Thursday
Sep112008
Reginald WhatsHisName Forced Out at BET, but I'ze Still Here :)
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:20PM The Blogmother
The man that brought us a certain MESS and "Read a *#$(^#*$^ Book" is out at BET. Whatever happened? Well according to VIBE, here is an email from our very best-est friend in the whole wide world Debra Antoinette Lee:
Debbie, why don't I believe you? Oh yeah, because you are a delusional money grubbing sociopath who preys on other Black women. Notice how Debbie Lee never misses an opportunity to plug her terrible television lineup. Remember when they made us watch a trailer for BET shows at a congressional hearing?
Now VIBE is saying that Debbie's letter is false and Hudlin was actually forced out. You can go over to VIBE.com to read why. Irrespective of whether those allegations are true, wasn't he making himself the executive producer of all of the new programming he was bringing to the network? So he was going to get paid regardless.
The bad news is that Stephen Hill is interim President. He is Debbie Lee's school chum from Brown University I believe.
He was there before Reginald Hudlin during the days of BET Uncut, the most vile and disgusting display of Black women to ever grace basic cable television. The people responsible for bringing us UNCUT truly hate Black women. Stephen Hill is NO FRIEND OF BLACK WOMEN. Debbie Lee might as well named Luther Cambell as the interim president. Heck, why name anyone at all. Its not as if they actually create anything over there, just steal some shows from MTV and put Black people in place of the main characters.
How can Black people be some of the most creative people on the planet yet get stuck with such an unoriginal channel. Oh yeah, Bob Johnson. Nothing more needs to be said.
This is all kind of anti-climatic. For those who are new to the blog, we kinda gained a bit of notoriety a little over a year ago because a couple of sponsors decided to take our advice and not sponsor a MESS of a show that among other things included a Black face cartoon as the show's logo. It was a tiny demonstration of the power of the Black consumer IF we choose to exercise it. Since then a whole lot of people have jumped on that moving train hoping that it will take them to Al Sharpton-like fame, but I jumped off. One day when I write about all the behind the scenes drama, you'll probably agree that that was a wise decision on my part. Plus its good to keep the folks out East guessing.
I've concluded that in addition to calling BET on their crap, and there is a lot of crap to be called, we have to produce an alternative vision of what we DO want. In the end, our tiny little demonstration was an outgrowth of my honest belief in the power of market forces to change behavior. It works! It doesn't work for everything, but it works under the right circumstances.
The problems at BET existed long before Whatshisname got there and if Stephen Hill's interim appointment is any indication, they will exist long after he is gone. WhatHisName and his minions taught me some very rough lessons about the cost of speaking out publicly against foolishness. Yes, you pay a price when you take on a large corporation. For every action, there is an equal opposite reaction. But I'm still here. I'ze STILL HERE! Stronger, a little less idealistic, but a whole lot wiser.
Hmm, now that Whatshisname is gone, I wonder who Debra Lee will collude with to plot the downfall of all of Black America? I have some ideas, but I ain't telling...YET. Let this be a lesson... what does Bob Johnson love more than he loves himself? HIS MONEY!
I have gone through the archives to hunt down some of my previous posts. Man I was soooo idealistic ...and long winded. Whew those were the days.... Listen to our first podcast about THAT SHOW, the opening monologue is pretty good I was bringing the righteous indignation!
Viacom uses "blackface" Cartoon to Promote New Show- AT&T and DaimlerChrysler Pay for it!
State Farm/ The Home Depot Remove Ads from BET’s "Hot Ghetto Mess" Website
Contact These Companies and Let Them Know What BET is doing to Their Brand
How Long Could You Live Without Cable? 381 days?…. Yes, BET Executives REALLY HATE BLACK PEOPLE (Again, I didn’t stutter)
BET SHOULD CUT ME A CHECK! That was just LAME
BREAKING NEWS! - BET Changes "Hot Ghetto Mess" to "We Got to Do Better"
BET Could Learn Something from The Life of George Wallace
My Campaign Against " Hot Ghetto Mess" - In MY OWN WORDS!
BET Programming Chief Unrepentant about “Hot Ghetto Mess” - "It’s so doggone goood-!"- Ever Heard of Shirley Q. Liquor?
Hot Ghetto Mess = BET’s Hottentot Venus 2007
Our 100th Post- Open Letter To Corporate America- Just Pull Your Ads from " Hot Ghetto Mess" Already.
When Did You Give Up On BET? — Reggie Hudlin is Still Unrepentant (I’m Shocked!)
I’m writing to let you know that after three exciting and productive years at BET Networks, Reginald Hudlin, our President of Entertainment, is leaving the company and returning to his entrepreneurial roots as an independent producer.
From the moment he joined the BET family, Reggie infused our program development with incredible creativity, energy and passion. Under his leadership, the entertainment division produced 17 of the top 20 highest-rated shows in the network’s 28-year history, including Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, American Gangster, Baldwin Hills, Sunday Best, our first scripted series Somebodies, and our highest-rated series ever, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. In addition, under his guidance, we significantly ramped up our BET News division, and as a result, we’ve received 13 awards for our news series and specials in just over two years, including four from the National Association of Black Journalists.
