BAW Responds to BET's Most Messed Up Moments Show

[CrimsonTide4]

by Richard Prince
MaynardIJE.com

Black Entertainment Television is canceling two of its three regular news shows - "Lead Story" and "BET Tonight With Ed Gordon" - effective at the end of the year as it prepares for the acquisition of new programming, spokesman Michael Lewellen told Journal-isms today. The shakeup also means the future of the network's most well-known news personality, Ed Gordon, "is still to be determined," Lewellen said.

Effective immediately, approximately 40 positions across a range of company departments will be eliminated, or about 12 percent of the company's total workforce of 350 people nationwide, according to the network.

Gordon first started with BET in 1988. He is best known for conducting in 1996, for BET, the first one-on-one interview with O.J. Simpson after Simpson's acquittal on murder charges. Gordon returned to the network in 2000 to host "BET Tonight with Ed Gordon" after a stint with MSNBC.

The news panel show "Lead Story," which BET founder Bob Johnson has pointed to as "the only show in America where black policymakers confront black journalists . . . on issues important to African Americans," debuted with Gordon as host on Sept. 28, 1991. This season it has featured interviews with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and the chairmen of the Democratic and Republican national committees. The show was also a showcase for African American columnists and commentators.

Of BET's three regular news shows, only "BET Nightly News" will remain, Lewellen said. News and public affairs programming will now focus on special shows such as single-topic specials and town hall meetings. The network had to "adjust its programming schedule and the staff that supports them" to make way for recent programming acquisitions that include movies and other entertainment shows, he said.

"When we announce our new direction, all of our programming genres are going to be affected," Lewellen said.

"Our new focus will strike a better balance between original programming and an increase in acquired shows," added BET President and Chief Operating Officer Debra Lee in a statement. "This new strategy required us to examine our entire corporate structure and get a better sense of the size and scope of organization we need moving forward. It's always difficult to lose people as part of a business process, but these changes are our effort to support our new programming direction at BET."

Owner Robert Johnson sold BET to Viacom -- the giant media conglomerate that owns CBS, UPN, MTV, VH1 and more -- in 2000 for $1.5 billion. With Viacom ownership, it was said, BET could take advantage of greater news resources and could shake its image as primarily a purveyor of music videos and little original programming.

BlackAmericaWeb.com Staff

[Afrochic]

Worthwhile shows are being eliminated while Cita thrives. The acquisition of new programming means we will get some more half a$$ed talk shows, more repeats of Juice and Gang Related, and more time dedicated to bling bling videos with Puffy walking across the screen saying, "This is the remix." More video shows, different names, viola new programming. I'm not surprised though, afterall it's Bullshyt Entertainment Television.

With Viacom ownership, it was said, BET could take advantage of greater news resources and could shake its image as primarily a purveyor of music videos and little original programming.

I highly doubt BET would take advantage of greater news resources or would be interested for that matter. In their eyes, they do enough with the Nightly News to claim diverse programming, then 30 mins later, right back to the videos. But we all know their bread and butter comes from the music videos, that's why less effort is put into original programming, and it shows.

We all know stations are in it for the money, but don't hide behind the words: Our new focus will strike a better balance between original programming and an increase in acquired shows

Just say this instead, "Our new focus is to acquire more comedians to host talk shows because we want to appeal to what the younger urban viewer enjoys. To further create a balance, new actors and actresses will star in our movies. They can't act but what the hell, as long as they can read the script, it's original programming. Is the interview over, because I have to call Lisa Raye, oops I mean some people who can't act, oops I mean our list of entertainers. You gotta love BET and keep watching us. We have that black star power."

[Honeykiss1974]

Preach Afrochic,

I guess Ed Gordon was too conservative for the new BET!

[Steeltrap]

If there were a network (and I know it's a pipe dream) that was aimed at the educated middle class black population over 35 years of age, people wouldn't feel angry, disgusted, sad, et al, about BET axing news programming.

It's all about balance. There should be someplace to go for those of us who are too bloody old to watch booty videos, Cita, this and that.

Lead Story was a good program. It was refreshing to see black journalists sit down and discuss issues, even with Armstrong Williams in the mix. Some of AW's points were good but he also has a bit of shine in him, which is unnerving.

[ladeia]

It really doesn't surprise me at all! BET has about as much Black Star Power as Vanilla Ice has with his 2001 remix of IceIce Baby! That comment about LisaRaye was so wrong...so so wrong...

LaDeia
"... time waits for nothing, use it wisely..."
- Annie V. Fizer

[Afrochic]

Originally posted by ladeia
That comment about LisaRaye was so wrong...so so wrong...

In the words of Chris Tucker, It cain't get no righter!

[poodleNtraining]

I saw this link for a BET boycott petition thing. Thought I'd pass it on.

http://www.petitiononline.com/SayNOBET/petition.html

[Mizcita17]

This is a quote from a post on another message board...

IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE RECENTLY WITH BET'S DECISION TO CANCEL “BET Tonight with Ed Gordon," "Lead Story" and "Teen Summit.", I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF STARTING AN ONLINE PETITION.
TO GET THE COMPLETE STORY, GO HERE: http://www.blackpressusa.com/News/Ar...sp?NewsID=2674
THEN JOIN ME IN 'JUST SAYING NO' TO BET/VIACOM BY SIGNING THE PETITION.
YOU CAN FIND THE PETITION BY GOING HERE:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/SayNOBET/petition.html
PLEASE...READ....SIGN....THEN PASS IT ON!

I AVOID BET at ALL costs anyway, and this is just further confirmation for me... Plus I turned past it one day and they were playing Justin Timberlake's new video

[Honeykiss1974]

Dag! BET has gotten rid of every INKLING of a show that resembles intelligent blackness!!

[Rain Man]

I tune to the VH1 Soul Channel.

All videos, no BS. OK, maybe a few booty videos scattered here and there, but enough old school R&B and rap in the mix to make me think I was 15 again, dancing to that old school stuff.

VH1, hats off to you for having the insight to show videos WE actually like and can reminisce to.

BET, BOOOOOOOOO! Get off my set!!!!

[FeeFee]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Preach Afrochic,

I guess Ed Gordon was too conservative for the new BET!

Or too educated.

BET=Busted Entertainment Television

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by FeeFee


Or too educated.

BET=Busted Entertainment Television

A poster on another message board I am on called BET = Bamboozled Entertainment Television.

[AKA2D '91]

W.I.T.H. can't BET aquire all those black shows that no longer air on other cable stations (local stations)? If they are on the air it's like in the weeeeee hours of the AM.

For instance:

Good Times
227
Amen
Sanford and Son
Baby I'm Back
That's My Momma
Martin
A Different World
Fresh Prince
Generations -soap opera
In Living Color
The Royal Family
Frank's Place
Linc's
Remember Desmonds used to air on BET in the late 80's?

Heck, I'd appreciate seeing those old shows.

any others that I didn't mention that is worth bringing back to life?

[CrimsonTide4]

FAT ALBERT

[AKA2D '91]

yep.

Even the Jackson 5 cartoon.