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The New Edition Story is an American biographical three-part miniseries about the R&B group New Edition, from their rise to fame as a boy band from the Orchard Park Projects of Roxbury, Massachusetts, to becoming a successful adult act. It was originally broadcast on BET from January 24 through January 26, 2017, becoming the network's first scripted miniseries. All six members of New Edition served as co-producers.

Cast

Main cast

• Woody McClain as Bobby Brown
  • Tyler Marcel Williams as Young Bobby Brown
• Algee Smith as Ralph Tresvant
  • Jahi Di'Allo Winston as Young Ralph Tresvant
• Bryshere Y. Gray as Michael Bivins
  • Dante Hoagland as Young Michael Bivins
• Elijah Kelley as Ricky Bell
  • Caleb McLaughlin as Young Ricky Bell
• Keith Powers as Ronnie DeVoe
  • Myles Truitt as Young Ronnie DeVoe
• Luke James as Johnny Gill
• Wood Harris as Brooke Payne
• Faizon Love as Maurice Starr
• Tank as Jheryl Busby
• Michael Rapaport as Gary Evans
• Wallace Smith as Jeff Dyson
• Duane Martin as Louis Silas Jr.
• Yvette Nicole Brown as Shirley Bivins, Michael's mother
• Lisa Nicole Carson as Mae Bell, Ricky's mother
• La La Anthony as Flo Payne DeVoe, Ronnie's mother
• Monica Calhoun as Patricia Tresvant, Ralph's mother
• Sandi McCree as Carole Brown, Bobby's mother

Others

• Raven Bowens as Teasha Bivins, Michael's wife
• Bre-Z as Peanut Bell, Ricky's sister
• Bryan Terrell Clark as Terry Lewis
• Josh David as Al B. Sure
• Melvin Jackson Jr. as Kurtis Blow
• Wesley Jonathan as Michael Jonzun
• Ashley Wade as Whitney Houston - the girlfriend of Bobby, who later to be his wife and had a daughter.
• Krystal M. Harris as Zena, Ralph's ex-girlfriend
• Cynthia McWilliams as Sherry Carter
• D.C. Young Fly as Bobby Brown's barber
• Cynthia Rodriguez as Amy Correa Bell, Ricky's wife
• Rachel Currence as Shamari Fears, Ronnie's wife
• Chelsea Diggs-Smith as Amber Tresvant, Ralph's wife
• Jackie Long as Dr. Freeze
• Noel Braham as Ray Parker Jr.
• Stephen Hill as himself
• Maya Harris as Melika, Bobby's baby mama

Development

Production

In August 2015, it was announced that BET commissioned the television film that would air as a three night miniseries. Five of the group's members--Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, had signed on as co-producers, while Bobby Brown did not. In addition, the band's longtime manager Brooke Payne had also been tapped as a co-producer and the film was to be written by Abdul Williams who wrote the 2010 film Lottery Ticket. Jesse Collins of the network's Real Husbands of Hollywood would serve as executive producer. Collins later reported that production would air in 2017. In April 2016, it was confirmed that Brown had also signed on as co-producer. It was also announced that ATL director Chris Robinson would direct the film. In November 2016, it was announced that iconic producers Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had been recruited to oversee the music production.

Casting

Casting for the series began in Boston in January 2016. In April 2016, the network announced that Empire star Bryshere Y. Gray would portray Michael Bivins. The rest of cast included actor and singer Elijah Kelley as Ricky, R&B singer Luke James as Johnny, Algee Smith as Ralph, Keith Powers as Ronnie, and Woody McClain as Bobby Brown. In addition, Dante Hoagland, Caleb McLaughlin, Myles Truitt, Jahi Winston, and Tyler Marcel Williams would portray younger versions of Michael, Ricky, Ronnie, Ralph and Bobby respectively. In May 2016, La La Anthony, Yvette Nicole Brown, Monica Calhoun, Lisa Nicole Carson and Sandi McCree would join the cast as the mothers of the group members: Flo DeVoe, Shirley Bivins, Patricia Tresvant, Mae Bell and Carole Brown. Several others joined the cast later that month including Wood Harris as Brooke Payne, Michael Rapaport as Gary Evans, Wallace Smith as Jeff Dyson, Faizon Love as Maurice Starr, Duane Martin as Louil Silas, singer Tank as Jheryl Busby and actress/rapper Bre-Z as Peanut Bell.

Promotion

The first trailer for the film was unveiled on June 26, 2016, at the 16th annual BET Awards. In July 2016, BET released a photo of the cast recreating the group's iconic album cover for the 1996 release Home Again. In September 2016, BET announced the official premiere date for the film which would air on January 24, 25 and 26, 2017. The network also released an extended trailer which highlighted the legendary onstage brawl between Bobby Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe after Brown went solo. The UrbanWorld Film Festival hosted an exclusive screening of several clips.

Reception

Ratings

The film's premiere was watched by 4.2 million viewers, making it BET's most watched premiere since the 2012 season premiere of the sitcom The Game, which drew 5.2 million. The second and final episodes brought in 3.96 million and 4.23 million viewers respectively, making the miniseries the top rated cable program for three consecutive nights.

