A Tribute to the Awkward Black Girls

It seems everyone can't get enough of Awkward Black Girl. (If you're reading this with a question mark etched across your face, get awkward and get with it!) The hit web series chronicles the everyday adventures of "J," the "awkward black girl," which is a personality type rarely seen on television, especially among women of color. Since the show's online debut in February, it has amassed more than 240,000 views on YouTube and created a solid group of fans who have even donated money to keep the show alive. Show supporters raised more than $56,000 in roughly a month! (Source: Kansas City Star)

Media heads are starting to take notice as well, as online news articles have been popping up left and right highlighting the show's success, which creator Issa Rae attributes to social media. Celebs are catching on too! Fellow funny girl Gabrielle Union tweeted a special shout out to the unexpected smash series, calling the show "genius." With the way things are going, it may not be long before "AWB" is popping up in your TV guide.

That said, I thought I'd pay tribute to AWB's predecessors. Here's a list of the awkward black girls who paved the way.

1. "Freddie" (A Different World)

Played by Cree Summer

Freddie was technically more of a free spirit than she was awkward; however, she was a nice break from the norm. Actually, A Different World is one of the few shows that had various depictions of black people. The show's focus on life at an HBCU created opportunities to show the diversity within the black community.

2. "Synclaire" (Living Single)

Played by Kim Coles

Synclaire was Khadijah's (Queen Latifah) good-natured cousin, Overton's leading lady, and an aspiring actress. She was often regarded as absent-minded and gullible, but she was no fool. She possessed a child-like innocence and strong sense of self that enabled her to avoid the relationship pitfalls faced by her friends.

3. "Myra" (Family Matters)

Played by Michelle Thomas

It's hard to imagine that any woman could love Steve Urkel, especially pre-Stefon; but Myra was the equally quirky, yet way more attractive beauty who was able to distract Steve's attention from Laura Winslow-for a while at least. She and Steve shared a bond that however annoying, was nothing less than authentic. She loved him for him, and we loved her for that.

4. "Joan" (Girlfriends)

Played by Tracee Ellis Ross

Sure. Joan was a successful lawyer and everyone's favorite Girlfriend, but she was not without her awkward and corny moments. We can't overlook her strange obsession with holidays, over-use of legal terms in casual conversation, and inventive ways to run men off. She was the corporate world's awkward black girl, who received a pass for balancing and often suppressing her inner-AWB.

FOUR? JUST FOUR?! Wow, That's pretty sad. Well...did I leave anyone off?

Who on television would you consider an awkward black girl?

Fights Over Spaghetti and the Last Clearance T-Shirt....Is This Who We Are?

This week two disturbing videos surfaced in my news feed. My heart was heavy after viewing the way young black women were portrayed and ultimately, the way they conducted themselves.

Here are the videos before I say my peace.

I don't even know how to describe my frustration. Wait....yes I do.

First let me say that I was not present at either altercation, and do not know any information other than what was displayed in the videos. Much of the commentary associated with the first video seemed to be in defense of the two young girls who were said to have been "provoked." I can see that. There was no visibly just cause for calling them animals for eating on a subway. Simply minding your own business would have prevented this situation. As someone who was verbally harassed and demeaned on a NYC subway, I understand the struggle to keep composure when pushed to the edge. I only really began to take issue with this video after I saw the second clip. There seemed to be an interesting theme, "black girls fighting=entertainment."

The girls on the subway were being harassed, yes. Any reasonable person would have been defensive, true. But what played out here, goes far beyond a mere subway scuffle, which is what made this video worthy of being but on YouTube, with over 100,000 views. It's the dynamic. Angry black women vs......whomever really. We can never get enough of that right? No one stepped in (until all hell broke loose) to mitigate the situation. Again, I say this as someone harassed on a train when again NO ONE offered so much as squeal of support. But sadly, it seems that's just the world we live in now. If it doesn't concern me, I'm keeping my mouth closed. Oh, but I will pull out this camera and have you caught out there on YouTube looking senseless. I will lend you a hand with that.

