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B.E.T - WACK STAR POWER By Odeisel
(As Posted by THE BOOMBAP MASTER! @ ReturnoftheBoombap.ning.com)
Family is probably the most difficult thing that we deal with on this earth. Our friends we choose, and should things go wrong we have a choice to continue or disassociate. Family is different. With them, you have to play the hand you are dealt.
There was a time, before the Michael Jackson juggernaut, that our musical talent was relegated to late night television. We had a few sitcoms and shows, and pudding powered Cosby stood firm in the struggle to present black faces on television of the non-coon variety, but as far as then burgeoning MTV, were personas non grata.
Outside of music, by the time the 80s rolled around, there weren’t many Black shows either. We had Tootie’s roller skating in Miss Garrett’s kitchen, Phil Drummond patronizing Willis and Arnold, and Webster running through grandfather clocks. But there was no main vehicle to carry our culture to our homes.
Although it wasn’t on free TV, BET was our home; our family. You always assume that family has your best interest at heart. You never think to stop and wonder if your mom doesn’t really know the answer when she’s helping you with your homework. You would like to think that your father really does know best, and that when they give to you is for your own good. The older you get, you start to figure out that your mom hasn’t had a math class in years, and your dad isn’t as worldly as you believed. But they’re family.
BET wasn’t perfect, and they didn’t have 24 hour programming, but they were the little station that could. They were your cousin Denise trying to get into college; busting her ass in school, with an afterschool job, determined to make it in this world. They had shows like Teen Summit, to nourish the children, and Ed Gordon/Tavis Smiley-helmed Nightly News to show us what was going on in Balck America in a way that your local news just couldn’t do. They weren’t perfect but they were family. You play the hand you’re dealt.
We supported cousin Denise through the many phases of her life. When she dropped out of school (cancelled Teen Summit) we remained by her side. When she lost her job (cancelled Nightly News) we held her down like school lunch. We even supported her when she had a baby and started stripping to support herself (BET Uncut). No matter what she did, we had her back because blood is thicker than water.
Last night, Denise did something that may not be able to be supported or forgiven. When our shining King died Thursday, with an impending awards show, in the City of the Angles, BET was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Michael Jackson’s death and the subsequent publicity that followed, particularly an alley-oop from Don Lemmon and CNN to lead into the show, gave unprecedented attention worldwide to the BET Awards, and was the chance to show what true “Black Star Power” was all albout. To say that they squandered that prospect is an understatement of the highest order.
Their red carpet (or black carpet as it were) was significantly outclassed by CNN, in particular, the aforementioned Lemon, who, despite a bizarre interview with Joe Jackson, managed to snag all the significant A-List stars, and ask genuinely interesting questions. Terrence and Rocsi, hosts of BET’s long-running show 106 & Park were by comparison, Denise’s children running wild in the supermarket with no supervision; nothing of any substance, a few wardrobe changes, and misplaced enthusiasm. The performers themselves, afforded with the opportunity on, for many, the biggest stage of their lives, flopped horrendously.
The broadcast itself was Denise in the corner smoking crack while her child is in the living room with a diaper full of “shit” (one from Eddie Levert in a true Boondocksian “n***a moment” and one from a song that inadequate censors didn’t catch. The show had no rhythm, it ran over time by 45 minutes, and held us all hostage waiting for the payoff; waiting for the event that would make us sweep everything else under the rug and say not only good bye to the King, but to find something good to say about Denise, who is obviously falling apart.
There was no consistency to the show, with many performances either subpar or seeming out of place. There was profanity, performances of questionable content for a primetime heavy event, the ridiculous awarding without even mentioning nominees, a babbling Don Cornelius, an outlandish ode to Baby Boy, and a Beyonce remix of “Ave Maria.” You can’t make this stuff up. We won’t expound on the Sheneneh/Wanda action movie extravaganza.
When family is hurting or out of control we intervene. Anything that would snap them back to the road of self respect. Bob Johnson is long gone, content to try running airlines and too busy screwing up the Charlotte Bobcats. They weren’t perfect before but at least they had some video soul. The beast that is Viacom, while placing quality Hip-Hop and urban programming on VH-1 (formerly the channel who promised to play absolutely NO Hip-Hop) and its Nickelodeon juggernaut, (I won’t count MTV because they’re a sinking ship as well quality-wise), seem either unwilling or unable to stop the bleeding at BET. They made the call to cut off the womb (Teen Summit) and the head (Tavis Smiley).
