BY DC CUEVA
Getting another opportunity is a thing that's rare when it comes to the world of TV: fans of Brooklyn Nine-Nine got teary-eyed when it was cancelled by FOX... only for those tears to become those of joy once it was revived by NBC only days later. In MTV Challenge circles, him invading Invasion of the Champions and an injury she had on Champs vs. Stars brought Exes 2 lovebirds Zach Nichols and Jenna Compono back together after a breakup the previous year, while Big Brother 19 champ Josh Martinez was given another chance to compete on the current season of War of the Worlds when a competitor was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury in the opening purge challenge.
But these stories of gaining new life in both sports and the fifth major pro sport pale in comparison to the twisted journey of those who will have another chance to introduce themselves to the MTV community next week. But this time, it will be thanks to the banner of a franchise that got its start ten summers ago when the first generation of Teen Moms were 16 & Pregnant back in 2009. And they will bring to this always scrutinized MTV franchise several firsts, as they will welcome everyone into the Young Moms Club... but the story of how a group of young ladies from America's Finest City got here can be traced back a year in rather strange circumstances.
Last summer for a brief time, there was another series that gained that prized spot of airing after the early part of Vacation #2 where Snooki, the Sitch and friends were roaming through Las Vegas... but it's only now that people are now starting to recognize this show as it joins the Teen Mom family on Monday. When Pretty Little Mamas bowed back in August of last year, those who saw the promos for it in the leadup to its premiere had the impression that they were gonna be watching a hybrid of Teen Mom and The Hills, and they were marketed as "Not Your Basic Mamas." And its stars also got to walk the blue carpet at the Video Music Awards in New York City.
The tale of what happened after it premiered is so complicated, we would rather fast forward thru what might be considered now a 2-week sneak preview than discuss the details of what happened there. But in a move that surprised and divided everyone from out of the blue earlier this month, Pretty Little Mamas is being rebooted as part of the Teen Mom franchise in the Young Moms Club. It's definitely something that nobody expected, but one that MTV teases in a promo that dropped yesterday, "In life, there are two sides to every story, and this story deserves a second chance."
This reimagining will retain PLM's original premise of documenting this clique of best friends and the experiences they go through together, in their own lives and everything in between, like many coming of age stories MTV loves telling. And like the other iterations, Young Moms Club will document the moms juggling the life of being a parent and what they want in life, and featuring their adorable kids and the families who know they so well, while also integrating the franchise's honest and distinctive storytelling and the Teen Mom feel too.
Understandably, fans got to air their frustration on social media of how a show whose original title was a play on Pretty Little Liars got axed after a few weeks could return to MTV and of how it's rebranded under the Teen Mom name. Among those critics was Catelynn Lowell's husband Tyler Baltierra, who voiced his anger about the reboot after welcoming their third kid, as the series goes on in its post-Farrah life and after Janelle's infamous video burning Kailyn's hair products went viral.
But in defense of how people do believe in another opportunity, a Twitter user from YMC's hometown wrote, "MTV was portraying everyone wrong like everyone was rich..and made people hate the show cuz they thought it was a show of spoiled kids who got pregnant, but as a San Diegan I noticed real quick there was only one living a luxurious life in (Rancho Santa Fe) while everyone else struggled. Happy this show is back and hopefully they show you guys in the real lime light."
In reply to the social criticism, MTV posted the response below on the Young Moms Club's Twitter account shortly after to help clear the air to everyone... replete with an animal emoji:
"Time to address the 🐘 in the room. We understand the confusion around the announcement of #YoungMomsClub. At the heart of #PrettyLittleMamas was a story of 6 moms trying to navigate life, relationships and motherhood. We quickly realized that story is best told through the #TeenMom lens. You’ve seen some of their journey, but we hope that you’ll take a chance to experience the rest." - @MTV
As is the case with the pair that brought the fandom who followed them on AYTO, Real World, The Challenge and Ex On The Beach to Teen Mom OG up the road in Cheyenne Floyd & Cory Wharton, this "mom squad" enjoys the benefit of calling a California beach city their home in San Diego... giving YMC a little slice of Laguna Beach and Siesta Key. And if the footage of that short but sweet run is an indication, there might as well be plenty of drama coming for a group that, since we last saw them, have increased its family by one mom, and soon, more kids.
