Missy and Madonna's Reunion
Hip-hop diva Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott currently plays Mama to a tour bus full of wannabe rappers on UPN's Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott (Wednesdays at 8 pm/ET). In tonight's episode, Missy's brood attempts to put new spins on classic country ditties at a Nashville honky-tonk bar. Next month, the ratings-challenged Road gets a sweeps boost from special guest star Madonna. Here, TV Guide Online gets a saucy update on all things Missy. So listen up, y'all!
TV Guide Online: What made you do a reality show?
Missy Elliott: As an artist, I felt like kids need to see you don't just [become] a superstar and jump into a Bentley as soon as you get on TV. It's hard work. You have to have drive, be on time and believe in yourself. You're gonna feel sad, have doors closed in your face, have people talking to you any kind of way [they want] to make you feel like you ain't got the skills. There are some people like [
Road judge]
Mona in situations [who will] straight up tell you, "You're wack. This is garbage."
TVGO: Speaking of wack, will Road give us the next William Hung?
Elliott: [
Laughs] I doubt whether we'll have a "She Bangs." But, of course, we have some that's lacking. Some of them, I almost thought, "This gotta be a joke." There was a lot of artists that I wondered, "What ever made them come [to the auditions]? Did they do drugs the night before? This is crazy. Some of these people are on acid in here!" What made me
stop cracking up was when I realized, "They for
real. They're not just playin'."
TVGO: They're in their own little world.
Elliott: But they had to see doctors before doing the show because UPN didn't want to have people with mental backgrounds get on the bus, pull out a gun and shoot everybody and be like, "I'm the winner!" [
Laughs]
TVGO: What did Madonna think of your group when she came to tape her appearance?
Elliott: I never found out what she thought of them, but she gave them really great advice. Those kids probably couldn't even believe they were sittin' in front of Madonna. Imagine some kids that came from the projects having a conversation with her! She never compromised her creativeness, and they really listened to that.
TVGO: How'd you get Madonna to do the show? Was it because you did that Gap ad together?
Elliott: No, me and Madonna call each other for everything. She's always there for me. Madonna hit me up and wanted me to do a piece for her tour, and I did it. I don't think there's anything I would say no to Madonna for. I'm a huge fan of hers. I might not do a
kiss situation [like
Britney], but anything else she need me to do, she know I'm there for her!
TVGO: What's next for you besides this UPN gig?
Elliott: I have an album coming out in May. I don't have a title yet, but as far as I'm concerned, this is my best album. I've
never said that about any of my albums. I'm working on a movie of my life. Hopefully, that will be the next huge event. I'm looking for writers now.
TVGO: Who could play you? How about Beyonce?
Elliott: Well, I would
look nice. [
Chuckles] I don't think Beyonce has ever been my size, so that might be a little hard.
TVGO: How about Halle then? In "Work It," you sing, "Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster?"
Elliott: That would be
hot to get Halle to do it. That's a consideration. She's a great actress. If she was to do it, she'd put her all into it.
