For those who fondly remember it, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" was a pivotal moment in reality TV history. Arriving at an unusual time for the social stratosphere, this 2012 oddity was filled with redneck jokes, colorful personalities, coupons, and lots of "sketti." It certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea: the series currently has a terrible rating on the Internet Movie Database and was heavily criticized during its run.
However, those who watch reality TV rarely do so for its prestige. At the center of the show was young beauty queen Alana Thompson, the self-proclaimed "Honey Boo Boo girl." After four successful seasons for the network, the show was abruptly canceled following a scandal involving Mama June and the dubious company she keeps.
Director: Katie Boland
Writer: Emily Silver
Stars: Richard Nicholas Emerson, Freddie Cohen, Keith Alexander
This whole affair is just a small part of Alana's story. In the Lifetime special "I Was Honey Boo Boo," Alana narrates, recalling the unpredictable nature of her journey in her own words. For Honey Boo Boo fans, or simply those curious to get an inside look at the tumultuous family drama, this documentary/recreation drama offers a captivating television experience, albeit one riddled with questionable acting and absurd dialogue.
For most, the biggest draw of I Was Honey Boo Boo will be Honey Boo Boo herself, hearing her experiences directly from Alana Thompson. With the help of somewhat exaggerated reenactors and often peculiar accents, Alana's story is revealing. While avid viewers of the long-running series Mama June: From Not to Hot (now Mama June: Family Crisis) will likely be familiar with most of the basic events, Alana brings surprising depth to her account. It takes us back to 2011, when Mama June and Alana began frequenting the pageant world. We see their relationship unravel over the years, no doubt attributed to the fickleness of fame.
Having never watched Alana's season of Toddlers & Tiaras—except for that now-infamous viral video—it was so sweet to see how much Mama June wanted her daughter to succeed. Her other children, and even Sugar Bear, fell by the wayside. Only Alana and pageants mattered. At that moment, it wasn't about the money. Even when Alana was offered her own solo TV show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, their relationship seemed stronger than ever. But with the sudden success, the family had to face an even tougher set of obstacles. Although we only get a brief look at the beginning, it certainly revived many of the emotions I experienced watching the series with my own family. For her part, Alana says she loves interacting with fans, even though she was apparently much shyer than her personality let on. Mama June also wanted the spotlight, but her name wasn't in the title, was it?
As the years pass and Sugar Bear becomes toxic, a cycle of abandonment and destructive relationships begins to form. Alana, too young to know better, lacks a solid family. Normalcy is a sham when it comes to family dynamics, but nothing about her living situation seems stable. It's a miracle that Alana comes out the other side as a fully formed person considering what she faces along the way. More television opportunities arise, and Mama June promises that nothing will come between her and her daughters. The complete destruction of this promise corrupts the family inside and out, darkening their public image. Tragically, Alana also suffers from bullying and low self-esteem. The focus shifts to Mama June getting "sexy" in a drastic weight-loss show: what exactly does this suggest about Alana, who sometimes struggled with her own weight?
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