NEW
YORK (UPN) Frank B, a 21-year-old construction worker from Brooklyn,
N.Y., was the fourth performer eliminated from UPN's new dramality
series, THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, reducing the pool from
10 participants to nine.
During the stop in Nashville, the
participants won the right to board a brand-new, beautiful tour bus by
selling a set number of tickets to their next performance. The next
morning, the participants learned that at this show they would be
challenged to put their own original, funky spin on some classic
country hits, and perform them at a local honky tonk bar. When Frank B
learned of his assignment to "Achy Breaky Heart" with Nilyne and Nic,
he reacted, "It's an awful song�What can I do to 'Achy Breaky Heart?' I
don't sing."
While
rehearsing in the studio with local musicians, Mona met with each
participant individually and grilled them about which performer they
think is the weakest on the tour. While Eddie named Frank B as the
weakest performer, the majority voted for Melissa. In fact, Melissa
even voted for herself, saying, "I haven't shown myself here as well as
some of the other people."
Later that evening, clad in newly
purchased cowboy hats and boots, Melissa,
Jessica and Matthew's
performance of "Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" and Eddie,
Deltrice, Marcus and Akil's version of "
Sweet Home Alabama" met with
approval by the judges and bar patrons. Meanwhile, despite Nic and
Nilyne's strong vocal efforts, Frank B stumbled through his rap, and
their rendition of "Achy Breaky Heart" suffered.
While reviewing
each team's performance, the judges agreed that Frank B was "off
rhythm" and the team "never connected." Furthermore, while feeling that
this was one of Melissa's strongest outings, the judges had to listen
to her peers.
Ultimately, the judges offered Frank B and Melissa
up to Missy for final elimination. As Frank B went in to plead his case
for a second time in this competition, Missy said, "The country thing
ain't happening tonight, huh." While admitting that he got "outside of
his comfort zone," Frank B said, "I feel Nic should be here."
Meanwhile, Missy questioned why Melissa would offer herself up for
elimination. Melissa said, "The last couple days, I was down on myself,
but I feel like I had a really good performance tonight. I feel like I
came back 110 percent."
So, with a green lollipop in hand, Missy
asked the pair to battle it out and sing "like it's your last record."
After considering their performances, Missy told Frank B that he forgot
that "every performance is a performance" and by giving her less than
his best that evening, he was off the tour.
On UPN'S THE ROAD
TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, 13 aspiring vocal performers travel
coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, living
together on the road in an austere tour bus and competing against each
other for a record contract, a released single and $100,000. Missy
leads the panel of music industry judges, including Grammy
Award-nominated R&B artist Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning
producer Dallas Austin, and president of Violator Management Mona
Scott.
THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT airs Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.
