*Richard Prince’s “Journal-isms” online column reported Monday that nearly two decades after his career took national notice, news anchor Ed Gordon is back, covering news and real issues that matters to African Americans on Black Entertainment Television.
Gordon is best known for in depth interviews with international icons like Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, the late Michael Jackson, and R. Kelly. After interviewing former Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted on double murder charges, Gordon was named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.”
In 2002 Gordon’s popular interview program “BET Tonight with Ed Gordon,” was canceled. The headlining reporter was reassigned to host unsuccessful shows “Lead Story,” and “Teen Summit.” Post BET has landed Gordon in various short term media spots including MSNBC AND CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes II,” National Public Radio, and “Our World with Black Enterprise.”
On Monday, CEO of BET Debra L. Lee, announced Gordon’s long awaited return to the network.
“As BET celebrates its 30th anniversary, it brings me great joy to welcome back one of America’s most prominent news personalities. Ed has always remained part of the BET family and I am sure viewers will share in our excitement to have him back,” Lee said.
Gordon revealed to Journal-isms that his show will cover top headlines and “serious issues will be covered and covered well.”
After a noticeable transition to a pop culture entertainment network and the inauguration of President Barack Obama, BET decided it was time to take the network to a different level.
Lee said that it was “time to sit back with my management team and say, ‘where are we going. What do I want my legacy to be? After 30 years, what do we want to stand for?”
BET has been through some tough criticism, including a “thumbs down” rating from the National Association of Black Journalists when the network refused to broadcast the funerals of civil rights activists Rosa Parks in 2005 and Coretta Scott King in 2006.
With the return of Gordon, BET is seeking to walk steady in its commitment to bringing news that matters to African Americans.
Aiight now. Welcome back, Ed!
Good to hear this and I hope this will be a turning point for BET in striving to provide more intelligent and productive programming and by all means STOP! with the stupid, mindless REALITY SHOWS!
…That’s great…Now what ’bout Bev Smith?…Lead Story?…bring all those muthafuccers back…I always thought BET should do sumthing like the View with ALL Black Women…Now that sh1t could work…You could have Moship give her Ops on sh1t…I could see Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bev Smith…Ruby Dee or Cicely Tyson…Some video chick cause you need a lil hips and azz just in case a dude tunes in…Singletary, The Money chick…Some Cleo type chick cause Black wimmen like that horoscope / fortune telling sh1t…Throw in a weave expert and there ya go…Instant ratings winner…Toss in G-Garvin to show chicks how to cook…Yo!!!!
Boot…BET had an all black version of The View with Kym Whitley, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Mari Morrow who was replaced by some Latino chick. I think it was called “Oh Drama.”
Boot, you always have such great ideas.
*Winks at TGen…If only you didn’t hate Rak so much…It coulda worked out…You know…I just can’t compromise…even for a cute chick..
Reading this story reminded me of Aaron McGruder’s ‘Boondocks’ where he went after Debra Lee and her staff relentlessly for programming all kinds of garbage on BET. I guess she finally wised up and brought back Ed Gordon. Let’s hope this will be the start of better things to come at BET.
I will give props when due. I think BET has dramatically improved over the past few months or so. I used to NEVER (and I’m not exaggerating) watch the channel. There was a time, I didn’t even know what channel BET was. However, now, I’ll pass the channel and I’ll see something like “Everybody Hates Chris” or “The Game” on and I actually stop and watch. Before long, I realize, “Dang, I’m actually watching BET.” lol This happened a couple weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised.
I guess Gordon’s return is a good thing. (I wonder what happened between him and TV1 to make him want to leave.) But BET has still yet to redeem itself for getting rid of Tavis, who had the highest quality show on that network at the time. Seems like that was the beginning of the end for them. He has a quality show on PBS now, but I’m sure he’s still salty about how he was done by BET, and I can’t say I blame him.
TGen, his firing had more to do with Viacom than BET at the time. It was about an interview he did that he sold to ABC when BET refused it.