Filed under: Hollyweird, Judge Joe Brown Says : "DO BETTER.", Raise Your Own Damn Kids, TeeVee Sux
“We Need Our Own Republic, Just Like The Dominicans.”[A]
I know most of ya’ll visit AB.com for my savoir faire, endless wit, and of course Negro Nonsense. And that’s why I feel sorta bad about gettin’ all deep and whatnot on ya’ll this week. We’ve hit a number of serious and somewhat depressing topics crucial to the State of Black America; from our Civil Rights organizations, to Historically Black Colleges, the gender/racial achievement gap in education, and the decline of the black sitcom. All that really-real talk in just four days. I’d like to see T(r)avis Smiley and his Annual Soundbyte Olympics top that one.
Judging by the hits and comments though, I’d say you guys didn’t mind me getting all philosophical, but to me it’s definitely more fun just talkin’ about Latarian. So, after this upcoming three day weekend from the Day Job, I’ll be back on my usual ignant grizzly. Life’s just easier that way.
Anyways, I hate to end the week on an equally somber note, but yesterday’s discussion about the atrocity that is Black TV made me think about a related issue. Since TeeVee generally Sux, the AverageHousehold usually tunes in to CNN, MSNBC, and yep, even Fox News to try and keep up with the day’s scuttlebutt. Watching this whole “historic Presidential campaign” through the gilded lenses of talkin’ monkeys like Sean Hannity, Campbell Brown, and Keith Olbermann always pisses me off. I know we obviously shouldn’t really expect anything of “black TVnetworks” like BET and TV One, but just how irrelevant and lazy are the Negroes that run these stations for being completely asleep at the wheel the past 6 months? We got a brotha gunnin’ for The Number One Spot, and all they’re talkin’ about is The 08′ BET Awards.[1] BET had that one vanity interview with Obama in which the dumbass host, “Cousin” Jeff Johnson, had the unmitigated gaul to ask Barry such pressing questions as “do you listen to rap music?” and “why was it important to you to marry a black woman?” I swear Max Robinson was cryin’ inside when he heard that. I sure was.
Since I don’t otherwise watch BET, I’m assuming that’s been the extent of their campaign coverage. Their definition of “news” is an even more pathetic joke, with the aforementioned “Cousin” Jeff, a sassy Teen-Summit alum, some ditzy chick with a fake British accent, and a “fresh-out” lookin’ “official street cat” named Samson, who all provide 30-second news blurbs between commercial breaks. Jacque Reed never looked so good. If you were watching this network from another planet, you’d probably assume all black folks contributed to this county was vocoders and Toccara. And as true as that might be on some level, it’s still awful damn sad.
Sheez, where the heck is Ed Gordon when you actually sorta, kinda need him?
TV One, however gets off lightly when it should have far more fingers pointed at it. While BET rightfully gets trashed for offering very little content of even remotely redeeming value, TV One is obsessed with being a lifestyle purveyor. Beyond the flashy production values of such shows as Turn Up The Heat With G. Garvin and Living It Up With Patti LaBelle[2], the station is nothing but useless fluff. It’s a series of self-congratulatory shows that just scream “See, look, we told ya’ll we could get good jobs and homes in Mitchellville/Stone Mountain/Country Club Hills! Look at us! Whooo-hooo!!!” If the goal of this network was to portray black folks as grown, sexy, and bourgeois, I’d say they;ve succeeded. On the count of providing anything other than disposable entertainment though, TV One fails miserably.
Most of my TV One beef has to do with the way they completely disregard the resources they have. Syndication1, is the network’s talk-radio sister, boasting solid on-air talent like Joe Madison, Warren Ballentine, Bernie McCain, and despite how you feel about him, Rebb’n Al. There’s even quality sports programming like The2LiveStews and Marc Gray. I don’t know if you get it in your neck of the woods, but the DC based station stays locked on my radio 24/7. It’s legitimately good stuff, so clearly the talent is there.
