Baldwin Hills: Excellent Black Entertainment Television

By Holly Wood

I just watched a post Thanksgiving Day marathon of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) show "Baldwin Hills" and it is a very good show. It looks like BET is really starting to upgrade its programming, but I bet some will still find something to complain about. “Baldwin Hills,” is a “Laguna Beach”-style documentary about rich teenagers in Los Angeles. There is an interesting chat forum about the show.

BET chairman and CEO Debra Lee took over the reigns after Robert Johnson sold the network to Viacom for $3 billion. BET is available in about 84 million homes. She has publicly stated that BET has plans for 16 new shows, which will include reality programming and talk shows. Ms. Lee has tapped Reginald Hudlin to develop BET’s new stable of shows. Hudlin is known for writing and directing such movies as “House Party,” “Boomerang” and “The Great White Hype.” He joined BET in 2006 to assist in improving the programming variety BET offers the public.

Black "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" Set For Great White Way

By Holly Wood and Alan Smithee

Not only does Elizabeth Taylor have a Black boyfriend, Jason Winters, now her best movie, "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" is going Black too. Except this time it will be on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Terrence Howard will play Paul Newman's Brick and James Earl Jones will play Big Daddy. Either Kerry Washington or Anika Noni Rose will play Maggie the Cat, which was played by Taylor in the 1958 film.

Negroes have come a long way since then. Or maybe it would be better to say that American society has come a long way since the 1950s. Negroes have always been more than ready to participate. It was and is illogical to keep us out. Such irrational behavior permeates American society though. It is a sickness. Thankfully, the patient seems to be recovering some from this spiritual disease. Let's just still go our separate ways after dark. Or at least after the play is over, which opens in March 2008. (Source: Gatecrasher@nydailynews.com)

Hollywood Should Be Carbon Neutral

By Environment Man

Tinseltown and all of her productions should be carbon neutral. Everyone should know what that is by now so we will not explain it. Of course, AAEA wants to help Hollywood to completely eliminate its carbon footprint. We're talking about a lot of carbon dioxide offsets here. Hmmm. Where oh where will all of those credits come from? What about renewable and clean nuclear power? Well that is our plan. Click on the penguin to see how we plan to completely reduce the Hollywood Carbon Footprint (HCF).

Now if you prefer the stage back east in New York we also plan to supplement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) with a Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Initiative (VGGI), pronounced "Veggie"). Clearly the signatory states will have trouble meeting their carbon dioxide reduction targets just as the signatories of the Kyoto Protocol are in meeting their targets. Although nuclear is not accepted in the RGGI program or the California Kyoto program, it will be perfectly acceptable in the VGGI we will establish.

Regina King Starts Movie Production Company

By Holly Wood

Regina King, left, and her sister Reina have started a movie production company, Royal Ties Productions. King bemoans the lack of African American produced movies coming out of Hollywood and intends to help fix that problem. King has been around for over two decades, starting with "227" so she should have the moxy and contacts to do it. Good luck sweetie. Getting a movie made in Hollywood is a major undertaking. Are there any Black women producing movies? Not that we can think of. It is hard enough for Black actresses to make it in Tinseltown.

King is starring in "This Christmas" right now and wants to produce a movie about the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm was the first Black person to run for president. She also had a distinctive look and speaking style. King branched out after "227" to work in John Singleton's first three films, beginning with "Boyz n the Hood" and played Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife in "Jerry Maguire," Angela Bassett's sister in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," a girlfriend of Ray Charles in "Ray," and co-starred as an FBI agent with Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality 2," among other roles. She also played the president's sister in "24." Hey Regina, give a shout out to AAEA in your movie. Good luck.

Have Will & Jada Converted To Scientology?