Critical

The New Edition Story has garnered positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the series holds a score of 76 out of 100. It currently has a 100% rating, with an average score of 7.2/10 on Rotten Tomatoes, along with the consensus being, "The New Edition Story colorfully showcases its subjects with honesty and clarity while offering an entertainingly paced overview that leaves room for plenty of the group's greatest hits". The film received rave reviews for the child actors who portrayed younger versions of New Edition in the first part of the series. Sylvia Obell of BuzzFeed praised the casting as "absolute perfection" and rated it an A+. Obell compared the film to another iconic television miniseries -- "it is on its way to being the best black TV biopic since The Jacksons: An American Dream" which aired on ABC in 1992. The most talked about similarities is the uncanny "jawdropping" striking resemblance of the young Bobby Brown, portrayed by Tyler Marcel Williams, who nailed the looks, demeanor and Bobby's most iconic "body roll". Also another uncanny resemblance were of the vocals of the young Ralph Tresvant, portrayed by Jahi Di'Allo Winston. For viewers, hearing his first lead solo appearance in the film singing "Candy Girl" gave chills for nailing every note. Trey Mangum of Blavity said that BET "outdid" themselves, saying "With the warm reception and open arms that the world received The New Edition Story with, is clear that this story needed to be told, and this was the perfect time." Mangum complimented the "spot-on" casting of both the young and adult casts, as well as the fact both casts recorded their own vocals, a rarity for musical biopics.

During an interview with Bell Biv DeVoe on the radio show, The Breakfast Club, co-host Angela Yee described the casting for the film as "fantastic." Michael Bivins praised Algee Smith's portrayal of Tresvant and said he was "real nice, sliding into the most difficult spot." In another interview, Ricky Bell along with Bivins praised Elijah Kelley for his portrayal of Ricky in the film. Bell further praised young actor Caleb McLaughlin for his portrayal as well.

Broadcast

In June 2018, it was announced that The New Edition Story will stream on Hulu.

The miniseries is currently available for streaming through Paramount+ and BET+.

Accolades

References

1. Kennedy, Gerrick D (24 January 2017). "BET didn't skim on authenticity for 'The New Edition Story'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
2. Goldberg, Lesley (August 10, 2015). "New Edition Biopic Set for BET — Without Bobby Brown". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
3. "Jesse Collins: The Producer Behind All Of The Award Shows You Tweet About". Vibe. Prometheus Global Media. October 13, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
4. ^ Sweeney, Emily (April 25, 2016). "Cast is set for New Edition biopic". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
5. "NEW EDITION: Movie Cast Announced". iHeartMedia. April 23, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
6. Platon, Adelle (November 2, 2016). "BET's 'The New Edition Story' Recruits Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis & Babyface: Exclusive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
7. Goldstein, Meredith (January 11, 2016). "Casting call for a New Edition miniseries on BET". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
8. Incollingo, Joe (January 19, 2016). "Young New Edition fans audition for BET biopic". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
9. Holub, Christian (April 21, 2016). "Empire star Bryshere Y. Gray cast in New Edition biopic". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
10. Petski, Denise (May 5, 2016). "La La Anthony, Yvette Nicole Brown, Monica Calhoun Among Five Cast In 'New Edition: The Movie' On BET". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
11. Petski, Denise (May 19, 2016). "'New Edition: The Movie': Wood Harris, Michael Rapaport, Faizon Love & More Join Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
12. Davis, Shanice (June 27, 2016). "BET Unveils Epic Trailer For 'The New Edition Story'". Vibe. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
13. Lewis, Taylor (July 21, 2016). "Calling All Candy Girls! 'The New Edition Story' Cast Recreates Iconic Pic". Essence. Time Inc. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
14. Platon, Adelle (September 27, 2016). "BET's 'The New Edition Story' Sets Premiere Date, Releases Super Trailer: Exclusive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
15. Blistein, Jon (September 27, 2016). "Watch Bobby Brown Brawl With Bell Biv DeVoe in New Biopic Trailer". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
16. "NEW EDITION FILM AT URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL". Jet. September 14, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
17. Schwindt, Oriana (January 25, 2017). "BET Hits Ratings Paydirt With 'The New Edition Story' Miniseries". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
18. Andreeva, Nellie (January 25, 2017). "'Outsiders' Solid In Return On WGN America, 'The New Edition Story' Opens To Big Ratings On BET". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
19. Welch, Alex (January 26, 2017). "Wednesday cable ratings: 'The New Edition Story' wins second night, 'The Magicians' hits series high". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
20. Welch, Alex (January 26, 2017). "Thursday cable ratings: 'The New Edition Story' rises with its final episode". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
21. "The New Edition Story Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
22. "The New Edition Story: Season 1 - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
23. Obell, Sylvia (26 January 2017). "The Child Actors From "New Edition Story" Are Absolute Perfection". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
24. Mangum, Trey. "11 reasons why 'The New Edition Story' was absolutely epic". Blavity. Blavity Inc. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
25. New Edition; Bell Biv DeVoe; The New Edition Story (January 26, 2017). "Bell Biv DeVoe Discusses The New Edition Story & More on The Breakfast Club". The Breakfast Club (radio). Interviewed by DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God. New York City: Premiere Radio Networks. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
26. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "BBD Opens Up About Johnny Gill Joining New Edition + Shares the Secret To Staying Together". YouTube. 26 January 2017.
27. Jarvey, Natalie (June 25, 2018). "'Daria,' 'My Super Sweet 16' to Stream Exclusively on Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 25, 2018.

External links

• The New Edition Story at IMDb

• 2017 television films
• American biographical series
• African-American television
• American biographical films
• American television films
• Films set in the 1970s
• Films set in the 1980s
• Films set in the 1990s
• Films set in the 2000s
• 2010s American drama television miniseries
• African-American biographical dramas
• Biographical films about musicians