http://www.detnews.com/20...145874.htm

Brand-new programs and a few cancellations mark the 25-year anniversary.

By Andrew Wallenstein / Hollywood Reporter


BET is developing a slate of original series for the first time in the 25-year history of the cable channel.

The Viacom-owned network, once known as Black Entertainment Television, is ramping up to introduce a new primetime series every quarter beginning this month. Upcoming projects include a hip-hop-flavored version of "The Apprentice" with mogul-in-the-making Damon Dash in the Donald Trump role. Development also is under way to create a companion for BET's afternoon powerhouse "106th & Park" series and a weekday late-night talk show.

But the new infusion of originals might create some casualties as well, with BET considering canceling its 11 p.m. newscast "BET Nightly News." The network has been criticized in recent years for curtailing its news programming.

Overseeing the expansion is Stephen Hill, who has been promoted to executive vice president of entertainment and music programming, and Robyn Lattaker-Johnson, vice president of programming development since coming over from a similar post at Sci Fi Channel two months ago.

"We realized if we're going to make our mark, it's in original programming," Hill says. "We know it's ambitious, but it's a long time coming."

Hill and Lattaker-Johnson are ushering in changes despite the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the management at BET, which is available in nearly 80 million homes. The network's founder, Robert Johnson, has hinted he intends to step down when his contract expires in December, five years after selling it to Viacom for $3 billion.

Viacom co-president and co-chief operating officer Tom Freston has identified BET as an undervalued asset, but the network functions autonomously for now under Debra Lee, president and chief operating officer. "We love the fact that Tom is excited about us doing (original programming), but this is a BET-generated move," Hill says.

BET traditionally developed and produced internally what little series programming it generated, but the network now has set up a formal development unit that has been busy taking pitches. "We didn't source the Hollywood community before," Lattaker-Johnson says. "Now the doors are wide open."

First up April 21 is the launch of "Blowin' Up!: Fatty Koo," a joint production with Sony Music that follows the grooming of a new band signed to the label. "Fatty" is not BET's first original series, just the leading edge of its first concentrated dose of such programming.

BET declined to specify the increase in its programming budget for 2005-06, but Kagan Media estimates BET will spend $83 million this year, up from $66 million in 2004.

Unscripted programming will remain the focus through the fourth quarter, when BET unveils "Ultimate Hustler," which tests the business acumen of contestants guided by the flamboyant Dash, CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records and a film producer whose titles include "The Woodsman." Rather than bellow "you're fired," Dash will snatch the Roc-A-Fella gold chain off the neck of losing contestants.

"Hustler" will be preceded by "Remixed," a makeover show in which guest stylists and life coaches aim to make people beautiful both inside and outside

how is copying the ideas from existing reality television shows considered "original" programming?

Anxiety said:

they sound like mtv shows. it would nice for once if they would just cut all this bling bling crap

brownsugar said:

at least the 'living single' reruns occassionally showed people having some class.

Anxiety said:

yeah that and i love the 'soul food' reruns

they need to just kill BET. like now.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

AND FUCKIN UPN!!!

DexMSR said:

and definitely UPN!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Especially with shows like College Hill.

AnckSuNamun said:

what's that, i don't even watch BET no more...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

a ghetto ass version of The Real World. I guess I'm not helping the cause by watching it, but one episode showed two castmates (John and Peaches) arguing to the point where peaches hits and pushes him on the ground....twice.

oh and on the promo for the show....they gave each castmate labels. Peaches was named the "The Baby Mama"

AnckSuNamun said:

oh. my. god.

AnckSuNamun said:

I am so embarrassed 4 the young people that r on that show. I just shiver with embarrassment whenever I surf past it.

i just found this...

if BET is gonna just make black versions of shows that already exist, why don't they have the black 'daily show' or the black 'politically incorrect' or, heaven forbid they have actual scripted entertainment, but the black 'frasier' or 'seinfeld'?

or, sheesh, how about letting some deserving talents out there in the community come up with some fresh new ideas that nobody has done before?!?!

does witty = whitey?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

that's cool, but I'll be in the minority for trying to preach this. Because the sad part about it is that most of the people I'm surrounded by on a daily basis are like those depicted on College Hill and other BET shows....it's not some falsehood. And then occasionally, I'm the one who gets funny looks because that's not a full representation of who I am.

maybe it's kinda like the snake eating its tail...the reason there are so many people resembling the insultingly generalized depictions on TV is because the only media role models people can find on TV are insultingly generalized depictions.