By Holly Wood

The blogosphere and other published reports have Will and Jada Pinckett-Smith flirting with Scientology. Will and Jada are friends with well known Scientologist Tom Cruise. They attended the wedding of Cruise and Katie Holmes in Italy in 2006. From what I have read it appears that Will and Jada are agreeing to the tenets of Scientology as long as they do not conflict with their biblical beliefs. Well I guess if you are going to do business with Cruise you have to listen to his Scientology spiel. Cruise DID just open (resurrected) a movie studio, United Artists.

Reportedly opposed to 'organized religion,' the super couple seem to reflect the traditional Hollywood pose. Yet Will was raised in the Baptist church and has been quoted in past years as stating, "my grandmother would get up out of her casket (if I became a Scientologist)." Much of the speculation comes from the current Men's Vogue article ("Prince Becomes King") on Will Smith to promote his December movie, "I Am Legend." Here is the important section from the article:

"Look, I use the Bible to explain the ideas of God, and life, and love, and relationships, and the life of Jesus Christ to teach my children how to defend their spirit. But in all of the experiences I've had with Tom [Cruise] and Scientology, like, 98 percent of the principles are identical to the principles of the Bible."

Well it sounds like Willard Christopher Smith Jr. and Jada have their heads on straight. We wish them well.

American Music Awards 2007

Hosted by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the Dick Clark Productions 2007 American Music Awards ceremony was broadcast on ABC on Sunday, Nov 18. Below nominees are shown for each category; winners are shown in bold. Nominations were determined by record sales and airplay as tracked in the publication Radio and Records. For the first time American Music Award history, winners were chosen online by fans.

POP/ROCK

Male artist: Akon, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake
Female artist: Beyoncé, Fergie, Avril Lavigne
Band, duo or group: Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Nickleback
Album: "Daughtry" (Daughtry), "Minutes To Midnight" (Linkin Park), "FutureSex/LoveSounds" (Justin Timberlake)

COUNTRY

Male artist: Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley
Female artist: Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Band, duo or group: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts
Album: "Let It Go" (Tim McGraw), "Me And My Gang" (Rascal Flatts), "Some Hearts" (Carrie Underwood)

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES

Male artist: Akon, Ne-Yo, T-Pain
Female artist: Beyoncé, Fantasia, Rihanna
Album: "B'Day" (Beyoncé), "Double Up" (R. Kelly), "FutureSex/Love Sounds" (Justin Timberlake)

RAP/HIP HOP

Male artist: Fabolous, T.I., Young Jeezy
Band, duo or group: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Pretty Ricky, Shop Boyz
Album: "Strength & Loyalty" (Bones Thugs-N-Harmony), "T.I. vs. T.I.P." (T.I.), "The Inspiration" (Young Jeezy)

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Artist: Daughtry, Norah Jones, John Mayer

ALTERNATIVE

Artist: Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, the White Stripes

LATIN

Artist: Daddy Yankee, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Jennifer Lopez

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Artist: Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, tobyMac

SOUNDTRACKS

Album: "Dreamgirls," "Hairspray," "High School Musical 2"

BREAKTHROUGH

New artist: Daughtry, Plain White T's, Robin Thicke

SPECIAL AWARDS

T-Mobile Text-In Award: Carrie Underwood

International Award: Beyonce

Magic Johnson Vacation Home Would Be Nice AAEA Office

View Larger Map

Magic and Cookie Johnson just bought a $7.6 million vacation home in Orange County, California. AAEA needs a west coast office and it would be an excellent location for AAEA's supplemental west coast research operation. The 7,700 square foot home is newly built and located in a gated community with a private beach in Dana Point (see map). There is a view of Catalina Island, the coastline or the ocean from almost every window. This would be an excellent environment for an auxillary AAEA outreach/research/office/residence. AAEA has a very specific research and education program it would implement from this location. AAEA had a similar location (not that expensive though) south of Annapolis, Maryland (Highland Beach) for 3 years.

Since Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Cookie are so busy and will only spend (maybe) a week per year in the home, the facility could be put to great use in service of protecting the environment. Magic became part owner of the L.A. Lakers in 1994 and has been a head coach of the team. He has been a sportscaster on NBC-TV and a studio analyst on TNT. He also owns Starbucks coffee shops and movie theaters.

