Do Better: BET Awards 2009

Overall thoughts of this uber-long show:

1. The highlight: When Janet Jackson walked out. Janet’s first appearance as the selected family member to speak sobered up the show.She looked like a family member in mourning. Joe Jackson on the other hand…

2. Why was Joe Jackson there? No, really, why was Joe Jackson there? Your son just died and you’re partying it up with BET? Not a good look.

3. BET could have cut out half of the first half of horrible performances to make more time for better M.J. tributes. But that’s expecting too much from BET.

4. Why did ya’ll let Don Cornelius talk so long?

5. For real though, who was in charge of the M.J. tributes?

6. The ads for the upcoming new BET shows looked a hot mess. Tiny and Toya? Frankie and Neffie? A Monique late night show? An obvious rip off show from The Food Network? Do Better BET. Do Better

7. Half-way through I realized why I can’t watch this much BET. Wheww Lord this was some hot mess thrown together on a platter of randomness.

8. Other highlights: Maxwell‘s performance. Queen Latifah popping up with Mary Mary. The O’Jays.

Note: How I turned away from the screen for two seconds and missed the young tweens dancing on stage to “Every Girl in the World” I don’t know.But it’s still disturbing. SMH at Wayne, Drake and BET for this. But if you’ve ever watched BET, this doesn’t come to all that much of a surprise.

7: 58 — I missed the pre-awards show because I was working on something else. My brother informed me that I missed a Pleasure P performance. Looks like I made the right decision skipping the pre-awards stuff.

8: 00 — So we’re starting off with the M.J.! Okay then.

8: 01 — Is that New Edition!

8: 02 — And Bobby’s there. Aww lawd! I don’t know what he has on though

8: 04 — And the foolery starts. Jaime Foxx doing the Beat It choreography. I can’t. Lol!

8: 06 — OMG, what is he doing? From the outfit to the dancing, that was a funny intro

8: 07 — Now Jaime’s reminding people that M.J. was black. I had forgotten for a minute.

8: 08 — My brother says Lil’ Wayne looks somewhat sober… I can’t cosign on that one yet

8: 13 — Jaime’s about to moonwalk. Oh lord. You know he’s been practicing this for years. He’s so crazy. I have no idea where this awards show is headed.

8: 14 — Tyra Banks is presenting. I see she went for the dark brown lace front instead of the usual blond. I guess that’s her BET look.

8: 15 — Lil Wayne has won something. Best Hip Hop I think. Hmm, he does sound more sober than usual. The brother may have been right.

Commercial time: I will not be watching Tiny and Toya. What are they going to be doing on the show? Just talking about Lil’ Wayne and T.I.? Then some new show called “Pressure Cooker” where a chef helps young people improve their lives through cooking. Um, The Food Network already did that too.

@ AHS: I agree with you on Tiny and Toya.

8: 24 — Keri Hilson’s peforming. Meh.. I guess. She looks pretty

8: 25 — Now she trying to sing a capella. Get on off the stage Keri..

8: 26 — Ne-yo’s doing his M.J. tribute. He threw off the hat, but I wish he had kept it on. So far my brother approves of this performance of “The Lady in My Life”

8: 29 — Soulja Boy’s up next. I guess I have to stay for that too… Sad face

8: 34 — Aww Keke Palmer’s on! I just love her, she’s so cute. And she’s singing. Go Keke!

8: 36 — Now here comes Jaime and T-Pain with “Blame It.” I shudder to think what this show would have been without all the M.J. tributes. Is that Snoop on stage? Hee hee

@ Danielle: I was wondering that too! What’s he doing in the audience?

<– 8: 40 — Jaime brought out the guitar! What! And they’re rocking up the song with Travis Barker! I’m loving this version! I need this downloaded pronto

Ohhh God why?!! Here comes Soulja Boy. Please let this performance go quickly

8: 48 — And normally I would have changed the channel by now. Why am I doing this to myself?

