Release Date, Cast, Renewed or Canceled

‘Rickey Smiley For Real’ is an unscripted documentary-style television series that takes the viewer behind the scenes into the busy life of a public persona. Radio host and TV personality Rickey Smiley and his friends and family create unintentional comedy as they live out their day to day lives, while Rickey tries to balance his career, single fatherhood, romance, and more. In the 44 episodes that aired so far on TV One, Rickey Smiley – American comedian and radio show host – has hilariously juggled his career, personal life, and fatherhood in both Birmingham, Alabama – where he lives – and Atlanta, Georgia, his workplace – with much entertainment for the audience.

Rickey Smiley For Real Cast: Who’s in it?

The show is mostly shot in Atlanta, where Rickey Smiley lives and works during the week, as well as in Birmingham, Alabama, his hometown, and where his family is. ‘Rickey Smiley For Real’ focuses on his struggle to bring up his kids, find work-life balance, and trying to have a love life. The results, frankly, are sure to be a good source of laughter for viewers. This show combines the comedy approach of the central character with fun, family and lots of drama to create something for all ages.

The series stars, of course, Rickey Smiley – with the gossip guru from his show – Gary With Da Tea, as well as co-host of his show Da Brat, his kids Malik, D’Essence, Aaryn, Brandon, and numerous others from his work and home circles, such as nephew Craig, assistants Miss Pat, and Angie, business consultant Bruce, childhood friend Nikita Blockton, and co-hosts Headkrack, Rock T and Juicy. The hour-long episodes give viewers an up close and personal voyeuristic view.

Rickey Smiley For Real Plot: What is it about?

In all the seasons aired so far, people can see Rickey in familiar and unfamiliar situations doing traditional and non-traditional things, just trying to make the most of each day and endeavouring to be the best he can, as a father, as a professional, and as a man. Whether he is cooking dinner or performing comedy on stage, taking his family out on spontaneous outings or playing the shark at business meetings, going on celebrity dates or coaching co-workers – his other family – on work stuff, Rickey always comes through as genuine and earnest. Viewers also get a rare behind-the-scenes look at what life on the road is like, and what goes on in-studio and backstage at radio and stage shows.

“Rickey Smiley For Real showcases the ‘real’ Rickey,” said D’Angela Proctor, TV One’s SVP of Original Programming and Production. “We see his real job, real friends, real kids and his really crazy life. As a successful member of our Radio One family, Rickey’s return to TV One is sure to resonate with our audience.” The series, produced by Bobbcat Films, brings the laughter and fun into introspection.

The biggest success of the series, though, is arguably its sensitive and in-depth look at black parenthood, specifically fatherhood, through the medium of Smiley’s own hectic life and constant struggles to keep his head above the water as a single father who splits his time between two cities while balancing the demands of his professional duties with those of his family. Many completely different kinds of viewers will be able to find a connection to the show, but the way the series visually brings to life the dynamics of black fatherhood and shatters the media and Hollywood hyped trope of the “absentee Black father” is beautiful, to say the least.