NPHCs on TV
 

Because I was bored, I decided to check out Youtube videos. I don't even know how I came across it, but I found an episode of "Sister-Sister" regarding Tamara's boyfriend rushing Gamma Psi. It was a made up fraternity, which I'm pretty sure was supposed to be based on Omega Psi Phi (they had the colors of the Ques, so I assumed).

I noticed one thing: On shows or movies regarding Greek Life, for NPHC organizations, they show them on tv. For that Sister Sister episode, they showed the Nupes, the dad wore Alpha gear, Lisa had tons of Delta gear in the kitchen and when Tamara walked into the living room it was an AKA haven. There were also some SGRhos on the episode.

Even on "A Different World" they showed NPHC organizations. So, I guess my question is why NPCs and NICs/IFCs don't really allow that? I think it makes Greek life look great. In fact, Tamara's boyfriend initially joined to make fraternities look bad and eventually enjoyed it when he saw they didn't haze and only did community service.

Thoughts...

Wait, what? I don't understand what you are saying. I'm being serious. I've been checkin' out YouTube videos all day. First, I watched "Obey the Walrus" which is freaky as hell, and then I went onto "Subliminal Messages" which pretty much called Jay-Z out as a devil worshipper. So, if anyone has any thoughts on that-post about it, too.

Why do they allow NPHCs on tv wear their letters/ colors, but not NPCs and whatnot if it makes Greeks look good? I'm just curious.

This is what I'm talking about.

Why do some people have a preoccupation with this?

I've yet to see anything but stereotypical crap related to "sororities" (read, NPC) on television. That might have something to do with it. And, Carrie Underwood had her Tri Sigma letters on in one of her videos too.

On the other hand, there was at least one Trading Spaces where they did a sorority house (an NPC chapter) and they showed the letters, no problem.

lol--I remember that episode. I tried to find it on youtube. Do you have a link?

The episode is called "Greek to me"

Part 1

Part2

I <3 Sister, Sister.

ETA: IDK if that is the full episode, but at least from there you can find similar videos.

Just so you know (and you may already know this), when it comes to NPHC orgs, only members can be seen in paraphernalia, even on T.V. So whenever you see someone on T.V. in our letters, it's because they are really members. Otherwise, the show has to make up a sorority/fraternity for them to be in, if the actors in fact have to play such a role.

And I just want to point out the Alpha Xi Deltas next to the staircase after the step show, before the opening credits. ;)

On "A Different World" they always had a lot of background extras wearing letters (especially at the eatery--I forget what it was called). Do you know if these extras were actual NPHC members as well?

Yes.

That's pretty cool that you pointed that out. I looked and found that Tim Reid (the dad from Sister Sister who was wearing the Alpha gear) really is an Alpha man. Lisa (the mom) wasn't wearing any of the Delta gear, but she had tons of stuff displayed in the kitchen.

For the record: Because Jackee Harry isn't a Delta.

During the scene where Lisa is in the kitchen with her Delta friends, I noticed the two ladies were wearing red and white, and I noticed pins/jewelry on their clothes. The video wasn't terribly clear but I'm hoping someone could tell me if they were badges/pins?

Lisa isn't a Delta which is why she didn't have on Delta gear but there was probably someone behind the scenes (maybe even more than 1 person since Delta is so large) who wanted to also include the organization in the episode (and definitely probably an AKA or two or three), so they had the other ladies act like Lisa's Delta friends even though I didn't see any actual letters on them so who knows if they were actually members.

Either way, the shows have to get permission from the orgs to have any trademarks, symbols, or members appear in letters, even celebrity members. Why? Because the sorority might not agree with how the org is being portrayed and may not support the org being in any way connected to the show or episode. My sorors appeared on one of those morning shows last year in letters and talked about the sorority and had to get permission to do that as well. So whenever you see symbols, letters, trademarks, or anything displayed even in the background on a show, it has been cleared with the orgs (or should have been).

:)

It was called "The Pit":cool:

No, they weren't. And Tim Reid is also not an Alpha, but his son is.

The rules aren't as strict as people assume them to be. Letters and symbols can be used fictitiously if given permission.

Wow. That's weird. I also heard that he was an Alpha. Interesting.

So there! :p

AGES ago on Happy Days, Richie, Potsie and Ralph were pledging a made-up fraternity (that hazed them and that they ended up calling nerds), but after that episode they were shown to be members of ATO (and their girlfriends were DGs). What the ATO or DG connection was I'm not sure.

Actually that looks like a fake sorority--the letters are Alpha Chi Delta.

Aw greek letter FAIL. :(

You're right. I should have looked more closely.

No problem.

Just watching that Sister, Sister episode now--Donald Faison is one of the Gamma Psis! lol!

random:

anyone remember that parody show on Comedy Central called Campus Ladies? and the 2 main characters try to pledge the black sorority, Alpha Beta?

lmao, just a thought. iChuckled.

Yeah, I got a kick out of that too. The pledge that always stands next to Jordan (on his right, our left) looks so damn familiar....

Ahhh, the PIT! Thanks! :)

Wow! He was wearing letters in every scene during that episode!

Thanks!

This is obviously one of those things that the individual NPHC groups handle differently. Tim Reid appearing in Alpha gear causes confusion and hearsay and because of that it is probably written in several places that he is an Alpha.

I know that SGRho doesn't allow non-members to appear in our letters period. We had a situation regarding this some years ago and it caused a lot of unnecessary confusion.

I was also told (this was years ago) that the extras were in fact members of the D9. It wouldn't be hard at all to get D9 members out to an open call, and for a Black show, one featuring BGLO's, and at an HBCU (although fictitious).

I remember discussing this very topic when I was an undergrad and we all watched "Different World" faithfully.

Darryl Bell recently stated how it would annoy him that the extras were not NPHC members. I don't remember where I read this, but it was in the past week.

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I had to IMDB it to confirm, but brian mcknight is ghost!!

He was on that show several times, and always in a different role.