By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Television audiences better brace themselves!

Something new, fresh and raw is coming to the airwaves. And that's always a very good thing.

On Sept. 29, MTV will boldly go where they've never gone before with the new show 'Man and Wife,' hosted by in-demand hip-hop personality Fatman Scoop and his beautifully voluptuous wife, Shanda Freeman.

Some of the music network's most memorable moments include a flatulent Howard Stern flying up above in an astronaut uniform, superdiva Diana Ross molesting Lil' Kim's exposed breast and Madonna lip-locking with Britney Spears – all in front of a live television audience.

But nothing compares their new late-night offering, which is a wild romp of comedy, advice and in-your-face reality that will surely whet the palate of many TV viewers looking for something really real.

"It's such a larger audience,' Scoop told BlackVoices.com this week about his first foray into late-night TV. "There's a lot of people that know 'Man and Wife' but there's a lot of people who don't."

The super-sized hip-hop hype-man is no stranger to mainstream audiences. His booming baritone has blazed an endless stream of hit tracks featuring the biggest names in music, including Mariah Carey, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Timabland, Diddy, Lil' Wayne and The Pussycat Dolls.

What makes this spotlight different from others is its wide reach, he says: "It's the biggest mix of people. Anyone who can turn on a television, you're in front of them now. That is crack babies, that is white supremacists, that is jailbirds. That's everything."


The former Hot 97 deejay is no stranger to the limelight. The Harlem native's industry experience dates back to the mid-1990s when he was signed with Teddy Riley as a recording artist (in the group Three With Soul), while working at Mount Sinai Hospital disposing medical waste. After a stint promoting music for Tommy Boy Records, Scoop (real name Isaac Freeman, III) parlayed his vocal prowess into becoming a personality at parties, clubs and on wax.

However, the glare is a bit daunting for his beloved wife Shanda– whose curvaceous frame simply glows (She could be considered the "Hip Hop Version of Pam Grier").

"It hits me because I came into this industry by accident," the Newburgh, New York native said. "What's happened with my life just doesn't happen. I was a mom at 15, I struggled and I went through a lot and now I'm on TV. This is crazy."

"So for me, it's a lot," adds Mrs. Freeman. "I'm like a newbie in this and he's been doing this for a long time. For me, I'm one of those personalities that want everyone to like what we do but everybody's not going to like what you do. So that's the part that I'm a little afraid of."

After getting an exclusive taste of the first two episodes of the nightly show, I can attest that there won't be any problems winning people over.

'Man and Wife' became an Internet sensation when it debuted early last year as a weekly pod cast. With its over-the-top and in your face insight into life of a hip-hop savvy married couple, it broke new ground with discussions of sex, money, sex, relationships, sex, jobs, sex, politics, sex, marriage ... and yes, sex!

"Everyone can related to sex and relationships," the missus said, adding, "no matter if you're gay, straight, blue, green, blue or black, you can relate to the content."

The brass at MTV agrees.

"'Man and Wife' has gained a huge following online and now we are bringing them to television to discuss sex, love and relationships," said Tony DiSanto, Executive Vice President of MTV Programming and Series Development. "[Scoop and Shanda] are two charismatic and compelling personalities and you can't help but listen and watch everything they say and do as they serve up advice to viewers in their own style."

'Man and Wife' airs weeknights at 11 p.m. ET on MTV.