During his tenure, Reggie brought in many talented executives and built an impressive and dedicated programming team who are a huge asset to the company, and I look forward to even more compelling programming from all of them.
Reggie has played an invaluable role in the ongoing transformation of BET Networks, including the successful launch of our DVD division and laying a solid foundation for BET Films – he has put the network on the path to even more success. I’m thankful for everything he has contributed to our company. He is a true creative force and it has been an honor and pleasure to work with him.
As we work on the search for Reggie’s successor, I am pleased to announce that Stephen Hill will serve as the interim head of Entertainment. As you know, Stephen currently serves as our Executive Vice President of Music Programming & Talent and has created many of BET’s biggest franchises, including the BET Awards, 106 & Park and College Hill. Stephen has tremendous experience and a remarkable talent for identifying, producing and presenting quality entertainment, and I’m more than confident in his ability to guide our programming plans in the interim, and that moving forward, we won’t miss a beat. Please join me in thanking Reggie for all he’s done for BET Networks, and in wishing him the very best. VIBE
Debbie, why don't I believe you? Oh yeah, because you are a delusional money grubbing sociopath who preys on other Black women. Notice how Debbie Lee never misses an opportunity to plug her terrible television lineup. Remember when they made us watch a trailer for BET shows at a congressional hearing?
Now VIBE is saying that Debbie's letter is false and Hudlin was actually forced out. You can go over to VIBE.com to read why. Irrespective of whether those allegations are true, wasn't he making himself the executive producer of all of the new programming he was bringing to the network? So he was going to get paid regardless.
STEPHEN HILL IS NO FRIEND OF BLACK WOMEN
The bad news is that Stephen Hill is interim President. He is Debbie Lee's school chum from Brown University I believe.
He was there before Reginald Hudlin during the days of BET Uncut, the most vile and disgusting display of Black women to ever grace basic cable television. The people responsible for bringing us UNCUT truly hate Black women. Stephen Hill is NO FRIEND OF BLACK WOMEN. Debbie Lee might as well named Luther Cambell as the interim president. Heck, why name anyone at all. Its not as if they actually create anything over there, just steal some shows from MTV and put Black people in place of the main characters.
How can Black people be some of the most creative people on the planet yet get stuck with such an unoriginal channel. Oh yeah, Bob Johnson. Nothing more needs to be said.
My Take On It All
This is all kind of anti-climatic. For those who are new to the blog, we kinda gained a bit of notoriety a little over a year ago because a couple of sponsors decided to take our advice and not sponsor a MESS of a show that among other things included a Black face cartoon as the show's logo. It was a tiny demonstration of the power of the Black consumer IF we choose to exercise it. Since then a whole lot of people have jumped on that moving train hoping that it will take them to Al Sharpton-like fame, but I jumped off. One day when I write about all the behind the scenes drama, you'll probably agree that that was a wise decision on my part. Plus its good to keep the folks out East guessing.
I've concluded that in addition to calling BET on their crap, and there is a lot of crap to be called, we have to produce an alternative vision of what we DO want. In the end, our tiny little demonstration was an outgrowth of my honest belief in the power of market forces to change behavior. It works! It doesn't work for everything, but it works under the right circumstances.
The problems at BET existed long before Whatshisname got there and if Stephen Hill's interim appointment is any indication, they will exist long after he is gone. WhatHisName and his minions taught me some very rough lessons about the cost of speaking out publicly against foolishness. Yes, you pay a price when you take on a large corporation. For every action, there is an equal opposite reaction. But I'm still here. I'ze STILL HERE! Stronger, a little less idealistic, but a whole lot wiser.
Hmm, now that Whatshisname is gone, I wonder who Debra Lee will collude with to plot the downfall of all of Black America? I have some ideas, but I ain't telling...YET. Let this be a lesson... what does Bob Johnson love more than he loves himself? HIS MONEY!
Memory Lane
I have gone through the archives to hunt down some of my previous posts. Man I was soooo idealistic ...and long winded. Whew those were the days.... Listen to our first podcast about THAT SHOW, the opening monologue is pretty good I was bringing the righteous indignation!
Previous BET Posts
Viacom uses "blackface" Cartoon to Promote New Show- AT&T and DaimlerChrysler Pay for it!
State Farm/ The Home Depot Remove Ads from BET’s "Hot Ghetto Mess" Website
Contact These Companies and Let Them Know What BET is doing to Their Brand
How Long Could You Live Without Cable? 381 days?…. Yes, BET Executives REALLY HATE BLACK PEOPLE (Again, I didn’t stutter)
BET SHOULD CUT ME A CHECK! That was just LAME
BREAKING NEWS! - BET Changes "Hot Ghetto Mess" to "We Got to Do Better"
BET Could Learn Something from The Life of George Wallace
My Campaign Against " Hot Ghetto Mess" - In MY OWN WORDS!