And this second video. Acting a H.A.M in a business establishment as though it were a scene from Fight Club. Punches thrown, merchandise vandalized, weaves flying every which-way. Is this who we are? I'll answer that... no! But this is how the world continues to see ALL OF US, as a result of the select few and that truly irks me. I don't say this looking down on these individuals because, again I was not there to witness the events that transpired leading up to the physical altercations, but I'm willing to bet it just wasn't that serious. And how can I blame these girls anyway. Is this not the same behavior we see aired weekly on Bad Girls Club? Basketball Wives? Jersey Shore....need I go on?

It seems that winning the title of "the baddest" reigns supreme over "the brightest," which is just stupid. I'm not sitting here waving my little judgmental finger over everyone. I had a hand in this as well. I watch these shows...well not Jersey Shore, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, while I thought I was just being entertained, it seems we are being conditioned to believe this is the way women settle disputes. We name call, we demoralize, we humiliate, we fight. We just can't help but tear each other down and take pleasure in the presumed victory. I can just hear these girls now "yea, I beat that (insert words here), and its on YouTube!" No...please take a seat in the nearest super-glued chair. To use my very best English, this ain't winning.

But the reason these videos scored so many hits on YouTube is the same reason these deplorable television shows get the highest ratings...even over scripted programming. Why do we enjoy seeing women tear each other down?

There wouldn't be as much issue with these shows if they were the exception and not the rule. But there are far fewer positive portrayals of women on television, particularly women of color to combat these negative images. As a result, life imitates, well if I can even call it art.

And with bystanders so willing to pull out a camera phone to make some quick cash from worldstarhiphop, it won't be long before the next aspiring Bad Girls Club castmember auditions via a YouTube street brawl.

I don't have a thought provoking question as I usually do to close this post.

It's actually more of a rant. But I like to hear your rantings as well, so please leave a comment.

Let's love each other ok? :-)

And I feel the need to make this disclaimer:

My feelings on these videos are far more complex and more in depth than what this blog post can explain. I've been a black woman for a long time so I can't possibly sum up the whole of my feelings in a few minutes. But it's enough to get a conversation going...so talk to me!

New Music: Sha Stimuli Wake Up & Go

(Via Clutch Magazine)

This was a cute concept. Unfortunately this message isn't loud of enough to drown out the sound of the self-hate promoting records put out everyday. Sighs...

Enjoy it while you can. :-)

Women I Admire: An Evening With Ms. Butterfield

It has been far too long since my last post. School, work, and the day-to-day have caused me to hit the blog pause button. But only the awe-inspiring Ms. Valeisha Butterfield could inspire me to hit play again.

Syracuse University's Black Communications Society (BCS) sponsored an event aptly titled, "An Evening with Ms. Butterfield." Though it was roaring wind and pouring rain, Ms. Butterfield managed to weather the storm, looking fabulous in an all black ensemble offset with a pointy-statement necklace and the latest trademark trend, a pair of Christian Louboutin booties, street name "red bottoms." Not to mention, the hair was whipped!

But, we obviously weren't there to talk fashion. We were there to talk business! And the staunch business woman was the perfect conversationalist.

As the appointed Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration (ITA) in the United States Department of Commerce for the Obama Administration, Butterfield has a key role in supporting President Obama's national economic agenda to revive the global economy, create jobs and renew growth that benefits all people. (via weenonline.org)

She is also the Co-founder and Chair of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN). According to their webpage, WEEN is a worldwide coalition of women, all ages and races, committed to supporting, promoting and defending the balanced, positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society. And let's face it, there has never been a more necessary time for such an organization to exist.

The image of women in the media is at an all time low and WEEN is one of the key players leading the crusade for change.

Part of WEEN's mission is to provide "personal advancement for young women nationwide." Butterfield held true to this mission, by setting time out to speak to a group of young and old hopefuls in entertainment.

The conversation was comfortable, candid, and constructive as Ms. Butterfield shared her wealth of knowledge and experience working in both the corporate and entertainment industries.

