From The Grio 

Last week singer August Alsina made an appearance on BET’s 106 and Park to promote his debut album, Testimony, when an on-camera interaction with host Keshia Chante put the New Orleans native in the hot seat.

It’s been widely reported that the R&B newcomer hasbeef with the more established Trey Songz (although Trey appeared on August’s “I Love This” remix), and reportedly, before cameras rolled, he told the BET team that he wouldn’t speak about their rivalry. Chante decided to press the matter on live TV, which  Alsina replied sternly: “I told y’all we weren’t going to talk about this sh*t backstage.”

Chante was visibly shocked by the curt response, but veteran hip-hop DJ Angie Martinez, of Hot 97 fame, believed the 106 and Park host held her own.

“I think she handled it like a G. She didn’t get too flustered and pushed through it,” said Martinez. “I”m sure she learned a lesson.”

Read more about Angie Martinez’s opinions at TheGrio.com 

We’ve just learned that a judge has dismissed B. Scott’s gender discrimination lawsuit against BET.

As you may recall, B sued the network and parent company, Viacom, following last year’s BET Awards after he was forced by executives to change from women’s clothing into men’s clothes. Though he complied with the network’s orders, he was eventually removed from the red carpet pre-show altogether and replaced by “The Real” co-host Adrienne Bailon.

“While I want nothing more than to put this incident behind me and move on with my life, I still wholeheartedly believe that I’m entitled to a true public apology,” B said in a statement following the filing of his lawsuit.

“BET’s non-apology statement added more insult to injury. What happened to me was not a ‘miscommunication’ nor was it ‘unintentional’. It was wrong. I have been vehemently trying to come to a resolution with BET and Viacom behind the scenes. After a few weeks of back and forth dialogue with no foreseeable resolution, I have filed a lawsuit against BET and its parent company Viacom for discrimination on the basis of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation..”

Despite B’s expressed humiliation over the whole fiasco, Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos found that the 1st amendment provides BET with the right to run the network and dress its hosts however they see fit, TMZ reports. B released an official statement  shortly after the ruling, which reads:

“It’s unfortunate that Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos presiding over today’s motion failed to consider the facts in their entirety, especially pertaining to a case as unique as this one. It disheartens me that the message sent today wasn’t a message of acceptance, but rather it’s acceptable to discriminate against transgender individuals on the basis of their gender identity and expression – and that such discriminatory acts are protected under the first amendment.

As my attorney and I seek to appeal the judge’s decision on the motion to strike in the California Court of Appeal, we’re continuing to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community and to remind the world that it’s ok to be who you are.

Standing up for your rights and the rights of others can be a lengthy, uphill war. When one battle is lost, another is waged and yet we must press forward.

Although I’m saddened by what today’s verdict means for myself and other members of the LGBTQ community, the struggle is not over. I will pursue progress and human rights for our community through the Appellate Court where I hope that my unique set of circumstances and BET/Viacom’s treatment of me will collectively yield active legislation to prevent anyone else from having to suffer as I have – without networks being able to disguise their unlawful discriminatory practices with vague, umbrella terms like ‘creative privilege’.

I’m committed to change, progress, human rights and equality for all, and by no means do I feel defeated.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.”

Interestingly, B also says that his war against the network is nowhere near over.

 

Thoughts?

They are making some major changes over at BET.

Through a deal with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment BET’s 24-hour music and entertainment channel Centric is being rebranded as a cable channel just for black women. It will present programming selected to appeal to this new target audience. Under the exclusive co-production partnership, Flavor Unit will produce new content for the network. The production company, owned by Latifah and her partner Shakim Compere, produces her successful daytime talk program, The Queen Latifah Show. BET recently picked that program up as a late-night program.

“She does it all and we are happy to have her join us as a creative force as we continue to grow Centric into a premiere destination for African American women,” said Debra L. Lee, BET Networks Chairman and CEO. “We couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

Continues Target Market News, “As part of the deal, BET Networks will develop and premiere an all-new Season 4 of the highly rated Single Ladies on Centric.”

BET’s move to lure in female viewers is rooted in economic potential.

