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Welcome to Sweetie Pies

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“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” is a groundbreaking African American reality show that tells it like it is when it comes to running a soul food restaurant with family, friends and a host of characters that make up the Sweetie Pie staff.

This reality show, based in St. Louis, centers around Miss Robbie Montgomery, as she shares with us the drama, laughter, frustration, and joy that goes into building a successful business. You’ll even get a little hungry when they serve up the tasty food that makes many of us think of home. Don’t get me wrong though … this is not a cooking show. It is about building the American dream and what it takes to achieve it.

Now in it’s second season on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” Miss Robbie at 71 is beautiful, full of passion for her life’s work and has a strong history of survival, overcoming and thriving. And “back in the day” she had her share of the limelight too. In the 1960s, she was a backup singer and former Ikette with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

If you know anything about the Ikette’s you know they were some of the hardest singing and dancing sisters in show business. Miss Robbie left the Ike and Tina Turner Revue when she learned she could make more money singing backup with top Black and White performers than being on the road with the Revue.

Her singing career was cut short when she suffered a collapsed lung and had to stop singing, but always a fighter, she turned to the other talent she was blessed with–cooking.

She used to sell food from the back of her car, and at a very early stage, dreamed of owning her own restaurant although she was broke most of the time.

Fast forward to today and that dream has come true, and with family love and support Miss Robbie owns two “Sweetie Pie’s” family-owned restaurants with a third on its way.

Her handsome son, Tim Norman is her rock, critic and sometimes adversary when it comes to running the restaurant where he serves as manager. Tim believes she shouldn’t be in the kitchen cooking, that’s why she has a staff. But Miss Robbie wants things done a certain way and if she has to do it she will.

He’s also a new dad and soon to be husband to Jenae Wallick, his fiancee. We’ll see more of new baby T.J. and how Tim adjusts to fatherhood and helping his mom run their growing business.

And then there’s Lil’ Charles, handsome, spirited and a “hot mess,” but definitely going places.

While in Hollywood Lil’ Charles, was making his own deals, and has serious visions of stardom.

He was such a standout last season by accident because he wasn’t initially a part of the show, but when the camera turned his way he embraced it and it embraced him and so did the audience.

The new season puts Miss Robbie in the heat of the kitchen so to speak, from keeping her staff in line, to creating and designing her newest, most ambitious restaurant to date, and we’ll be along for the ride.

“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” airs on OWN, Saturdays at 9 p.m., or check your local listings. Visit the website at http://www.oprah.com/own-sweetie-pies/Welcome-to-Sweetie-Pies and click on ‘Watch the first five minutes of “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.”

Gail can be reached at gail@hollywoodbychoice.com.

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