Last night I caught the tail end of the BET Awards. And I watched along with my Twitter Family, which was full of comedy and great laughs.
But while watching the shenanigans and laughs, I realized. BET is not the enemy. Now, I am no stranger to harsh BET critique. But, in the shower this morning. I realized that they are TRYING. And all we can do is try right?
Do I think the quality of programming has sunken since selling to Viacom? YES. However, that isn’t anyone’s fault but VIACOMS. Actually, I don’t blame Viacom. I blame us, the viewers. (well you all). You don’t watch these shows, but you flock over there to VH1 and their ratings go up and BETs go down. BET can’t sell ads for half as much as VH1, therefore they can’t put in any money into shows. As much as we can talk about Debra Lee and her press and curl and her shaky voice, she is doing what she can with the resources the provide. At the end of the day its a dollars and sense game. D.Lee is doing what makes sense to her, and that’s trying to give you what you think you want. You should really be mad at the man who sold BET.
What other network tried to save the beloved show, The Game? NONE. So yes, you may feel the show “fell off” since coming to BET, but they bought back a show that a major network canceled. What other network did that? The only show that suffered a semi-similar status was Friday Night Lights, which was saved through a deal with Direct TV and CBS a few years back. Do we wish Girlfriends had been extended, absolutely, but it was wasn’t. In the words of Beyonce, Boo hoo. GET OVER IT. Can we let the past go?
I’ve realized that black people are incredible unsatisfied with whatever you try to do. They want more black shows, so BET tries to give it to them, but they dog them and then don’t watch them. Instead they flock to shows like Basketball Wives. If you don’t watch the shows, they can’t get money to become more than low budget. And then, they criticize the hell out of the perception of black people on major network TV shows. I know I intend to tune in to their latest show, I don’t recall the name, with Joan Clayton and Theo Huxtable. Will you?
Which way is up here?
I think the same goes for Tyler Perry. While I am personally not a fan, he is NOT the enemy.The more people support Madea in the media, the more he gets paid to make her. If you had a problem with Madea and him dressing in drag, you’d stop supporting. But you don’t. You pay to watch the movie, or netflix it, or bootleg it, therefore showing him that this is a lucrative character. And even if House of Payne and Meet the Browns is a show that makes your skin cringe, what screen play did you write? What show did you script? What actors have you hired out of retirement?
Hijacked from Dubb who hijacked it from someone else … OH the wonderful world of blogging!
5 famous people you’d like to meet.
* Warren Buffett
* Steve Jobs
* Janet Jackson
* Toni Morrison
* Kanye West (yeah i said it)
5 books that affected your life.
* the coming of age in Mississippi – Ann Moody
* eat, pray, love – Elizabeth Gilbert
* Why we Can’t Wait – Dr. Martin Luther King
* The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
* Eyewitness Auschwitz: Three Years in the Gas Chambers – Filip Muller
5 favorite movies.
* grease
* Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
* The Nightmare Before Christmas
* The 5th Element
* Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
* nice large hands
* well read
* diverse music taste
* intelligent
* a nice smile, generic but true
5 things that turn you completely Off.
* insecurity
* negative attitude
* over confidence (read:cocky)
* compulsive liar
* not stable
5 rules that you live by
* You’re only responsible to yourself, until you have kids
* If you love it, go for it
* Don’t talk about it, be about it!
* troubles don’t last always
* Treat others how you want to be treated
Last night I had the opportunity to see * drumroll please* The Sound of Music for the FIRST time. Ever in life. The lovely ladies @KittyBradshaw, @Divasanddorks & @OsoChic and I settled in for an Anniversary showing @ the IMAX Theater on 34th street with free popcorn *yay* ( FYI: Me & D&D popped our Sound of Music cherries together! ) We saw people dressed as Nuns and people were singing along (it was like Karaoke) and reciting the lines before they came out the mouths, and I loved every minute of it!