Valeisha Butterfield and I at BCS event

In paraphrases, Here's what I learned from Valeisha Butterfield.

On Interning...
Make sure you're filling a void. If you've completed and internship and they aren't missing you, you haven't done your job. Your presence should fill a void and make a strong impact.

On Working...
For companies, its about what you can produce. How much money can you produce for the company? Are you bringing in sponsorship money? Companies are looking for someone who can be an asset and bring in the dough. Makes sense right?

On Mentorship...
Don't just call when you need something. Keep in touch regularly to build mentorship and make sure its not a take-take relationship. Actually show that you care by sending cards on their birthday, etc. This doesn't mean be fake, but it does mean be thoughtful and smart.

On Climbing the Ladder...
Surround yourself with people you want to be your peers one day. Ms. Butterfield shared stories of waiting outside an execs office at a time when they might be showing up to work. Wow, that's dedication. Of course, you'll want to avoid being carried out sideways by security, so be forward...not awkward. The point is to place yourself in an environment convenient for potential opportunities to arise and to just familiarize yourself with what you one day hope to be doing.

On marketing...
Look at yourself as a brand in whatever field. Look at yourself now as the brand you want to become.

Sound advice from someone who knows. What more could you ask for?

If you want to learn more about Valeisha Butterfield and/or her work visit weenonline.org.

"They should've burned it" TV One's Cathy Hughes on Precious and other things

While visiting one of my fav blogs Necole Bitchie, I ran across an interview with TV One's Cathy Hughes from Miss Drama TV.

The station's front woman spoke very candidly and honestly about her thoughts on positive vs. negative portrayals of black women.

I'll let you watch the video before I say my peace.

Check it out here:


Ok, hopefully you watched it.

Now...

Half the time I was nodding my head in concurrence with Mrs. Hughes and shaking it in disagreement the other half. I too was displeased with the fact that the highest honor given to any entertainer (Academy Award) was awarded to Monique and Halle for two of the most negative portrayals of black women we've seen. I might not have felt this way when Hattie McDaniel received her award because, at that time, it was one of the only roles available for black women. But times have truly changed, and despite the difficulty I do believe black women have more options. I agree that we should be telling more positive tales of black women, a la the story of Michelle Obama. (Seriously, where's the script on that?) And while it's great to see black women being recognized for their achievements, its unfortunate to have one of the highest achievements stained with the black ink blot of knowledge that your role is one that perpetuates negative and villanous stereotypes of women you claim to represent.

The ironic thing about Mrs. Hughes' comments though, was that she failed to see how Tyler Perry has also fallen victim to this pattern of betrayal and how her own network is neither exempt nor blameless. More recently, many have come out to declare their disdain for Tyler Perry's works (*ahem* Spike Lee) and amid the criticism, he still remains thee top selling creator of black films. But while his films introduce topics of spirituality and moral consciousness rarely visible in today's media, they are also inter-laden with characteristics of stereotypical black life. His alter-ego portrayal of Madea is the epitome of a modern day mash-up of the historically derogative "Mammy" and "Sapphire". Yet, Hughes suggests that his ability to deliver a positive message through humor offsets the depiction of the "Angry black woman."

Do you agree?

Furthermore, Hughes expresses her feelings on BET's role as being #1 in black entertainment saying that she felt BET missed a lot of opportunities to showcase new talent, which she says is to her benefit as TV One is able to learn from the mistakes BET is making, thus delivering better programming and more positive portrayals of African-Americans, particularly black women. Again, Mrs. Hughes I disagree...in part. Has anyone seen "Love that Girl?" I know I have ranted on this show once before, and don't want to get into that again but it honestly is one of the most disappointing shows I've seen in a long time. The stereotypes extend beyond black women to homosexuals and I fail to see the point of it all.

Anyway...

