Streaming Wishlist: BET Plus Load These Shows

BET Plus debuted in 2019, like it's cable network counterpart. It carved its niche catering to Black audience. Partnering with Tyler Perry, the app Primarily features original dramas producing by Perry. Along with movies and sitcoms that can be found on the network as well.

At one time we had BET Plus (honestly may still have it), I did check out The Ms. Pat show but other than that and  revisiting a sitcom here and there I really don't use it. Not much on there really captured my attention.

In my opinion the app is just another one lacking in honoring the classics that built the brand that is BET. Here's some programming I would love to see on the service. 

106 and Park 

You can't start this list without making 106 and Park the first choice. Every weekday evening from the fall of 2000 'til 2014 when it became apparent music videos weren't as popular and BET was headed in another direction. 106 and Park was the place to be for the culture. Free and AJ initially held down the fort taking us on the journey.

Every weekday at 6 we could not wait to see what videos where going be in the top ten countdown. Who was coming to sit on the couch, freestyle Friday, live performances and impromptu moments. 23 years later 106 and Parks legacy is cherished by many who grew up during its heyday.

Video Soul

The show that put BET on the map. Donnie Simpson's star grew as the host of video soul and many artist success grew after they appeared on the show.

The show was revived for BET Plus earlier this summer, but I didn't hear much chatter about it. Which means it didn't work for some reason. BET Plus needs to look back to go forward in this case.

For those of us who were to young or weren't born during the show's heyday. This is a perfect opportunity to remind folks what this show did for the culture, why it meant so much to us and why it was BET's first major hit.

Teen Summit

This show just may have been ahead of its time. Airing  from 1989 to 2002 and featured real life everyday teens, seeking guidance and talking through issues teenagers face. 

Bringing this show back would show today's teenagers the problems they face. Are the same problems teens from previous years faced. Maybe just maybe they'd start believing their parents were no different from them.

All Previous BET Awards

The BET Awards has been running for 22 years now, but it's just not the same.  I honestly thought BET Plus would have showcased the original from 2001-on but  to no luck. I've only seen the 2017 and 2019 ones available, which is a crime. All 22 editions each providing moments for the culture over the years should be available.

Moments like Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar performing Freedom at the 2016 BET Awards. 50 Cent shooting his shot and later booking Vivica A. Fox, Michael Jackson surprising James Brown as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Fugees reuniting, even the cast of the Five Heartbeats performed with After 7. All moments that should be accessible to be replayed over and over again.

Check out this promo from the 2005 awards show where of all people, Will and Jada were the hosts and eh some of the jokes sure didn't age well. And a foreshadowing of Will "defending" Jada years later.

Comic view 

Like HBO's Def Comedy Jam, Comic View introduced us to many of today's comic legends. Of course much cleaner versions of them, but even without cursing they had us laughing our asses off. I use to love those compilation episodes featuring the best of the best because you could not stop laughing for the whole 45 minutes.

A Who's who of comedies appeared on the show such as D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Sommore, Leslie Jones, Bruce Bruce, Lil' Duval, Mo' Nique,  Rickey Smiley, Sheryl Underwood, Don D.C. Curry, J. Anthony Brown, Arnez J., Michael Blackson, everyone's favorite white comic Gary Owens. And of course Kevin Hart back in the 2000's right before he really took off.

Let's Stay Together 

Back in 2011 when BET kept The Game alive, they also aired an original series called Let's Stay Together. Starring Kyla Pratt and RonReaco Lee (Tyreke in Sister Sister), the series followed a group of friends in different stages of relationships who depend on one another for support.

The show ran for four seasons and was actually funnier than its given credit for. While writing this now that I think about it, it was similar to another criminally underrated sitcom. For Your Love that use to air on the WB in the 90's.

Rap City

Rap City was the show to tune into to catch the hottest mainstream and underground rappers and music videos out. 

The show initially featured the host traveling to different cities covering their hip hop scene. It then moved to an taped studio format in the basement. That's when it became famous for the freestyle booth that former host Tigger use to join in with show guests. That segment is where rappers were able to prove who was a real rapper and could think of anything off the top of their dome.

Even with Big Tigger hinting that an revival is on the way. Rap City was a video time capsule of hip hop history from the late 80s to the early 2000s. Its time to uncover the historical artifacts for a new generation.

Baldwin Hills

Baldwin Hills was BET's answer to MTV shows like Laguna Beach. It follows a group of teenagers who live in the predominantly Black, wealthy area of LA Baldwin Hills.

The show is currently available on Hulu. I'm not 100% sure how the licensing deal is worked out, and I'm sure Hulu is paying a nice piece of change to air it. However, it's time to air it on BET plus. Highlight Black teenagers even if it's from 15 plus year's ago, living in the upper echelon of society and what life was like for them at that time.

College Hill

Like Baldwin Hills, College Hill is also available on Hulu and Paramount Plus. The show ran for four reasons with each season covering students from a different HBCU. Like most reality shows featuring young adults you have relationship issues, blossoming romances, fights and all the excitement that keeps you tuning in week after week.

College Hill ran for six seasons and  is probably an unsung hero of students attending various HBCU's that the students on the show were from.

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Documentaries Wish List

 I recently stumbled on a documentary on Hulu about the golden years of Nickelodeon called The Orange Years. Watching how Nickelodeon was formed and classic shows such as All That, Guts, Secret World of Alex Mack, Doug, and Salute Your Shorts came to be. Made me remember just how awesome and big of a deal Nickelodeon was during the 90s.

After watching the documentary, I started thinking about other topics I wouldn't mind seeing documentaries about. I love a good documentary so here's my top 5 wish list.

