The reality of former boy band member Ashley Parker Angel isn't fabulous. The former O-Town member is broke and singing on the streets for money in his new reality show "There and Back."
The MTV show portrays Angel's life after O-Town split up in the summer of 2003.
While living out his dream as a boy-band icon, Angel said he was shocked in realizing he had only made enough money from his short affair with fame to support himself for a year. Angel said he quickly decided to move to Los Angeles to resurrect his music career by pursuing a record deal.
He was broke and under pressure to find a job, a place to live and a way to support his now pregnant girlfriend. He ended up moving in with his girlfriend, model Tiffany Lynn, and her mom.
"I was living like most Americans -- living off my credit card, going to job interviews. I even worked a few construction jobs. Anything I could do to help support me and my family," Angel said.
After hearing his heartbreaking story, MTV became his "angel" by offering him his own reality show.
But Angel was hesitant at first.
"I didn't want to be considered a one trick pony, already coming from a reality TV show ['Making the Band']," he said.
But he knew this was the key to getting back on his feet. "MTV is my family," said Angel. "They gave me my first break, and now my second."
"There and Back" shows his efforts in the music industry, Tiffany's pregnancy and the birth of their baby.
Angel is used to being on TV, but giving birth to a child on MTV was a first for Tiffany. Angel said that he was proud of his girlfriend for sharing herself on the show.
"It is just so amazing, because she is going through so many emotions. Her hormones are changing. Your body starts growing, and you don't fit into the same clothes. You can feel so insecure, and she got through it all with an audience watching her," Angel said.
He was also excited abozut the fact that their baby would be the first live birth on MTV.
With all the excitement over the show and his new record deal, Angel said he is confident he will be successful, and able to support his family while still living his dream.
He said this is his only plan, but he believes that having no other options will motivate him enough to make sure he is successful. As for returning to school as a plan B, it looks doubtful.
"I love school," he said, "but I feel that my college experience was 'Making the Band,' where I got a degree in the music industry something I feel I could not have gotten at college."
Angel said there is a creed that has inspired him, one that he hopes will help others: "The road to success is paved with failure."
With that Angel said he feels that he can go a couple of different ways in the music industry outside of just singing. But for now, he said he wants everybody to check out "There and Back," which airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m. EST on MTV.
Reach the reporter at megan.m.salisbury@asu.edu.
