It’s like Gilligan’s Island without Gilligan. How could there be absurdity in the world without Chanel West Coast (Chelsea Chanel Dudley)? Especially the laughs, no one is going to replace Ridiculousness anytime soon.
But as time went on, so did the fashion shows, and Chanel became an afterthought. New guests appear and bring their own personalities, contributing to the laugh-out-loud laughs in their own unique way.
Now, the problem is different. Would Chanel West Coast survive without absurdity? Obviously, unless she liquidates her assets, withdraws all the cash, and has a barbecue in the backyard, she’s going to be in great financial shape.
No, I’m talking about her name in the world of television, specifically reality TV.
If you’ve been following her short journey closely and the absurdity is still visible in the rearview mirror, you already know about her new project, West Coast Hustle.
Then there were her efforts as a musician, which didn’t take off like Elon Musk’s rocket.
Why did Chanel West Coast leave the absurd?
Chanel served as the host of Ridiculousness for over a decade, to the point where the show and her name are essentially tied to it for generations to come.
However, it was her choice to leave, and luckily it wasn’t due to any angst between her and the show or her co-hosts.
I always wanted to show the world what I was doing out there ridiculous. I was pitching the trailer and trying to get someone to pick up the show for a while, but no one would take it at first. I think the universe has a plan for us. The funny thing is, once I had my baby Bowie, the blessings started rolling in.
It is questionable whether Chanel is going through a mid-life crisis in her thirties. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to suddenly change careers after 12 years of familiarity.
Her name and her bank account are big enough to take the risk. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have disappeared from public view for years.
Others never came back, either leaving forever or getting bogged down in the mire of B-movie flops, their names fading in status and appeal.
That said, there is always the possibility of failure. No matter how much effort and time you put in, nothing is set in stone. The fact that she left on her own terms speaks volumes about her stability and future plans.
It’s not a matter of rolling the dice either. According to Chanel, she wanted to take action. When MTV approached, offering her a show and her own platform, all that was left was paperwork and goodbyes.
west coast hustle
Chanel’s West Coast Hustle premieres August 1, 2024, and as far as the genre goes, there’s nothing ridiculous about it.
Ridiculous, which remains firmly in MTV’s top 5, is primarily a true-life comedy commentary and is a raunchier, more irreverent version of America’s Funniest Home Videos.
West Coast Hustle is a reality documentary series that focuses on Chanel’s West Coast family life and budding attempts to break into the recording artist industry.
Add in motherhood and life with boyfriend Dom, and you have a pretty typical reality TV show.
The show started with a low ratings ranking, peaked in mid-August, and dropped slightly as it entered mid-September.
Relatively speaking, “Chanel” performed quite well, especially “Ridiculousness,” which ranked fifth with an average of 153,000 viewers. At its peak, The West Coast Hustle’s attendance reached 116,000, before stabilizing between 88,000 and 98,000.
Chanel’s true ambition
Although Chanel has chosen a new career path and is working with MTV on her new documentary, her ambitions have nothing to do with reality TV.
Chanel wants to sing. That’s not to say that West Coast Hustle is just a stepping stone to Chanel’s boredom.
But she spent a lot of time in the studio. Despite the glitz and glamor of life in the Hollywood Hills (Chanel made a lot of money with Ridiculousness), being a successful recording artist was still her first priority.
As a new mom in the music industry in the wake of the Sharon Stone lawsuit, I know there’s plenty of room for real-life drama — the kind that draws audiences to shows.
One of Chanel’s biggest concerns is the postpartum “mom’s body.” Since she had an emergency C-section, it was understandable that it took some getting used to.
Her encouragement to young women in similar situations was a positive boost for the show, especially for young mothers.
However, there are questions, and the ultimate answers will determine whether Chanel fades into obscurity or joins the ranks of other pop stars.
Upcoming issues
First of all, there’s nothing about Chanel’s singing that makes her unique. If you watch some of her tapings on the show, you’ll see that she’s not that bad. Unfortunately, of course.
Chanel’s lyrics can’t compete with those of Smokey Robinson, Mick Jagger, Bob Marley or Bruce Springsteen. Disney’s teen pop stars have and will continue to cover this territory in terms of vibe, tone and feel.
When Chanel was recording, “unique” wasn’t a word that circulated in the studio. The fact that she’s not terrible is good, but in this cutthroat industry there has to be a certain level of separation if she hopes to succeed.
If there’s one thing movie stars would rather avoid, it’s being tied to just one character for their entire career.
Chanel, of course, does not play a role in the Absurd, but Chanel’s difficulty in escaping the Absurd lies in this connection.
Of course, regardless of whether Chanel successfully separates herself and/or as a recording artist, unless she has serious money problems, she will be stuck with this for the rest of her life.
Her net worth is between $3 million and $6 million, which is where most people could retire very comfortably.
So the real answer to whether Chanel can survive the post-absurd era is a simple “yes,” no matter how things pan out for her recording artist ambitions.
But whether her name can survive in a competitive industry outside of “Ridiculousness” reruns remains to be seen.
What do you think? Will Chanel West Coast fade into obscurity after leaving Ridiculousness, or will she become another forgotten MTV star?
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
