The Former Hosts Of Black Entertainment Television Shows (Video Soul, Video LP, Our Voices, Teen Summit, etc.)

This is cute, and so mainstream and middle class.

Why didn't things stay this way instead of pandering to ghetto thugs?

BET catered to hip-hop music video culture for much of the late 90s and early 2000s...then that went out of style.

They are now back to being a more classy network with scripted series like Being Mary Jane

Hilariously upbeat. It would be so great if they cleaned up the video and put it on as a surprise, random ad that you have to wait and watch for.

Sherry Carter interviewing New Edition on Video Soul subbing for Donnie Simpson in 1990.

Oh for the good ole days. Been watching BET again lately.

Donnie Simpson - Video Soul [1986]

Original Video LP host - Robin Breedon

Madelyne Woods - The third host of Video LP who took the place of Sherry Carter.

Sherry Carter - The second host of Video LP who took the place of Robin Breedon. She would later co host Video Soul with Donnie Simpson.

Rachel Stuart from Caribbean Rhythms, Island Stylee, and Planet Groove

Bump.

Paul Porter who hosted Video Vibrations on BET in the 1990's.

Tavis Smiley

Who wants to talk about the former hosts from Black Entertainment Television on here? Somebody?

Bobby Jones Tribute

Circa 8 MILE, I remember Eminem seriously giving Free the eye on 106 & Park and her being completely taken aback and losing her place for a few seconds. Hahaha.

Free and AJ - 106 & Park - Final Episode [clip]

Fame, Fortune & Exploitation. Behind The Curtain of Hip Hop, David K Far-EL (D Brad) David K Far-El, Former MTV / BET Producer

Bev Smith - Our Voices

Big Lez - Rap City

Simpson and Carter were fantastic.

They certainly were fantastic, r21.

Ed Gordon

Big Tigger

Michael Colyar

Liza Michelle - BET: ALL

Lisa Johnson-Smith - Teen Summit

My boyfriend's friend says he hooked up with Ed Gordon in the 1990s in Florida. I have no idea if this is actually true, but he wasn't spouting off on a broad forum, just telling us in private. Gordan is married to a woman and has a kid. His dad was an Olympic gold medalist.

That's good to know, r28.

Charlie Neal

Stephanie Williams - Body & Soul

Ananda Lewis

Angela Stribling - Co Host of BET's Screen Scene

Kathy Andrews

Bump

"Hey y'all ... Don't forget me, Cita, the host of BET's failed 90's experiment with 3-D virtual characters ... Cita's World!

I'm a sassy sista. Keep yo hands off my polygons and watch dem videos!"

I loved Bev Smith.

BET's For Black Men Only - 1992

Sabrina Dames - BET Family Reunion

Hits From The Streets

Like a lot of channels, BET is a shadow of its former self

I agree, r41.

Anybody on here worked at Black Entertainment Television in the 1990's?

Rap City Chris Thomas, the First Mayor!

I was positively addicted to Bev Smith back in the day. I never missed "Our Voices."

A question for any black DLers: I have a few acquaintances who say that they refuse to watch BET now that it is "white owned." I kinda don't get that. It seems to me that if a channel is targeted to a specific audience, whoever is behind it would not matter to me(unless of course they were spreading propaganda which was not beneficial or accurate to the intended audience.) How do you guys feel about that?

Liza Michelle on BET's ALL interviewing Aaliyah in the late 1990's or early 2000's.

R45, I'm sure some black people don't watch it for that reason, but from my experience, that's simply not the norm. Black people still watch BET and stuff like Being Mary Jane. But, overall, there's less reason to watch just because the programming isn't as good. And, the younger (post Gen-X) generations weren't raised on it to the same degree, so not as many of them watch it. Not only was the programming, IMO, better in the 1990s, but remember, that was before streaming services, smartphones, ipads, broad internet usage, and on and on. Entertainment wasn't mobile - you had to sit down and watch TV.

Bump.

BET Retro 1988 "We're Coming On For You" Promo Commercial

Donnie Simpson on The Rock Newman Show

I had such a crush on Ananda Lewis growing up even though I was gay. And all the ones that came before her that are mentioned in this thread were wonderful (i'd arguably say she's the last one in the lineage, unless you want to include Terence J). I'd also shout out the rappers who presented Yo! MTV raps.

I miss this era so much. I know the music industry was corrupt and evil and scammed (especially black) talented artists, but I was a kid then and looking back I would have LOVED to work in the industry at that time when they were throwing money around like crazy. Sending scouts to discover new talent, A&R artist development, million dollar music videos, soul train dancers. It just seemed like so much more fun than it is now. I remember Angela Yee on The Breakfast Club talking about her brief tenure with Virgin Records and they basically assigned her to be D'Angelo's helper. She said basically just got to hang out in his apartment and order them food, go through his computer, occasionally visit the studio, and lamented that she was being paid to basically do nothing. I'd kill for that job now!!

Can anyone identify the black host at the start of this SWV performance? He gives off Trevor Noah vibes with the look and voice!

R4 just before that interview Sherry talked to Ralph & Bobby solo, and got a little farther. She’s a calm pro interviewer but these boys just babbled right over her, sadly. At least they had some styling attire.

BEAUTIFUL RAPPER SOLE' BUST FREESTYLE FOR BIG TIGGER.RAP CITY.ENJOY!!!

Krayzie Bone Interview on BET Live with Michael Colyar 1999

Always had a crush on Donnie Simpson, and he has aged beautifully.

I always loved Donnie Simpson. He was a very comforting figure to me. It's probably strange that a white boy like me watched so much BET, but I really felt really connected with it.

Ooooh, Donnie Simpson.

I remember when BET was only on for part of the day. TLC, when it was The Learning Channel, was on until 4:00 then changed to BET when Rap City was on. Anyone else remember this?

I still slap the ham to Donnie Simpson. He's still fine as wine.

Donnie Simpson was jacked. He was very sexy.

Ed Gordon was great too - smart and handsome. What happened to him? R28's story is almost too good to be true.

[quote]I still slap the ham to Donnie Simpson. He's still fine as wine.

His voice is the sex.