POP CULTURE: BET AWRDS 2009 RECAP

'BET Awards '09' Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson

On top of the show honoring the likes of Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson and LeBron James, Janet Jackson makes an emotional appearance on behalf of the family thanking fans for their support.

LOS ANGELES, CA—It was a non-stop standing ovation for Michael Jackson and his legendary career at the "BET Awards '09," as host Jamie Foxx and a legion of A-list stars paid tribute to the King of Pop with special performances, emotional testimonials about what Jackson meant to them, and a beautiful, colorful set featuring images and montages of the star. The "BET Awards '09" celebrated Jackson and today's brightest stars in music, sports and entertainment at Los Angeles' historic Shrine Auditorium during a once-in-a-lifetime evening full of unforgettable moments on Sunday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.*

From the minute the "BET Awards '09" started, the audience was on its feet immediately. Set against a backdrop of images of the Jackson 5, New Edition - Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Michael Bivens, Rickey Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant - reunited for a rousing performance of Jackson 5 songs, including "I Want You Back," "ABC" and "The Love You Save."

Foxx—clad in a classic Michael Jackson outfit of a red leather jacket and one glove—opened the show and set the perfect tone with a stage-long moonwalk and a hilarious, poignant monologue emphasizing Jackson's contributions to the music industry and pop culture.

Keri Hilson also channeled her inner Michael by donning his "Bad" outfit to perform her hit songs "Turnin' Me On" and "Knock You Down." Ne-Yo slowed it down with a powerful rendition of Jackson's "Lady in My Life," while Jamie Foxx and T-Pain got everyone dancing for "Blame It," bringing onstage surprise guest performers Snoop Dogg and Travis Barker.

In a breathtaking performance of her ballad "Ave Maria" and Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," Beyonce had the crowd mesmerized. Ciara also captivated the crowd singing Jackson's "Heal the World," and Mary Mary and Queen Latifah teamed up for a stirring performance of "God in Me." Keyshia Cole and Monica collaborated on the beautiful song "Trust," and Soulja Boy performed his hit "Turn My Swag On."

Ne-Yo returned to the stage for one of the most electrifying performances of the night, putting on a medley with some of his favorite stars, including: Keith Sweat singing "I Want Her"; Guy (Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall) the originators of New Jack Swing; and Bel Biv Devoe, who had the crowd on their feet fist-pumping to "Poison." Cultural icon Jay-Z also rocked the house and had everyone standing to celebrate his new single "Death of Autotune."

Maxwell treated the audience to an incredible performance of "Pretty Wings," and in a surprise performance, up-and-coming artist Drake was joined onstage with Lil Wayne and Birdman for a medley of "Every Girl," "Best I Ever Had" and "Always Strapped."

In a surprise appearance, Don Cornelius, host and creator of "Soul Train," spoke about the contributions of The O'Jays, the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. Tevin Campbell, Johnny Gill, Tyrese and Trey Songz all performed to honor The O'Jays' musical career. Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean both received the 2009 BET Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic efforts.

In an emotional end to the "BET Awards '09" Janet Jackson made an appearance on behalf of the Jackson family to thank fans for their support. And for the finale, Foxx and Ne-Yo brought the evening to a close with a touching duet, singing the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There."

A star-studded line-up of the hottest A-list celebrities made appearances at the show, including Tyra Banks, Taraji P. Henderson, Idris Elba, Sherri Shepherd, Anthony Anderson, Paula Patton, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Estelle, LeToya Luckett, Chaka Khan, Day 26, Nichelle Nichols, Keke Palmer, Ray J, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames, Zoe Saldana, Mike Epps, Jeremy Piven and Marlon Wayans.

Throughout the "BET Awards '09" BET Networks honored local heroes with the Community Humanitarian Award. These inaugural honorees—The Three Doctors, members of Food From The 'Hood (FFTH) and Mayor-elect James Young—were recognized for their activism within their communities.

Other memorable moments included: Zoe Saldana and Nichelle Nichols, the lovely ladies who play the current and original Uhura in "Star Trek;" a movie trailer spoof bringing together Matthew Lawrence's Shenene character and Foxx's Wanda; Nickelodeon's star of "True Jackson, VP" Keke Palmer performing Jackson's "Who's Loving You" a cappella; and Ginuwine and other stars giving testimonials on what Jackson meant to them.

In addition to all of these incredible moments, a number of awards were given out at the "BET Awards '09":

Best Male R&B Artist

Ne-Yo

Best Female R&B Artist

Beyonce Knowles

Best Group

Day 26

Best Gospel Artist

Mary Mary

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

M.I.A.