Do Whites Hate Black Men & White Women Who Err More?

By Alan Smithee

Maybe it is just us but we get the impression that whites (they don't care if we do not capitalize it) seem to get more upset when Blacks get in trouble. And don't let a white woman or an animal be involved. Oh mercy. You know who I'm talking about. O.J. (he did it), Barry Bonds (he did it too), Michael Jackson (acquitted) and Michael Vick (guilty and serving). What white male entertainers generate this much buzz with their infamy? Now if it takes you more than 10 seconds to think of some then you know what I am talking about.

I sent this query to the AAEA labs and this is what they came back with: 1) O.J. has white skin privilege, but he 'looks' black so he has to be scorned. 2) Barry is uppity (Hank Aaron wasn't but was hated anyway for breaking Babe's record). 3) Michael turned white AND married the King's daughter (white skin privilege). 4) Michael Vick: well there is a reason the National Wildlife Federation is several millions of times larger than the African American Environmentalist Association. Our scientists concluded that if you're a black superstar and do something stupid, expect to get more attention than you ever got for your positive contributions to society.

Now young white women are right up there with Black men in the hyped press infamy category. Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton will give Juice, Jacko, Barry and Vick a run for their money. Of course Martha Stewart got a pass. You would never know she even went to prison. Does this make her an honorary white man?

Grey's Anatomy: Real Life Miscegenation

By Holly Wood

"Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo married her Black fiance Chris Ivery at New York's City Hall with Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a witness. Ivery is a record producer. Pictured at left, the interracial couple appeared together on Oprah about a year ago. It has only been about 40 years of so that such a marriage was legal in the USA. Now why do you think it was against the law for Blacks and whites to marry?

This real life marriage kind of mirrors the United Nations feel of the show, which is written and directed by a Black woman, where the chief resident is Black, a Chinese/Black couple (until Isiah Washington got himself fired), a Mexican American and a gay guy (well he's not gay on the show) and, well, you get the idea. Well we wish the happy couple well. Now go and produce some little mulattos.

Eddie Murphy Celebrity Hot Tub

IS natural gas the best way to heat your hot tub? What about electricity? Fuel Oil? Maybe not. Some might say wind, solar or even geothermal. Well while those celebrity environmentalists are contemplating how to publicize their climate change mitigation strategies from their hot tubs, maybe you too can live vicariously in American energy wasting splendor while watching this very funny video. We wonder if James Brown liked this skit.

Celebrity Hot Tub

Broadway Stage Workers Strike Hurting Theater District

Update: The Broadway strike is over. It lasted from Nov 10 to Nov 29. Details of the 5 year deal between Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers.


First it was the Hollywood Writers Guild of America strike and now the stage workers on Broadway are striking because they want more stagehands for opening a show and for keeping that show running. Theater owners and producers only want to hire the number of stagehands they think are needed for individual shows. Specifically, owners demanded a reduction in the minimum 22-person staffing level required for preparation of shows and more concessions. East coast and West coast strikes by the rank and file include writers in the West and men and women who move the scenery and props, electricians, carpenters and sound people back East. The businesses surrounding Broadway are also suffering because ot the strike, which eliminates spending by up to 80,000 people a night. Broadway stretches from W. 41st St up to W 53rd St with four theaters physically located on Broadway and the rest located east or west of the 12 block stretch.

The Hollywood writers want a piece of the action from new technologies (distribution of shows via the Internet, cell phones and other digital platforms). The Hollywood producers will not agree to restrictions to their ability to experiment with new digital delivery options for films and TV shows.

By the way, ever wonder why Broadway is called the "Great White Way?" It started in 1904 and was due to the magnificent illumination of the avenues at Times Square. Of course considering the time period that was probably not the only reason. (Sources: Broadway 101, NY Daily News, NY Post)

WritersPay

Alec Baldwin Works Against General Electric?