I have been watching BET since I was young and since Bob Johnson's exit stage left, I have seen improvement in the network's quality of programming. Granted, they still have far to go, but they have eliminated disparaging shows like "UnCut" and have successfully introduced a positive spin on reality television with shows like "The Family Crews." Again, there were errors along the way. (I think we were all mad at Frankie and Neffe, but some see the positive in any situation.) At any rate, the network has indeed showcased new talent by joining the race to revive the black sitcom.

I don't want to come off like I'm taking sides because I definitely am not getting a check from BET nor TV One. But rather, I want to highlight the senselessness in the competitive spirit that often resurrects itself between two black entities at the top of their game. This "crab in a barrel" nature is what I believe is tripping us up. I am NOT accusing Mrs. Hughes of this, but her comments did leave me feeling this way. If ABC, CBS, and NBC can coexist for over 50 years than I have to believe the same is possible for BET and TV One. Has it not been established that our competition is not each other? The threat is the alternative powers that be that are trying to choke off our voices entirely or worse, speak for us.

Both networks have done a GREAT job of providing alternate programming geared toward African-Americans. TV One's "Unsung" is truly in a class of its own and BET has scored a major hit with the "The Game." Moreover, that both of these networks have women as the HBICs is esteeming in itself. (B stands for Boss, don't get it twisted) Debra Lee and Cathy Hughes are remarkable women for fearlessly taking on such as task. I hope both networks can continue to excel.

So now the spotlight is on you. What do you think about Mrs. Hughes' comments? Monique and Halle's Oscars? Tyler Perry? And BET vs. TV One?

Coming to the Screen: Red Tails

For those unfamiliar, Red Tails is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.

During the war, African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program were engaged in two wars -- one against enemies overseas, and the other against discrimination within the military and back home. Racial prejudices have long held ace airman Martin "Easy" Julian (Nate Parker) and his black pilots back at base -- leaving them with little to do but further hone their flying skills -- while their white counterparts were shipped out to combat after only three months of training. Mistakenly deemed inferior and assigned only second-rate planes and missions, the pilots of Tuskegee mastered the skies with ease but have not been granted the opportunity to truly spread their wings. Until now.

As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, Pentagon brass has no recourse but to reconsider these under-utilized pilots for combat duty. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, Col. A.J. Bullard (Terrence Howard) awards them the ultimate chance to prove their mettle high above. Undaunted by the prospect of providing safe escort to bombers in broad daylight -- a mission so dangerous that the RAF has refused it and the white fighter groups have sustained substantial losses -- Easy's pilots join the fiery aerial fray. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies in a heroic endeavor to combat the enemy -- and the discrimination that has kept them down for so long. (Wikipedia)

When the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47's red, the nickname "Red Tails" was coined.

The film adaptation was written by George Lucas (Star Wars) and directed by Anthony Hemingway (Ali, Manchurian Candidate, The Wire).

The cast includes a host of new faces who are well on their way to becoming household names.

Terrence Howard as Col. A.J. Bullard

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Major Emanuelle Stance

Gooding also starred in the HBO special on the Tuskegee Airmen years ago.

Michael B. Jordan as Maurice 'Bumps' Wilson

You may recognize Jordan, who is oober-talented, as Wallace from 'The Wire'.

Tristan Wilds as Ray 'Ray Gun' Gannon

Wilds was also featured on the hit HBO series 'The Wire' and currently plays Dixon on '90210'.

Andre Royo as Chief 'Coffee' Coleman

And it seems the director Anthony Hemingway hooked up all his former employees from the Wire with new jobs. (Must be nice) Royo played "Bubbles" on 'The Wire'.

Method Man as Sticks

It will be interesting to see what he brings to the film.

Neyo as Andrew 'Smoky' Salem

Neyo seems like the wild card of the cast, but this may be a good look for him.

Nate Parker as Marty 'Easy' Julian

Nate knows he's fine! Ok, sorry *ahem* I mean very talented (tehe). Nate has appeared in 'The Great Debaters' and 'The Secret Life of Bees'.