“At more than 10 million strong, and in control of 20 billion dollars in buying power, the African American woman is an increasingly powerful, yet often overlooked consumer.  No other network has embraced her with content designed specifically for her — until now,” said Louis Carr, BET Networks President of Broadcast and Media Sales.

Centric isn’t the only network making a play for black female viewers. We reported on Oxygen’s new lineup of shows, which is specifically targeting a multicultural younger woman. Centric is already a favorite with African-American women, especially ages 25 to 54 and that network is growing. It had gains of +20 percent in viewership between January and March.

Is Centric one of your favorites?

It’s been a little while since there was an update on transgender media personality B. Scott’s lawsuit against BET, but TMZ just uncovered some interesting details from the legal docs.

As you know, B. Scott is suing BET and Viacom over last year’s BET Awards because they made him change his outfit from a flowy pantsuit and heels, to more masculine attire which he claimed in his lawsuit was willing and wrongful discrimination against his gender identity and, furthermore, humiliating. But that’s not all. In his deposition, B provided an interesting analogy for the “emotional distress” he says he endured as a result of the network’s actions:

“I feel like Sofia in ‘The Color Purple.’ ‘All my life I had to fight!’ Because of my experience with BET, it led me to the realization that I am transgender because of my gender identity and expression, it was specifically because of my gender and not my sexuality that made me a target.”

In case you’re not familiar, Oprah Winfrey’s character, Sofia, made the declaration, “all my life I had to fight” when she confronted Celie in the fields about telling Harpo to beat her. That analogy will likely not be lost on BET, as it’s been reported that Programming President Stephen Hill allegedly wrote in an internal e-mail, “I don’t want ‘looking like a woman B Scott,’ I want tempered B Scott,” to which Network Vice President Rhonda Cowan reportedly replied, “I can speak to him about being less ‘womanly.’”

That clearly didn’t go over well, much like the network’s decision to hire someone with an androgynous appearance in the first place and then try to water him down last minute. Is that equal to Sofia’s struggle in “The Color Purple” though? You tell us in the comments section.

“Comic View on BET coming at you six nights a week, get your laugh on…” I cannot tell you how much joy that show brought to my life as a kid. That was practically family programming in my house. And the jokes told on “Comic View” were often the topic of conversation at school the next day. And even though I realized, as the years progressed, that the show didn’t have the same draw it once did, I was surprised to see tat BET got rid of it.

But today, I’m happily though trepidatiously reporting that BET has decided to bring the stand up comedy show back to the airwaves.

Veteran Queen of Comedy, Sommore will serve as the host, introducing an entirely new class of comedians to the world.

I say with trepidation because a part of me wonders how successful the show will be in today’s market. Everybody’s a YouTube star these days. But who knows Arsenio came back after 20 years and he’s doing quite well. You never know it could happen.

What do you think, will the relaunch of Comic View be successful? Will you watch?

Take a look at the new host Sommore explaining what you can expect from this new season in the video below.

Five days ago we heard a rumor that BET was reviving VH1′s recently cancelled series “Single Ladies” and now we know that the story is actually half true. According to the LA Times it’s BET’s affiliate channel, Centric, that will be bringing back the TV series and a fourth season of “Single Ladies” is now confirmed on the network.

As LA Times tells it, under the deal, Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment company, which produces the show, will developing an all-new fourth season as part of a new exclusive programming partnership with BET Networks’ Centric, which is now re-positioning itself as the first network aimed at black women. Flavor Unit will also produce new shows for the network and begin airing episodes of Queen Latifah’s syndicated daytime talk show as part of the agreement.

Casting for the new season is reportedly still up in the air, but we have a feeling LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea and Denise Vasi will all be thrilled at this news, i.e. staying employed. We’ll keep you posted on a premiere date.

Are you excited Centric is Bringing Back “Single Ladies” for a fourth season?

It looks like BET has another lawsuit on their hands.

According to TMZ the television network is being sued by Antwon Black, a man who says he was shot at an after-party following the 2011 BET  Hip Hop Awards. Black explains that BET hosted an official after-party celebration for the  awards show at the Compound Night Club in Atlanta on October 2, 2011, which he attended. During the celebration, Black was shot in the leg. He’s now requesting that BET and parent company, Viacom, pay up.

