilarious episode, Langston, David, and guest KevOnStage dissect the evolution (or devolution) of reality TV, examining its shift from authenticity to heavily produced spectacle. The trio reminisces about the wildest and weirdest reality shows of the past, unpacks the racial dynamics behind “business casual” club dress codes, and share personal stories and reflections on integrity, success, and the entertainment industry. The vibe is comedic, energetic, and at times unexpectedly heartfelt.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Death of Authentic Reality TV

• Early Reality TV (“This Is Your Life”) and Its Decline

  • Langston recalls how “This Is Your Life” went from wholesome to contrived, with producers raising the stakes for drama.
  • Langston (02:59):

    “They started to go for a more traumatic story every time... it’s now ‘we need a plumber with one leg and one eye who’s beat all the odds’... People started to feel this got... cheesy in a contrived way.”

• Producers Ruining the Innocence of Reality Shows

  • David and Kev joke about how executives wanted ever more outrageous content, leading to the genre’s downfall.
  • David (04:07):

    “Can we pinpoint the executive who set us on this trajectory?... It was one dude being like, ‘I think we should do something nasty.’”

How “Love” Reality Shows Became Toxic

• Kev on “Married at First Sight”

  • Kev shares his love for early seasons focused on authentic love, but laments how later seasons seem rigged for drama rather than real relationships.
  • Kev (04:46):

    “Married at First Sight was like... about love, man. And then at some point, it was like, I don’t think they want these people to fall in love anymore, bro.”

  • Langston (05:20):

    “They’re making some of the most toxic relationships out there.”

• Loss of Trust

  • Both Langston and Kev agree they've lost trust in supposed "experts" and the genuineness of these shows.
  • Kev (05:39):

    “Pastor Calvin, we weren’t trusting the experts anymore. You’re not trusting the show.”

The Early “Real World” vs. Modern Reality TV

• Work, Ordinary Life, and 90s Nostalgia
  • David and Kev reminisce about how early “Real World” seasons focused on mundane reality, even showing cast members going to work.
  • Group fondly remembers a viral “be my baby tonight” moment as a cultural artifact.
  • David (06:40):

    “I saw that, and I knew. I was like, this means something. I didn’t know what, but... I saw something big for sure.”

The Hall of Infamous Reality TV Shows

• “Black. White.” (2006, FX)

  • Langston introduces the jaw-dropping show where Black and white families swapped races using makeup.
  • Kev is floored, having never heard of it, while David confirms the insanity.
  • Langston (09:02):

    “Ice Cube produces a show for FX where... a real white family and a real black family... forced them for a month... to do blackface and whiteface. A full swap.”

  • The panel critiques the show's clumsy execution and problematic premise, with Langston noting the show privileged white participants’ “black” experience.
  • Langston (11:02):

    “The white people are now somehow asserting dominance over the white people... pretending my black experience is more valuable... Because I’m experiencing it so sincerely.”

• “The Swan” (2004, FOX)

  • A reality competition to turn “ugly” women into beauties via extensive plastic surgery—another wild idea from 2000s TV.
  • Langston (13:01):

    “Fox reality show... where they took women who wanted something fixed in their body... and then getting them all the plastic surgeries to turn them into baddies.”

  • The hosts reflect on the low standards and questionable messages of that era.

• “Sperm Race” (2005, Germany)

  • Langston describes a German show where men’s sperm literally raced to fertilize an egg, with the group incredulous over its concept.
  • David (17:00):

    “What do you get if you win?”

  • Kev (17:01):

    “Fatherhood.”

  • Laughter ensues at the idea of such a dubious “prize.”

• “Worst Driver” (2002)

  • Contestants compete to avoid being named the worst driver, leading the hosts to reflect on their own (lack of) driving skills.

• “The Interception” (1997, Russia)

  • Contestants are given a free car, but must evade the police for 35 minutes to keep it—true post-Soviet TV chaos.
  • Langston (19:13):

    “The show is one of the most dangerous things ever put on television... offered players a free car... so long as they could evade the police for 35 minutes.”