Marcus Paulk as David 'Deke' Watkins

Last we saw Marcus, he was still Moesha's lil brother. Oh, and Natalie's BFF on Bad Girls Club -__-

Jazmine Sullivan as Deborah 'Love Bunny' Gannett

She plays a jazz singer in a relationship with one of the airmen.

I love that she'll be showing off her singing chops!

Stacie Davis as Mae

Stacie also appeared on 'The Wire' and most recently 'Lottery Ticket'.

The film is slated for an early 2011 to mid year release. February would have been a opportune month, but hey...i'm excited nonetheless.

Will you be watching?!

Where are all the girl groups?

I was listening to a song online today and I had no idea who it was. So, I looked them up. The song was called "Get Your Swagger Right" by Rich Girl. I was surprised to find that it was a girl group and not a solo artist, which got me to thinking...

WHERE ARE ALL THE GIRL GROUPS?!

It seems like since Beyonce, Michelle, and Kelly fulfilled their "destiny" there hasn't been a truly successful girl group.

Sure, we had the Pussycat Dolls, but there were just too many to count and keep up with, and they all ended up blending in with each other.

Then there was Danity Kane, but they suffered the curse of P. "Can't Make a Band" Diddy. (sigh)

There was also some group Electrik Red, but they just seemed like a bunch of pretty girls stuck together.

The dynamics of a music group are always difficult as there is always someone who must stand out as the lead. Dealing with egos, varying salaries, fan bases, and personal issues can lead to disaster if not treated carefully.

Very few have managed to be successful and maintain longevity. But even the best of things must one day come to an end.

Here's my run down of some of the best girl groups

1. Martha and the Vandellas

Everyone always notes the Supremes, but Martha and the Vandellas were quite successful in their day. You may know some of there hits like "Heatwave," "Nowhere to Run," and "Dancing in the Street."

2. J.J. Fad

Who can forget their upbeat, funky hit "Supersonic." It made them the first female rap group to receive a Grammy nod.

3. SWV

SWV is undoubtedly one of the best female R&B groups of all time. SWV stood for "sisters with voices" and that's exactly what they were! Their smooth melodies were undeniable!

4. Brownstone

Bump what you heard, Brownstone was the ish back in the day! Those harmonies were insane!

5. Destiny's Child

You knew Destiny's Child would make the cut, but I have to say they had stiff competition like Total, and Xscape. But there was nothing like the original DC3. I still miss them. I hate when groups disband for solo careers :-/

Here's the song I was listening to earlier that started all of this.

	RichGirl - Swagger Right .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

We need to bring back the girl groups!

Women I Admire: Simmons Family

I haven't done a "Women I Admire" post in a while. When thinking about this one I thought, Oh, the Simmons sisters! But then I thought, there's Kimora and then there's Justine! So...I decided to do a family post (LOL).

I may have been the only one, but I was a big fan of Run's House. They didn't seem to be your average stuck up "celebu-spawn" with no sense of reality. Angela and Vanessa appeared to be young women with their heads on straight who, despite having loads of money, still had work ethic. So much so, that they launched their own sneaker line "Pastry" in 2007, which has grossed somewhere around 50 million dollars. Not to mention they are both just twenty-something.

Even though they got a little help from Dad and Uncle Russell, they are business powerhouses in their own right and make a conscious effort to be role models for young women. It's always refreshing to see young ambitious women making it happen for themselves without sacrificing their values. Gotta love Ang and Ness!

The two obviously took a page from their fab Aunt Kimora Lee Simmons, who at the ripe age of 13 began modeling for Chanel. After capturing the modeling world by storm, she went on to conquer fashion, launching Baby Phat in the late 90s. She nurtured the brand for nearly 10 years, but recently shed the Baby Phat in 2010.


I love Kimora because she didn't let such a huge blow defeat her. She let us know that Baby Phat is not her only claim to fame and reminded us that she made the brand and the brand did not make her. She's moved on to bigger and better things like her hit reality series "Life in the Fab Lane" as well as her multiple fragrances, jewelry line and new, mature clothing line, KLS. She's a true renaissance woman balancing family life with her husband and three kids, with her booming business in fashion and entertainment, and on top of it all, still manages to make it all look so fabulous! I love the "go-getter" in Kimora.

