EXCLUSIVE:"Keeping it Real, Whitney" - Special Guest, Debra Lee - Chairman and CEO, BET

Letters poured into "Keeping it Real, Whitney" asking why she, the greatest love of all singer of contemporary music, wasn't at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 29, 2009.

So Whitney did what any good talk show host should do: invite the person who was behind the show to come to hers and answer some questions.

There were tons of issues, but Whitney touched on a few in this exclusive interview with Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET. And I know Debra Lee isn't graying by any means. I've seen her wig up close and she keeps it tight. Xtranormal doesn't have many options for older black women, but that's OK, you'll forget all of that as soon as Whitney gets to the bottom of things.



Enjoy.

xoxo,
Black Daria ;/

BET Awards, Breasts and Bafoonery - It's the week of "B"s...

So, there's been a lot of talk about the Lil'Wayne/Drake performance at the BET Awards 2009, and it's not very good. Well, considering the fact that some genius decided it would be just fine to:

1. Have Drake perform, although he'd torn his ACL (that's the story, anyway)

2. Proceed with a Lil' Wayne performance - a polar opposite to the legend's memory that they were supposed to be honoring, Michael Jackson

3. Have girls between the ages of 13-16 (guessing, because some if not all may not even be 16 yet) come on stage, clearly not trained in any form of dance besides those they may have seen in a video, but couldn't do those dances anyway (they are looking at each other and wondering what to do)

Yeah, this is what happened on TV this past Sunday. On BET, the same company who may have better spent their dollars investing in Harlem Heights (stop booing) or a children's cartoon block on Saturday mornings.

Since I was fortunate (yes, I meant to say that) to catch them after they aired, I only got to see a completely edited version...I imagine there were people with Molotov Cocktails, Pitchforks and Signs outside of Debra Lee's house. This woman just doesn't get a break, huh?

The good old Internet never fails, so here's the unedited version of Drake and Lil' Wayne...feel free to watch the whole thing (there's also a performance with Birdman and Cash Money, but who cares, because I know I don't. Sorry, I didn't know what or who they were until the BET Awards, I guess that's the point of doing a show like this)...



A few problems:

1. Saying "in honor of the best we ever had," followed by "let's have some fun" doesn't really make any sense. Michael Jackson died, not Bubbles.

2. Mic issues...oh that's right...you can't curse on TV (so why do this song?) This happens around 1:45.

3. Ballerinas? Oh no, just...wait...little girls? The madness begins at 3:49. Oh and they didn't forget to mention Miley Cyrus. Isn't that everyone's favorite part of the song?

Maybe if the little girls had a section where they were taught a Michael Jackson dance and performed it to a Michael Jackson song (crucial) would this have been OK...but um...this is a true bad look...sorry, I had to tell the truth.

Rather than sit back and tell you how f'ed up you are, since you've already heard that for about 10 years now, here's a quick solution, courtesy of Black Daria.

An apology on your website for the show. You can go ahead and say you didn't have time and were scrambling, but just say that you are sorry if there were parts that were offensive.

You could continue by saying that "while the show was our first true attempt to honor Michael Jackson, we will be creating a special in the coming weeks, including performances from special guests. We feel Michael is owed a full tribute to his life with a celebration of songs and dances brought to us by the man himself..."I don't know, something like that.

Either way, you have work to do. Good luck. Feel free to call me for additional questions or other solutions.

xoxo,
Black Daria ;/


P.S. Hmmm...I don't know if this was a good follow up Drake...Breasts you ever had much? Why not have just gotten the Degrassi cast? Shenae loves you...trust me, I read it in US Weekly, or Life & Style, or one of those magazines.

The first video on MTV wasn't a Hip-Hop one...duh, right?!?

So, it was a late brunch, and of course, MTV always comes up if you work there. My new friend and I got into a discussion about the first video to play on MTV.

Now, I wasn't there or anything, but I remember in my Making Sense of Popular Culture (COM 101 for you officials) there was a brief paragragh in one of the many packets of reading (Perouka did a lot of copies, because nobody really talked about COM 101 in a full textbook "back then") about MTV, and I never forgot one sentence: MTV debuted on air August 1, 1981.


And the first video they played was Video Killed the Radio Star. Go on, watch it:

...and the paragragh ended for me there. I wasn't around when they started the channel. What I mean by that is, I wasn't around when the concept was fostered. Something about music videos...they were cheap marketing tools to sell albums. Remember, it didn't cost the millions of dollars that somehow, it began to cost.

In fact, Wikipedia (my guide to the world) states that "several noted directors got their start creating music videos." The likes of these people will include Spike Jonze, F. Gary Gray, Hype Williams and Michel Gondry to name a few. This post isn't about directors, but I thought I should mention that, kinda like a footnote. Thanks Wikipedia. Readers, keep that one in your back pocket.

