CLINTON —
He may not look like the typical student, but Flavor Flav wants to go back to school.
The clock-wearing, fried-chicken cooking Public Enemy rapper desires a high school diploma. And he wants to earn that degree from Clinton High School.
Already a celebrity and owner of Flav’s Fried Chicken in Clinton, Flav recently pitched a reality show to Clinton School District Superintendent Deb Olson and a school board member. The show would depict his trials and tribulations while earning a diploma.
Flav, who dropped out of school as a 10th-grader, wants to show people that it’s never too late to earn a degree.
“I want the show to influence people my age who don’t have diplomas,” Flav said. “I also want to influence kids in school right now. While you’re in school and have the opportunity, get your diploma now. Don’t wait until you’re old like me to come back to get it, because you might not make it back there.”
The 51-year-old reality star’s show would be called, “Flavor Flav Goes Back to High School.” The plan was originally developed in 2009 and is currently only in an idea form, Flav said.
Before booking plans to study with other CHS students, Flav will have to convince Olson and other school officials that the idea will not be a distraction.
“It would be a huge disruption for our kids,” Olson said. “If he has other ideas, especially if something good can come out of it, that would be a good thing.”
Flav indicated that filming would have to be done after school hours, so he would not distract the other students. But Olson said she’s looking for a win-win situation for Flav and the school district, and while the idea is in the planning stages, she does not see it happening.
“It would be very unusual to have a 51-year-old (student) with the kids at the school,” Olson said. “But there’s nothing that would prohibit him. We would be having cameras and he would have to go to school and live in Clinton.”
Olson offered a few other suggestions, like having Flav appear at the state Parent Teacher Association convention in April, to help generate support for education. Flav said he’s open to suggestions on how to make the show a reality.
“As long as it makes sense to them and as long as it doesn’t disrupt the school, then I believe we can shoot it,” Flav said. “I just need the board to be on board.”
Along with a few producers, Flav indicated that he will meet with the school board in two weeks to present more information regarding the show. Flav has starred in VH1 reality shows “Flavor of Love,” Surreal Life,” and “Strange Love.”
For videos of Friday's interview, click here