Perhaps it’s time for some new blood? Perhaps BET can rise from what was a colossal failure for both themselves as a credible entity and for us as a family represented by her. We have our things we like to laugh at, and there are things that the urban community “gets” that perhaps others don’t jive with, but trotting out their two impending reality shows (I won’t even name them. You already know), and promising a payoff to the incessantly long and weak show, and increasingly juvenile programming, particularly impending ghetto game show “Pay It Off” may be just unsalvageable offenses.
Maybe it’s time to accept that Denise doesn’t want to change. Maybe she is who she is, and we are no longer family but enablers to her tired act. Perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere. Expecting Viacom to accurately depict our way is probably foolish in itself. It’s time to move. It’s time for some tough love. Perhaps when we won’t let her in for Thanksgiving dinner, or we don’t send cards for Christmas because we’re over at cousin TV One’s House (who had a very good program on the Lost Supreme, Florence Ballard), she’ll get the message and straighten up her act. For now we stand amazed at the hubris and denial that is going on at BET with talk of “historic nights” and “great performances.” Perhaps BET should take Mr. Jacksons advice and start with the person in the mirror.
Tags: awards, bet
Family is probably the most difficult thing that we deal with on this earth. Our friends we choose, and should things go wrong we have a choice to continue or disassociate. Family is different. With them, you have to play the hand you are dealt.
There was a time, before the Michael Jackson juggernaut, that our musical talent was relegated to late night television. We had a few sitcoms and shows, and pudding powered Cosby stood firm in the struggle to present black faces on television of the non-coon variety, but as far as then burgeoning MTV, were personas non grata.
Outside of music, by the time the 80s rolled around, there weren’t many Black shows either. We had Tootie’s roller skating in Miss Garrett’s kitchen, Phil Drummond patronizing Willis and Arnold, and Webster running through grandfather clocks. But there was no main vehicle to carry our culture to our homes.
Although it wasn’t on free TV, BET was our home; our family. You always assume that family has your best interest at heart. You never think to stop and wonder if your mom doesn’t really know the answer when she’s helping you with your homework. You would like to think that your father really does know best, and that when they give to you is for your own good. The older you get, you start to figure out that your mom hasn’t had a math class in years, and your dad isn’t as worldly as you believed. But they’re family.
BET wasn’t perfect, and they didn’t have 24 hour programming, but they were the little station that could. They were your cousin Denise trying to get into college; busting her ass in school, with an afterschool job, determined to make it in this world. They had shows like Teen Summit, to nourish the children, and Ed Gordon/Tavis Smiley-helmed Nightly News to show us what was going on in Balck America in a way that your local news just couldn’t do. They weren’t perfect but they were family. You play the hand you’re dealt.
We supported cousin Denise through the many phases of her life. When she dropped out of school (cancelled Teen Summit) we remained by her side. When she lost her job (cancelled Nightly News) we held her down like school lunch. We even supported her when she had a baby and started stripping to support herself (BET Uncut). No matter what she did, we had her back because blood is thicker than water.
Last night, Denise did something that may not be able to be supported or forgiven. When our shining King died Thursday, with an impending awards show, in the City of the Angles, BET was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Michael Jackson’s death and the subsequent publicity that followed, particularly an alley-oop from Don Lemmon and CNN to lead into the show, gave unprecedented attention worldwide to the BET Awards, and was the chance to show what true “Black Star Power” was all albout. To say that they squandered that prospect is an understatement of the highest order.
Their red carpet (or black carpet as it were) was significantly outclassed by CNN, in particular, the aforementioned Lemon, who, despite a bizarre interview with Joe Jackson, managed to snag all the significant A-List stars, and ask genuinely interesting questions. Terrence and Rocsi, hosts of BET’s long-running show 106 & Park were by comparison, Denise’s children running wild in the supermarket with no supervision; nothing of any substance, a few wardrobe changes, and misplaced enthusiasm. The performers themselves, afforded with the opportunity on, for many, the biggest stage of their lives, flopped horrendously.
The broadcast itself was Denise in the corner smoking crack while her child is in the living room with a diaper full of “shit” (one from Eddie Levert in a true Boondocksian “n***a moment” and one from a song that inadequate censors didn’t catch. The show had no rhythm, it ran over time by 45 minutes, and held us all hostage waiting for the payoff; waiting for the event that would make us sweep everything else under the rug and say not only good bye to the King, but to find something good to say about Denise, who is obviously falling apart.
