June 17, 2010, by Rodney Ho

Chilli and Bill in happy embrace. Does it last?
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Did Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC fame actually find what she wanted on the recently concluded first season of VH1's successful reality show "What Chilli Wants"?

Possibly. The final episode showed her deciding to date Bill, a tall dude with oodles of confidence. We don’t know his full name or what he does for a living.

Chilli, in a phone interview last week, didn’t provide any more illuminating details on that front or whether she’s even still dating Bill. (The show ended taping in January.) She did say in dating, “I’m taking my time, taking it slow. If it’s going to be, that time will come.”

Will you want to watch a second season of 'What Chilli Wants"?

  • Yes! She was fun to watch!
  • Nope. One season was enough
  • Didn't want to watch season one. Certainly won't see season two.

She also remained loyal to her list. “The list is not going anywhere,” she said. “Know who you are, know what you want and have standards. It’s great to have those qualities. I’m very proud I was able to take everything I’ve gone through and apply it to me to continue to grow in my life.” (This experience has inspired her to work on a book about relationships. Not enough of those on the shelf, eh?)

Sure, she will bend on the pork and someone who drinks a little. But one guy came in already tipsy. That was a turnoff. And she was appalled when she met a man nonchalant about caring for his son since she cares so much about raising her son.

She often blamed Tionna Smalls, the feisty dating coach, for setting her up on dates with men who didn't work for her at all: "I didn't like a lot of the people she was bringing to me," she said.  And when Tionna set her up with Bill toward the end, she castigated the coach for holding him back. Peeved, Tionna knocked a bread basket off a table at Cafe Intermezzo and left in a huff. (I have my doubts VH1 will bring her back. They'll probably create a new set up for Chilli in season two.)

In that final episode, she agreed to Tionna's plea that she do a couple of overnights with Bill and Farmer D but she said she was not going to sleep with either of them. Bill took her to Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville. She laughed a lot but they slept in separate beds and she declined a kiss. (In the previous episode, she appreciated that Bill was comfortable at the Uptown Comedy Corner, where most of the crowd is black, and took Arie Spears' on-stage teasing in good spirits.)

Farmer D (real name: Darren Joffe) took her to the Fernbank Museum. He's all quiet and mysterious while he makes her dinner. He goes in for a lip lock. Same problem. She holds back, like they're high school kids.

The show has already been renewed for a second season but Chilli said she had no idea when taping would start and how it would work.

Some fans wondered why Chilli, known for dating the likes of Usher in the past, ended up with  two white guys in the end. "I've dated men of all races," she said. "Some people have issues about it. But to me, it's not a big deal. Those two men happen to have a lot in common with me. Not because they're white but because of their backgrounds."

Farmer D sealed the end for himself when he said he was not a church goer or a deeply religious person.  And he got the answer wrong when she asked if he thought it was better to be fat and short or tall and long in the privates arena. He gave her the “wrong” answer. (Is there a “wrong” answer to that?) In the interview, she said, “I don’t really like quiet people. I think they have something to hide. Bill was more genuine.”

For now, she and T-Boz are prepping for a TLC tour in Japan. Why not do a tour in the U.S.? "We've been asked to go on tours and stuff. The package has to be right. We want everybody's last impression to be an amazing one. If  we don't feel that, we won't do it, especially here in the States."

“Americans are very fickle,” she added. “They’re not like overseas. I don’t know why.  Americans are that way. If it’s not perfect, you get crucified.”

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