And then there's Justine, the loving matriarch of the Simmons clan. What I love about Justine is that she reminds me so much of my own mother. She married Joseph Simmons who had 3 children from a previous relationship and loved and supported the children as if they were her own. Justine never struck me as the typical "look-at-me" hip-hop wife. She was grounded and made sure to keep her family grounded in spiritual values. She's more concerned with the well-being of her family than being known in the industry. It's no wonder the children are so successful. They obviously have the best cheerleader in their corner. Go Jus!

Black TV: Single Ladies Trailer

Photo Credit: studentfilmmakers.com

A while back rumors were circulating that Lisa Raye, Stacey Dash, and Lauren London were doing a television series that would fill the void of the UPN hit "Girlfriends."

Well turns out, its actually a movie called "Single Ladies" executive produced by Queen Latifah. (I see you Queen!) She's also executive producing the new BET series Let's Stay Together.

Anyway, Single Ladies is supposed to be a cross between Girlfriends and Sex In the City (we'll see about that) and it seems Lauren London has been replaced by a blonde I don't recognize (No dis).

Perhaps, they're piloting the movie to see what the response will be before green-lighting a series. (Smart)

For your viewing pleasure, here's the trailer.


What do you think? Will you watch?

Via Clutch Magazine: New Series ‘Milk + Honey’ Stars Debbie Allen, Lance Gross, and Idris Elba

Photo Credit: clutchmagonline.com

Since I'm a fan of all things Lance Gross, I felt it only befitting that I post about a new online series Milk & Honey that he's co-starring in. Oh yea, and its executive produced by Idris Elba. Need I say more?

On a serious note, I just LOVE that black television is back and that we are getting more shows to choose from.

From Clutch Mag:

The series follows four African-American women as they traverse spiritual, professional and romantic journeys in the City of Angels. The show stars legendary actress Debbie Allen, as well as Lance Gross, Bryce Wilson, Faune Chambers, and newcomer Asha Kamali.

“Milk + Honey” is being Executive produced by Idris Elba and the production company Brown Paper Dolls, which is comprised of three dynamic Black women—Dana Gills, Asha Kamali May, and Jeanette McDuffie.

According to Dana Gills, one of the series’ creators, “Milk + Honey” is a labor of love.

“Milk + Honey is a passion project. Working on it for over 3 years, [it was] created because we wanted to showcase positive and diverse images of women of color—[which you] don’t see many on the big or little screen.”

According to Clutch Mag, the show will only be available on the web, but the series creators are hoping it gets picked up and aired on TV soon.

In the mean time watch the trailer...

milk + honey series trailer from brown paper dolls on Vimeo.
For more information visit milkandhoneyseries.com.

My Fav Golden Globe Dresses

I'm no fashionista, but I do have an aesthetic appreciation for beautiful clothes.

I was on the plane during all the Golden Globe fanfare, but thanks to Twitter I didn't really miss anything.

My Twitter feeds were bumping with the celebrations, surprises, and the snubs of the Golden Globe Awards, but being that I had no idea what movies came out this year or what the hottest TV shows were, I didn't have much invested in the show.

However, I am ALWAYS excited to see the celebs in their Sunday's Best.

With that, these were my favorite looks from the Golden Globes....

Photo Credit: timeinc.net

Catherine Zeta-Jones was gorgeous in this green gown. Even though it looks a little long, the texture and the color are so rich and perfect, and look great on the red carpet. A+ for Cat!

Photo Credit: timeinc.net

And it appears that green was the way to go this year. Mila Kunis looked stunning in Vera Wang. The draping is amazing! It's art!

Photo Credit: timeinc.com

Ok, so I really didn't like Halle's Dress all that much. And I would really like her to wear a different shoe for once, but she's here because she's Halle. And at 40 something, she is still killing the game with no sign of slowing down. (Is there a wrinkle anywhere?! Sheesh Woman!)

