A New Look For BET
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Tuesday, February 21 2006, 10:30AM
BET Jazz will become BET J on March 1, and the relaunched channel will offer new programming for African American adults. But that's not all. Guess who will be an on-air host for a new weekly television series? You guessed it. I will be a regular on a new show called "My Two Cents" starting next week on BET J. The show, a weightier version of the ABC show "The View," will look at race, pop culture and current events and will run frequently on the channel.
Meanwhile, the network will be re-branding and reprogramming with a "mix of music and lifestyle programs for jazz enthusiasts and African Americans 25 plus," according to Cybelle Brown, vice-president for sales and marketing at BETJ. It won't be all music and it won't be all original programming. The channel will feature neo soul, R&B and Caribbean music and will show short films in prime time, Monday to Friday. Currently distributed to more than 13 million households, the new Bet J will also be launched on Direct TV, thus reaching more than 21 million households. Brown predicted the channel would be a home for "BET graduates" and would complement the format offered by BET, BET J's sister network.
The first episode of "My Two Cents" will feature Selwyn Sefu Hinds, April Silver, Cassidy Arkin and myself sitting down having a friendly but passionate discussion about the issues of the day. Future episodes will feature different guests, but I will be back on a regular basis. Stay tuned for more details.
Comments conceal
MistyBlue
February 21 2006, 10:47AM
Congrats, Keith.
Carl
February 21 2006, 11:19AM
Congratulations, Keith!! It sounds exciting!! I'll be sure to check out the program.
Troy
February 21 2006, 11:38AM
YAY!! Finally, we get you up close and personal. Good move. This deserves a party. Congratulations.
kevin C
February 21 2006, 12:01PM
How cool!
I wanted you to have your very own show. But, I'm still very happy to see you on the panel in case someone say something "gay stupid".
Congrats to you & I wish you the very BEST.
Kevin C
ATL
j-one-shot
February 21 2006, 12:09PM
The View -- Four women and lots of opinions.
alicia
February 21 2006, 1:47PM
congrats keith!!!
cameras love u!
best wishes
ab
Means
February 21 2006, 2:47PM
Go, Keith, go --Give Your Two Cents!
Mel Smith
February 21 2006, 2:57PM
Congratulations Keith!
Kevin-Anthony
February 21 2006, 3:14PM
Congratulations Keith! This is fantastic news! Can't wait to tune in and lend my support.
Etienne
February 21 2006, 3:44PM
Bravo Keith!
I'll be able to see you from Toronto,Canada..I always missed your tv appearances.
Ricc Rollins
February 21 2006, 4:05PM
Congrats Keith. I'm proud as usual! Be well and continuously blessed. Ricc
Laura
February 21 2006, 4:14PM
many congrats!
where's the party!
Herndon L. Davis
February 21 2006, 6:24PM
Keith,
Congratulations on your coup at BET J. It is long overdue. I look forward to seeing you on TV and hearing your comments about race, pop culture, and current events. I couldn't think of a better choice to give their 2 cents on it.
Continue to represent us all.
Herndon
Frederick Smith
February 21 2006, 6:28PM
Congrats Keith! Very good news!
Liquid Fonts
February 21 2006, 6:31PM
Im sleeping right now but when I wake up and get online and find out Keith's good news, not even the ceiling will hold me down !!
Congrats Keith :)
jazzi
February 21 2006, 8:41PM
GO KEITH, GO KEITH!!!!!
Mark C. Smith
February 21 2006, 8:54PM
Congrats! that excited me more than anything yea!
Texas76132
February 21 2006, 8:58PM
Congratulations, Keith!
Good things happen to good people. I've always liked BET Jazz, and now you've given me one more reason to watch. Best of luck with your new gig.
cmoney
February 21 2006, 9:23PM
You better work!! Now the rest of America will be able to get some real enlightenment. Thanks for bringing some class to the BET family, it's long overdue.
ashon
February 21 2006, 10:00PM
BET? wowzers...
well...congrats...
but as MLK says in the Boondocks episode...
"Black Entertainment Television...is the WORST thing I've ever seen in my life..."
Hopefully you'll make a difference...I honestly do *not* watch the station...
Jeff Hobbs
February 22 2006, 2:09AM
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! i wanna be a guest!LOL
raskl
February 22 2006, 2:34AM
Congratulations hopefully the new show will make me want to watch BET. Oh yeah I do love to watch some uncut jiggling.
VERB
February 22 2006, 3:35AM
Congratulations, Keith. May well wishes...
Ramizz
February 22 2006, 12:04PM
I would love to see Jasmyne Cannick as well as Alicia Banks, Cleo Mango, Dexter King. I am sure you will keep it fresh and intellectually stimulating ...Oh how could I foget Rev. Sharpton. Much sucess and its time for some fresh air and idea's on BET.
ALLEGRO
February 22 2006, 2:48PM
UMMMMMMMMMMM....question.....who gets BET JAZZ? lol Except for Sunday afternoons....we only get REGUALR BET in my area...lol.
Rod Mc
February 22 2006, 3:55PM
Keith, that's great news. Congratulations.
Da D.L. Crib
February 23 2006, 5:45PM
Congrats Keith. I do find it ironic that you end up on a BET channel albeit BET Jazz. Then again it proves my point when argued that shutting down BET was not the answer. You have to have something out there to build on. It may not be good but eventually something good can come from it. Why is it that the other Black cable channel everyone was raving about have Keith Boykin on it? Here is proof positive.
Da D.L. Crib
February 23 2006, 5:48PM
Congrats Keith. I do find it ironic that you end up on a BET channel albeit BET Jazz. Then again it proves my point when argued that shutting down BET was not the answer. You have to have something out there to build on. It may not be good at first but eventually something good can come from it. Here is proof positive.
alice
February 24 2006, 12:29AM
woot! Congrats!
Michael-Vincent Crea
February 24 2006, 4:10AM
KUDOS, KEITH! Characteristically of jazz, itself,
you are sure to enliven and brighten segments or
shows with your own strong rhythmic reflections,
syncopating insights & improvising on points, easily & equally, with all in the BETJ ensemble.
After the sale of BET, along with the more egregious abandonment of plans for its New York studios in Harlem on 125th Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., many, including myself, remained concerned about how the content of Black programming might be co-opted by a management
'mainstreaming' this pioneering medium for people of color on cable.
Having the evening news cut, along with program
host Tavis Smiley 'shown the door', as if the late
Sandman Simms was hired to take out professional talent, one can only hope BET Jazz maintains both
the intellectual integrity and indigenous identity
of Black and non-Black musical genius, generating a genre of world renown, yet, downgraded to just a
"J".
I have full confidence in you, Keith, bringing and
providing that integrity and identity, and then some, along with your own genius & acumen for the arts.
I'm sure you'll articulate and percolate a flava-ful, Black brew, served with a 'same-sex' point of view. I just hope that you & your co-hosts shall have the liberty to 'expresso' yourselves freely and have editorial 'control' over the flow!
"Break a leg, Baby!!!"