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

Lil Wayne

Best New Artist

Keri Hilson

Best Collaboration

Jamie Foxx f/ T-Pain - "Blame It"

Viewer's Choice

T.I. f/ Rihanna - "Live Your Life"

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom

Video of the Year

Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"

Best Actress

Taraji P. Henson

Best Actor

Will Smith

Best Female Athlete

Serena Williams

Best Male Athlete

LeBron James

Centric Award

Jazmine Sullivan

Encore telecasts of the "BET Awards '09" are set for:

Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30-10:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 2 from 8:00-11:30 p.m.

Monday, July 6 from 8:00-11:30 p.m.

BET has once again teamed with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the Grammy Awards and the eight record-setting "BET Awards" shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen Hill, President, Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, Vice President of Specials, BET Networks, will executive produce the telecast.

*All times ET/PT

source: pop tower

TV NEWS: VH1 2009 SUMMER SCHEDULE

VH1 IS ONE OF THE ONLY CHANNELS I WATCH ON CABLE, MAINLY FOR THEIR RETRO SHOWS LIKE THE I LOVE THE 70’S, 80’S, 90’S SERIES, AS WELL AS THE STAR LISTS, I.E HOT STARS, HOT MOVIES, ETC. I’M ALSO A HUGE FAN, AS I’M SURE YOU ARE AS WELL, OF BEHIND THE MUSIC, WHICH IS MAKING A RETURN, IN A MORE CONTEMPORARY FORM, TO ITS HOME. SO CHECK OUT THE SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR VH1 & GET READY TO BE INSIDE A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU MAY HAVE PLANNED. ENJOY

VH1 Heats Up Summer 2009

Here comes "Tool Academy 2," "Megan Wants a Millionaire," "The Great Debate," "The T.O. Show" and more.

NEW YORK, NY—Let the sun shine in as VH1 celebrates with all-new series and specials for upcoming summer season 2009. In true fashion, VH1 continues to "keep it real" with a new slate of "Celebreality" series and new additions to the consistently compelling VH1 Rock Doc franchise.

Premieres

"The Great Debate"

Premieres Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT

Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Ginger or Mary Ann? What really happened to Tony Soprano? These are the great questions of our time—and they're about to be answered once and for all! VH1, the world wide authority on all things pop culture is about to deliver the final word on the most intense pop culture debates and questions of all-time with their new series "The Great Debate." Over five nights, one hour a night, VH1 will settle the debates which have been going on for years. Each night will feature 20 debates which will grow in intensity from the important questions of the Caliente hour to the life or death debates of the Inferno hour. So join VH1 for "The Great Debate." The time has come, you've asked the questions and now we're gonna settle them... forever!

"The T.O. Show"

Premieres Monday, July 27, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT

"The T.O. Show" follows one of the NFL's biggest and most outspoken stars, former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and new wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, Terrell "T.O." Owens. In the series, T.O. will be shadowed in the off-season by his best friends / publicists Monique Jackson and Kita Williams as they battle the two sides of his large personality. Viewers will discover that behind all the braggadocio, emotional histrionics, and sculpted physique, that is the outspoken media magnet known to the world as "T.O."—there is also a quiet, sensitive, mild-mannered guy from Alexander City, Alabama...that's Terrell.

The series is executive produced by Evan Prager and Jesse Ignjatovic for Den of Thieves. Executive producers for VH1 are Jill Holmes, Alex Demyanenko, Noah Pollack and Jeff Olde.

"Megan Wants a Millionaire"

Premieres Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 9 pm ET/PT

Blonde bombshell and "celebreality" vixen, Megan Hauserman is looking for love—but not with any average Joe. Megan has her eye, mind and heart set on one type of man... a millionaire! Unfortunately, Megan's had her heart broken by Bret Michaels in "Rock of Love 2" and lost out on the million dollar check in "I Love Money." But now she's back with vengeance to find both love and money with the goal of becoming the ultimate trophy wife. This summer, Megan will put 18 millionaires to the test as they compete for her affection in "Megan Wants a Millionaire" premiering Sunday, August 2, 2009.

Megan's millionaire suitors will compete in challenges ranging from going head to head in a high roller Las Vegas tournament to shelling out money in a date auction. Whoever wins the challenge, will win a date with Megan. But, it won't just be any date. The millionaires will be given the chance to "upgrade" their date. How about driving Megan to dinner in an Aston Martin, instead of an Escalade? Or why not take a helicopter ride to Catalina Island instead of the ferry? One by one, Megan will eliminate the guys who can't shell out the dough, until the ultimate millionaire is left.

"VH1 Rock Docs: Lords of the Revolution"

Premieres Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14, 2009

Beginning on Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14, VH1 will air the five-part 1-hour series "Lords of the Revolution," a new documentary series from VH1 Rock Docs. The series celebrates the counterculture icons of the '60s and '70s—the legends who defied the social, political and cultural mores of their time. The series is narrated by Richard Belzer.

