: LOS ANGELES (AP) - BET's provocatively titled "Hot Ghetto Mess," which drew sharp criticism and overshadowed the rest of the cable channel's new schedule, is getting an upbeat new name.
"We Got to Do Better" is the title the series will have when it debuts Wednesday, BET spokeswoman Jeanine Liburd told The Associated Press on Monday.
"We've decided to change the name because we want to highlight the show's real intent, which is to offer social commentary in a context that sparks dialogue, debate, and most importantly, change," BET said in a statement.
The show's content remains unaltered, Liburd said.
The half-hour video clip show is based on the Web site hotghettomess.com, which shows examples of outrageous fashion and behavior, mostly in the black community. The BET show will combine viewer-submitted and BET-produced content.
BET is characterizing the show as "pure social commentary." But critics have said it risks holding blacks up to ridicule and perpetuating negative stereotypes.
The new title echoes the "we can do better" slogan of the Web site, which was founded by black lawyer Jam Donaldson of Washington, D.C., who is an executive producer on the BET show. On her site, she calls for a "new era of examination" by blacks.
Whether the name change satisfies detractors remains to be seen.
A blog and audio podcast, whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com, which focuses on how black women are depicted in popular culture, has been a vocal critic of "Hot Ghetto Mess." In a posting Monday, it said the change avoids further promotion of an "abominable and disgusting" Web site.
Gina McCauley, who created the blog, said she's willing to give the show a chance.
"If they can pull off what they say they're trying to pull off, then I think it has value. So I'm willing to wait and see what it (the show) is," said McCauley, an attorney in Austin, Texas.
But she said online: "We remain ready to respond in the event this ends up being the train wreck I think it is."
In its statement, BET acknowledged that its other shows, including "Sunday Best," an "American Idol"-like talent show for gospel singers, were being overlooked because of the furor.
The channel's programming strategy is "to deliver smart, creative shows that explore the full range of the black experience," BET said.
The newly renamed "We Got to Do Better" was characterized by BET entertainment chief Reginald Hudlin last week as an effort to take "a hard look at some dysfunctional elements of our community."
"The intent of the show is no different than what Bill Cosby is doing as he's going across the country and lecturing as he talks about the problems of the (black) community that we need to address," he said.
tiaje
BET, MTV, VH1 are owned by the same company so it dosent even matter on which channel it airs on, its still run by the same ppl, and we all know why they are not airing the same BET crappy shows on their other channels...BET sux to high heaven, i stopped watching it a long time ago, between the reruns of all the shows and the wack music shows they have, there isint much left to watch..SMH, needless to say i wont be watching the "new" lineup
Bogus Entertainment Television is full of s.h.i.t. Like I posted on another forum. When Don Imus get back on the air in October, not 1 fool who excused or wathced this s.h.i.t. can say jack the minute he says "those ______ area Hot Ghetto Mess".
You don't fight ignorance by highlighting it and putting those people up for ridicule while you make money off of ratings. Are those people getting any money for the use of their images and likeness, ah no. All they're doing is making fun of thos people.
There was a brief discussion a previous MTO post where folks with common sense menitoned the fact that Boug Entertainment Television stop showing good news programs, HBCU sports, talk shows like teen summit, good black movies...
SHAMEFUL
As much as I don't want to, I'll give a little credit where it's due. BET is good for giving blacks in the industry exposure. Hell look at Bow Wow, Ciara, and Chris Brown. Do you honestly think they would be where they are if it wasn't for BET? These artists need BET to know if "they're hot or not." On the other hand, they also know that they'll burn their bridges with them if they speak out against BET for their poor choice in programming.
1IslandGirl you are so correct on everything you just said. I fail to understand how in the hell can you be a black exec. at BET and not know what black folks want to see. Like I said before, Debra Lee needs her azz kicked!LOL
It *** be shown at all... I remember when I ran across that site a few years back, the first thought was I hope this doesnt get out to whittey.....and now look.....I cant believe Murphy or any one else agreed to host the show....Its down right degradating !
