BET Awards: The Recap

Let's take it from the top, folks:

7:05: Tuning in to the BET Pre-Show. Why are Terrence and Rocsi talking so much? Does Julissa even still work at BET? And why are they not interviewing any celebrities?!?

7:30: Flip over to E! Whew! At least someone knows how to put on a red carpet special. E! did in 30 minutes what BET couldn't manage in 2 hours.

8:00: Showtime.

8:03: I'm cowering under my bed for fear that Jennifer Holliday is going to come through the TV and attack me. Her facial expressions scare me.

8:10: Mo'Nique and her "Big Girl Dancers" are working it out on stage. I think Mo has an unhealthy obsession with Beyonce, but yet, couldn't take the time to actually learn the lyrics to "Deja Vu"?

8:15: I'm mad that Beyonce seemed to forget Michelle's name, but at least she gave Ne-Yo credit for writing "Irreplaceable" and allowed the video director to share the stage (but not get a word in edgewise). I know she was hot and uncomfortable in that dress. Ahh...the price of beauty.

8:20: What does Diana Ross know about T.I.? Little man is too cute...but his performance was a bit of a yawn.

8:30: Ne-Yo is flat and boring. Even a "surprise" appearance by Fabolous didn't help none.

8:45: BET is notorious for not turning people's microphones on. Poor Lil' Kim. While I like "Last Night," Keyshia, you should have ditched Diddy and performed your new track, which is the official summer banger! And you needs to learn to walk and dance in heels, hon. Ask Beyonce.

9:00: Here we go. It's the hardest working woman in show business...Beyonce! This was the first time I've ever heard "Get Me Bodied." It's alright.

9:05: And here's Kelly. Um, Kelly, I think Wonder Woman needs her costume back. But your legs look fab. Eve is working that mini dress and boots combo.

9:08: It's DC3, plus Solange.

9:15: I'm so proud of T.I. for being a big (little) man and apologizing for the scuffle he and some "colleagues" got into over the weekend. Word on the skreet is that he and Luda had a little tussle over who should have won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. Come on, T.I. That was like 6 months ago, boo. Let it go.

9:20: Robin Thicke, I love you and I think you're super-talented, but you need to get a new song. You know it time when you have to resort to trying to make "Lost Without You" sound "latin."

9:30: The Gerald LeVert tribute is touching.

9:45: Why is 50 Cent acting a str8 up fool? But I blame BET for giving him the mic in the first place.

9:50: Did ya'll catch the Vitamin Water plug? Can't say 50 is not about his business.

9:55: Is BET for real? They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but they're taking it too far with the new reality shows debuting in July. "Baldwin Hills" aka the Black "Laguna Beach/The Hills" and "S.O.B's" aka D.L. Hughely cheap version of "Punk'd." BET can't even buy a clue. Moving on...

10:00: All bow down to the diva...Miss Diana Ross. The Boss.

10:05: I wonder where Erykah Badu got that wig from. I think I need it in my life for Halloween.

10:07: OK, so is Stevie Wonder the official go-to-guy when it comes to tributes?

10:15: Diana has all thosse kids? For real? Tracee Ellis Ross, you look hot to death. I have a (girl) crush on you. Call me!

10:17: Oh look, it's Rhonda Ross' daddy, Berry Gordy. But why's he sitting in the back? Come on Diana, you know that ain't right. He's your baby daddy.

10:20: Look at Diane trying to play the mommy roll and telling the young kids they need to stop cussin' and droppin' it like it's hot. Cute, but it's not gonna make a bit of difference.

10:30: Tichina looks mad as heck that she didn't win Best Actress.

I nod off for a quick nap....during Don Cheadle's honor. I know, I know. He's doing good by bringing awareness to the crisit in Darfur. But even he knew that BET was grasping at straws to pick him to honor. Just goes to show that Black entertainers need to actually start using their money and fame for good, and not just to buy bling and rims.

10:45: Oh, Ciara. So busy dancing you forgot to sing. And Keanu Reeves wants his "Matrix" moves back. But you sure did the damn thing, droppin' it like it's hot right in front of Bow Wow's cheating-behind.

10:50: Who left the gate open and let Flavor Flav in? I'm confused as to why Public Enemy is doing the James Brown tribute. Where's Usher?

11:00: That's all folks.

Oh, you want to know who won? Who cares?!? There were more performances than awards handed out anyway.

My advice to BET: Stop trying to copy everything MTV has already done. You're more than a few days late, and clearly, more than a few dollars short on the budget. Upgrade the sound system; only invite performers who are relevant and have NEW material to sing; and it's OK to cue the music and cut the acceptance speeches short if folks are getting to long winded. It's OK - we defintely won't be mad.

