Friday
Jul132007
When Did You Give Up On BET? -- Reggie Hudlin is Still Unrepentant (I'm Shocked!)
Friday, July 13, 2007 at 12:55AM The Blogmother "There's this presumption that BET has ill intent…. Nothing could be further from the truth." Reginald Hudlin, BET President.Why on EARTH would we not trust BET to do the right thing? I mean we must have all been making the past 10 to 12 years up in our heads. Why on earth would we think that BET has ill intent when its producers have been running all over the internet encouraging people to go looking for the most embarrassing African Americans that they could find:
I’m a producer for a new comedy television show airing on the BET network, “Hot Ghetto Mess.” The show is all about wild, sensational, and outrageous clips and culture in the black community with an angle on humor. We are currently licensing original footage and I am seeking footage of black lowriders and their vehicles. The more bling and crazy the better. I am also looking for the super ghetto stuff, like a dude with $10,000 spinners on a Yugo, & funny stuff: cars getting thrashed, super ghetto car girls, crashes, mishaps, etc all about black culture…( SOURCE)
Why on EARTH would we not trust you when your own site says you'll be exploring "shaking booties, thug life, baby-mama drama and pimped-out high schoolers. Your own site says "'Hot Ghetto Mess' is like the traffic accident you can’t look away from. Viewers will laugh." Why should we distrust you when you have licensed a clip like this abomination to air on your show?
Yeah, we're being irrational to believe that you have ill intent.
A better question is why on earth MR. Hudlin thinks that BET is worthy of Black America's trust? WE didn't leave BET. BET LEFT US!
I used to love Donnie Simpson( I did. I did ). I even got used to Sherry Carter. I miss Video Soul something awful. BET was our space. The BET Christmas specials were must-see TV. I remember Our Voices ( Bev Smith?) and Teen Summit. Occasionally I used to catch Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon. DO Y'all remember Cheryl Martin? Ananda? I remember being excited to see the latest African American artist be interviewed , back when you couldn't see these people ANYWHERE. Or if you did see them on a mainstream show, they would get a segment, but on BET, they would get an entire show. I remember the shows where Luther and Whitney (the old version) and Boyz II Men ( the old version) used to stop by and hang out for the WHOLE SHOW. Take a stroll down memory lane courtesy of YouTube.
We were family! Then BET chucked them all and ushered in an era dominated by violent, pro-drug, pro-pimp, pro-crime, anti-woman, anti-education music videos. Now some would say that BET was just following popular culture. I say BET chose sides and decided to drive one vs. the other. Instead of celebrating the very best we had to offer, they placed laser-like focus on the most ridiculous.
BET could have drawn a line in the sand. How many of you remember back in the day when all the music videos had big blurs in them everywhere covering the logos that the artist would wear? MTV and BET would blur out logos, drugs, and guns. At first the blurs were EVERYWHERE. Now you rarely see them because artists have figured out that if they don't want a blur all over their video, then they need to leave that stuff out. BET wasn't powerless as its programming lineup became full of foolishness ( or in the words of BET executives unintelligent).
But the unpardonable sin as far as I am concerned, the final act that made me walk away from BET for all eternity was BET's Uncut. "Uncut" was a cosmic wound. I can still remember the first time I saw Uncut. Only someone who truly HATED and despised Black women would put that on the air ( FOR SIX YEARS) and then DEFEND it repeatedly. ( Looking at YOU! Debbie Lee). Wow, was that "Black Star Power?"
So yes, Mr. Hudlin, we DONT TRUST BET! BET is not worthy of our trust. The fact that you seemed upset that many African Americans wouldn't trust you to do the right thing just demonstrates that the culture of arrogance that brought us "Uncut" still reigns at Black Entertainment Television.
If you truly believe that Hot Ghetto Mess is such a public service and you aren't just launching a publicity stunt to try to lure viewers from VH1's terrible trio, then air Hot Ghetto Mess without commercial interruption as a public service. Then host a public forum after the show airs to allow people to discuss what they just viewed. I DARE YOU! Better yet, relinquish the name BET and rename the network something that doesn't associate it with a particular group of people. We don't want to claim or be claimed by you.
If you want to rebut the presumption of ill intent, make a goodwill gesture FIRST. Stop acting bewildered as to why we MIGHT have a problem with something called Hot Ghetto Mess. You graduated from Harvard, you aren't THAT clueless.