That being the case, just how damn hard would it be to take these same folks, plus a few “field reporters” and throw them in front of the camera each night for a half hour? I mean, really, build a cheap set. Wheel in a few of these guys and some rotating pundits. Ask them for their spin on the day’s news developments. You don’t even need to provide any actual “news”, just opinions. It would be like a black version of The McLaughlin Group. It would be cheap. It would be easy. Did I say it would be cheap, already? And most of all, it would be relevant since these opinions and voices don’t even exist on the other mainstream news networks.[3]
I mean, seriously Cathy Hughes, how hard would that be?
I’m not holding my breath, because even though the show would be dirt cheap, parent company RadioOne has bigger fiscal issues to worry about. With their stock price dipping into penny stock territory and with Cathy and her son in trouble for giving themselves exorbitant pay raises in spite of, they could probably be excused for having bigger fish to fry. Or not.
If there’s any silver lining, it’s that JC Watts (yes, that JC Watts) recently announced the planned launch of a new 24 hour TV network, The Black Television News Channel, aimed at black cable news watchers. This station will supposedly provide a diverse array of black commentators, as well as true “news” programming focusing on issues pertinent to African Americans, as well as The Motherland. That all sounds a little ambitious to me, and I sure hope these Willie E. Gary-sized ambitions don’t end up as another replay of The Black Family Channel when all’s said and done. We’ll have to wait and see, but at least it’s promising on paper. Just one small issue though.
The station doesn’t debut until 2009.
How timely.
Question: Is it unrealistic to expect some level of news programming from the “black networks” or at they justified in their “all-entertainment all-the-time” missions? Do you even think this sort of media outlet is necessary? Where do you usually turn (other than blogs) for political and social commentary to more or less reflects your viewpoints? Do you even watch TV One or BET?
Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and Comcast to launch black news network [TargetMarketNews]
[A] I’m givin’ a whole case of Cyber CapriSuns to the first person who can tell me the origin of this obscure hip hop quotable. And don’t bother Googlin’ it either, it ain’t out there. This one’s for the true heads.
[1] Before you ask, yeah. I’ll be watching, but only because that sorta stuff is blogger-gold.
[2] Singletary Says is the one notable exception. Now there’s a timely and relevant show.
[3] God bless poor Roland Martin, who is about the only voice of even remote reason on CNN. Jamal Simmons seems pretty sensible too. I bet he’s angling for that Obama Press Secretary gig.
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Honestly, I forget those networks (TV One and BET) exist until I’m flipping and run across.
While I would not be adverse to a Black news network I don’t think we should settle for only having that. Like some little table in the back we’re given to appease us and shut us the hell us. I know our issues, I know the bull. I’m not with letting the rest of America off the hook by not having it front and center on “their” networks.
So, I hope Watts’ network is successful and I can’t wait to see what he develops. I just don’t want it to be the only place our voices are heard.
Comment by Symphony May 23, 2008 @ 4:50 amBET and TV-ONE are apples and oranges though. Viacom could do more with BET, since they have news outlets they could pimp for free content & coverage. I think Cathy Hughes had a talk or two with George Curry. She has the challenge of not making the network so informative and smart that it scares off advertisers, who think that demographic is minute. This is certainly what Mr. Watts is going to face, so unless he gets PBS money, you might want to TiVo every hour his network is on, because it won’t last long.
Comment by Mwanga May 23, 2008 @ 6:00 ami never watch BET and my satellite provider doesn’t carry TV One, which i probably wouldn’t watch if it did.
as with a “Black” anything, the mainstream tends to marginalize it and set it to the side as if “they got what they wanted, so leave us alone”! if Barack Obama had started out of the gate as the Black presidential candidate, he would’ve been marginalized like Jesse and Al before him.
i doubt i’ll be a purveyor of a Black News Network, especially, if it’s put together by JC Watts, Newt Gingrich in Black face – i’ll pass on that one, too!
Comment by plez... May 23, 2008 @ 1:02 pmI know Roland Martin just wants to reach over and slap Leslie Sanchez every primary night. He has mastered his temper so far.
She’s a prime example of the black-brown divide.
He’s a better man than I.