Sure, these ladies aren't teenagers and didn't debut on 16 & Pregnant, but they do have something to offer to those who have seen the growth of Maci, the struggles of Catelynn and Amber, the drama of, yes, Farrah, Kailyn and Janelle, and everything else that Teen Mom has offered since the franchise began ten years ago this coming summer. Like most of those who've been documented since they were teens, the moms of this Club know what it's like to become a parent out of high school but doing what they can to keep it a secret and perhaps risk losing family and friends because of it.
And after their test run last year, the Mamas turned Young Moms have the more appropriate audience in Teen Mom's predominantly-female audience and those who are parents to bring their story to them and to the rest of America... at last.
● ALYSSA MYERS: At first glance, Alyssa seems to be living the perfect life with getting ready to have a nursing school diploma, watching over adorable young boy Kayden and fiance Brandon who's ready to say their "I do's." But as anticipation for her biggest day ever amps up, Alyssa also has to deal with the closest person in her life, her mom, battling brain cancer. She'll be looking to her besties to try and keep spirits high during this busy time in her life.
● CHANDLAR ANNE: After time away, Chandlar returns to the clique having reconciled with them after a terrible falling-out. It was caused by her dating an abusive boyfriend in Aaron - who the group and her family disapproves of due to his substance abuse, and her skepticism of whether he can handle being a dad even though he's improved his mental state. This comes as Chandlar is ready to welcome her second kid, joining her daughter Aubrey who she shares custody with her ex.
● CHEYENNE LYNNE: Cheyenne is the only mom of the Club to sport a wedding ring, but she's been through a lot since battling leukemia at age 5 and beating it afterwards. She defied the odds to eventually become a mom to two kids, but the struggles of raising them with her husband Teli and his current job instability are making things hard on them as they live with her dad instead of on their own, making their financial struggles their biggest challenge on this series.
● NIKKI ELISE: Nikki is the relative newcomer to the clique, having moved to San Diego for college after growing up in Singapore. But her life took an unexpected turn when she got pregnant with boyfriend Ryan, and the result was 1-year-old Alaia (whose name in Basque means "joyful"). She's a model with a 17,000 sub-strong YouTube channel, but her big challenge is trying to balance being known socially with keeping her family together while also being a great mom.
● NICOLE PLESKOW: Nicole has been a single mom since giving birth to 5-year-old daughter Noelle - the first person to be blood related to someone who was adopted. But she has a lot on her plate: going to graduate school, having socialite status as the clique's resident queen bee, and living in a full house with her parents and a full-time nanny. Plus, she's getting romantic with her new boyfriend Michael, which she hopes will put her loser guys history to rest.
● HEATHER MIINCH: She might not have been featured on PLM, but there's no better time for cameras to join the group's newcomer, Heather. This aspiring "mommy mogul" in the health and beauty industries is on an ordered bed rest as she and high school sweetheart Taylor await the arrival of their second kid... that is, if she and her baby survive the pending delivery due to her current health state. Needless to say, she will need the group's support to power through her toughest test yet.
With their MTV return, the cast of Young Moms Club are relieved that their journey will finally get the expanded look into their world that they rightfully deserve. But Chandlar, Nikki, Nicole, Alyssa, Cheyenne and Heather aren't the only ones whose 15 minutes of fame got cut short for reasons not related to losing an elimination on The Challenge or getting kicked out of the Real World house... only to make MTV do some second guessing. And in a rather strange coincidence, two other MTV'ers who also come from San Diego have also gone through this very same experience themselves, including one who will be returning to our screens in a couple months from now.
And fellow San Diego native and MTV alum, Briana LaCuesta, has also gone her own second chance story, too. The Are You The One Season 2 alum competed on Rivals III until her partner and perfect match Brandon Tindel decided to bolt for reasons unrelated to an injury or family emergency. After not being given a fair chance, Bri was given another opportunity to return to The Challenge the following year when, after Ashley M. quit before competition began, she flew in as her alternate and accompanied CT to XXX: Dirty 30, and eventually giving the standout rookie of last year's trilogy, Britni Thornton, all she could handle in their elimination battle.
Frankie and Bri know exactly what it's like to get their time on an MTV season get cut short only to be given new life. And come Monday, it'll be the turn of Cheyenne, Nikki, Chandlar, Nicole, Alyssa and Heather to be given a second look, as they'll give those who stick around after the drama that is Teen Mom 2 a lesson and story in friendship and the life of being a mom. And as MTV notes in the show's site, "...these women will try to navigate everything the only way they know how: together."
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