BET GETS RID of CITA and other changes
 

[APRIL 1 2002 NY] In an early morning press conference today, Black Entertainment Television (BET) announced a major shift in programming for the popular network. It was in response to last week's stunning report about violence being directly attributed to the amount of television one watches.

BET's president somberly noted, "In the past I have adapted a
take-no-prisoners-make-the-bottom-line-at-all-costs mentality.
However, that may have been a bit fool hardy. Such an attitude has been good for business but bad for a community that depends upon us to help set a positive and uplifting tone."

He concluded by noting that because so many parents are absent from the job of parenting and many of this nation's public schools have all but failed, the end result has been TV and entertainers becoming by default, surrogate parents. He wants the network to step up and fill the shoes that many have abandoned. Hence by next week one can expect
sweeping changes at the network. "To whom much is given, much is expected", he said. Here are some of the highlights of the press conference:

-The network will no longer accept or show videos that has over
sexualized scenes. The depiction of young African American women running around, scantily dressed and doing nothing more then acting as eye candy has been done once too often. The constant showing of such shallow images in videos has helped create a climate where men feel its OK to objectify and disrespect women. Sadly in a day and time where parents aren't doing the job of properly rearing their kids, many young women have come to the conclusion that the best way to be successful is to take off their clothes and exploit their sexuality for rappers, entertainers and sports figures. The network wishes to help change the tide.

-In the same vein, the network will severely minimize the gangsta
themes, Scarface-like organized crime video which has been adapted by far too many artists. Network executives have noted that the constant depicting of young African males being chased, arrested and incarcerated by the police in their expensive videos, has led to many believing that this is all life has to offer. The constant flirtation with organized crime figures has also help set a climate that has helped fuel the burgeoning prison industrial complex.

"Perhaps by helping these talented artists to push the envelop and bemore creative in their video story boards we can move the community in a direction that is more productive. I like everyone else enjoys a
good Godfather movie here and there, but it has been overdone in our
community with devastating effects. We will use our power, popularity
and influence in the industry to change this trend," the Network
president noted.


-Cita's World will be replaced. Network executives explained that
Cita; the digitally animated host of the popular music video countdown
show was deemed too "troublesome". Her over the top ghetto mannerisms
are now being mimicked by people all over the planet. Many outside
the African American community have come to the conclusion that all
Black women behave and act like the rambunctious Cita. Many young
African American women have adapted Cita as a role model and in an
attempt to fit in have embraced her over the top mannerisms.

'Huey Freeman, the Radical Scholar' popularized by Boondocks comic
strip
writer Aaron McGruder, will replace Cita. The popular writer is also
being asked to develop a female character to co-host with Huey
Freeman. Both will offer biting commentary, political wisdom and
insightful analysis of the videos that are shown.

-Friday Night at the Movies. The Network will now start showing
independent films made by up and coming African American film makers.
Again the network is trying to move away from the gangsta-drug lord
themes.

-Good Morning Black America. The network intends to develop a well
healed, heavily promoted Morning news show that will knock the 'Today
Show' and 'Good Morning America' out the box. "We have our own Katie
Courics and Matt Lauer. We have our own Diane Sawyers., It's time for
us to showcase them. Possible morning show hosts include Queen
Latifah, Maya Angelou, Michael Eric Dyson,KRS-One, Chuck D, Cornel
West, Harry Allen and numerous other community leaders are being
considered.
They will be featured alongside younger co-hosts who are active in the
community.


-Tavis Smalley will join Tigger as the show's co-host on the extremely
popular RAPCITY: BASSMENT program. Thirty minutes of the daily show's
hour and a half slot will be dedicated to discussion roundtables on
breaking into the competitive rap market, how to start a record label
with limited capital, and other related topics. Kevin McElroy, SVP
Business Development - Urban Music Bull Markets, stated, "Although BET
is not black-owned, that doesn't mean we can't engage in intelligent
discourse about how to own African American entertainment, right?"

-106th & Park will get a new facelift as well. Former president Bill
Clinton is scheduled to guest host several episodes alongside regular
hosts Free and AJ. With BET's proposed move to former CBS studios in
Midtown, Mr. Clinton felt it necessary to help in retaining the show's
Harlem presence by offering up his living room and adjoining rumpus
room as the location for the show's new set. "We have to keep the
show in OUR 'hood, yo. This is a keepin' it real type of deal. We
can't front like we in Harlem when the show's taped in Midtown
Manhattan. What about street cred?" Mr. Clinton stated in telephone
phone interview.

-In addition, Comic View will move to gain gender equality. In the
past, women have been over-sexualized, objectified, and used as
backdrops on the stage behind the performing comedians. In an effort
to dispel rumors of sexism in BET's programming, Comic View will now
include shirtless, muscular men flexing and posing behind the female
comedians.