EG
Comment by ebonygentleman May 23, 2008 @ 1:52 pmTV One is still a very young network, and already light years ahead of BET. Roland Martin has commentaries and Al Sharpton has a weekly show. They also show Our World with Black Enterprise.They showed the movie American Blackout about Cynthia McKinney. They have a great show about Family Reunions and few other things. And about the lifestyle shows, I actually find it to be lifestyle shows for normal people. All they do is go to Home Depot and show you how to install some stuff in you home, and G Garvin is showing how to make food at home and not go to some expensive restaurant. I find TV One to be the network for regular folk.
Comment by Anonymous May 23, 2008 @ 2:21 pmI see TV One expanding in the future.
There will be black news when black journalist step up and stop reporting the same crap that mainstream journalist report. Listening to news on black radio talking about missing white women and Hollywood stuff just like that crap on CNN.
That’s what I am saying I actually just blogged about it the other day, really in response to your first blog. Look at you INSPIRING folks!! AvgBros do too bad no one gives them credit. ANYWAY I said
“…to me black TV would be if BET or TV One were like watching Telemundo.
You know what I mean, we would have Wake Up! hosted by Bryant Gumble Robin Roberts and Al Roker doing the weather. Then maybe That’s Live with John Witherspoon and Kenya Moore. A game show hosted by the Brown Hornet, you know instead of the bee on Mexican TV. Then the obligatory daytime fair of black soap operas, Bea Smith and Oprah followed by The Evening News with Lester Holt. Then the night time line up would be ORIGINAL programming of fresh new dramas, sitcoms, date line/20/20 news shows, Barbara Walters style interview shows, Hardball/ Meet the Press type shows and reality all from the various different angles of black life there are. Lord knows if you hang out in the blogsphere enough YOU KNOW there are many different angles to black life! Not reruns, music videos, old black movies, and 106 and Park. To me, that is what black TV would/should be. *jumping off soap boxes and kicking it underneath my borrowed cloak of self-righteousness*”
Wow AllieNicole was right quoting yourself is kinda cool!!
-OG
Comment by OG, The Original Glamazon May 23, 2008 @ 3:02 pmI think it’s reasonable to expect BET and TVOne to discuss this election. Especially since we now have a Black candidate with a good chance. It’s just very disappointing and frustrating. Maybe not frustrating cuz I’m accustomed to notion that Negros don’t think critically.
Therein lies the problem though — the notion that we don’t read and don’t watch the news. It’s very insulting cuz all that asserts is that we’re numbskulls.
I think BET J is better than the other two for showcasing Black indy films. I really enjoy The Best Shorts and Black Stories.
Comment by Anonymiss May 23, 2008 @ 4:48 pmI’m really curious to know which rapper can rhyme something with “Dominicans”…
Comment by spool32 May 23, 2008 @ 6:32 pmI agree with you–they could do better. I almost choked the other night when my husband turned to BET and they had an “exclusive” interview with T.I. Now I am not knocking T.I.’s talent or persona but I am knocking his stupidity and BET’s feelings as to why that was relevant versus what is going on in our country at this exact moment. Wake up BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION—there is a black man about to step into the office! TV One—Yes, you can say bourgeois!!! However, it is calm and cool and most times people have on clothes. If I could grade them, here is how it would go: BET: F—self explanatory and TV One: C—needs improvement.
Comment by Ms. Two Cents May 23, 2008 @ 6:45 pmI have to agree that TV-One is Light years ahead of BET. I don’t want to see black news the way BET Nightly news used to be because all it showed was clips of black males being beaten by cops. And the Al Sharpton crusade of the month.
How about kids show like little Bill, Back yardigans and things like that for the kids from 8:00am – 2:00 pm. Most respectable people would be working at that time. And then maybe some teen shows mixed in there. Videos are ok but just one. Not Hours of it.
How about some personal finance shows and a show called, “SH*t yo ass ought to know.” It could be a self help show and they should air it between 10:00pm and 6:00am. You could fill a lot programming with stuff we don’t know.
Comment by cjames30082 May 23, 2008 @ 9:26 pm[A] = The L.O.X.