Photo Credit: timeinc.com

J.Lo is another one of my favs. I like that she is consistently her. This dress was trendy and classic all at once. No one does glam like Mrs. Lopez

Get Your Head In "The Game"

The countdown til Game Day has officially begun!!!! Like many, I am anxiously awaiting the popular sitcom "The Game's" return to television. I've been watching the re-runs as if I haven't seen them a million times already. This got me thinking. What exactly is the show's appeal? For me, its the layers that all of the characters portray. Many shows featuring an African-American cast depict characters perpetuating stereotypes. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of stereotypes interlaced throughout the characters in this show. For example, Tasha Mack is the slick talkin, neck-rollin, no non-sense, loud baby-mama, but to write her off as just that would be a huge mistake. She's also a millionaire single mother and a smart and successful business woman who turned her star athlete son into a franchise player and one of the richest athletes in the league. She's far from a statistic.

I would say that The Game's portrayal of life in the professional athlete world is, dare I say, MORE REAL than VH1 reality show Basketball Wives. The women are in no way overshadowed by their male athlete counterparts and reduced to making pitiful attempts to compensate like on Basketball Wives. They are working to form their own identities, and with tact.

The show's ability to balance challenges within the black community from different angles using humor is definitely a key part of its allure.

I love my reality tv shows as much as the next person, but I am soooo glad to see the SUCCESSFUL return of the black sitcom, and elated that BET made the smart decision to be apart of its revival.

If you haven't already, get your head in "The Game" before the new season starts 1-11-11. The network is running re-runs all weekend.

Here's a interview with Game stars Pooch Hall (Derwin) and Tia Mowry (Melanie).



More on black sitcoms to follow....

NEYO One In A Million

I've been off NEYO lately. Certainly not a fan of beautiful monster, but this track I love! I like videos with actual concepts and dance routines that don't include just scanning women's bodies and booty shaking. Kudos NEYO!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.9

Beyonce Is Still The Baddest: Sweet Dreams Video

WHEEEEEWWWW HOOOO! Beyonce has been workin like the rent is due! She's puttin out a video Anthology and this is the latest video, Sweet Dreams. I'm loving the variety of dance moves, the energy, and the concept. Sasha Fierce is in full swing, and I appreciate that it's not in all black in white cuz that was getting redundant. Not to mention chick's body is in the best shape ever! She's not a naturally thin girl so I know she's puttin in work. She has earned her place at the top and is not lettin it go anytime soon. Go Head Girl!
She's performing in Anaheim this weekend btw.

First Look: Drake's Best I Ever Had" Video

So Drake's greatly anticipated video for "Best I Ever Had" surfaced recently, just in time for the song to be workin every bodies nerves...except for the remix with R. Kelly.

The video was directed by Kanye West, but instead of being the spectacle of genius and creativity usually associated with Kanye's vids, they thought it better that the video be exactly like every other hoochified mess on BET. If I had my way, the video would have been more akin to the School Daze concept Alicia Keys modeled in her Teenage Love Affair video because that what the song reminds me of... when a guy has ONE special girl who he's head over heels for. Hence her being the f'n best. I especially like the line where Drake says "Sweat pants hair tied, chillin wit no makeup on" and wanted to see that acted out in the vid, because it would be genuine. (That's when I'm most comfortable) Instead, it was the average over-sexed trash today's music videos can't seem to escape. I was a fan of Drake when he was Aubrey Graham who played Degrassi, and not one of the newbies who recently discovered Drake's past, but I actually grew up watching the show. Anywho I was pleasantly surprised to see his evolution into a talented rapper. But lately, it seems he's more concerned with blending in with his peers than being respected by his fans. Sigh, hopefully he can pull it together. But the vid was anything but the f'n best. And if he wants any kind of staying power he needs to avoid being like every one else. We already have a Weezy and needless to say we don't want or need another one. Anyway, Check it out for yourself.