I can see why this movie is one of the most popular musicals of all time, the songs are simplistically divine. I knew songs that I didn’t know I knew from the movie.I didn’t know “My favorite things” was in this movie and I just absolutely LOVED the good night song. Little Gretl, so cute! And Leisl’s blue eyes were intoxicating!
Can I tell you what I loved most about this movie? The underlying political tones surrounding Austria in the late 1930s. You guys do know that I am a big Holocaust geek and I just wasn’t prepared for this sullen second half (which is based on the true story of the Von Trapp family singers, although further research shows they didn’t actually escape through the hills). I happened to Google it today and read up on the infamous family HERE . The father, Captain von Trapp actually had Italian citizenship as well and they family took a train to Italy. Eventually they landed in the US where they eventually relocated to Vermont, and opened a lodge (that’s still open).
Have you seen the movie? I think that anyone can enjoy it, I mean, I’m definitely not the intended audience from 1965 and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Res is awesome. I first heard her song on a compliation album with all Philly artists on it … and since then I have loveeeeeeed her! Her album, How I do is awesome and my personal fav. Check this song, I’ve Known the Garden and tell me she doesn’t have a sound that’s amazing?
This song is brilliant. I always songs that take you one way on the surface and if you actually listen, they take you somewhere else. I feel where he’s coming from on this one. It’s an instant classic in my book.
I <3 Solange. I also happen to love Beyonce, but for different reasons. I don’t subscribe to the idea that in order for me to adore Solange I have to be anti Bey.. I’m not that kind of person. They satisfy two different parts of the matrix that is me.
Solange’s music radiates to my soul, her whole style and persona speak to me. Maybe its because she actually seems to have a personality. My ex said he thought Bey was very plastic, and I agree but I still love the part of me that she satisfies. But Solange, I want to actually hear what she may have to say. I completely adore her ‘if you don’t like it, It wasn’t made for you’ attitude. Its exactly how I feel. I also love her funky style. I love that she acknowledges that people would give 2 shits about her if she wasn’t Bey’s sister. She rocks. Her article in Refinery 29 rocks!! (I am also in <3 with them now!) Peep the ar
What’s your secret style weapon?
“Shoes! I’m all about the shoes! I order a ton of them online and play with my entire wardrobe until I find the right shoe. Unfortunately, so many people get it right from the head until the ankles. The shoe is very important. I can’t even fuck with you if your shoe game is slacking.”
her shoe's for the photoshoot!
But because I’m Beyoncé’s sister, I’m an easy target to say, ‘There’s no way those two had the same parents, and have one be naturally this way…this has to be a ploy for her to appear cool!’ It makes me want to pull out pictures of five-year-old me next to nine-year-old her wearing a tutu over polka dot stockings and an old scarf over my head. It would be so much easier for me to put on a little black dress, straighten my hair, and sing about dancing in the club, but it’s not my job to prove anything. I’m here to make music, to inspire myself. I’m not selling my likability, I’m sharing my journeys. If you don’t like it, believe it’s real, or understand it…then keep my name out of your mouth.”
LOVE this photo
Here are some of my fav Solo tracks .. I incidentally like Beyonce songs written by Solo, like Why don’t you love me, which I featured a few posts back ..
Even though I know how the story ends, I swear I’m Team Jacob. Even though he’s childish and tempermental and volatile. I <3 Jakeypoo! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE how ‘IN LOVE’ Bella and Edward are, but they are so mushy its disgusting.
Eclipse was suuuccchhh a better movie than New Moon. But then again, New Moon was a horrible book- filled with Bella’s brooding and crying. That’s the great problem the creators of the movies have to deal with. I say that because these books are a bunch of teenage angst, so to take that and make it a motion picture that people swoon over is awesome talent. But New Moon was too heavy on special effects to make up for the weak story line.
Eclipse had a story line + some action so it just HAD to be a better movie- right? I mean, I’m not a die-hard Twilight fanatic, but here are a list of my pros and cons for the flick:
My cons::
One thing I didn’t enjoy was the way they ‘disposed’ of the vampires. Really though- they were hard concrete?? It was like breaking dishes.. Not cool.