Alec Baldwin, left, says he is not opposed to nuclear power, he is just opposed to Indian Point in New York and Oyster Creek in New Jersey. But he also knows that if he can get either one of these plants closed for any reason, he might open the door to closing ALL 104 nuclear power plants in the United States. He held a press conference on November 12, 2007 and claimed that both plants were increasing cancer deaths in surrounding counties. AAEA countered these arguments at the press conference, speaking to CBS, NBC, Fox, and other print and radio services. AAEA and New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (NYAREA) corrected the false information presented at the press conference.

What is baffling to us is why Alec Baldwin is working against a technology that General Electric (GE) is promoting. GE has a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved nuclear reactor design (Advance Boiling Water Reactor) that it hopes to market during the current renaissance of interest in building new nuclear power plants. It is estimated that new plants will cost about $4 billion each. Mr. Baldwin stars in "30 Rock" on NBC, which is owned by NBCUniversal, which is owned by GE. Do the exectuves over at GE support Mr. Baldwin's mission? If so, it is a very strange business plan.

See Also Green Nuclear Butterfly Blog Review--They Were Not Happy

Alec Baldwin's "30 Rock" Charactor On Blacks

Norris McDonald Interview Video

Paul Steidler Interview Video

Spock Was Cool and the Black Community Noticed

Star Trek was the coolest science fiction show of the 60s and Spock, left, was the coolest cat on the show. Not only did he have universal appeal, he was accepted in the Black community because he was cool. Not just cool, super cool. Now white guys in society aren't known for being cool even though Hollywood generated some cool characters. Humphrey Bogart, Fonzie, and of course Elvis Presley. But Black folks invented cool in America. They simply have not gotten credit for it. But we digress.

Spock was the cool to Captain Kirk's hot. Nothing phased Spock. Nothing. Not interdimensional bad guys or the Captain's tirades. Spock was cool under fire. Just as the brothers are because we might not have much, but we do have cool. Plus Star Trek communicated to Blacks that not only did they know it was there, they also included a major Black character among the star lineup, Lt. Uhura. So Blacks loved the show because they showed us some love AND they gave us one of the coolest dudes ever, Spock. Now later on they even gave us a Black Vulcan, Tuvok, right. And just to show that race is irrelevant and stereotypes are ridiculous, Spock was cooler than Tuvok.

AAEA Hollywood Affected By Writers Strike

By Norris McDonald. AAEA Hollywood writers Environment Man, Holly Wood and Alan Smithee are not on strike but are not writing to show solidarity with the members of the Writer's Guild Association. Talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the 12,000 member Writers Guild of America broke down last week and now television show productions are threatened.

Some shows are already turning to reruns to fill the void. A key issue involves giving writers more money from the sale of DVDs and the distribution of shows via the Internet, cell phones and other digital platforms. Producers will not agree to restrictions to their ability to experiment with new digital delivery options for films and TV shows. Although I am in solidarity with the writers, we must still provide information distribution involving African American, environmental and Hollywood issues.

Michael Jackson on Global Warming

Update: See "This Is It"

In an exclusive cover story in Ebony magazine (video) commemorating the 25th anniversary of the release of "Thriller," the largest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson spoke about global warming when asked about the shape of the world:

"I'm very concerned about the plight of the international global warming phenomenon. I knew it was coming, but I wish they would have gotten people's interest sooner. But it's never too late. It's been described as a runaway train; if we don't stop it, we'll never get it back. So we have to fix it, now."

But when asked about the presidential race, he seemed to contradict himself on addressing global warming:

"To tell you the truth, I don't follow that stuff. We were raised to not...[he trails off here but is referring to his Jehovah Witness upbringing]...we don't look to man to fix the problems of the world, we don't. They can't do it. That's how I see it. It's beyond us. Look, we don't have control over the grounds, they can shake. We don't have control over the seas, they can have tsunamis. We don't have control over the skies, there are storms. We're all in God's hands."

