W-b Council-reform Backers Appeal Decision Against Plan

2003 Election 
Mellow Says He'll Pick Controller Replacement 
State Senate Democratic Leader Said Controller Steve Flood Won't Have A Hand
In Selecting A Replacement If Elected County Commissioner.

By ALAN K. STOUT
alanks@leader.net
 Friday, February 14, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 22 





VH1's `Driven' will premier a new episode with hip-hop star Lil' Kim at 10
p.m. Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Producers of VH1's `Driven' say even they were surprised by some of the
revelations that came out when the show profiled Kid Rock. The program, unlike
most music documentaries, does not talk to the artists themselves but offers
interviews with friends, family members, business managers and even former
teachers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; WHAT: VH1's ``Driven'' episode featuring hip-hop star Lil' Kim &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WHEN: Premiers at 10 p.m. Sunday on VH1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Did you know that Kid Rock, sometimes affectionately dubbed the king of
``white trash'' in American music, actually came from a wealthy family? His
relationship with his father was strained, but his luxurious home was far from
the tough city streets that seem to have inspired his fiery brand of modern
rock. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Did you know that hip-hop diva Lil' Kim once was engaged to a man in
prison, that she spent years on the streets hanging out among drug dealers and
that she aborted a child fathered by her late mentor and sometimes lover,
Notorious Big? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 How about the fact that Motley Crue's bad-boy drummer Tommy Lee took ballet
lessons as a child, that bassist Nikki Sixx was considered a dreadful musician
well into the band's career and that after the group's performance at the 1983
U.S. Festival, Lee was seen sobbing because he felt their performance was so
terrible? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 These interesting rock facts and dozens of others have been revealed on
``Driven,'' a fast-paced, behind-the-scenes style documentary program that
airs Sunday nights on VH1. The show offers old photos, home video clips and
interviews with those who knew the stars before they were stars. Executive
producer Suzanne Ross says VH1 simply looks for good stories when deciding
whom to profile. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We tend to look at which artists the public looks at and says `Where on
earth did they come from?,' '' Ross says. ``That was an early criteria, with
people like Marilyn Manson and Weird Al, who you look at and wonder what they
were like growing up. We try to focus on people who have somehow transcended
mainstream popularity and have really exploded into the national
consciousness.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The program first aired 18 months ago. Shows have included profiles of
artists such as Pink, Jennifer Lopez, The Dixie Chicks, Christina Aguilera and
Enrique Iglesias. ``Driven'' often dispels the notions that such artists were
overnight successes, and through the eyes of those who knew them best, it
explains pivotal moments in their development. Like the episode on Kid Rock,
they are always honest. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Everybody enjoys your typical rags-to-riches story, but the fact of the
matter is that not all of these artists were rags-to-riches,'' Ross says.
``What's interesting is that people assume that someone is driven because they
were poor and they wanted to be rich, but the reasons people are driven are so
much more intricate. What we're trying to get at is the artists' real rosebud.
We ask `What are driving forces in their life that drove them to be famous?'
'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sources for painting such pictures include childhood and high-school
friends, former teachers, business managers and family members. The artist is
never interviewed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``These are people you never heard from, and these are the people that know
the real deal and who haven't been interviewed in the past, so they don't have
their `stock answers,' '' Ross says. ``What's fascinating is that these people
often become very emotional when they get in the chair to be interviewed. It's
kind of like therapy for them, because they're often taken back to a place or
a time that they haven't thought about in a while, and it stirs up a lot of
old emotions. Those, to me, are the most powerful moments on the show because
they're so real.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although there is a direct correlation between VH1 programming and
increased album sales and the network easily could land an interview with any
pop artist it chooses, ``Driven'' - unlike ``Behind The Music - opts not to
speak with the artists directly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We feel that in some way, it may taint the story,'' Ross says. ``An
artist may become self-conscious or try and control the direction of things
for fear of how they'll be perceived. We decided that to really try and tell a
genuine story, it's better not to have any ulterior motives involved, which is
also why we've decided not to write scripts or have them navigate the flow.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ross says whenever VH1 decides to profile someone with an episode of
``Driven,'' they do inform the artist. She says the network is not out to
produce tabloid-style ``unauthorized biographies'' and adds that it would be
impossible to interview so many family members and friends without the artist
knowing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite the candor of the show, they usually like what they see. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``At first, they were really terrified to sign on,'' she says. ``And who
wouldn't be? Imagine 40 of your closest family and friends gathering to
discuss who you are as a person. It's frightening. But on the other hand, I
think it's an outlet for them. Of all the feedback we've ever received, there
has never been any negative backlash from the talent once the show has aired.
They're always dying to see what's going to come out, and every single artist
we've done has responded positively. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Pink's father, Halle Berry's mother, The Rock's wife ... they've all
written us letters saying `Finally, someone is telling the story and telling
it right.' And the reason is that they're telling it.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

'driven' Dishes All The Dirt