5. Cartoon Network

Depending on who you talk to Cartoon Network may have the edge over Nickelodeon, in which one was the top kids channel of the 90's. Debuting in the mid-90s Cartoon Network utilized the Warner Bros and Hanna Barbera library owned by Ted Turner to build it's network. It introduced kids of the 90s to older cartoons from the 70's like Jonny Quest and The Jackson five cartoon, it also introduced us to Space Ghost with his coast to coast series.

It wasn't until the network started developing it's own cartoons it really took off. Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and Courage The Cowardly Dog made the network. It would be interesting to hear from the power players of that era about the network as a whole and the respective shows that put it on the map.  

4. Sega Channel

The Sega Channel was so ahead of its time. A monthly subscription service through certain cable providers, there was a cartridge to insert into the Sega Genesis console. That cartridge afforded subscribers access to video games and the game library rotated every month. Sound familiar? 

The Sega Channel debuted in 1994 long before Cable TV On Demand features and streaming services. One of my closest friends had it when we were kids, man he was the coolest kid around and at the time rich in our eyes. I would love a in depth documentary on how the Sega Channel was born and why it didn't catch on like it should have. Was it cost for consumers? Was it the infrastructure? or was it just Sega was losing popularity in the console wars? Questions that need answers.

3. BET

Cable network BET was founded January 25, 1980 a full year before MTV hit the airwaves. Starting out in the new wave of Cable TV as a two hour program block on another feed, it eventually became it's own full-fledge 24 hour network in 1983. Over time giving the culture programs such as Video Soul with Donnie Simpson, Rap City, Teen Summit, Planet Groove, 106 and Park, and BET Uncut (some wild videos including Tip Drill played on Uncut). The network also gave several comedians of the 90's exposure with the hilarious Comic View.

BET was sold to Viacom in 2001 for $3 Billion, it'd be interesting and educational to hear how Robert Johnsons vision came about. The growth of BET through the years to include substations and even BET restaurants. It'd also be interesting to hear some of the resistance BET faced for many years when it often tried to change programming methods and move away from playing music videos all day.

2. ABC TGIF

During the early to mid 90's especially you were likely doing one of three things on Friday nights going out for a good time, going to Blockbuster to pick up a movie, or sitting in front of the TV for two hours of ABC's TGIF TV block. It was must watch TV and a cultural phenomenon which even included it's own jingle to kick the night off. TGIF gave us Family Matters, Full House, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step. It also gave us some eh type shows and duds like Baby Talk, Clueless, You Wish, Teen Angel, Two Of A Kind, and Aliens In The Family. 

I'll admit many of those shows have not aged well, but it was a wonderful moment in time. 90's nostalgia is still going strong it's time someone tells the story of how TGIF came together, reached massive heights and came crashing down as staples ended or moved to other networks (CBS stole a few shows and tried to emulate the success towards the end of the 90's). Somebody, anybody make this happen. 

1. New Jack Swing

If you know me you know I love the New Jack Swing era of music, I always felt like I was born 10 years too late and was actually suppose to be an young adult living life during the height of the era in the early 90's. Anyway it's about time this genre of music which was an fusion of hip hop and r&b to get it's well deserved recognition and it's story be told.

New Jack Swing was founded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle in the late 80's and soon other producers such as Babyface and L.A. Reid and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis utilized this sound. Soon entire labels like Uptown and Laface were built on the New Jack Swing sound. Legendary artist Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, TLC, Boyz II Men, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Guy and so so many more built their careers off of this genre. From it's beginnings to the influence it still holds on music today, it's time the New Jack Swing story gets told. 

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Andre Harrell And Uptowns Legacy

It's often said that we as a society dont give people their flowers while their here. Sadly, that is often true and the recent passing of Andre Harrell proves that. Andre Harrell started in the music industry as 1/2 of the rap duo Dr. Jekyll (Andre) and Mr. Hyde. The duo had moderate success as a group and had a small role in the 1985 hip hop classic "Krush Groove". Being an artist was Andre's introduction into the music business, but it was his role as a mogul that cemented his legacy.

After working with Def Jam Records for a few years, Andre took what he learned from Russell Simmons and started Uptown Records. Uptown Records helped usher the fresh new jack swing sound of the late 80's-early 90's. Right along with other new jack swing pioneers such as Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Babyface Uptown Records bought a new groove to airwaves.

Uptown Records introduced so many legends to the masses and produced songs that undeniable classics. The Uptown Records roster included Heavy D, Al B. Sure, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Christopher Williams, Guy, Groove B. Chill, Father MC, The Lost Boyz, Soul for Real, and Biggie Smalls for a brief moment. Behind the scenes among these great artists was a young A&R executive named Sean Combs. Who learned from Andre and went on to start his own record label Bad Boy Records and is now a legendary entertainment mogul.

Besides the music that Uptown graced us with. Andre and company also employed the Motown system of ensuring their artists were styled correctly, had stage presence and poise. Uptown was known for their great music and the fashion forward style of their artists.

Uptown was the label with style and grace. Like Berry Gordy and Motown, Andre and Uptown inspired the next generation of music moguls. Just like with Bad Boy Records, Uptown paved the way No Limit Records, So So Def Records, Cash Money, and several other Black owned music labels.

In late 2019 BET started pre-production on a Uptown Records mini-series, hopefully production will continue and a new generation will get to learn and understand the greatness of Andre Harrell and Uptown. Like MJ, Whitney, and Prince along with other legends, Andre Harrell was an icon in the music game and his loss is a blow for the culture. Out of this loss, his contributions will be revisited, loved all over again, and appreticated more than ever before. The legacy of Andre Harrell will live on forever

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