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106 and Park Hosts Depart After 5 Years
By BET.com Staff Writers


Updated July 28, 2005— After five years of hosting BET's highly rated video countdown show "106 & Park," AJ and Free announced their departure during Thursday's live broadcast of BET's "106 & Park."

While sitting on the famed “106” couch and holding a cell phone with co-host Free on the other line, a tearful AJ told the television and studio audience, “This is our last live show...But this isn’t the last time you’ll see us.”


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The two have been a staple on televisions across the country since “106 & Park” debuted in 2000 when Black Entertainment Television moved its music programming operations from its Washington, DC corporate location to facilities located at the corner of 106th Street and Park Avenue in Harlem. Since then, 106 & Park has been a dominant force among video countdown programs, featuring live interviews and performances by the biggest names in music and entertainment, a rocking in-studio audience and the top music videos as chosen by BET viewers on BET.com.

"They were definitely not let go," said Stephen Hill, executive vice president of music programming for BET. "They've decided after five great years of the highest rated music video show on television that they wanted to do something different."

BET has not made any announcements on future hosts or plans for the show at this time but Hill assured viewers that the show will go on.

"On Monday, we’re going to have a couple of folks you’ve seen on there before and a few other surprises," he said. "You have to tune in on Monday to find out. It’s still going to be the top countdown show on the air."

A.J. and Free were not available for interviews. A pre-taped show hosted by AJ and featuring Miami rapper Trina will air on Friday at 6 p.m. (ET/PT).

"There is nothing like `106 & Park.'" AJ said to the audience. “It's a staple in the African American community for five years and we hope it will continue. We love you all very much."

It was a very emotional moment on the air that Hill said was a difficult thing for AJ. Hill and BET’s staff knew the duo was leaving before the show aired. "It was tough for him to do but that was the way he wanted to do it," Hill explained. "Usually in television if you know someone’s leaving, they don’t get to go on the air anymore. BET is a family so we wanted him to go the way he wanted to exit."

Both hosts will go on to pursue other interests. AJ announced that he will be opening a new restaurant, Mahogany, in Brooklyn, N.Y. and will continue working with his management company. AJ also announced that Free said that her website would also be coming soon.