There was no consistency to the show, with many performances either subpar or seeming out of place. There was profanity, performances of questionable content for a primetime heavy event, the ridiculous awarding without even mentioning nominees, a babbling Don Cornelius, an outlandish ode to Baby Boy, and a Beyonce remix of “Ave Maria.” You can’t make this stuff up. We won’t expound on the Sheneneh/Wanda action movie extravaganza.
When family is hurting or out of control we intervene. Anything that would snap them back to the road of self respect. Bob Johnson is long gone, content to try running airlines and too busy screwing up the Charlotte Bobcats. They weren’t perfect before but at least they had some video soul. The beast that is Viacom, while placing quality Hip-Hop and urban programming on VH-1 (formerly the channel who promised to play absolutely NO Hip-Hop) and its Nickelodeon juggernaut, (I won’t count MTV because they’re a sinking ship as well quality-wise), seem either unwilling or unable to stop the bleeding at BET. They made the call to cut off the womb (Teen Summit) and the head (Tavis Smiley).
Perhaps it’s time for some new blood? Perhaps BET can rise from what was a colossal failure for both themselves as a credible entity and for us as a family represented by her. We have our things we like to laugh at, and there are things that the urban community “gets” that perhaps others don’t jive with, but trotting out their two impending reality shows (I won’t even name them. You already know), and promising a payoff to the incessantly long and weak show, and increasingly juvenile programming, particularly impending ghetto game show “Pay It Off” may be just unsalvageable offenses.
Maybe it’s time to accept that Denise doesn’t want to change. Maybe she is who she is, and we are no longer family but enablers to her tired act. Perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere. Expecting Viacom to accurately depict our way is probably foolish in itself. It’s time to move. It’s time for some tough love. Perhaps when we won’t let her in for Thanksgiving dinner, or we don’t send cards for Christmas because we’re over at cousin TV One’s House (who had a very good program on the Lost Supreme, Florence Ballard), she’ll get the message and straighten up her act. For now we stand amazed at the hubris and denial that is going on at BET with talk of “historic nights” and “great performances.” Perhaps BET should take Mr. Jacksons advice and start with the person in the mirror.
Tags: awards, bet
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by E-Sharp! on -
I thought the show was dismal too, but do keep in mind, "Denise" had only 3 days to pull off something big for MJ. Mikes death was all too sudden, and I just dont think there was enuff time to really do it right! Now, if "Denise" is smart, she'll get her shit together and come right back with something spectacular for our fallen brother, Mike... If she's smart!
I think some of the best tributes are yet to come, I trully believe that Katherine & Joe will see that our brother, Michael, has one of the best home-going ceremonies the world has ever seen... We hope!?
Damn, I still can't believe he's gone... : (
R.I.P. MJJ
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Permalink Reply by Chedda on -
"If we ain gonna do it right, don't do it at all."
No excuses for BET. We have an African american in the white house. It's time for all of us to step our game up. I have been telling my family that BET mis-represents us for 5 years. The creation of 106 and park put music in the hands of the kids so we lost our purposeful (hip-hop) music. We lost our voice. BET no longer speaks for us with integrity and honor. It's all about the mighty dollar now. BET is the pimp and I guess we're supposed to be the hoes who just lay down and get fucked. I searched the web and I didn't find much uproar about the awards. I guess the white people are to "proper" to say it and the blacks have become so brainwashed, they didn't even recognize that there was a problem. The show was a disaster. I'm embarrassed that we went out like.
