Big Things at BET
Reginald Hudlin, who directed films like Boomerang and House Party before becoming a TV executive, has promised to expand dramatically the pallette of programming on BET. Some people were a bit suspicious of this promise. (I'm referring specifically to everyone who has ever watched BET).
The network unveiled their lineup for next season, though, and from the looks of it, he's really following through. Among the offerings are an animated sketch series from Orlando Jones and Ali LeRoi, a sitcom about post-college malaise called "Somebodies," adapted from the indie film of the same name, and a reality show about rich black kids called "Baldwin Hills."
Not everything looks great on paper, but what it does look like is a genuine commitment to representing much more of the black experience -- not just rappers in the ghetto or wholesome grandmothers on Soul Food: The Series. I think it'd be tough to overstate how signficant that is.
Just think: a show about SLACKERS who are BLACK! If that doesn't warm your heart, I dunno what will.
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The network unveiled their lineup for next season, though, and from the looks of it, he's really following through. Among the offerings are an animated sketch series from Orlando Jones and Ali LeRoi, a sitcom about post-college malaise called "Somebodies," adapted from the indie film of the same name, and a reality show about rich black kids called "Baldwin Hills."
Not everything looks great on paper, but what it does look like is a genuine commitment to representing much more of the black experience -- not just rappers in the ghetto or wholesome grandmothers on Soul Food: The Series. I think it'd be tough to overstate how signficant that is.
Just think: a show about SLACKERS who are BLACK! If that doesn't warm your heart, I dunno what will.
Labels: tv
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posted by Jesse Thorn at Thursday, April 19, 2007
3 Comments:
I'm hearing good things about "Hell Date".
As a person of color (yes I have caramel skin) whom rarely watches BET (only for the Wayans Brothers reruns, season 2-5 only), I think the Baldwin Hills/THE HILLS!! rip-off is a bad idea. In fact, trying to build programing like their "sista" network MTV is bad idea. What next, a black version of Next?
Love The Wire though.
I agree completely Jerell, but that being said... they're doing SOMEthing. Reginald Hudlin is a smart and capable guy, and he's been very clear about his mandate. There's no doubt that lots of crap will still be on the air, but this is pretty much the first time they've ever made an effort.
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