What about a second show called bumb azz whittey ?
BET is full of ***. I have been stopped watching BET cause it degrades black people. Why is it that the only black network constantly builds on the black stereotypes. Changing the name will not change the direction of the show. The show will still be as the first named described.... A Hot Ghetto Mess
Yeah people watch this ***. The people who watch it are ignorant azz ghetto folks and racist azz white people who use this to make stereotypical generalizations about all black people. It's a shame.
You know BET is going nowhere and it will only get worse right? It's called Social Engineering, look it up. Rap, all of the things we think makes our culture bad; will stay here because that's the way the government wants it. Conspiracy theory, paranoia. Whatever.
Roni
I agree, today its all about money talking and ***$t walking. It is a shame how all these distasteful things are glorified. And yes what happened to all the positive shows. Hell even the cartoons are tainted. For BET to be one of the only black channels it is really going downhill while helping to aid socities negative perpetuations of blacks.
Viacom- the company that owns BET, MTV & VH-1 does treat BET like a poor stepchild. But the bigger problem is Reginald Hudlin's *** azz! Dude is wrecking the network cuz he thinks he can come up with in-house shows. Their summer line-up sucks! It's awful. I watch VH-1 more and more cuz their ideas are fresh and they spend the money on good production. "We can do better" is a home video show! CHEAP! CHEAP! Hudlin must have a hellava casting couch- look at all the Hosts on BET right now. Tourique- the name says it all...Terrance...Joe Torrey...Howudoin'??????? After they do such a good job (by contrating out the production) on the BET Awards show- we are subjected to this garbage the rest of the year!
Black Exploitation Television is back with a new press releaser.Its not even funny how they try to sugar coat their lack of content and original format. We moved from; 1. Teen Summit 2. Tavis Smiley to 1. How we got to do better 2. Hell Date as the social commentary for change. I hope that the good ole folks at BET are finally Unionized and are getting paid well for the B.S. cause that station sold its soul. They have sunk to a new low even try to take it there. BETs programming is worse now than its ever been. Making fun of black people as if most people don't have it hard enough out here. They project stereotypical images on almost every program. Its like *** BET needs to do a commentary on itself.
I refuse to watch that b.s. I went to the website ONCE. I feel all of this is uneccesary and WILL NOT further the black community.
Come on now do you think many ppl will be watching this show and see something that they do and then make a turn for the better. I think the show is meant to be a comedy... that's why Charley Murphy is hosting and this show will only further sterotypes about the black community. I can see some of the whitefolks now at my job coming in the next morning after watching this b.s. and saying some foul ***. I just might lose my job LOL.
I have been reading some good point of views on this subject, but I feel like this: That television show and anything else any one else does doesn't define me. I like to see that mostly everyone is sticking together because the show will be exploiting mostly blacks, but when is our self-esteem as a whole going to rise enough to appreciate diversity. Some pics on the website did showcase degrading and ignorant acts, but it also shunned originality and thats something black people have and should be proud of. What about Tom Greene's stupid *** and ***/Wild boys. Do you think white people sit around and sweat Johnny like he defines the whole race?
BET is playing themselves by changing the name..it doesnt change the content of the show..BET is just sliding lower and lower downhill..dont get me wrong, MTV isnt any better..shows like Sweet 16, Scarred and all them cheesy dating shows are the reason why young people, especially females, think its cool to be hoochies with no respect for themselves or others..I used to love Teen Summit-that was a great show..Tavis Smiley was the bomb-Jaqui Reed was the bomb with the BET *** news..what the hell is going on-BET is trying too hard to emulate MTVs programming with shows like Hell Date, Baldwin Hills and College Hill to boost its ratings and doesnt care about preserving pride..College Hill is one of the worst shows on TV..they are destroying the image of black college students and making them look like animals who go to school to drink, f*ck and fight..Tracey Edmunds and Babyface are making money off these kids by creating and producing this horrible show, depicting young black people in a negative light..every College Hill has ghetto *** students from these broke down 5th rate schools who do nothing but party and act like project people..why cant they go to a decent school and cast people who are doing well and do positive things with their college experience instead of knocking each other over the head with shoes? because they know putting animals in a cage will be better for the ratings..BET needs a complete overhaul-ASAP..theyve definitely gotta do better but I dont see that happening
As if the show isn't ignorant enough, they decide to add "Cholly" Murphy's azz as a host. Great idea BET!. No other person can personify "a hot ghetto mess" like him. I agree when everyone says BET lacks originality. "We can do better" than showing these old azz syndicated shows like The Parkers, Girlfriends, Jamie Foxx, and so forth. Whatever happened to brainstorming and thinking of good ideas for better programming that we all can watch? The one show that I try to have faith in is College Hill. It definitely has room for improvement. When I was in school I watched the first season and liked it. The concept of being at an HBCU was great, but the focus of the show wasn't what it should have been.