Oh, and please fire whoever's bright idea it was to invite readers to submit home videos of themselves introducding the nominees. Tomfoolery at it's finest.

BET Awards: TONIGHT!

So, who else is going to join me in watching the foolwang 2007 BET Awards tonight?!? I really hate to support anything BET does as the Black Exploitation Television network, but over the past 6 years, the BET Awards has proven to be an entertaining, if not downright amusing, fete. I expect tonight's show to be no different.

The pre-show begins at 6pm on BET and in an unprecendented move, E! will also air a red-carpet special at 7:30. The main event kicks off at 8pm, and based on the rumors, the show opener should be a doosy (either the first comeback performance of Whitney Houston, or a duet with the dueling Dreamgirls Jennifers - Jennifer Hudson and the original Effife, Jennifer Holliday). Other performers include: Beyonce, T.I., Ciara, Robin Thicke, 50 Cent, Ne-Yo, Yolanda Adams, Kelly Rowland, Erykah Badu, Diddy, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Chuck D., and Usher.

See you back here tomorrow for the recap!

For those interested, here are the nominees (my picks are in bold):

Female R&B Artist:
Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
Ciara
Jennifer Hudson
Corinne Bailey Rae

Male R&B Artist:
Akon
John Legend
Gerald Levert
Ne-Yo
Robin Thicke

Group:
Gnarls Barkley
Mary Mary
Outkast
Pretty Ricky
Three Six Mafia

New Artist:
Lupe Fiasco
Gnarls Barkley
Jennifer Hudson
MIMS
Corinne Bailey Rae

BET J "Cool Like That" award:
Gerald Levert
Brian McKnight
Eric Roberson
Musiq Soulchild
Elisabeth Withers

BET Choice award:
Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"
Birdman & Lil Wayne, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"
Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, "Shortie Like Mine"
Ciara, "Because of You"
Robin Thicke, "Lost Without You"
UNK "Walk It Out"

Collaboration:
Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, "I Wanna Love You"
Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Deja Vu"
Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Upgrade U"
Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole, "Last Night"
Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige, "Runaway Love"

Video of the Year:
Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, "I Wanna Love You"
Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"
Beyonce & Shakira, "Beautiful Liar"
Ciara, "Like a Boy"
Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"

Male Hip-Hop Artist:
Diddy
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Ludacris
T.I.

Gospel Artist:
Shirley Caesar
Kirk Franklin
Fred Hammond
Dave Hollister
Mary Mary

Actress:
Tichina Arnold
Angela Bassett
Jennifer Hudson
Kerry Washington
Chandra Wilson

Actor:
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx
Eddie Murphy
Will Smith
Forest Whitaker

Female Athlete:
Swin Cash
Tamika Catchings
Gail Devers
Lisa Leslie
Serena Williams

Male Athlete:
Reggie Bush
LeBron James
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Dwyane Wade
Tiger Woods

Martin: Coming to the Big Screen?

Word has it that a movie based on the popular 90's FOX sitcom Martin is in the works. The show has gained recent success with the release of Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD. (Season 1 is in constant rotation in my DVD player. I still need to get Season 2, which just came out last month.)

Sources say that all the original cast members, including Martin Lawrence (Martin), Tisha Campbell (Gina), Tichina Arnold (Pam), Carl Anthony Payne (Cole), and Thomas Mikal Ford (Tommy), are committed to appear in the movie set for a 2009 release! I guess that means Martin and Tisha have repaired the rift that ultimately led to the end of the show in 1997.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that this is fact...and not fiction. We're due for a solid African-American comedy movie that doesn't invole a man donning a fat suit (yes, I'm talking about you - Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, and Tyler Perry) and pretending to be a woman.

Stay tuned...

Dr. Burke...you are FIRED!

Yes, you read that correctly.

Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey's Anatomy next season. An ABC Studios spokesperson confirms that the actor's contract option has not been picked up, but declined further comment.

One insider, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, speculated that the decision was likely due only in part to the T.R. Knight homophobic slur scandal and the subsequent fallout. "There was a pattern of problematic behavior going back before he used the F-word. I imagine [his dismissal] was the result of all of that."

Washington's rep, Howard Bragman, confirmed the news, adding that his client was informed by Grey's executive producer Shonda Rhimes earlier today that he was not being invited back to the show. In a statement, Washington, said, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." (Angry Black Man Alert!)

Plot-wise, it won't be difficult to explain Washington's absence. In last month's season finale, Burke left Cristina at the altar and moved out of their apartment. So long Dr. Burke....