For six months, sophomore Chann Little made the almost two-hour drive from Elon University to his home in Charlotte every weekend. When he got there, instead of relaxing, eating home-cooked meals and otherwise enjoying the comforts of home, he entertained a camera crew.
MTV’s “True Life: I Have a Pushy Parent” filmed Chann Little, a Pendulum public relations representative, as he attempted to tell his sometimes overbearing mother that he wanted enroll in the Elon in LA program this summer.
In the episode, viewers watch Chann Little’s mother, Tonya Little, boss him around while they decorate their house for Halloween, run back-to-school errands and go shopping.
By the end of the hour-long episode, Chann Little gains the confidence to share his plans with his mom, and she agrees to let him go.
“I used the show as an opportunity to get some independence from my mom,” Chann Little said. “It really helped us out a lot. We’re so much closer because of the facilitation of the show.”
Tonya Little considers being called “pushy” a positive thing, and Chann Little agrees.
Chann Little believes his mother’s tough encouragement has gotten him where he is today.
He has a full scholarship to attend Elon and is a Watson and Odyssey Scholar, a tour guide, an RA and a member of both Campus Outreach and Elon’s gospel choir. He is also trying to start his own business.
“I’m just a little more pushy towards goals and achievement,” his mother said about him. “I push you to be the best you can possibly be in life.”
Although the Littles hesitated before joining the show because of how Tonya Little would be portrayed, the two agreed their story was told accurately.
Chann Little said his relationship with his mother and his life at home were reflected well in the show. He said participating allowed many people from Elon to see a different side of him and allowed him to share a meaningful story of finding a healthy relationship with a parent.
“Whenever you do anything in the media or national television, it needs to have a message,” Tonya Little said. “The experience was really good, and they need to give me my own show, where I can push other people’s children.”
The show’s producers and editors had to filter through hours of film for the episode, so not all aspects of Chann Little’s life were included. His mother was disappointed their faith was left out, but he still believes the episode showed enough to get their story across.
“I really liked the angle,” Chann Little said. “Some of my friends were disappointed they weren’t shown, but they included everything they need to.”
The lengthy filming period faced some obstacles when Chann Little began to change his image.
“Something came over me to lose weight halfway through the filming,” Chann Little said. “I would do pick-up interviews and I had to [repeat] things. I had to look like I was the same person.”
When the episode aired April 6, Chann Little’s friends from Charlotte hosted a viewing party in Chapel Hill. He said he was a bit distracted by all of his guests, but he critiqued the episode later when he was able to really watch it.
He thought the episode was good, but felt uncomfortable watching himself on television and hearing himself talk.
Some may consider Chann Little a celebrity, and he has been stopped on campus and in stores, but he doesn’t think the experience has increased his ego.
“It’s still me,” Chann Little said. “It didn’t really affect the grand scope of my life. It was a way for me to share my story.”
He has heard both positive and negative feedback from the episode, the latter of which he chooses not to take to heart.
On the positive side, people are thanking him for sharing his story, which has helped their own relationships with their parents.
“I definitely have more independence now,” Chann Little said. “I feel that I’m an adult now, and my mom has seen me mature throughout this process. She cares a lot about the decision that I made.”
Chann Little plans to spend the summer in Los Angeles and is keeping in touch with the “True Life” producers on a weekly basis as he searches for an internship.
“They’re like family now,” Chann Little said. “There’s a lot of fake reality out there, but ‘True Life’ does a good job portraying the real story.”