8: 49 — My brother’s telling me “Don’t hate.”I think he’s joking

8: 51 — Latoya Luckett is presenting with Chaka Khan and Estelle. I see she got past Beyonce’s dad somehow to get on the show

8: 52 — And now T-Pain’s on stage drinking out of a plastic cup and wearing that stupid big chain again. He’s thanking the haters… When did he become so coon?

9: 00 — They just recognized the three brothers from “The Pact.” Nice to add some positivity in the mix after T-Pain/Soulja Boy

9: 01 — Now Beyonce. Wouldn’t be an awards show without her in the mix singing “Ave Maria.” This big wedding dress and veil is killing me.

Aww lawd, I thought this preview for Skank Robbers with Martin Lawrence and Jaime Foxx was real for a minute. Thank God that was for the awards.

@ Danielle: It does feel really random. Like they put all the tributes in at the last minute and kept some of the old stuff and are trying to mesh it into something.

9: 14 — Here’s Mary Mary. BET always puts some gospel in the middle of the awards before going back to something crazy. This song has grown on me, I like it.

9: 16 — Queen Latifah just came out rapping with them! Didn’t see that coming

@ Danielle — Lol at the fake movie trailer being your favorite part so far.

Taraji Henson wins for best actress. No comment. She bugs me for some reason.

My brother has fallen asleep. I saw that coming. He’ll wake back up at some random moment and act like he was never asleep.

Yup, he’s back up now, talking about “They haven’t started the M.J. tribute yet?” You would know if you hadn’t fallen asleep

9: 28 — Ne-yo and Jaime Foxx are doing the Indp Woman Remix. With some girl in a ballerina outfit. I actually like the song but could have done without this performance.

9: 31 — Keith Sweat’s up now. Okay. Ne-yo says its New Jack Swing time now. I’m not that big of a Keith Sweat fan.

Can’t Get it out of my head….love her, that girl is POISON! Pause for a minute while I jam along.

9: 42 — Why are the Real Housewives of ATL and Ray J on? Can we puh-leaze get to the tributes!

9: 43 — Whose decision was it to give Ciara a slow song? Come on now BET. Uh uh.

9: 45 — Monica and Keisha Cole are up now. I don’t think I can approve of what Keisha has on. Light pink capris… moving on. Monica’s singing now. It should get better.

9: 49 — I love Monica, but this song is just not that great. Like for real though, did BET cut anything before they added all of the M.J. tributes?

9: 55 — Every time I step away from the room Jaime decides to tribute someone serious. He’s talking about the mayor of Philadelphia, James Young now.

9: 59 — Of course Beyonce got best female R&B. You know Papa Knowles wasn’t gonna have it any other way.

10: 00 Surprise Jay Z performance. But why wasn’t I all that surprised? He’s performing DOA.

10: 02 — I want BET to Do Better for life. That transition between Beyonce and this Jay performance was soo unnecessary.

Commercial: I really hope Jasmine Sullivan’s career doesn’t get stuck with her singing about cotton.

10: 11 — Alrighty, I think the tributes are coming up! Thank goodness

10: 13 — Don Cornelius says the O’ Jays tribute is up now

10: 16 Wait, did he say Tevin Campbell? He did! Whaat?!! Where did they find him at?

10: 17 — Hmm, Tyrese, Trey Songz and Johnny Gill singing “Backstabbers.” Thinking of the Marching 100 now.

10: 19 — Why is Tyrese singing like he isn’t ever going to see a stage again?

10: 25 — And Don Cornelius is still talking… It’s like church, sometimes you have to give a little hint that someone needs to wrap it up. Wait, here go the claps, they’re trying to move on. But he’s like, ya’ll gon have to pry me from this mic!

10: 31 — I knew the BET editing guy couldn’t hold out all this time. The O’Jays cussin up in here

10: 35 — Jigging to “For The Love Of Money!” Get it now!

10: 36 — Wait a minute now, have the O’ Jays gotten tired already, or is it just me? They’re hanging in though

10: 39 — The show’s finally gotten good. BET people knew they could have cut half off those performances at the beginning. Was Keri Hilson/Soulja Boy or Keisha Cole really needed?