When asked what prompted the sweeping changes, Executive Vice
President of Acceptance - Middle America, LaPatrea Johnson-Kennedy,
offered the following explanation:

"Black America has tried to gain wide acceptance by the rest of this
country for generations. The images our network portrayed since our
inception have been done nothing but perpetuate the stereotypes our people have strived so hard to defy. We need change and we need it now". The new programming goes into effect next week.

You guys have a wonderful April Fools Day..
The following story is wishful thinking and fantasy gone astray..

Davey D

**sorry this is late but I just got it today**

It's about time!
 

Thank goodness the folks at BET have finally decided to look beyond dollars and reach out to the community (especially the youth)! I am so excited about Cita leaving, I don't know what to do with myself!:D

Re: BET GETS RID of CITA and other changes
 

That was mean...:eek: :D :D

I think this should be voted "the post of the year."

Re: It's about time!
 

Now as I read this article, I was applauding BET for real ESPECIALLY when I saw they were going to bring Aaron McGruder's HUEY to replace CITA. . . buuuuut since READING is FUNDAMENTAL, my dear sweet NoworNever:p , I saw the bottom 2 lines: You guys have a wonderful April Fools Day.. The following story is wishful thinking and fantasy gone astray..
http://www.plaudersmilies.de/rofl.gifhttp://www.plaudersmilies.de/rofl.gif

LOL!

GOOD ONE! This article really had me going there for a minute. I was getting all excited that BET was finally stepping up to the plate with relavant and educational programming. I was even going to start tuning back in.

Hopefully, one day this will be more than just a dream but a reality.

sorry to jump in on ya'lls threads, but i saw the article and was interested in it from a woman's perspective. i was all excited that a tv station, white or black, was going to start making changes. i didn't start getting the joke until i saw bill clinton's quotes. ah well. maybe someday.

marissa

It's a shame that black empowerment makes for a good April Fool's Joke
 

It's a sad day in America when the only time black America can depend on the elites of black America (The Bob Johnson's of the world) to care about the whole black community is in an April fool's Joke. Why hasn't the NPHC stuck with the proposed boycott of BET? I think it is sorely needed. Other groups (NAACP, Rainbow/PUSH, National Action Network, etc.) are quick to boycott the Marriott, the Oscars, and South Carolina, but how come we cannot come down on our own just as tough? We have discussed it in the past, but what stops us from doing it now? If BET were not run by blacks (I know it's no longer owned by blacks, but blacks still run it), then these groups, including the NPHC, would be calling for boycotts like yesterday.
The article brings up valid reasons to boycott-the blatant disregard for the image of blacks, the crass greed of the leadership of BET, the blatant disrespect of credible community voices when it comes to the objections in the programming- all of these things happen and we stand by and take it. What this does in a sense is cheapen the struggles against others who deem to perpetuate oppression. It's kind of like the mother complaining that the cops brutally arrested her son for stealing a car (in this example, the son actually steals the car) while she does nothing to stop her own son from stealing the car in the first place. Yeah the cops will treat her son bad, but at the same time empower your son to fight against this racism by not putting himself in the position to get arrested (as much as he can). In other words, do not steal a car to begin with, therefore, it is easier to advocate against the cops when they come knocking. BET doing the programming that it does justifies any stereotypical image that hollywood, madison ave, or any record company puts out there of us. Boycotting hits people where they hurt most , in their poketbooks. As long as Bob Johnson says he gets paid well, he will continue. But one thing that sticks out is that I do not think that it's black people watching BET, But white people. Check out my post in the NPHC boycotts BET thread on AKA Ave for a breakdown of the numbers. It is impossible for BET to get the ratings it does off of majority black people:confused: . What do you guys think?
Blackwatch!!!!!

That was a mean, mean joke! I was getting so excited and actually planning on watching more BET!

LMAO!

That had April Fool's written all over it! THe minute this article mentioned Huey Newman I knew it was a joke.....

It was too obvious not to be an April Fool's joke. Claudamme.
:D

Blackwatch: Your post was thought-provoking. Good job.
:cool:

I was trippin' for a second there. That really is wishful thinking.

Just for one second, I had some hope that BET would stop airing that dang Prison Song movie every other day like it's a weekly sitcom!

Tavis & Tigger, Brotha Bill Clinton & Free/AJ

Good Morning Black America...LMAO...but that might actually be something!

Boo-Hiss!!!
 

You had me going for a minute there...Until I read the part about Tavis Smiliey co-hosting rap city :confused: and Bill Clinton talking about "street cred"!! :eek:

I knew it was too good to be true...:rolleyes:

Re: BET GETS RID of CITA and other changes
 

Aiight, aiight, aiight...you got me good. :D That was dirty CT4. And I should've known better too. I was a sucker four times on April 1st. I was like, aw shux Bill Clinton gonna be on 106 & Park!! Then I read Cita was going to be replaced and didn't bother reading the bottom! I'm sitting here laughing at myself. It's all good though, I'm too cool to be embarassed. :cool:

CT4, that was...