BET Programming Chief Unrepentant about “Hot Ghetto Mess” - "It’s so doggone goood-!"- Ever Heard of Shirley Q. Liquor?
Hot Ghetto Mess = BET’s Hottentot Venus 2007
Our 100th Post- Open Letter To Corporate America- Just Pull Your Ads from " Hot Ghetto Mess" Already.
When Did You Give Up On BET? — Reggie Hudlin is Still Unrepentant (I’m Shocked!)
Don't forget to like our Facebook Page. We shut down our NING network. My book More Than Words is now available for download for $3.99 | 14 Comments | Share Article
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Reader Comments (14)
bet never ceases to amaze me with their madness.
I'm so glad my money is not going to pay for that garbage. The beginning of the end for me was the Uncut program. I found it by mistake. I was working nights at the time. I happened to be flipping the channels and saw something that I will not describe here. I was horrified that this was on BET. Not just the fact that this was BET but the fact this was on basic cable. People should have to pay extra for porn. I do not expect to see that on basic cable. I dropped cable over two years ago for other reasons. However the main reason I have decided not to get it back is because of BET and other madness I do not want my hard earned dollars going towards.
After seeing what I saw on Uncut I am not surprised at anything that vile company does.
OMG Pamela, that's how I discovered Uncut, just flipping through on a night of insomnia and just being in shock. Utter complete shock and horror. It felt like watching Mississippi Burning or something. just hurt and then mad.
When I get upset about those highly paid idiots over there I just watch the Boondocks episodes that were banned and I feel so much better! I haven't watched BET in years and have no plans to do so.
Imagine falling asleep during Girlfriends and waking up in a haze.
What time is it?
Is it morning?
What the hell is that on my TV?
Eyes focus.
What the hell? What channel is this?
If you watch Hudlin's films his hatred of black women has always been apparent.
But anyway, it's pretty obvious that Debra Lee gave up her reproductive system for $$$$ a long time ago. I can't even begin to imagine the exec meetings up in there. I be there's a lot of name-calling and cursing. If their programming is any indication, the staff of BET is a bunch of self-hating, color struck, money-hungry WHORES. Yeah, I said whores.
We will never have any decent programming until we start addressing the exploitation of black women and poor black folks for dollars.
We won't get any decent programming until we start producing it ourselves. Debra Lee and theat entire organization dont have a creative bone in their bodies. The only reason they make any money at all is because they had a 20 year head start and have a monopoly. The fact that Hudlin is responsible for their 20 top rated shows demonstrates that THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY THAN DEBBIE LEE LET ON.
M-O-N-E-Y is the only thing that moves those sociopaths and so MONEY is at the root of this development. They have been in a nose dive ever since that MESS they tried to shove down our throats last year and have never recovered.
The only reason Lil Debbie is still there is because of Bob Johnson. Can you imagine any other executive anywhere else that could have clung on this long with out a unique form of protection? people forget Bobby J owns plenty of Viacom stock as a part of the sale of BET.
What is going on in the black Ivy League crowd? They are the ones responsible for BET? What are they learning, how to kiss up to yt folks better than black folks who go to community college?
They don't know how to even edit their shows correctly. If they need help I know some high schools students who have done a better job filming and editing.
There are a lot of talented black folks out there but they have not been given a chance. I think there must be a lot of nepostism going on there. That Hispanic skinny host w/ the worst voice on TV Rosci, are you telling me they couldn't find a pretty black girl who actually speaks proper english? And that news girl with the British accent isn't even black, she is Indian.
I have totally written off BET, so if they actually do something positive I don't bother to tune in.
does anyone have first person info on Sheila Johnson's take on evolution (devolution...) of BET. always wondered?
BET is a complete disgrace. I'm sorry but it is visual genocide. Why do I want to see black folks degrade each other. That's not entertainment to me.
Another Blackbuster from BET
oh yeah....
BET IS WACK, WACK AND JUST WACK.
check out this video confessions of a bet producer
http://ebonyintuition.blogspot.com/2008/07/confessions-of-bet-producer.html
I learned about What About Our Daughters through VIBE. And I am quite glad I actually visited the blog.
There is an article in the October 2008 issue of VIBE by Kristal Brent Zook entitled, "With Armies of Prostestors, Legions of Imitatiors, Changes of Ownership, and Changes in Leadership, Can BET Finally Get With the Program?"
It is a very intresting article. She discusses Hudlin and his role at BET and includes the fallout between Aaron McGruder (which was apparent from McGruder's Boondocks episode about BET). Then Zook speaks on Cathy Hughes, Congressman Watts and Christina Norman and her role as VH1's first Black president and how she was involved with the Flavor of Love buffoonery showcase.
It's very intresting.
Not to detract from your site (I have placed a link for your page on my blog), but the URL for my article on the whole situation is:
http://sinceighteensixtyfive.blogspot.com/2008/09/can-and-should-one-network-be-all.html
It is called: Can and Should One Network Be All Things for All People?
I will come by regularly to peep out the issues on your site.
Thx for the info!
-signing off,
jessica
Just LOL at the title of this post.