CAMELOT FANTASIES

Kim F why is she on RHOA

December 16, 2015 ‐ By Charing Ball

http://madamenoire.com/604489/604489/

Did you know that Kim Fields’ real life mother is the same mother who beat Penny with an iron on the four-part special episode of “Good Times”?

Okay, apparently everyone knew this already.

But I’m just finding out this bit of stale news. I’m also just learning that her sister is an actress too. More specifically, Alexis Fields is the woman who played the best friend on “Sister, Sister” and “Moesha.”

While the news is old, it does provide a bit of context to a question, which has been boggling the minds of many for a couple of weeks now. In short, why is Kim Fields on Real Housewives of Atlanta?

It’s a question that has mystified even the most skeptical of reality television watchers. We have seen some mismatched and questionable cast mate pairings before, but Fields is by far the most baffling.

That’s why I don’t blame all the lazy folks who are hoping somebody else starts a petition to get her fired from the show. And while I won’t go as far as to say she is boring, compared to the uncompromising carefree spirit of her fellow cast members, I will say that she would probably feel more comfortable holding a bottle of prune juice instead of a peach.

 And it is not because she acts like there is not life, an ecosystem and an entire universe of happenings outside of the insular existence she created with just her husband and family. It’s not just because she doesn’t understand why a woman would dance with another woman, just to dance. (I am almost positive that if those same women were grinding all up on dudes, she would scrunch up her nose and have something righteous to say about that too.)

It’s not just because she claims to not understand the cattiness and sheer extra-ness of the other women, but then does something catty and low-key shady like opting to sleep on a lounge couch in the living room instead of a semi-private room with one of the girls. And it is not because she dresses like she just stepped out of a Roamans’ catalog.

It’s because she does all of that while acting as if she hadn’t seen the show before she actually signed up to star on it.
So either BRAVO is using this boring Fields storyline to teach us all a lesson about asking for more respectable Black women on reality television or Fields is only here so she won’t get fined.

Listen, if we are talking about the latter, ain’t no shame in that. Everybody has bills. And most of her talents revolve around film and television (both acting, producing and directing). So why not collect an easy check?

But fans of the series ain’t checking for Tootie on roller skates. We want Regine.

And regardless of how you feel about her and the rest of the RHOA cast members, you have to admit there are other shows, or show templates that would make much better fits.

For instance, “Hollywood Divas.” Surely she could fly out to Tinseltown for a few months…er, I forgot who we are talking about here. Okay let me revise: surely she could uproot the family for a few months to film in sunny California with women who are more aligned with her sensibilities?

Or here’s an idea: let Fields star in her own show. How about a petition for that lazy, internet people?

While Fields may not fit in with the mean girls of RHOA, she might have much better luck starring in a series, which revolves around her family. And not just her children and husband, because if I wanted to watch people talking about reading on lawn chairs all day, I would watch C-SPAN’s Book TV.

But bring her other famous family members into the mix. Picture it: a show about mothers in strapless smock maxi dresses talking about family values and being more Jesus-approved than other women. It could be like “Mary Mary” but with a touch of “Braxton Family Values” woven into it.

I smell a hit!

And I am certain the entire Fields clan would appreciate the steady check too.

Of course there is another theory worth considering: perhaps Fields is not as righteous as she is playing herself up to be? Perhaps beneath all of that smock-wearing and finger-wagging, is a woman dying to unleash her inner carefree Black girl, but just doesn’t know how to be that without looking like a hypocrite?

I’ll admit that it is entirely possible because – and again – why else would she be on the show? And I guess we’ll all have to wait and see how that theory plays out during the remainder of the season.