Listener Voicemail: Club Dress Codes as Racial Gatekeeping (24:43)

• Conspiracy Theory: Business casual at the club was invented by white people to keep Black people out.
• The hosts and Kev agree this is basically true, noting how dress codes acted as proxies for outright racial exclusion.
• Kev (25:13):

  “There’s no legal way to be like, ‘no Blacks.’”

• Langston (25:50):

  “The nasty brainwashing they did that had me in a club with a fucking bow tie on. Do you know what I mean?”

Personal Stories & Vulnerability

• Sharing stories about learning to tie bow ties for club entry, feeling manipulated by arbitrary dress codes, and the humiliation of buying a whole set of bowties.
• A group digression into Chevy Lumina nostalgia, with everyone surprised they all had (or knew people who had) the same car.

Industry Insights: The NFL and Corporate Power (32:25+)

• Kev’s Personal Integrity Test:
  • Kev shares turning down a massive brand deal from the NFL in the wake of the Colin Kaepernick controversy, choosing integrity over a life-changing paycheck.
  • Kev (34:09):

    “...they offered me an amount of money I’ve never seen before or since. And I was just like, this is the moment. I either sell out or I don’t. And I didn’t sell out... but my soul was not for sale.”

  • The panel praises Kev’s decision and explores the lesson: if you can’t stand up once, “there’s no telling what I’ll do.”
  • Kev (35:09):

    “Once you accept this. My thing was, if I do this, then what won’t I do?”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reality TV’s Shift (03:31, Langston Kerman):

  “It wasn’t just a plumber. It's now we need a plumber with one leg and one eye who’s beat all the odds... our version of reality television starts to take shape.”

• On Toxic Relationships in “Married at First Sight” (05:20, Langston Kerman):

  “They’re making some of the most toxic relationships out there.”

• On “Black. White.” (09:02, Langston Kerman):

  “Ice Cube… produces a show for FX where they take a real white family and a real Black family and then force them for a month, I believe, to do Blackface and Whiteface. A full swap.”

• On Club Dress Codes (25:13, KevOnStage):

  “There’s no legal way to be like, ‘no Blacks’… Bet you don’t have a tie.”

• On Turning Down the NFL (34:09, KevOnStage):

  “They offered me an amount of money I've never seen before or since. I was just like, this is the moment — I either sell out or I don't. And I didn’t sell out. My soul was not for sale.”

Timestamped Key Segments

• 02:59-06:05 — How “This Is Your Life” and other early reality shows lost authenticity
• 08:13-13:31 — Reminiscing and dissecting outrageous reality show concepts ("Black. White.", "The Swan")
• 15:20-19:41 — Bizarre international reality competitions ("Sperm Race", "Worst Driver", "The Interception")
• 24:43-28:56 — Listener voicemail: Racial bias in club dress codes, stories of bow ties and nightlife
• 32:25-34:53 — KevOnStage’s big decision to turn down money from the NFL
• 34:53-End — Reflection on choosing principles over money, the aftermath, and friendship banter

Tone & Dynamics

• The episode is marked by quick-fire jokes, playful roasting, and bursts of historical/cultural critique.
• Each host’s and guest’s personality shines through, with comedic storytelling balanced by moments of search for truth and self-reflection.
• Frequent laughter, a spirit of camaraderie, and a willingness to sit with uncomfortable realities underpin the conversation.

Closing Information

• Find KevOnStage: Everywhere but TikTok (“somebody beat me to that”), books, shows, and free content.
• David Gborie: Instagram @coolguyjokes87, plus his comedy special “Birth of a Nation (with a G)” out on YouTube.
• Langston Kerman: All social media @langstonkerman; promoting the Aspiring Deadbeat Tour.

For listener questions:
Call 844-LIL-MOMS or email mymamapodmail@gmail.com

This episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the absurd history of reality TV, questions of racial bias in American culture, and comedians’ perspective on keeping your soul in show biz.