Originally posted Friday, October 26, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Comic and radio/tv host Rickey Smiley has had a beef with me in the past over how I've covered him, mostly regarding his treatment of past employees.
But he decided to let bygones be bygones this week. We had a civil conversation at his offices in downtown Atlanta about his upcoming fifth season of "Rickey Smiley for Real," which returns Tuesday on TV One as well as his some of his off-camera habits.
Here are some highlights:
Why the show works: "I don't play games. That's what they love about the show. I'm very transparent. My grand-dad was in the military and played no games. I have a footprint on my chest."
New faces. With his children out of the house, Smiley thought he'd have his Birmingham mansion to himself. But his cousin Summer moves in with her four kids. During the first episode, he lays down the ground rules to the family and shows his OCD ways. For instance, if you stick your elbows on the kitchen counter, you need to wash off your "elbow prints." (He denies he has OCD.)
Always Be Mentoring. Despite said OCD tendencies, he is happy to have nephews and nieces to take care of. "It's a ministry, man. I want to invest in the kids. I'm the oldest grandchild. [He was raised by his grandparents.] There weren't many alpha males. I'm in charge of these kids. I'm the one they don't want to see. They have to report their grades.I take them school shopping. I think a solid family disciplinary structure leads to good grades and helps them succeed in college."
Not the hip-hop expert on his radio show. "Headkrack is the hip-hop head. He lives the culture. Gary [With Da Tea] lives the culture. I do a little bit but I live the culture through them. I keep it moving and host it and be funny. Their job is inform and be in the streets."
King of discipline: He said he gets a minimum of six hours of sleep a night. On nights he's not touring, he goes to sleep at 8 p.m. and wakes up around midnight. He'll then get back to sleep until 4:30 a.m. and grab a doughnut at a local shop on his way to the office. "I don't need an alarm clock. I have things to do. I could have gone to an after-party [for his screening Tuesday night] but I said no."
Two-city living: He said he typically spends Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and some Fridays in Atlanta. Otherwise, he's in Birmingham or in other cities touring on weekends with Martin Lawrence and Mike Epps. Some days, he said, "I lay on the couch all day and watch the SEC Channel."
Two tickets to Paradise: Some nights in Atlanta, he'll stay in his place in Brookhaven. Otherwise, he'll drive up to his pad in Lake Lanier. "I'm happy being by the water," he said. "I don't even fish anymore. I just go on the boat and listen to classic rock." His station of choice: 97.1/The River. "I love Fleetwood Mac and Elton John and Billy Joel. Dan Fogelberg! I love 'IGY'! Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat.' My favorite boat song - all my kids have to learn this - is Double's "Captain of Her Heart."
TV PREVIEW
"Rickey Smiley for Real," season 5 debuts 8 p.m. Tuesday, TV One
About the Author
