The clock around Flavor Flav’s neck says its time to go back to school…Or maybe he’s bank account’s just running on empty!

Flav is an alumnus of several VH1 hits. He starred in The Surreal Life, Strange Love and in three seasons of the popular dating show Flavor of Love, which set ratings records for the network. Now, the Public Enemy hypeman is heading back to high school to get his diploma, and he’s inviting the reality TV cameras to follow him one more time.

Flav (real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) is a 10th grade dropout who cannot read, write, or do math beyond about a 7th-grade level.

“Honestly, to tell you the truth – I don’t have my diploma – and years later, down the line, I felt that it was an embarrassing situation that I wanted to fix,” the Long Island, NY native revealed in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I wanted to make my mother happy – my sisters both have their diplomas and I don’t yet. And so I want to make my mom smile and make her proud while she’s still alive.”

He hopes his new show will remind others that they, too, are never too old to learn.

“I just want to show the world it’s never too late to get your diploma, and show kids they should stay in school and not wait until you’re old to get it,” Flav said. “Everybody sees me as this big love mogul. Now I got a baby girl, I’ve been there and done that and now it’s time for the next episode.”

Flav adds that he’s ready to use the reality TV platform to serve as a role model.

“I want to use this show as an example that it’s never too late to go back. I want to use this show as a tool to show kids who are already in school to get your diploma while you’re there. There are a lot of things that you can’t do in your life without your diploma. I want to go back and fix it now. I want this to be influential on kids.”

Flav says that fans will see a much more serious side of him in this new show.

“You’re definitely going to see a much more serious and deep side of William Drayton, who’s the person that created the character of Flav,” he explained. “And now I want fans to see the real serious, parental and mentor side of me – the William Drayton side. I’m going to be much more in mentor mode.”

The hip-hop legend added, “There will definitely be some wackiness too! I’m going out for the band, and the basketball team, and the football team. I’m still gonna keep Flavor Flav… the man, around! If the football team is losing the game, I’m gonna put on a jersey, and I’m gonna go out there and win the game for my school!”

Flav sees this show as the chance to send reality TV in a new direction.

“I think right now the direction of reality TV needs to change. I started out the trend for the dating shows on reality TV. My heart is saddened about the murder that happened within the course of that. I am going to change the course of things. People want something more right now; they want something smarter.”

Flav continued, “Another reason why I don’t have my diploma though is because I cut classes hanging out in the band room. But on this show, you’re definitely gonna see me out there as the drum major leading the band.”

“So my message for kids is, ‘Get your diploma right now.’ Believe me, I had a rough life without it. There are a lot of guys on the corner right now, hustling drugs because they can’t get the jobs they want because they don’t have their diplomas,” he concluded.