10: 40 Kanye’s staying close to his “girlfriend” in the audience. Ne-yo too.

10: 45 — Wait, were those performances before the only M.J. tributes? I hope not. I see Maxwell, Drake and Lil Wayne coming up.

10: 47 — Woo Lawdd how long has this been on?

10: 48 — Tech issues and all. This is BET. Ooh, Idris Elba! He’s so fine. And Sherri Sheppard. I’ll just focus on Idris

10: 49 — Debra Lee just walked out. I always think of Aaron McGruder’s episode on BET whenever I see her. Debra Leevil. Lol!

10: 50 — She’s speaking out on how hard the BET employees worked to update the show to change it for Michael Jackson. Side-eye. Ya’ll coulda done better on the MJ performances.

11: 06 — Taraji again. Talking about her Oscar nom. Whatever. Where is Maxwell? Where is Maxwell? Oh, here goes the “Baby Boy” skit. I can’t. Please get them off the stage. I’m having flashbacks from how much I hated “Baby Boy.”

Please bring out Maxwell! Or anybody but Taraji Henson.

11: 09 T.I. and Rihanna win Viewers Choice for “Live Your Life.” Tiny is going on stage. Oh Lord

11: 10 She’s so extra hood. And so is this random guy talking bout this is for T.I.P. For all the kids out there, this is about taking responsibility.

11: 11 Boo.. Where is Maxwell! I was looking forward to some good M.J. tributes and Maxwell. What is this ishhh??!!

11: 12 — Who is running this mess! Gotta see Beyonce’s ugly short sofa-looking dress again. She wins something for “Single Ladies”

11: 13 — Now Jaime’s up here talking about using protection. I can’t. This is getting so random. Now he’s trying to verify that he’s not gay. Whatever.

11: 14 — Please let him be talking bout Maxwell. Anything to take it from where the show is now.

At this point, Jaime said that Maxwell made him moist. I can’t. If you weren’t on there before, you’re now on the extreme suspect list Jaime.

11: 15 — Whew. Yes! Maxwell’s on singing “Pretty Wings.” Thank God. I couldn’t take too much more of the hoodness/randomness.

11: 17 — Get it Maxwell! Oh Lord, what the viewers had to go through to get here.

11: 22 — If I see anymore ads for Tiny and Toya I’m going to scream. Where’s the end of this show?

11: 25 — Now here’s Drake to end the show. I’ll be upset about those sorry M.J. tributes later. Now, I’m just glad it’s almost over.

11: 26 — His little maroon cardigan looks so out of place here for some reason. But whatever. As I said before, it’s almost over

11: 27 — Lil Wayne’s out and the edit man is working over time. Half his verse had to be edited out. I really hate this “Every Girl In the World” song. So much. Can I hear “Always Strapped?” It’s hood, but I like it.

11: 29 — At leas Lil’ Wayne got his locks twisted before the performance. One time for positive thoughts.

11: 31 — Am I hood for liking Always Strapped? Ah well. It’s better than that Every Girl song.

11: 33 — And after that, they just attributed it to M.J. Ya’ll can keep that, I don’t think he wants it.

11: 36 — IS IT OVER YET? Oh My God this is long. I’m surprised I made it this long. After that “Baby Boy” stuff I was on the fence.

11: 37  — Janet! Janet’s there! Oh my!

11: 38 — Aww Janet was the one selected to speak. The awards have turned around again.

11: 41 — At least the show is ending on a serious note with “I’ll Be There” and the Janet appearance.

The End. Oh wait, it’s not.

11: 48 — Now Jay-Z is premiering his DOA video. He sure knows how to add some hype/gimmicks to his ish. I still feel some type of way that Kanye co-produced this.I thought he cut his hair for the video? Why am I still looking at this uncombed mess? And after that video, auto-tune is still alive.

Final Thoughts: Wow. I need to cleanse my mind and soul from too much BET.