Black Excellence: The 10 Things We Hate About the BET Awards
4. Nominations – And the Award Goes To ….
Issue: Stop promising (we assume) Jay-Z awards just for showing up. Jay-Z and Kanye won for Best Group. Best Collaboration, perhaps; group, no. Now we know this sounds a tad anal, but here are some of the other artists nominated in the same category: Mindless Behavior and Dirty Money. Really? Furthermore, how many Sportswoman of the Year awards can Serena Williams pocket? At one point this year she wasn’t even ranked in the top 100 of women’s tennis players.
Solution: Treat the nominations with some type of credence and integrity. No need to force categories for the sake of making everyone happy. We get that Kevin Hart is hilarious right now. But did anyone know that Viola Davis also won for Best Actress? Let’s be a little more diplomatic about this process.
I agree with a lot of this article. Any time someone honors you, you should dress as though you appreciate that honor. I think artists that have unique styles would find unique ways to get award-show-ready. Just because you’re unique doesn’t mean you wear the same thing everywhere you go–dress for the occasion. Otherwise, it just makes the entire crowd of people look like they got dressed to go to different events.
I very much agree with changing the look of the award itself. Branding is important, and the small details matter.
I’m sick of the cursing, as well as how risque some of the performances get, considering the target audience.
I also agree that 3.5 hrs is unpalatable, especially when it’s full of the same artists year after year. I’m too old to be staying up until the wee hours waiting for the sparse “good parts” of the show (so I don’t). Cut the acts, cut the time, and get to the point much sooner. An award show isn’t meant to be a shout out to any and every body just because they’re black. There’s got to be some distinction between the people that are performing/honored in the show and everybody else. Invite everybody else to sit in the audience.
“Michael Jackson, the greatest artist of all time, has yet to receive a proper tribute. We’re talking at least a 10-minute segment in his honor. We know his death came right on the eve of the show a few years back, so we understand the rushed attempt then. But now it’s time.”
This. And all of the usual suspects can watch from the audience. Actually, forget it. Just leave him alone, please. No more self-aggrandizing (2010 show, anyone?) “tributes” to Michael.
I agree that the program can “do better” but I also recognize it’s for a younger demographic and young’uns tune in for what’s “hot” not necessarily what’s “dignified.”
I absolutely agree with the dress code concern…granted these are artist who express themselves both lyrically with the aid of art HOWEVER a white tshirt and tanks which are non artistic attire worn at one of the most important events viewed on television which represents Black Culture are not acceptable award attire no matter the genre. NO im not saying suit and tie, but I am promoting our black culture to exude a lot more than what was viewed at the 2012 BET Awards… 2Chainz = Approved Big Sean = WTF!