For those of you who gave up on BET long ago, what was the final straw that made you start zooming past BET with your cable remote?
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Reader Comments (20)
Why should we distrust you when you have licensed a clip like this abomination to air on your show?
I couldn't get past #9. What a TRAVESTY!
I remember being excited to see the latest African American artist be interviewed , back when you couldn't see these people ANYWHERE. Or if you did see them on a mainstream show, they would get a segment, but on BET, they would get an entire show.
OMG - I forgot that the stars used to hang out for the ENTIRE show! I used to love Video Soul!
BET could have drawn a line in the sand. How many of you remember back in the day when all the music videos had big blurs in them everywhere covering the logos that the artist would wear? MTV and BET would blur out logos, drugs, and guns. At first the blurs were EVERYWHERE. Now you rarely see them because artists have figured out that if they don't want a blur all over their video, then they need to leave that stuff out. BET wasn't powerless as its programming lineup became full of foolishness ( or in the words of BET executives unintelligent).
I forgot about those blurs, but you're right. The performers obviously worked their way around it.
If you truly believe that Hot Ghetto Mess is such a public service and you aren't just launching a publicity stunt to try to lure viewers from VH1's terrible trio, then air Hot Ghetto Mess without commercial interruption as a public service. Then host a public forum after the show airs to allow people to discuss what they just viewed. I DARE YOU!
Hahaha, we know that will never happen. The point in television is ALWAYS to make money. It's called Show BUSINESS for a reason!
I think the powers that be at BET turn people off by the disigenuousness of it all (i.e. "we're trying to do a public service here.)
Say what you will about Bob Johnson, but he never attempted to snow people like that. He always stated that his intent with BET was to make a profit. No one is EVER buying the public service bit, so they really need to stop it.
I miss Donnie Simpson something awful. hahahha remember when they added sherry carter?
Yeah people FORGET how much it used to feel like one big living room. We were part of a family and then like the crazy crack addicted cousin who steals grandma's ring to buy drugs, BET wonders why we don't want them in our house anymore.
BET is not allowed to air in my home - much to my sister-in-law and nephews chagrin. We purposely chose a cable tier that does not carry the station, so while I am not pleased with the whole HGM thing- I perosnlaly don't care - because I made my statement by purposely pulling the channel from our homes, when people are allowed to chose the channels and build their channel tiers I think our voiec will be much louder in situations like this.
Mr.hudson is from my neck of the woods, and it saddens me that he can't see the forest for the trees.
congrats on being mentioned on NPR, and in several AP articles on this topic
I watched a commercial on BET the other day where they reviewed how much blacks spend on entertainment, clothes, and their cars. When the ridiculous numbers were revealed, one would expect some sort of message about investing or us striving to do better at the end. Instead it was some ignorant quote about "that's how we do it." As soon as you begin to give BET props for generating better (I use the term loosely) programming, as of late, they throw in something that just chokes the air out of you.
Although it's a shame, what about the other Black TV networks that are trying to gain an audience?
"Yeah people FORGET how much it used to feel like one big living room. We were part of a family and then like the crazy crack addicted cousin who steals grandma's ring to buy drugs, BET wonders why we don't want them in our house anymore"
That was the best I have heard anyone put it.
I have been longing to see a blog of substance. I look @ others for pure ENTERTAINMENT!!! This is incredible and I applaud you in the efforts. The state of AMERICA is horrific but the state the state of BLACK AMERICANS are dire-If American has a COLD Black Americans have PNEUMONIA! I actually printed and read all your post-(at work might as well gain knowledge)@ 23 (Black Female) My generation is a mess (the majority) I've been told I have an old soul but this non sense in "POP CULTURE MEDIA" is insane! Yet a generation does't raise itself-Or maybe it does... I commend Jill Scott, The women of Spelman, India Arie, Oprah, and any woman who carries herself in honor of the generations before her-All women who call out this trash-Not just the artist because DUH they have to be funded & promoted by who...DETROIT 1
no news (no REAL news) on black entertainment TV. that was it for me. how did they lose ed gordon? did they think we weren't interested in what was going on in our communities, in the world. totally feeling you.
