Why tavis smiley left bet

Anthony Brown and the twice weekly commentaries provided by Tavis Smiley. For sure I was surprised by the announcement, even letting out a loud chuckle at the irony of the move, as I stood in the parking lot. I had been here before. At their best they inspired listeners to send faxes and e-mail to the heads of congressional and senate committees for a range of things from disaster relief for a North Carolina town that had been damaged by floods to brokering for a Congressional Medal of Honor for Civil Rights era matriarch Rosa Parks.

Quite frankly I was offended that Joyner would ask listeners to hold Viacom accountable in a way that they had never held Bob Johnson accountable when he owned BET.

Frankly I was offended that black listeners were asked to fight for a program that had significantly underachieved as a legitimate vehicle of progressive thought and critique. In support of Smiley, there were clearly restraints placed on him at BET.

Even a casual listener to The Tom Joyner Morning Show could discern the freedom and passion that Smiley brought to his twice weekly commentaries that were absent in his role at BET. In a world dominated by heady conversations that include a notable absence of black commentators and critics, BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley could give its audiences a regular view of black public intellectuals such as Michael Eric Dyson and Cornel West, prominent black clergy such as Bishop T.

In a moment when black public intellectuals have to work as hard and even harder at promoting themselves than the actual scholarly work they do, Smiley redefined self-promotion, using both BET and the Tom Joyner Morning Show as vehicles to promote his three books and his numerous speaking gigs and trips to Krispy Kreme.

These aspects aside, if The Charlie Rose Show can be identified as the model for heady liberal talk on television, BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley was a legitimate, though significantly flawed black equivalent. During one recent appearance by attorney Johnnie Cochran and Cornel West, Smiley introduced the duo as his good friends, effectively undermining his value and authority as a host, since he was unlikely to really challenge them in any significant ways.

Johnson announced today the immediate termination of the network's contract with Tavis Smiley, host of the talk show BET Tonight. The show will use guest hosts until a permanent host is selected for the Fall television season. Johnson reiterated that "nothing could be further from the truth," and that the decision was made by him. Black Entertainment Television, a subsidiary of Viacom, is the nation's only hour television network providing quality programming targeted toward the African-American audience.

BET reaches 65 million households according to Nielsen media research. I am not surprized. They BET Management treats all of the other employees freelancers like crap.

I say we boycott BET. Now I see why Diamond's emails to Viacom were returned Now Mr. Johnson has put Tom in it! I can't wait until Monday morning This is awful when will the struggle end. Tavis Smiley is a voice for his people and they don't like that. I thought we were overcoming but I guess we haven't???? I seldom watch BET anymore. Comicview lost me as a "loyal" supporter when I heard how much they paid the comics. City of Angels.

BET needs to realize that those videos they show all day and all night are a detriment, As a teacher I see it first hand, these kids can't even complete assignments, conversation without referring to the latest video. I am disturbed at how Mr. Johnson and his programming staff are going to augment Tavis' absence. Bev Smith has a syndicated radio talk show. These are really good shows who don't seem to fit in with the direction BET is wanting to go. It's time we stand up and let them know we won't accept the okey-doke, shuck and jive they keep bombarding us with.

Simply Irresistible!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my question: The firing of Tavis Smiley has angered a lot of your viewers. Across America, there is a lot of dialogue among your viewers that is angered at the termination of Tavis Smiley.

My question to you, what is the direction that your company will now be taking. Will there be even more videos added to the line up? Where is the quality programming for BET? You need to rethink the mission of BET and help us understand where your vision lies as you remove a great program hosted by a man who is committed to the betterment of Blacks in America.

While listening to Tom Joyner this morning, someone made a statement that Mr. Johnson is NOT the person who needs to talk or explain. Viacom should have its representatives discussing in what direction BET will go. Johnson has his billions of dollars in his pocket, worried about NADA!

I think Mr. Johnson and Viacom representatives should be on the show tonight to explain the decision to the public. This is what Mr. Quality programming?! What BET is he watching? BET reaches 65 million households according to Nielsen media research. I am not surprized. They BET Management treats all of the other employees freelancers like crap. I say we boycott BET. AKA2D ' Now I see why Diamond's emails to Viacom were returned Now Mr. Johnson has put Tom in it! I can't wait until Monday morning BET will no longer be watched in my house.

Johnson is a house nigger. This is awful when will the struggle end. Tavis Smiley is a voice for his people and they don't like that. I thought we were overcoming but I guess we haven't???? I seldom watch BET anymore. Comicview lost me as a "loyal" supporter when I heard how much they paid the comics.

City of Angels. BET needs to realize that those videos they show all day and all night are a detriment, As a teacher I see it first hand, these kids can't even complete assignments, conversation without referring to the latest video.

I am disturbed at how Mr. Johnson and his programming staff are going to augment Tavis' absence. Bev Smith has a syndicated radio talk show. These are really good shows who don't seem to fit in with the direction BET is wanting to go. It's time we stand up and let them know we won't accept the okey-doke, shuck and jive they keep bombarding us with.

Simply Irresistible!!!!!!!!!!! Find all posts by Rachel Here is my question: The firing of Tavis Smiley has angered a lot of your viewers. Across America, there is a lot of dialogue among your viewers that is angered at the termination of Tavis Smiley. My question to you, what is the direction that your company will now be taking. Will there be even more videos added to the line up? Where is the quality programming for BET?

You need to rethink the mission of BET and help us understand where your vision lies as you remove a great program hosted by a man who is committed to the betterment of Blacks in America.