They trafficked in sex, drugs, music, and subversive politics. They held peaceful protests and violent insurrections. They were the leaders of the most significant cultural transformation of the second half of the 20th century. From political heavyweights like the Black Panthers to cutting-edge cultural trendsetters like Andy Warhol, this documentary series profiles the nonconformist heroes and anti-heroes of the 60s and 70s, telling the dangerous, subversive stories of a cultural revolution. Edgy, colorful, visually dynamic, the docs will feature new first-hand interviews, plenty of archival photos and footage, an unconventional graphic treatment, and a hip rock soundtrack. All these things will make this series feel more like VH1 than the History Channel.

The series is executive produced for VH1 by Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson and Stephen Mintz. Consulting producer and writer is Martin Torgoff and Ted Kim is supervising producer.

"VH1 Storytellers: ZZ Top"

Premieres ON VH1 Saturday June 27 AT 10:00 pm* and will air on VH1 Classic and Palladia Saturday July 4 AT 9:00 pm*

ZZ Top, the rock band who hold the record for lasting longest with all original members, celebrate their 40 year anniversary with an episode of "VH1 Storytellers" filmed at Chicago's Congress Theatre.

The Texas trio answer questions from the audience, renew one couple's wedding vows, and tell the stories behind such hits as "La Grange" (about a brothel) and "Sharp Dressed Man" (during the song's video shoot a hobo started critiquing everything on the set and they went on to follow his advice). Also in the hour, guitarist Billy Gibbons talks about the band's travails as opening act for Janis Joplin and bassist Dusty Hill shows off his Walter Brennan imitation.

Returning Series

"Tool Academy" - Season 2

Premieres Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 10pm ET/PT

The hit series that gave insensitive and clownish boyfriends a surprise wake up call followed by intensive relationship therapy is back for another 10 week semester. Each week, the "Tools" will get lessons designed to give them one last chance to save their faltering relationships. The Academy's resident counselor Trina Dolenz will cover topics like honesty, fidelity, maturity and communication. The guys who don't learn...will go home, but not before their girlfriends decide whether to keep them, or leave them behind to start over. The one man who shows the most improvement graduates with $100,000.

The series will be executive produced by SallyAnn Salsano for 495 Productions. Jim Ackerman, Dave Hamilton, Mike Riley and Jeff Olde will oversee the series for VH1.

"Behind the Music"

Premieres Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT

VH1 is re-launching its Emmy-nominated and critically acclaimed series "Behind the Music" the iconic series that helped put VH1 on the map. Premiering on Thursday, August 6, 2009 with "Behind the Music": Lil' Wayne, the series is set to re-launch with a stellar talent lineup. A few of the additional artists to be featured in the upcoming season will feature Bobby Brown, T.I., Pink and 50 Cent.

VH1 has re-imagined "Behind the Music" and will now focus on some of the top current artists of today who have had a major impact or contribution to the music scene from rock to hip-hop to pop. In addition to the dramatic storytelling that made "Behind the Music" a worldwide hit, the series will celebrate them as artists and will also feature originally shot verite footage of each artist, which will anchor each story in the present day.

The original series made its debut on the channel in August of 1997 and was originally created and produced for VH1 by Gay Rosenthal, George Moll and Jeff Gaspin who were responsible for many of the channels 200+ episodes of the series. The current series is executive produced by Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz and Jeff Olde for VH1. Executives in charge of music talent are Rick Krim and Leah Horwitz.

VH1 Classic

VH1 Classic is celebrating some of America's most influential music icons from all regions of the United States this July 4th weekend. Beginning on Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5 the network will "Rock Across America" and dedicate one day to each region of the country including the East, Midwest, South and West. The 4-day marathon will include some of the greatest concerts known to the rock 'n' roll world and will give an all-access look into the lives of these American music greats that helped shape the classic rock culture. Throughout the holiday weekend that celebrates America, classic rock fans across the country will be able to relive the memories with artists like ZZ Top and Creedance Clearwater to name a few.

VH1 Classic is taking a groovy step back in time with 60's week kicking off Monday, August 10th and includes the week long premiere of the Roc Doc: Lords of the Revolution. VH1 Classic will air the five-part one-hour series "Lords of the Revolution," a new documentary series from VH1 Rock Docs that is narrated by Richard Belzer. The series celebrates the counterculture icons of the '60s and '70s—the legends who defied the social, political and cultural mores of their time; Andy Warhol, Timothy Leary, The Black Panthers, Muhammad Ali and Cheech and Chong. 60's week continues with Monterey Pop and Creedance Clearwater Revival Live all culminating in the premiere of the Roc Doc: Woodstock.

**All Times ET/PT

SOURCE: POPTOWER