Jacob always had a dramtic entrance. I mean, seriously? Does he need a surprising head turn for each entrance? For EVERY one of his scenes? And someone give this boy a shirt. This is kiddie porn.
Hate bella’s engagement ring.
The fight scenes are over so quick
Pros:
I loovvee how creepy Jasper is. He is amusing
Loved her graduation speech.
Can’t remember if that was in the book..
I don’t rememeber Jane having that role in this movie .. I might have to reread the book.. But I don’t remember her being in the clearing or even watching the newborns wreck havoc. #whoknows
Because I’m a food network geek I have been eagerly anticipating the premiere of Next Food Network Star. And boy oh boy was it a good premiere.. mostly due to the eye candy that is Darrell , aka Das .. YUM-O!
So I of course had to learn more about him. (you know, so when I casually bump into him on the streets of LA while I’m there for grad school) and I had to find the important things:
He’s 28 and lives in LA. and he was trained in the culinary arts at Atlanta Technical Insitute.
Favorite books: Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Robert T. Kiyosaki), The Coldest Winter Ever (Sista Soulja) and Food Lover’s Companion (Sharon Tyler Herbst and Rob Herbst) — well whaddaya know. I too enjoyed Coldest Winter Ever. We have a starting point of discussion. GREAT!
Favorite movies: The Five Heartbeats and The Count of Monte Cristo — Now, being the girl I am, OF course I have seen the Five Heartbeats so this is yet another focal point for our convo .. isn’t the Count of Monte Crisco a book as well? Well I can ask him that too.
And when he’s not trying to get his own show he teaches in the culinary program at Beverly Hills High School. My heart is swooning. He has the patience to work with teens. *faints* These are some qualities I’m looking for in the man of my dreams.
Sad news: He said he has a girlfriend. So he can’t be the object of my affection. But I still wish you well Das.
I wish there were more pics on the interwebs of him .. but for now we work with what we got!
**image courtesy of lalist.com via foodnetwork.com**
808′s & Heartbreak no matter what you say is a GREAT album. He is showing some harcore emotions on that LP ..
Anywho, ‘Ye is back with his new track, ‘POWER‘ .. I dig it .. but why would I not? I don’t have a audio player plug-in so you’ll have to head over HERE to Nah’ Right to check it out…
I can’t wait for his new project to come out. I don’t like to listen to each track as the ‘leak” ..I like to wait for the full experience. I know he would ‘Never let me down’ lol..
Word on the street is that Kanye & Amber broke up and he paid her some $$$ for her silence (aka a GAG order). Well, at least he rather pay up now than have his business in the street. I’m just mad that girls are gonna be trying to use that as the new come up. . . (you know its true … every body wants to be the next SuperHead)
I’ve been AWOL lately because I took a trip to Boca Chica, Dominican Republic to bask in the glorious sunshine! (I do have to live up to my name!)
Anywho, the hotel I stayed at, Hotetur Dominican Bay (review to follow) held nightly shows, my favorite was their Michael Jackson show. They did an AWESOME job. I don’t know if they hired people for this, or if these were every day employees, but they got a standing ovation from me. This is why Michael’s legacy will not die.
This was my first time using Window’s MovieMaker.. and I was trying to do my best film job on my little Canon digital camera ..Enjoy!
Good day folks. I am the Man in the Moon (no relation). I will be a part-time contributor to Cleo’s cause of bringing sunshine to your everyday. She’s shining some of her light on me, so that I may shine some light on you. . . .cause isn’t that how the moon works anyway?
My first post will be about one of my favorite topics: Hip-hop. I love music, but hip-hop speaks to my soul. It’s in my heart. I love H.E.R. She lives in my lap. . .
That’s why I get upset when I see talent wasted. Not everyone can rap. It’s a combination being able to say the right thing, the right way, at the right time, to the right rhythm. . . .to the left, to the left. . . .
Case in point: Nikki Minaj
Umm, you're not selling sex. . . no, not at all. . .