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Permalink Reply by Sonya on -
E Sharp - I'm with you on this one. For me, we are damned if we do, and damned if we don't. These folks only had less than 3 days to get this show in order. Most of the performances were done by volunteers. Perhaps they should have been better prepared, perhaps not. But considering they already had a show in place and by Thursday night it was decided to scratch that and do a tribute etc, it could have been a lot worse. We NEVER support each other. We are so quick to put each other down and focus on the negative before even saying, you know what, we weren't there, but maybe this was the best they could do under the circumstances. Now had they done nothing for our brother, we'd all still be complaining about how foul they were for not doing enough etc. We all tend to find the worst in each other. By no means do I think Ving Rhames was being a righteous Black man. He straight cooned indeed! By no means do I think Lil Wayne's choice of song was a good look. However, considering that it took Beyonce to perform a song that most Black folks would otherwise NOT hear was brilliant. Opera is OURS. It IS the UNIVERSAL song. Black folks do not check for that at all. Most would never know that the tones in Opera were bought about by the Ancient African. Again, it's like we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Yes there were indeed segments that could have been left out, but you want to critisize Eddie Levert for having a human moment? Why not break fool on Lil Wayne for reducing women YET AGAIN to nothing? Why not call out VR for showing his ass like a fool? Why not look at those who came from the heart to pay their respects and tributes to our brother MJ? BET is not represented by us or produced by us. What do you really expect from white folks in the end!? At the same time, if you already know that BET does not represent you, why do you continue to watch it? We all have so much to complain about, but has anyone written a letter or started a campaign to demand better programming from BET? Have we organized a boycott to reduce their ratings to a point where we could get what we want? I just don't feel the need to beef over the content of an awards show that was put together in a matter of hours, by volunteers who mostly came from their pure hearts with a few who did not have their highest good in mind, but ultimately could have been so much worse. We have so many other things to worry about and could make changes to but we do not. Yes, start with the person in the mirror. Why not share this with the programmers at BET? I very, very rarely watch it, I did watch the awards show, and for the most part found it okay. Of course it could have been better but again, if white folks are producing it etc, I expect nothing less. MJ was/is a supernova, a tribute of mega standards would not pay him enough due for all he has done for this entire planet. If you can do better for him, by all means, please do.
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Permalink Reply by Dr. F. A. Young, Esq. on -
Huey had it right on BET:
And his bro is an idiot:
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Permalink Reply by Pinky of Yumyum Entertainment on -
glad you liked mi post . rotbb
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Permalink Reply by E-Sharp! on
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; )
Pinky of Yumyum Entertainment said:glad you liked mi post . rotbb
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Permalink Reply by MSKANE on
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the show was alet down true enough but how long do people expect for shows to keep doing tribute to this man he was not GOD damn!!!! no disrespect but come on BET been having qwack an lame azz shows why did people expect they were going to do anything above an beyond on micheals death!!!
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Permalink Reply by E-Sharp! on
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LOL... everybody knows "cuzin Ray-ray" aint shit, but you still expect him to wash his face and put on a clean shirt when he comes to uncle's funeral! LOL... and for God's sake, PULL YA DAMN PANTS UP!!! : )
MSKANE said:the show was alet down true enough but how long do people expect for shows to keep doing tribute to this man he was not GOD damn!!!! no disrespect but come on BET been having qwack an lame azz shows why did people expect they were going to do anything above an beyond on micheals death!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ibn Adam on
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Ms Kane the main stream white controlled media and every body else will continue doing tributes as long as the viewer ratings on the stations doing the shows are up. High viewer ratings means the station can charge mega bucks to the advertisers that purchase advertising minutes. The networks are not doing it for the love of MJ - they are doing it for the love of money. They know the planet is filled with hundreds of millions of fans that love MJ and will tune in. White controlled T shirt companies poster producers, the Sony's of the world are all reaping millions selling to the fan base and from the reselling of the the music they own. Question is how much of this money will go to MJ's estate. I wonder how many Black owned companies are making any sales - ????
MSKANE said:the show was alet down true enough but how long do people expect for shows to keep doing tribute to this man he was not GOD damn!!!! no disrespect but come on BET been having qwack an lame azz shows why did people expect they were going to do anything above an beyond on micheals death!!!
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Permalink Reply by BlackBarry on -
As Salaam Alaikum, Isiswisdom Family! i never really expect much from the viacom run channel, because if you dont have it your nature to respect anything Black you just dont have it in you. therefore, all of the complaining that we are doing or the lack there of is irrelevant to say the least. if viacom/b.e.t would take the Blackwoman, the foundation of civilization and undress her for the world to see and pay her all sorts of cash money to do so and then call all its other cohorts and henchmen to join in on the escapade of disrespecting the Mother of the Earth and dont feel any kind of guilt or regret for the action Sir Michael jackson got a good display of twisted reverance in my humble opinion. i meanthey said nothing about the womb in which he came through, they dont even reverance the womb he came from so given him a proper vehicle outta here is far from their mind. The world in which we live has been destroyed because the women has been spoiled and laid waste. Once the world gets a proper view of the Woman things will be better off, all other tributes will be satisfactory to all of us!!!!!!!!!
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