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Feline groovy submitted by: Lisa D. source: Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.) Date: August 11, 2003 'Cheetah Girls' hope to show it's cool to be multicultural By Renée Peck, TV Focus editor Deborah Gregory followed an unlikely path to the creation of a teen movie for Disney. It started with an article about liposuction that she wrote for Essence magazine. As Gregory recalled it for TV critics at the recent Hollywood press tour, a Disney book editor read the piece, called her up and asked her to consider writing for kids. "She said that (children's) books were not multi-cultural enough, and I didn't know that," Gregory recalled. "I was really hurt by that." So Gregory, single and childless, closed herself in her cheetah-themed bedroom with her bichon frise Toto, and the 13-book series "Cheetah Girls" was born. Why the feline fixation? "I just like wild cats," Gregory shrugged. Leopards, cheetahs, lynxes. "They're all just such beautiful animals. And no, I don't like the little cats, because they're not 'cheetahlicious.' " The term "cheetahlicious" pops up frequently in Gregory's conversation. So what is it? Hip duds are always cheetahlicious, Gregory explained, as are cool tunes, "growl power" and mutual respect. The actress Raven of "That's So Raven," 3LW singers Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon, and "The Bold and the Beautiful's" Sabrina Bryan are all cheetahlicious. So is Cappuccino, Gregory's current bichon (Toto died), who stars with the four girls in the movie based on Gregory's books. It premieres at 7 p.m. Friday on The Disney Channel. "The Cheetah Girls" revolves around a quartet of friends, Galleria, Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda, who come from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. They have a strong friendship and a single dream: to rock the world with their band. " 'Cheetah' is about believing in your friends and your family, and having a vision to go with your dream," Raven explained. There is, in fact, a Cheetah Girls credo, printed in the back of every book. "It says that we pay more attention to our homework than we do our hair," said executive producer Debra Martin Chase. "It's not just about Prada and Gucci. That's the fun part of it, and that's what makes it accessible and what will attract a lot of girls to the screen. But, at the end of the day, it's what's in your heart and what's in your head that makes you a Cheetah Girl." Also, what's in Gregory's head: The author, who co-produced the movie, has a whimsical imagination that shows up not only in the film's wildcat attire, but also in her penchant for word play and "slanguage." Galleria, she confides, was named after the shopping mall in Houston, a favorite of hers, particularly for Gucci shoes. Aqua was named during a marathon hair session with a spray can of Aqua Net. The girls' drama teacher is a former disco dancer named Drinka Champagne, the show's villain a slippery record producer called Jackal Johnson. But, whimsy aside, what will lure the pre-teen and adolescent set to the movie is its fixation on teen fashion and music. The four girls perform their own songs, and Disney is releasing the soundtrack -- a first for a Disney Channel movie. Whitney Houston shares executive producer title with Chase. Viewers also will be treated to Raven's first on-screen kiss. "It took me three hours," said the 17-year-old actress who is not into public displays of affection. "I was scared. I don't do PDA." . . . . . . . . TV Focus editor Renée Peck can be reached at rpeck@timespicayune.com, or call (504) 826-3431. THE CHEETAH GIRLS Friday, 7 p.m. DSNY Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2003