MsMedia81 you are so right!! who is more ghetto than Eddie and his dysfunctional ***?
Put his family on the show!! This show is nothing more than a show to make fun of people who dont know any better or dont have the means to do better. And from the comments above, the only people who watch BET are non black people. This is some amos and andy type mess!
BET WE DONT WANT TO WATCH THIS ***!!!!!
This is AMAZING! I was going to go on a rant. But, I will only say- Check out the Asian and Latino channels. Do you see such mindless, buffoonery and exploitive mess? If you do, it is balanced with NEWS and EMPOWERING programing that makes one stop and check out, instead of rolling one's eyes and say- THAT IS EXPECTED! BET- I expect RAP Videos, comedy re-runs and reality shows that have very little positive to offer. Hey, remember 911? I do. I checked the Asian and Latino channels and I saw reporters on the scene and commentary on the CRISIS that hit America. BET- RAP Videos and clowning. TAVIS can't do it all. BET IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT, AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS! We can do better? Remember this program when you start to see pictures of future WHITE Americans who will be in positions of business authority, clowing in blackface and "ghetto" makeup. I'm sure they will think it is ok, because they saw it on BET!
A few weekneds back NBC had a 2hr progam block called African American Film Heritage (something like that??) They spent 2hrs shows 30min independent films by black film students and film makers.
NBC!!! on a d.am.***. Saturday was giving youn black film makers a *** at have there independent films shown on a national network. A few of them were actually good. Of course a couple looked low budget; needed better lighting or looked like it was *** on campus, but still that was kind of expected...no excuses for Bogus Entertainment Television.
We get what we demand. unfortunately too many of us have given up and given way to a generation of kids who've not been exposed to quality so they don't get why the "old folks" are mad and can't just accept variety and the new way things are done. When you've had quality nothing else will do...
BET Gotta Do Better. They have taken a turn for the worst. These "so called" game and reality shows with Toccara's nagging voice and a MTV version of "The Hills"(Baldwin Hills is wack. They put Toccara as a host thinking they would get more viewers to watch because of her breasts and her flirtatious actions .It seems as though BET's focus isn't on our young black youth anymore.Their more focused on exposing the black community in a negative way by having shows like a " Hot Ghetto Mess".
This is pathetic. Who wants or plans to participate in this purpose to further insult african americans. BET has long since sold out. I hate it when blacks find it easly to sell out blacks. These ignorant shows hosts, such as D.L. Hugely's SOB, Monique with that vulgar Charm School, that only depicts black women as tired ignorant ho's that are willing to do anything for money (including sleep with one of the ugliest men in the world) When will someone put their money behind an informative show that represents blacks in a positive way. We need much information about relevant issues. Do you see any other culture making insulting remarks about themselves? We have to stop being willing to insult and disregard our culture. We are the true Kings and Queens of this world, yet we allow everyone else to treat us as if we pertain to nothing but jokes. I blame whoever it was that sold us out and any so-called entertainer, who would take money to help people further exploit us. D.L. and Monique, you two fools aren't worth anything. All your Pride and Respect talk on media shows about how people treat blacks, meant nothing when it was time for you to get paid exploiting us. You two SAMBO's are a disgrace.
