“If I Were King” is a no-holds-barred, gritty and intense behind the scenes look at Sean John’s return to NYC Fashion Week after a 5 year hiatus. In terms of made-for-TV documentaries, it doesn’t get much better than this.

5 years ago, Sean “Diddy” Combs won CFDA’s Menswear Designer of the Year Award for his Sean John line. That honor (which is the fashion equivalent of an Oscar or a Grammy) had never gone to an “urban designer” or more shockingly, a black designer. After this landmark, Combs opted to not show at Fashion Week for 5 consecutive years. But now, on the cusp of Sean John’s 10 year anniversary, Combs’ hopes to compete with the other “bad boys” of high fashion like Roberto Cavalli and Zac Posen.

“King” is a visually stunning and interesting watch, but clocking in at an hour and a half, it could probably have done its job in less time. Regardless, the documentary balances the business, logistical, planning and creative process (YES, Diddy actually DESIGNS…who knew) in an intriguing and genuine manner. Critical fashion fans could most closely compare it to Issac Mizrahi’s classic “Unzipped.” Aside from the harried and intense designing and manufacturing (which saw members of the design team traveling across 3 continents), the film also touches heavily on the issues that blacks have had to face in the world of high fashion. This subplot eventually lead to a casting decision by Combs to feature an all black cast of models.

“If I Were King” doesn’t reinvent the wheel and if you are not already a fashion enthusiast, business student, Diddy fan or at least someone with an interest in the creative process, then there probably isn’t much here for you. Still, the film has a rich, artistic style, a genuine vibe and an entertaining value that makes it a worthwhile and fulfilling watch.

GRADE: A

This week, ABC premiered its surprisingly relatable and entertaining remake of A Raisin in the Sun. Before you write off this 2008 remake as a Puff Daddy star vehicle,you may be interested to know that it was the first made-for-TV movie in history to be accepted into the Sundance Film Festival.

In case you never took high school English: A Raisin in the Sun is story about a poor black family in the 1950s that receives a $10,000 life insurance check that nearly tears them apart. It was the first play written by an African American (Lorraine Hansberry) to be presented on Broadway. Ok, now that that’s out of the way…

This is the third time that the classic play has been adapted for the screen. The first adaptation featured Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier in the role of frustrated father and husband Walter Lee Younger. The second remake found a young Danny Glover taking over the reigns. Now, in 2008, music mogul Sean Combs is a surprising choice to fill those shoes. Whats even more surprising than his casting…is his stellar performance.

Most viewers will recognize Combs as the flashy, stylish and cocky man behind Bad Boy Records, Sean John Clothing, Ciroc Vodka, Justin’s Restaurants, MTV’s Making The Band and about a thousand other multinational brands. In this respect, it seemed unlikely that he could be convincing as the depressed, emotional and browbeaten Walter Lee. But while Combs may not have put Poitier to shame, but he certainly did him justice. Actually, the entire cast was nothing short of incredible.

The REAL show stealer was Phylicia Rashad (sorry Puff). Within the first 20 minutes of the 3 hour presentation it become very clear why she received a Tony Award for this role. Every time Rashad comes on the screen, the other characters seem to fade into the background. Though her role as the family matriarch is pivitol, her magnetic performance is what really makes her the star of this picture.
The script of A Raisin in the Sun is written in a classic (yet dated) manner that just begs for overacting. In fact, a big part of the charm of the original theatrical version was its over the top intensity. The fact that ABC’s adaptation maintains the same level of heart without becoming preachy and obnoxious is nothing short of a miracle. Still, younger viewers may be a bit turned off the story’s slow moving plot and dialog over visuals format.

When all is said and done, this remake of A Raisin in the Sun won’t rewrite history, but it is certainly one of the best made-for-TV movies in recent memory.

GRADE: B

Snoop Dogg has a new pseudo-reality show on VH-1. But Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood feels more like a Curb Your Enthusiasm style improvisational show than a reality show.

Perhaps comparing this show to Curb is a bit hasty. Snoop is funny guy and thankfully the show’s initial episodes place him clever situations. However, it feels like something is missing. There is a dryness to Father Hood that leaves the viewer feeling unfufilled.

David Beckham’s fish-out-of-water guest appearnce is interesting. Snoop’s trip to the accupuncturist is funnier than it sounds and his whole family is likeable. Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood is a show worth watching, but after some retooling could actually be pretty damn good.