Give us a call Mickey. You cannot avoid global politics in addressing climate change. You have to promote aggressive technological solutions to fight global climate change and you have to be willing to push governments and economies to do it. We'll tell you exactly how it should be done and how you can help.

NBC Hosts "Green Week"

NBC is promoting the environment during the week of Nov 4. Mat is in the Arctic and Ann is in the Anarctic and Al is in the rainforest. Their Green Week is unprecedented and provides great information to the public without being too preachy or extremist.

NBC is owned by NBCUniversal, which is owned by General Electric (GE). GE makes windmills and nuclear power plants. So they are 'green' by nature.

Doomed Interracial Couples of "Heroes"

The interracial couples on "Heroes" do not kiss (you know why) and at least half of the couples die violent deaths.

D.L., middle left, the Black guy who could walk through walls was married to Niki, left, the weird white woman with the dual and dueling personalities. She killed him.

Hiro Nakamura, the funny Japanese guy (who exhibits great serious acting talent) was in love with a Japanese woman from back in time. She was initially in love with a white guy warrior. He was killed in an explosion.

David Bianculli Retires From TV Column At NY Daily News

He announced it in his column today. Did anyone see this coming? He wrote his column for 14 years and you could pretty much depend on his take. He is now moving over to National Public Radio to host "Fresh Air." He also launched a new web site: http://www.tvworthwatching.com/ where, guess what he will be covering? Television of course.

Check him out and write to him at Davidbianculli@comcast.net

Dick Parsons Steps Down At Time Warner

Richard Parsons, left, was chairman and CEO of TimeWarner for 5 years. He cleaned up the company from huge losses in 2002 when he took over and guided the company through the divorce from the AOL merger.

The departure does not appear to be related to any restatement of earnings or other company losses. Time Warner owns HBO, did own AOL until they split, Warner Communications, Time, Inc, Turner Entertainment, and New Line Cinema. Congratulations on your successful reign at Time Warner. If you need some work, we have some openings at AAEA.

Duane "Dog" Chapman Calls Us The N-Word In Private

By Alan Smithee

So Duane (Dog the Bounty Hunter) Chapman, right, whips out the N-word in private huh? Surprise surprise. We suspected that many whites did this, but now we have confirmation. He did not know that he was being taped (and he says it so well). He was describing his feelings about his son covorting with a female of the Negro persuasion and warning the young hombre that if she heard them saying the N-word that it would hurt his career. Well Dog, if Imus is any indication, it will probably HELP your career. You will go from being marginally known to being known by everybody. Imus got a few months off, a reported $20 million payoff, and will get a new radio show soon. And he didn't even say nigger (oops).

So relax. You know you aint gonna stop saying it in private anyway. We bet you say it real well too. The way many whites can get that eerrrr in the word. We know that most whites see Blacks as a lower species and it is a social stigma to be an N-word lover. In some circles, even outside of hillbilly trailer parks, it is absolutely the lowest thing a white can be. And whether a creationist or an evolutionist, whites still find a way to make Blacks lower. Is that dark skin really THAT distracting? Now run get Rev Sharpton, apologize, and pledge to repent from this particular habit. And don't forget the promotions and salary raises that will follow. Represent.

Duane 'Dog' Chapman show is on A&E, which is 37.5% owned by Walt Disney Co, 37.5% by Hearst Corp and 25% by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.

Top Ten Advertisers on 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Jan-Jun 2007

1. Dr. Frank's Joint & Muscle

2. Yum Brands (Taco Bell, KFC & Pizza Hut)

3. Reckitt Benckiser

4. Direct Holdings Worldwide

5. Senior Lending Network

6. Country Home Products

7. Johnson & Johnson

8. PolyMedica

9. Ameriprise Financial

10. Alltel

Sources: TNS Media Intelligence, The Wall Street Journal