This website is an amazing piece of political agency and I'm proud to see people mobilizing against the proliferation of white supremacy. I was curious, though, whether there was an actual online petition being started to stop this racial violence from being aired. Because if so, I want to sign it and keep it circulating. If not, we should get one started, because I am convinced something like this can be stopped. Also, isn't this the type of racial epidemic that major leaders and scholars would and should speak out against? I've heard nothing so far.
I stopped watching BET for many reasons.
1. College Hill - I thought BET ws going to show how intelligent & serious black students were about college...I was wrong...
2. When they started deeming videos "too intelligent" for their viewers.
3. The host of the shows got MORE & MORE commercial looking.
4. They barely show any music videos...
5. Rap City reduced to an hour...so you can show shows such as the 5ive & black carpet, where you mention that SEX TAPES are the hottest thing??? BE REAL BET!!
I stopped with BET literally about 3 or 4 years back. I got tired of seeing videos (when they showed them) that all looked the same, got tired of them getting rid of shows with substance and replacing them with more disgusting foolishness. I won't even watch the smattering of gospel they show on Sundays-not after they've shown the most degrading nonsense the other six days of the week. I think back to the 80's and how excited I used to be to catch Video Soul in the evenings...sigh.
Last night I stumbled across a new BET show called “Take the Cake.” It is a game show where callers phone in and answer questions for money. It has various games. One of them was called “Tap that A$$.” It featured 3 huge pictures of black women’s backsides on poster boards behind the hosts. Callers had to guess whose backsides they were.
It was like a bad Saturday Night Live sketch, but these fools were serious! Also, they had two tap dancing twins tapping on the huge blowup pictures of the butts in question on boards on the floor. It was amazingly ridiculous!
If this is not demeaning to black women, what is?
Let’s end this nonsense. Boycott BET!
Man I too miss video soul and teen summit... Those were the days...I think I finally realized to myself that I was done with BET about a year ago. Uncut was actually the last straw for me, but I would always try to sneak a look just to see if I could catch something educational... No such luck...
BET is down the drain...
There is actually a page on myspace dedicated to boycotting BET. Networking would be good!
I have been to that page, but I thought it was disabled by myspace.
Also, I am not interested in boycotting BET. I am interested in asking corporations not to subsidize BET's foolishness. The ultimate result would be the same, but the method is slightly different. I don't believe any communication with BET is necessary. The communication needs to be with the advertisers. When they talk, people listen.
I don't think BET cares about what we think. They have stated this over and over again. I think it is more effective to try to influence advertisers who will in turn tell BET what to do.
But absolutely we need to network. E-mail me.
Thank you for stepping up and blogging about this. I've been in search of a blog that is telling it like it is. It is absolutely ridiculous what some will do for money and we need to all take a stand against this foolishness.
I haven't watched BET in over fifteen years (actually, I think longer). Every time I channel surf and pass by it, I see nothing but ignorance. I wish black people would just protest that station all together. Maybe then, they'll go back to decent programming.
I know my comment probably won't be publshed, but I expect that. Most people (Black)are in denial about the reality of our current life situation. As a race, on the whole, we are in deep trouble. As a collective Black entity of Black society we are very sick. Not the whole body of the currently accepted name of people called African Americans, but a growing part of that group have cancer; and it's spreading, becoming more contagious to the rest of the body. We can't go on living in denial like the cancer is`not there. We must pull our collective heads out of the sand. The disease must be exposed to the light. The tom-foolery must be brought out of the closet. To the nay-sayers" Shut up and take your medicine. If you don't acknowledge you're sick, you'll never seek the cure." Spike Lee said it best, "Wake Up." Good medicine is usually bitter.
I stumbled upon this blog after reading an AP article on Hot Ghetto Mess. Your site is wonderful and kudos to you for creating it!
I think the Booty Shaking Video is wonderful. Particularly if they have commentary following.
These girls look like, trashy, nasty dispensable animals. And that should be EMPHASIZED.
Young girls should know and focus on defying this condonable image. They should know that any man that accepts them this way does not value them.
Most of all they should focus on the Mic man saying "switch". Even though it's a contest that's an example of how were dispensed of.
I stopped watching BET several years ago. The final straw was UNCUT. It is one step away from being soft porn. It is so demeaning. I used to enjoy watching music videos before they turned trashy. One night I couldn't sleep and was flipping through the channels and I saw a video and a rapper slid a credit card down a woman's butt cheeks!!! I have never been so appalled. The butt shaking video clip was just another reminder that BET has no class.