BET GETS RID of CITA and other changes

[CrimsonTide4]

[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**