Carlos King’s face Black Without telling any story without the need to become a star of his hit show.
Detroit -born, dubbed by fans and colleagues as the king of reality TV, has created a franchise that travels beyond the shores. His “love and marriage” franchise has changed HuntsvilleAlabama, Detroit And Washington, DC, should watch television with “Family Empire: Houston”. His other hits put “Belle Collective” JacksonMississippi returns to the cultural map and on Friday with a new season.
As a former “Real Housewives of Atlanta”, as a manufacturer, King is showing that wherever real people live, love and grind, compelling stories thrive. Through his company, Kingdom Rain Entertainment, he says that his own original programming of more than 60% carried his impression, credited to support his vision to the top officials of the network such as Opra Winfrey, Tina Perry and Drew Tapu.
Beyond television, King has expanded his access to the popular podcast “Reality with the King” and on-camera hosting, which strengthens his position as both the creator and voice of the culture.
In a recent conversation with the Associated Press, King opened about freedom, created generational money, openly navigated racism and homophobia as a gay black man. He also touches how he is called “black” Andy CohenA node for “Real Housewives” executive manufacturer and late-night hosts that became Bravo’s on-air face.
AP: What does “Raja of Reality TV” mean?
King: It strengthens my space in this business of unscripled television. A successful production company, Kingdom Rain Television, number 1 show on the network of Oprah Winfrey, “Love and Marriage Huntsville,” a number one podcast for “,” Reality with the King “, so all those things are under my, my brand and my empire. The title matters a lot to me and my brand. Viewers understand that I am multi -faceted and multilateral. It holds a lot of weight, but I am definitely someone who understands the assignment.
AP: Why is ownership so much priority for you?
King: In our business, unfortunately, you make a show and you are at the mercy of the network, which is just our business. And there are things in the same way, right? If you work and once you sell the show to the network, you don’t show anymore. I am about the ownership and the fact that if I put in the equity of sweat, I want all the profits. I want all margins to come to me because I worked, I made this idea. I found the artist. I developed the show. I want to do everything that I do, and that’s the place where I have a vision right now.
The beauty of my podcast is that I own it. No one can tell me what to do with it. Opportunities of ownership are fantastic because you are really able to create your destiny and looking for partnership that makes sense in the ancient way of this business that I do not want to do it yet.
AP: How have you navigated systemic obstacles?
Raja: I have seen all this, I am doing all this: homophobia, racism. I have seen that all my life, personal and professional. However, for me, I never allowed it to be my loss. I found ways to make my superpower. I found ways to ensure that I stood for myself and in meetings for myself, in conversation, and inappropriate discussions, where the shed was thrown very brilliantly. I allowed myself to do a disintegration in a very different way.
I did not need to be super vocal at the moment and created a scene out of it. Because I knew that if I did so, I would not be asked back to work. I knew to stand in a way for myself and my community that was digestible for them. But I always knew that you have learned a valuable lesson, and you take these conversations that are getting around you, and you allow it to fuel as an agent of changes in other situations.
AP: What are the three keys to create a successful reality show?
King: No. 1, Cast. A show lives or dies by artists. You found a great cast. What is number 2 angle? If I did a show about a group of black people in Atlanta. … Oh okay, saw it. But if I do a show about black couples in Huntsville. Well, it enhances my interest. tell me more about it. Find the angle that is not already out. Number 3, authenticity is important. There is an authentic group of people who want to share their lives.
Three things that do not work:
The first is a group of members of the artists who do not want to share their reality. You are losing Two, one angle which is familiar. I sometimes pitch, “I am doing a show about X, Y and Z and I am liked,” it’s already in the air. There is nothing special about it. Take another big swing on this idea. “Find out what is missing on television and make yourself. Create another copy of a show that is already in the air. And number 3, fakeness. Oh my gosh, viewers can make a fake spot. I can make a fake spot.
AP: Why did you set “love and marriage” in Huntsville and “Belle Collective” in Jackson?
Raja: I wanted to tap in a market that I felt that he was understanding and was not just because of them. I wanted to tell black stories in internal cities and towns that are not prevalent like LA, New York, Miami. I wanted to be able to show the world that these people exist, and they should not forget about it. Many people, including me, have not heard about Huntsville until I met some people and I like, “Oh, you have a great story of people.”
AP: How do you feel about being referred to as the black version of Andy Cohen?
King: I want people to really focus on the individualism that both of us present in this community in this community. For me, when it comes to my heritage, I am very confident that people are now looking at the difference between him and me, and they are now looking at the quantity of work with their podcast, my Youtube channel, which I am doing with making shows in different parts of the world who are unused. They are looking more and more. I want them to watch because it is only better.