TV viewers have come to expect a certain formula from Lifetime shows — stories of desperate women, sudden teen pregnancy, or sentimental romance — starring women who are, for the most part, white. But on Wednesday, Lifetime added something different to their lineup with the premiere of a new "docu-series" called BAPs. BAPs stands for Black American Prince or Princess. The reality show follows a group of young, wealthy African Americans in St. Louis through dinner parties and shouting matches.
Lifetime also launched the second season of the unscripted dance show Bring It!, which follows a hip-hop dance squad in Jackson, Miss., through their weekly competitions.
Bring It! is Lifetime's fastest growing show ever: By the end of the first season the show's viewership more than doubled — and it skews 69 percent African American. Compare that with a 14 percent black audience for their other unscripted dance show, Dance Moms.
There are more shows like this coming down the pipeline — Raising Asia and Kosher Soul.
“ My goal ... is to have our channel reflect kind of the true breadth of the American population better and I think that means inviting a lot of different people into the tent.