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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, June 26, 2003

Snoop Dogg is 'changing the face of TV'

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody
Associated Press

There are plenty of the bleeped words, censored images and blue humor that one has come to expect from Snoop Dogg in his new MTV comedy series, "Doggy Fizzle Televizzle."

Yet the gangsta rapper-turned-media maven doesn't think anyone will get too offended over the half-hour series, which premiered Sunday (times vary; check daily listings).

"It's not distasteful, it's all in good taste," Snoop, who has also been featured in "Girls Gone Wild" and porn videos, said in a recent interview. "It's not as many bleeps as in 'The Osbournes.' "

Snoop is just the latest celebrity to have an MTV series. "The Osbournes" became an instant sensation when it debuted two seasons ago, chronicling the foul-mouthed clan of rocker Ozzy. And actor Ashton Kutcher's "Punk'd," an edgier version of "Candid Camera," has gotten plenty of buzz since it debuted earlier this year.

But Snoop (real name: Calvin Broadus, and formerly Snoop Doggy Dogg) said his show is unique: "I'm changing the face of TV."

Actually, with skits best described as "In Living Color" meets "Saturday Night Live," Snoop's show resembles "The Lyricist Lounge Show," which had a few airings on MTV three years ago.

Tom Calderone, executive vice president of music and talent at the MTV Networks, wouldn't compare the two shows, but said of "Doggy Fizzle Televizzle": "It's certainly one of those shows where you watch it and it definitely breaks the mold of something that had been done on the channel for quite a while."

The cable network approached the 31-year-old with the idea of a show about two years ago, impressed by the rapper's popularity and longevity.

Snoop made his debut more than a decade ago on such hits as "Nothin' But a G Thang" with Dr. Dre, and is still a mainstay on the network, with hits such as the current "Beautiful." He has also been in several movies, including "Training Day," "The Wash," "Baby Boy" and "Bones." He has made guest appearances on TV comedies and even helped popularize such new words as "F'shizzle," which in rap-Latin means "for sure."

"We knew that he was just naturally comfortable with being funny," said Michele Dix, a development executive for the show. "We knew we wanted to build something around his personality — a personality that's cool."

But the rapper had to be convinced at first.

"I wasn't never really tripping on doing no TV show," he said. "I didn't think I was ready for TV, because TV puts parameters and limits on you — you can't really do what you want to do, or say what you wanna say. ... I don't like to be told what to do and what not to do."

Snoop said he eventually became convinced when he was granted complete control of the show.

"They basically wanted Snoop Dogg. MTV loves Snoop Dogg. The viewers, the peoples, the top-notch bosses over there, they just wanted to see Snoop Dogg," he said. "However they got him, they didn't really care."

While Snoop has displayed a wry sense of humor in some of his film roles and has gotten acclaim for others, most of his screen appearances haven't been too different from his rap image — a steely, cool character with a drawl and a sneer.

"I think on this TV show, I give myself roles that you wouldn't expect me to have, because I know what I can do and I know how far I will reach out to do those types of roles," he said. "It just gives me a chance to show them how diverse I am."