
If you haven't heard by now, the debut of VH1's newest hour-long scripted series, 'Single Ladies' has already made history following its May 30 premiere. With the help of the season three premiere of 'Basketball Wives,' the romantic comedy series landed the network its highest rated night since October 2009. Drawing in over 2.8 million total viewers.
Executive produced by Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment, the comedic drama follows three best friends (played by Charity Shea, Stacey Dash and LisaRaye McCoy) with three different relationship philosophies living in Atlanta.
For LisaRaye, who recently wrapped up the second season of her TV One Reality show 'LisaRaye: The Real McCoy,' being a single lady is nothing new. The 44-year-old actress has been hard at work resurrecting her career following her divorce from the former premier of Turks & Caicos, Michael Misick, in addition to raising her 21-year-old daughter, Kai.
We talked to LisaRaye prior to the show's premiere on preparing for her latest role, the possibility of shooting a third season of her top-rated TV One reality series, and the launch of her forthcoming line of women's jeans, among other things.
Brennan Williams: For people who are not familiar with the show, can you tell us about your character Keisha Greene?
LR: I love my character. She's a little bit like me, but each and every character is. Keisha Greene used to be a video vixen, she's a poker player now. And she's looking for a wealthy man to take care of her. She wants 100% but doesn't want to give 100%, so she builds this wall up.
BW: Did you offer any suggestions to the writer, Stacy A. Littlejohn, based on your past experiences in relationships?
LR: Fortunately, the writer and I are best friends and so a lot of things that have happened in the script, have happened to us. But to be honest, she has it all there in the writing, really - in the details of the description of how she wants this played, what's the general thought behind it, what's the inner monologue. It's really through your life experiences, but the way LisaRaye would play pain would be different from the way Keisha plays pain, but pain is pain. And we've all had it. 

BW: What are your thoughts on some critics stating that the show is portraying brothers in a negative light?
LR: Oh my goodness. I don't know why they thought that, because this project is really positive, there's no male bashing in it at all. Every man has a voice in this. We really want to let you guys know what we're looking for and what we're saying. We know that men and women have a different makeup. That you guys say things and we hear it differently. And we all say things and you hear it differently. So you understand that, and you watch keeping an open mind. We have some great characters and co-stars in there who have really been handling their business and really putting it down.
BW: What advice would you give to your daughter, Kai, on being a single lady?

LR: What's wonderful about her now is that she's modeling. She's Apple Bottoms first plus size model. She's embraced her own curves, her own thickness. And I think that's encouraging for her generation. I've always wanted her to be just healthy, and she is that. And whatever she wants to do, all I can do is support that. I'm her 'Momanager,' that's what I call it now, mom and manager. Because she knows that I'm her best attorney, I'm her best friend, I'm her mother and I'm going to protect her. I want her to know what her self value is. I want her to be able to bring something to the table.
BW: How did you manage your schedule between shooting 'The Real McCoy,' 'Single Ladies,' and being a mother?
LR: Very poorly [laughs]. We've been filming guerilla style and I've been burning the candle light on each end of the stick. I was still doing the reality show for the first month then I was flying back to L.A. doing the promotional stuff. I had to do interviews, then our marketing for VH1 started. Needless to say, I'm very tired. I started a venture with P.Z.I. Jeans for the LisaRaye Collection, it comes out this summer. And that, thank goodness, is based in Atlanta. So I've been able to put on my designer hat and design 19 pairs of jeans to go with my collection, which is the classic collection. So I have gotten very little sleep. I don't really know how I've been doing it. But yet, there is the motivation to prove that I am back. And that I am back to doing what I want to do. I feel good, I feel empowered, I feel strong. And I feel moved, because I got a strong hustle and it makes me proud of myself."

BW: Do you have a price set for the jeans?
LR: Yes, it's about $89. Right now they're online at PZIJeans.com, but I now have to put together the boutiques in which we're going to be in, and the stores. That gives me a couple more months to play with.
BW: Can fans expect a third season of 'The Real McCoy'?
LR: I probably won't know about 'The Real McCoy' until maybe another couple of months from now. The second season was back by popular demand. And that made me feel good, but then it was, 'do I really want to do it?' So I'm not really sure about that. I'm concentrating now on the my jean line - I want to put a lot of booties in those jeans. I'm an investor. I like to have my money work for me. I want to do what I feel like I couldn't do before. I'm also proving a lot to myself. I've been working on my spiritual relationship and my hustle. And I'm doing it.
VH1's 'Single Ladies' airs on Mondays at 9:00 pm EST.



