The List: 10 Reasons to be excited about TV this Fall!

The List: 10 Reasons to watch TV this fall! Reason #10-The Real is going live!

First, let me say that I am not so much a fan of The Real, as I am a supporter. This show is not for me but I am also not a young woman of color. With that being said, while I can't say that this is one of my favorite shows for content, I do find this show to be extremely important, especially in the America that we live in today. Young women of color deserve to be represented respectfully and their opinions valued. That is what The Real represents. The panel features two African-American women, formerly three before the ousting of R&B singer Tamar Braxton, who in my opinion put the real in The Real, one Asian-American woman, and a Latina on a daytime talk show.

Since its inception, The Real has brought in mediocre ratings but garnered the hosts two Emmy Award nominations for best daytime host. The show is entering its fourth and possibly final season as it was renewed for two seasons shortly before Braxton left at the conclusion of the second season. The ratings for the show grew over the first two seasons but slumped after Braxton left, possibly as a result of her fans boycotting or simply because the show just wasn't as interesting without Braxton's manufactured ratchetness for television and star power. The other women on the panel play it quite safely when it comes to their presentation of "real."

This season, the show will be broadcast live and allow the hosts to interact with viewers on social media, a nod to the ever growing power of social media. Perhaps, this is an effort to save the show which often suffers from prerecorded conversations the women have about broad and general topics. While Wendy Williams has built a powerhouse show focused on her and her opinion of current and relevant hot topics, viewers of The Real often watch the ladies talk about non-specific and mild topics during their bland girl chat segment. With the exception of guest hosts chiming in, notably Joseline Hernandez, the girl chat segment on the show is usually bland.

I am going to tune in to see if the new live format brings some life into the show and more viewers. I must reiterate how important this show is in our current climate and celebrating women of color on a daily basis. The Real Season 4 premieres live on September 18th and repeats nightly on BET. Check your local listings or visit thereal.com for more information.