Black claims that the shooting was due to negligence on behalf of nightclub security for allowing one of its frequent patrons to enter the club without being checked for weapons. In addition to BET and Viacom, he is also suing the Compound Nightclub.

It’s unclear why he waited so long to take action. BET has yet to comment in the allegations; however, this will be the second major lawsuit triggered by one of their awards shows. As you may recall, Internet personality B. Scott also has an impending gender discrimination lawsuit against the network following a wardrobe discrepancy at the 2013 BET Awards.

 

From HelloBeautiful 

“Single Ladies” fans you may be in luck! Word on the street is producers are shopping the canceled VH1 series at different networks.

According to Jawn Murray’s Always A List blog, BET is in talks to pick up the one-hour drama, which starred LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea and Denise Vasi. A publicist at the network is refusing to confirmed or deny the reports, simply stating “We can not comment at this time.”As we reported earlier, VH1 canceled the original series in the midst of its third season back in February. “We’ve been proud to deliver three seasons of the drama, romance and style that engaged viewers in each episode of Single Ladies,” the cable network said in a statement. “Although we’ve decided not to move forward with another season, we hope to work again with the talented cast, creatives and producers as well as our partners at Flavor Unit Entertainment in the near future. We also thank the show’s fans for their support since the premiere in 2011.”

Read more about ‘Single Ladies’ at HelloBeautiful.com 

Mike Epps is serious about his acting roles these days. Not to say he didn’t take his comedic work seriously, making people laugh is no easy task. So maybe we should say he’s expanding his portfolio. I’ve said it before but I first noticed Mike Epps’ acting chops in Sparkle. He was literally one of thee best actors in the film.

Most recently, he appeared in the psychological thriller Repentance alongside Forest Whitaker, Sanaa Lathan and Anthony Mackie. And he certainly holds his own.

Now, according to Deadline, Epps is joining the cast of BET’s hit show “Being Mary Jane.”

Deadline reports that Epps will have a reoccurring role on the second season. Epps is set to “play family man Chris Warren, a husband and father in a great marriage who Mary Jane begins to envy.” 

Ooo lawd. We hope Mary Jane doesn’t try to sleep with another woman’s’ husband. But this does seem like an interesting new storyline. Hopefully, Epps’ character imparts wisdom instead of getting sucked into her dark world.

Will you be watching the second season of Mary Jane? How do you think Epps will do on this show?

 

The Soul Man will have a big showing tomorrow. TV Land, BET and Centric are all set to simulcast live the premiere of  TV Land’s original sitcom on  March 26th at 10:30pm ET/PT. Brandy will also guest star on the premier episode of the series starring Cedric “The Entertainer” and Niecy Nash.

“Fans can live tweet along with all three networks using the hashtag #SoulManLive,” reports Target Market News.

“We are so proud of The Soul Man and its appeal to all audiences,” said Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land. “BET has been a fantastic partner on this series and with Centric now coming on board, we’re thrilled that even more viewers will have the opportunity to see the show across multiple Viacom properties. Going live on one network is big enough, but going live on three networks is a true programming event.”

The Soul Man follows the escapades of R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine (Cedric) after a move from Las Vegas to St. Louis with his wife Lolli (Nash). As they try to adjust to their more humble lifestyle havoc ensues. Especially since Boyce’s brother Stamps (Wesley Jonathan) basically becomes a permanent resident in their house.

According to actor John Beasley, who plays Boyce’s father, he’s looking forward to performing live.

“I am always looking for a challenge like that,” Beasley told the Fresno Bee. “I think it will be a piece of cake. As for the rest of the cast, I’m not sensing any nervousness. There’s just a real excitement in the air.”

The live telecast will follow the live version season opener of Hot in Cleveland, from which Soul Man is a spin-off. The Rev. Boyce Ballentine character originated as the pastor to Hot in Cleveland‘s Elka Ostrovsky (played by Betty White).

“In the episode, Boyce heads up his church fundraiser for the summer youth program, which he thinks is the perfect reason to get his band back together,” reports the Bee. Lolli’s in charge of whipping Boyce’s back-up dancers into shape, but one of the dancers (Brandy) is hiding a secret.