Raw talent like this comes along once in a blue, but in a female who gets exposure: priceless. She can flow with the best of ‘em and piques my interest . . . plus, she doesn’t look like Grace Jones.
The problem is she’s a gimmick. Everything about her persona (now) is an elaborate front. Research her on YouTube and see that she used to be a straight-forward rapper. Raw talent. Kashi. . .
It’s disappointing because people still haven’t learned that rappers worth their weight in the CO2 that they emit don’t do gimmicks. Costumes are not necessary. Weird inflections and goofy faces are not needed to be a legend. Just be yourself.
Just a few modern examples of rappers who have left their mark without being a cartoon character: Fabolous, T.I., Kanye West (although he’s an a$$, he is himself at all times), DMX (he’s just effin crazy).
For females, I understand it’s hard to make it in a male dominated realm, but there are women who held their own without the mask: MC Lyte, Missy, Eve, Trina, Foxy, Lil’ Kim. Each of them seemed so genuine. Trina is about her paper, Kim is . . . loose, Eve is a tom-boy, Missy is strange, Lyte was a girl from the hood just trying to get out, telling her story to whoever would listen, and Foxy was def even before the hearing problem.
WHAT? OK!!!!!
It just seems to me that 18 months from now, people will still be rockin out to her stuff, but only if it comes on the radio. She’ll get no burn, No smoking sign.
To her credit, in an interview with Fadar Magazine, she says: “I think it’s … important that people get accustomed to seeing a female rapper again,” Minaj says. “Before I drop an album, people need to come out and see. People don’t even know what a female rapper does. We’re so not used to seeing it. It’s nonexistent in categories. I don’t know where I fit in the spectrum of rap yet; I think now I’m kind of proving myself, but before, people thought I was more of a sex symbol or wannabe sex symbol. That’s why I make the goofiest faces; I don’t want people to think I’m up here trying to be cute. I’m trying to entertain, and entertaining is more than exuding sex appeal. I don’t think that’s fun. I don’t find it fun watching someone trying to be sexy. It’s wack. I’m trying to just show my true personality, and I think that means more than anything else. I think when personality is at the forefront, it’s not about male or female, it’s just about, ‘Who is this weird character?’”
Ok, so she’s a goof ball, admittedly. . . But a Barbie though? You don’t want to exude sex, but you walk around naked and accentuate your, umm, assets. . . and boobs. So you’re entire style is a contradiction? In your old stuff, you were a borderline lesbian with an ill flow, nothing remotely goof troop about you. So which one is the real you? If this is you now, please lie to me and take off the wig. . .
If you keep this up Nikki, you will fall the way of Stagga Lee and D4L; it’s not that no one knows where they are now, it’s just that no one cares. . . .
Last week I had the great opportunity to go check out Alice Smith at Highline Ballroom in NYC. I’ve seen maybe about 3 concerts at Highline and its always a great time, I love it because tickets are almost always under 30 bucks. Anywho, I was GEEKED to see Alice Smith. Never heard of her? You need to.
People kept asking me to describe her sound, and I just found the best way to say it was eclectic. It’s r&b, bluesy, and jazzy all in one. She weaves many genres. Her voice is so dope to me. She has some range on her. I guess I’d say that if you like Amy Winehouse, you might like her. I dig her 100X more than Amy though, and I love Amy, so that says a lot.
Here’s some of her material:
Woodstock is one of my fav songs!
Fake is the New Real is also a must listen.
Her song Dream was featured on an episode of Entourage before. I remember watching and as the show was going off, I was like “wwaaiiit a minute, I k now this song!”
Here is my first ever youtube video. It’s kind of loud and you might hear someone (not me *i swear*) singing in the background.
I cannot wait for her new album. She performed several songs off of it at the concert and it really sounds good so far.
Dope. Crazy. Perfectly Imperfect. I'm not the best writer and probably not the worst either, but I am happy while doing it. Stick with me and you'll never be bored! I mean, maybe you won't and maybe you will....