Comment by nonie3234 May 23, 2008 @ 9:54 pmI’m with you AB. I used to defend and cheer TV one until my eyes started opening and I started seeing many of the facts you laid out. The final straw was when Cathy Hughes’s company radio one sold the popular R&B station here in L.A. V-100 back in April which left only one Black owned radio station in this area(Stevie Wonder’s KJLH) I expected better from someone like MS.Hughes. Needless to say I don’t give a damn about the station anymore.
As for Black Enslavement Television, the less said about the crap station the better. I will say that the only time I look at it is when I am at my barber’s for my haircut.
Comment by mrshadow33 May 23, 2008 @ 10:49 pmHello there Average Bro!
I removed television from my home TEN YEARS AGO.
You have given me sooo many reasons to commit to never bringing it back.
Thanks for letting me blow my trumpet!
Lisa
You are invited to visit my house:
Comment by blackwomenblowthetrumpet.blogspot.com May 24, 2008 @ 3:05 amhttp://blackwomenblowthetrumpet.blogspot.com
I get my news primarily from NPR. No news source is totally objective, but NPR comes the the closest.Can ANYONE name one of these so-called “journalists” on the Cable news networks that you’d trust? When Dan Rather whined because he didn’t check his facts on the Killian story (like you’d assume a competent journalist would do ) and got made an ass out of, I bet Edward Murrow rolled in his grave( Yeah,I’m showing my age here:)).
Comment by KIRK VAN IRVIN May 24, 2008 @ 5:11 amI think we should give tvone some credit. They are doing a far better job of producing shows that you can watch without feeling like you’ve just watched black folks progress set back 20 years (BET). I just think Cathy Hughes doesn’t need to interview celebs anymore. She comes off looking like a groupie. I will give JC Watts a chance. I expect that it will be a show that provides insight from the right, left and center. I don’t think we have to worry about the Alan Keyes Comedy Hour. A major reason we don’t have more “black” shows deals with writers and the people that can green light shows. The Golden Rule – he who has the gold makes the rules. Tyler Perry got some pull and now he puts on whatever he wants to put on – literally – key word being “whatever”. Girlfriends sucked after Toni left and the other ones on CW besides everybody hates chris suck. The laugh track comedy is dated. Black folks are going to have to think outside the box. Provide quality programs and join the news race. If there was ever a year to have a black television station with a news channel this would be it.
Comment by Citizen Ojo May 24, 2008 @ 9:01 amWell, AverageBro…I never watch B.E.T (which I so lovingly refer to as “Buffoonery Every Time”[/sarcasm])unless they are showing a movie I like (“Antwon Fischer” last night). Even then, I am forced to consume small doses of anti-emetics just to get through the “ads”. It’s just a fiery mess.
I do like some of the stuff on TVOne, but I’m drawn to a lot of flashy, shiny things. I have these sparkly sneakers that I just can’t get enough of…
Anyhoo, I do NOT think it’s unrealistic or unreasonable to expect some level of intelligent (or at least intelligible) news programming for the African-American community. Some of us actually would like to learn some important stuff!! I want to know about my world. It is bigger than NE DC and other ‘hoods all over the globe! I only get responsible reporting of substance from my many blog subscriptions. Thank God for the intrawebs…
I hope JC Watts’ venture is successful and doesn’t fall victim to corruption from high level Moon Crickets and “The Man”.
Comment by The Pretty Brown Girl May 24, 2008 @ 3:17 pm@ nonie
DING DING DING! We have a winner!
The song was “Thumbs Up” by The LOX, a mixtape staple in the late 90’s.
And spool, I can’t exactly recall what line came afterward, but it’s fair to say it didn’t rhyme with Dominicans. I don’t think there is a word that rhymes with Dominicans,
Nonie, care to refresh my memory?
@ plez
Give JC some credit for finally realizing he was just a tool and getting out of office as soon as he knew better. I give him more props than a bama like Michael Steele, whom I {gasp} almost voted for once.
I think this news venture will be worth keeping an eye on, even if it’s a year late.
@ EG
Sanchez is ok by me. It’s that damn Amy Holmes I can’t stand. And Paul Begalla… whooo boy…
next…
@ anonymiss
You’re right, BET J is decent. The production quality is damn near public access cable level, but the shows are different to say the least.