I was curious about the first rap video to play on MTV, and of course, how could it not have been Run DMC (the debate was LL Cool J, which I rejected immediately with no bias, as I am from Queens by way of Brooklyn). You can't watch it, unless you click here. Sorry, it's the labels and their whole "disabling" shit. More on that another day.

On the left is Diggy, Sheesh! Your genes are strong Rev...Love this picture tho.

However, I was intrigued at the fact that although the station launched as a mostly rock channel, plays from Michael Jackson are noted as saving the channel from utter failure. Boy, what Daria could do to turn this all around.

Sorry.

Run DMC sold gold the year that video played on MTV. It was 1984; probably around the same time Bill Cosby was sitting in a room debating on whether Rudy would be a boy or a girl (I think they made the right decision.)

Ms. Rudith Lillian Huxtable/Keisha Knight Pulliam

...And then a new twitter thread began later the same night of the conversation at Brunch, #iremember. Someone wrote that they "remembered when they played videos on MTV and BET."

I always get annoyed, as soon as I read that. I've seen it before, heard it before and debated it, too.

Please. #iremember when...you really didn't need a million dollars to do a video, could sell brands and no one was looking for a cosign from you in the record/lyrics to go buy a pair of Guess Jeans (what, didn't everybody want to be specifically the "Pleasure Principle" Janet Jackson for Halloween?):



#iremember when you could have girls in bathing suits in videos, but the song were appropriate to the actual reason why the girls were in bathing suits (RIP Tupac the Magnificent...go shorty, it's ya birfday):

I still cringe at the girl who over gyrates tho, as well as the girl with the pink tassle bathing suit...gross.


#iremember when an actress could get a break doing a video, because she knew there was more to accomplish than popping extacy pills in the back of SUVs for a "Principal" role:

There are a lot of things #iremember...I'd simply like to be inspired again.

P.S. If you guess who that actress is, I don't have any t-shirts, but I promise to print one up as soon as I get my new website done. Pinky swear, I remember everything.

Can you change "The Game"?

Last weekend BET showed a few episodes of The Game and I actually sat down to watch a few...then was suprised when an episode of Harlem Heights I DVR'ed was actually an episode of The Game, so I watched that one too...and I gotta say I love this show...and Black Daria doesn't use the word love often.

A few months ago, Debra Lee of BET came to talk to a bunch of us eager beavers (assistants to managers were in the room) about her job, and one of things she mentioned is the costs of producing shows like The Game (refer back to this post for details).

Earlier this week, a few of my favorite rags posted news that The Game was being cancelled (the rumor seems to come about on the dawn of each final episode) but apparently the heat has risen...

So, some of your favorite characters from the show got together and put this video together...as a person who works in the entertainment industry, it's always been a battle to not only see yourself on TV, but portrayed accurately...and somehow, Mara Brock Akil seems to have the magic touch.

As the dawn of another potential ax rises, I'd ask you take the full 5 minutes to watch how you can help keep The Game on air...



My name is Black Daria, and I approve this message.

xoxo,
Black Daria

King Magazine 50th issue party and other stuff...

I know, I am the worst, but I hope this post makes up for past missing posts. And if it doesn't, you know I don't really care, because my name is Black Daria.

LAST WEEK @ the KING MAGAZINE PARTY...

I met my new crush...you know, when someone doesn't answer your passionate love letters (ahem, Chuck Bass), you have to add to your collection of available suitors...I didn't ask him if he has a girlfriend yet, but I guarantee he's mine (and your) new crush:


His name is Miguel Perdomo (on my right, wearing purple...how did he know that was my color?). Black Daria Perdomo. Sorry. Anyway, he was one of the models in BET's Rip the Runway, a labor of love hosted by Derek Luke (not really sure why except a VERY good agent/rep) and Joy Bryant (huge come-up for BET). And no, I didn't get an invite again (why are people taking my name so literally...) When I find some pictures, I will talk about the good, maybe the bad...we shall see.

THEN DAWN CAME...

Damn...first of all, my fellow colleague/publicist and such, Ra-fael Blanco, of 2R's Entertainment, represents Dawn Richard in addition to my new boyfriend...wow, small world. She was so sweet, it made me feel bad about talking shit about them back in January, but really that was kinda false reporting...it was D-Woods who was stank and looked a hot mess...the rest of the girls were nice the first time I met them outside a Kelis event. I saw D Woods alone at a King Magazine event (ironically), but hey, maybe all the shit that popped off at the end of Season 3 was part of her stinkness. The other part of me says she's a chicken, but I will have to wait until I meet her again to see if she's nice. I probably won't be looking for her though, or anything.