Comments: (26)
Add a comment
By: sankofa on 6/05/2011 4:42AM
LisaRaye is one of my absolute favorite actresses! She keeps it real, is resilient, relevant & very intelligent too. That is apparent from her appeal on The Real McCoy. LisaRaye's interpretation of the Keisha role is perfect! Stacy Dash was fantastic as well. Forget the naysayers, just common haters. I love Single Ladies, and will be checking it out regularly. The range of issues dealt with is very current & needed in the media marketplace.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Kim on 6/05/2011 9:15AM
I loved the show I felt it was explosive and the flavor we needed to add to Black Tv. I enjoyed the variety in which the women touched on their stuggles and success stories about their relationships as well as their careers. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK QUEEN THIS IS DEFINITELY A HIT SERIES!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: AllBahianGirl on 6/05/2011 1:04PM
I like "Single Ladies" and it explores the topics single ladies in the new millenium have to deal with at least in the ATL.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Deb on 6/06/2011 7:34AM
@Dime-Now you know these boards are loaded with stars PR teams because some of the bullsh@ fluff (sucking up) they post makes me wonder did we watch the same show? hahahaha My daughter and I couldn't finish watching. It was so tacky and loaded with played out cliches and stars. Explains why it follows Basketball Wives which I've never watched. Lisa Raye isn't a good actress (all her pointless men speeches bored me) and everyone knows it. LOVED seeing my fave Temptationbs actor although they need to hire better script writers (Is Terry McMillan busy?). I played those games with men in HIGH SCHOOL!
It's so sad the highest rated shows in black households are the most ignorant. Can't blame Queen Latifah (or VH1) for pimping our poor viewing habits....a mind is a terrible thing to waste!
My daughter and I LOVED seeing our group The Jaberwackees back on Americas Best Dance Crew last night. Someone said they backed up Chris Brown recently!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: "DimePiece" on 6/06/2011 12:02PM
@Deb
How are you doing gurl. LMAOTF!!!!! You are funny. You ain't never lied. It was the same ol men & women catch me, hurt me games. Look, I am tired of Lisa Raye, trying to still capture the "Players's Club" days in which she played "Diamond". Isn't she too old to be playin on there a video vixen & stealin wathes, jewlery, ect..? Lisa was with different men on there and used them for different purposes. I don't care how much $$$$$ they all had, what business they owned, their Title, ect.. they all didn't have CLASS.
I got so sick and tired of Lisa Raye during the show sayin, "Does my AZZ look good". She thought she was all that? The other characters were stupid, immature, trifling, and disrespectful. Me & you both played those games in High Shcool. The guy who played in The Temptations and was her boyfriend on the side, I didn't like his script either? I felt a disconnect between the two. The whole show was stupid. Too much for the first episode. I didn't like the acting and thought it was childish. A real woman wouldn't act like that. I don't think I will be watching this show again. Basketball Wives is nothing but Drama too. You have a good day.
PEACE.
Report This
By: Deb on 6/06/2011 7:39AM
@LisaRaye-Tell Da Brat welcome back!!! She is jammin (she's a GREAT female answer to Buster Rhymes) on Chris Brown song "Look At Me Now" remix. They play it to death here in B more which I LOVE!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Patty on 6/06/2011 8:43AM
She is so phony and money hungry. She got physically sick when she though she lost her jewlery . I cant stand her and her golddigging ways.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Ckeys3 on 6/06/2011 2:53PM
It sucks. It sucks… It really sucks. It's the new modern day mammy show. The actresses all are talented in there own right. Why cant they be presented to quality rolls. Were always presented with Black women with %$%^&*^% hair weaves and skimpy clothing. Here's an idea… How about letting these women play rolls as 'WALL STREET BANKERS" ? You won't show that because you fear that might raise the awarness of other african America little girls and change their perception.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: chris on 6/06/2011 10:11PM
I LOVE THE SHOW AND WANT MORE AND MORE! A WINNER OF A SHOW, WE NEEDED FOR SINCE LIVING SINGLE LEFT US. KEEP UP THE STORIES AND REALISTIC DIALOGUE.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: biglou on 6/07/2011 12:24AM
i think lisa raye is the most buityful woman i the world and i wish i was her man she whould never have any problems i whold take care of her 4 ever
and stacy dash is also buityful
Reply to this Comment | Report This