You just wish they’d pump a bit more money in it. I can seldom tell which year most of the shows were created in.
@ Miss 2
All I can say is “wow”! A “TI” interview was their idea of investigative reporting, huh?
Sheez.
@ CJames
I think Singletary Says and the Black Enterprise shows are good examples of “SH*t yo ass ought to know” on TV One. Maybe I was a little harsh on them, but they should be so much more relevant and timely, given all RadioOne’s resources on the news side.
@ mrShadow
Longtime, no read, pimpin’. I think RadioOne had to sell the LA affiliate because of their financial issues. It’s still sad though.
@ citOJO
You’re right, I was a little hard on TV One in this post.
@ PrettyBG
The world is definitely bigger than Deanwood and Fairmont Heights. No doubt about that.
Comment by AverageBro May 24, 2008 @ 5:47 pm” …Dominicans / niggas bettah stack erry pack that they finishin”
So I guess he can’t rhyme it either
Thumbs Up – The LOX
Comment by spool32 May 25, 2008 @ 5:15 pmLike any self-respecting twentysomething I get my news online, so I’d probably watch a black news channel as little as I watch the others. Although I do see merits in televised black intellectual debate, it bugs me that JC Watts is the one stepping up to the plate.
Well, AB, since BET has long been a parody of itself,as much as TVOne is pretty much fluff, my satellite provider doesn’t carry it and it REALLY cuts into my enjoyment of life itself. For orginal programming it is pretty weak (although I do have a lil crush on that G Garvin), but at least they show Roots every year and old black sitcoms that other stations can’t be bothered with (Daybreak does not count). TVOne is pretty new, but even they must realize that in a few years there will be few, if any, black sitcoms worth syndicating from this decade. I have a feeling it’ll improve or die-out!
And as much as I respect Oprah and like alot of the programming on Oxygen, why doesn’t it have any black shows? I’m more bothered that a network for women owned by a black woman can’t drum up a single black female something…
Comment by Thembi May 25, 2008 @ 8:46 pmI haven’t watched BET in ages, and my cable TV provider doesn’t offer TV-One as part of any of its packages. It’s rather easy to forget that both exist, except for the occasional mentions here and there that remind me they do exist.
Of course it’s not unrealistic to expect news coverage from the only prominent black TV networks in supposedly the greatest country on our planet. The fact that we are even pondering the question is rather disheartening!
As long as profit is a primary motivator for those elite who run these networks, I wouldn’t expect any encouraging changes any time soon, because somehow there seems to be this belief amongst those idiots that news on a black TV network won’t sell, because, apparently, black people aren’t interested in the news.
Also, it’s clear to me who BET’s target audience is, given the content that they do choose to broadcast – it’s essentially a mirror of MTV and VH1, 2 sister stations that certainly aren’t known for their news coverage. So, with those 2 stations as a model, it’s no surprise what BET is trying to become, although sometimes I’m not quite sure if they know what they want to be.
I get my news from various sources – other networks (CNN, MSNBC, BBC, et al), numerous websites and podcasts. If anything I’d say I’m suffering from an overdose of information!
Comment by The Obenson Report May 28, 2008 @ 12:19 amIf they were smart they would use the news as a loss leader. I’m sure they aren’t giving us newscasts because they don’t bring in the money like “entertainment”, but they should take the short term loss to bring more people like us into the tent over the long run.
Comment by 8thlight May 28, 2008 @ 5:47 amBaisden After Dark the is adult version of 106 & Park,Whose Got Joke is a wash up effort by Bill Bellamy,and remember he gave us that side show fool George”Too Nasty for Radio”Wilborn.Blackmen Revealed,was another waste of time with black women putting down black women with has been guest.The Cooking Show like G.Garvin,and Patti LaBelle,are cool and The House Building Show is pretty good.Damn can we get some better programming on TV One,like getting some Nightly News with out that Entertainment crap .Michael Baisden is an enemy ,and he means us no good and his show suck.
Comment by Anonymous June 28, 2008 @ 10:11 pm