Anyways, Dawn was sweet enough (Black Daria said sweet, so she must have been nice) to stop and take this picture and tell me she'd read my blog, even though she was running to serenade the 50th issue of King Magazine...I guess since it was their party, it's OK if she had to leave to tend to the crowd.

Other flicks from that night...

My Gay Boyfriend, Devon Christopher of Bleu Magazine & Atomic Wings of Harlem...I see ads in my future...right here on this blog.

Liris Crosse...the best thing that happened to men's lockers, phone wallpapers and anywhere else they want to see Liris. She recently was a guest on Talk Dat Ish radio with Host Tionna Smalls, where we had an interesting debate on black people's favorite topic: skin color.

Ran into a fellow blogger/friend, Ms. Cocoa Luv Chronicles herself.

Mr. Datwon Thomas...always a great host.

Needless to say, I had a great time...then stumbled upon a surprise when I ended up at Drom later:

Yep...a LaGuardian! (We really are everywhere!) So good to see a familiar face...now he needs to return my call so we can do some business. He was singing backup for Tess...they sound awesome, so I know we will be hearing more from them soon. Oh, and the LaGuardian is Don Kornegay...it's a name I know you will be seeing alot ;)

In the Drom crowd that night were people like...

D Prosper...Fiddy people know about him...no need to explain.

I talked to Rahman Ali Bugg (on his birthday...ruthless) about Hip Hop Honors...he's the founder of the show. I've waited a long time to meet the man who started this whole thing, and I must say, I was pretty much left speechless. And most people know that doesn't happen to me. I guess I heard what I needed to hear. But I am still going to e-mail him about some of his choices on females to be honored for future shows.

And finally, in an effort to give you a glimpse of Busta at his best, here's a clip from that night, thanks to my wonderful Camera, the Nikon S60 here. I just would like to state that I love Busta :)

That's all for now...Black Daria, signing off.

~BD :/

Greater "Heights"? and a lesson in Television 101...

So, just when I thought there would be nothing for me to be proud of on television this year, BET makes a move that even knocked my glasses a little lower on my nose than normal...


HARLEM HEIGHTS - MEET THE CAST




Photo credit: BET.com

As Neffe would say, "Are you serious?" THANK. YOU. BET. Yes, there are talented, COLLEGE-educated people out there who not only just happen to be Black like me (officially a new category), but have and are doing things...right here in New York City...down the block from Black Daria...again, no call...fine, I will just wait for my own show.

NOW HEAR THIS: If you've been complaining about what BET doesn't do, you may want to watch this show. Back in the summer I attended a session that the good folks at Viacom provide to the young whippersnappers looking to figure out where they want to go in the building. With so many opportunities, it's hard to decide, but when Debra Lee came to speak, I realized that all my television watching didn't go to waste...completely. You could equate it to the 10,000 hour theory in the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

LAUGHS. HEADS SHAKING...thinking, "What's my current facebook status?" followed by *Jeers, booos....*

Watch the banana peels...I know what you are thinking, but I will let you in on something I think you should know...

TELEVISION 101: Ad Sales

Ad Sales are the depth and breath of most cable companies...it's ad revenue that keeps the doors open and the girls girating for Bret Michaels (just being diverse and politcally correct). BET struggles because ad sales (and other dollars, but mucho in Ad Sales) retroactively will pay for those shows you love to watch, like "The Game" or "House."

Now stop. Think about how much it costs to produce those shows (excluding reality TV, as many of the women and men who make first appearances are paid little, if not a plane ticket and a nice hotel room). According to Debra Lee, a show like "The Game" costs a million dollars...per episode. Read that again, because I was equally as blown. 1 million dollars per episode x14 is...very good, 14 million dollars.

We can say that BET has taking a brutal beating, as most minority networks don't get half the dollars that are spread amongst major networks. It's a no brainer to decide whether you'll throw a couple million behind an extremely edited episode of "The Wire" that you can already watch on demand, versus a brand new American Idol...pretty interesting, huh?

What's special about Harlem Heights? It was featured at the Television Critics Association (or TCA to the nerds like myself) Winter Conference as a show that's NOT to compete with the Hills (what?) as it's purpose is to show the beauty of Harlem (yay) as well as it's diverse young professionals sprinkled about its streets.

We will see. Black Daria is waiting for her invite to the premiere party.

Oh, Harlem Heights will air March 2 on BET.

Signing off.

xoxo,
Black Daria

P.S. Talk about having a dream, huh? Remember the greatness of the Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. today...for without this man, who knows if even my blog would exist. Martin Luther King Jr. was a true outlier.