TOMORROW'S 2007 BET AWARDS: Network Execs prep for a big night

Black Entertainment Television network is ready to present this year's BET Awards with some hot artists, good music, and expected surprises.

BET President of Entertainment, Reginald Hudlin, and the network's VP of BET Music Programming and Talent, Stephen Hill, headed up the cable network's team to put together the 2007 BET Awards airing tomorrow night, June 26th at 8pm ET/7pm CT.

On tap to appear are a bevy of stars from a plethora of genres, styles, and age brackets, but the show's success formula is based more on who or what is not on tap. After all, this is the show that brought the cast of "Good Times" on stage last year.

So what does it take to bring stars to the stage successfully and keep the show getting better and better? Hudlin told reporters that it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

"It's brutal," he said of trying to improve every year. "Literally, as I watched the show in progress, on one hand I'm relieved because it goes so well ... and then by the end of the show, I get really depressed because I go, 'What the hell are we gonna do next year?', but somehow we manage to pull it off. That's what's exciting. You think you've topped the topper and then you do it again. I'm really grateful for an amazing team of executives that pull the show off every year."

Even with a glitch in the matrix, the show does well. Last year, Hudlin's good friend Damon Wayans hosted the show, but was called a "flop"
as the show's emcee. Still, the 2006 show posted great ratings.

"I was concerned because he was a friend of mine and you hate to see a friend in trouble. The show ended up playing great and we got incredible ratings. It seems kind of bulletproof. Even when things don't work out the way you want to, it keeps on rolling."

This year, BET brings back 2004 host Mo'Nique. Not only did the network look forward to having the comedienne back, but Mo'Nique actually came looking to do the show, too. She apparently wants to go a round with Beyonce.

"Mo'Nique was at the show last year and after she saw Beyonce's performance she made it clear that she had something more to say," Hudlin said.

Beyonce had an incredible performance a few years back with her hit 'Crazy In Love' and when Mo'Nique hosted the 2004 show she did a parody of B's performance. So after seeing the singer perform again last year, Mo'Nique said she needed to take the mic again."

"Mo'Nique really captures the spirit of the BET Awards," Hudlin said for the BET fave. "She never wants to repeat herself; she always wants to top herself. She's a fierce competitor. I think that's one of the things that makes the entire show great. On the one hand it's a family show; meaning not just that it's a show the whole family can watch. The whole black entertainment community comes together as a whole. But like families, you can be competitive. There is definitely a feeling of, 'I've got to bring my A+ game.' That's why the show is so intense."

Intense performances and appearances to be featured this year include T.I., Beyonce, Diddy, Stevie Wonder, and a special performance by 50 Cent to be chosen by the BET audience. The 50 Cent selection is just one of a handful of components on the show that are under the control of the BET viewers. Hill said that while they can't tell what the network has dreamed up for the 2007 show, one thing that he could reveal was BET's concept to make the show special this year.

"We've always done mixed genres [and] mixed demographics on stage - we always try to build those moments and we don't want to tip those," he said of the surprises. "The big thing about this year is we're really trying to involve our audience. How can we make the show different, how can we make it bigger? Involve the audience in the making of the show."

Hill said that the network always tries to make the show special.

"It's really about getting the BET viewer, the BET texter, the BET.com-er involved in the show. We always try to find some way to trip it up. The challenge is we did it successfully early on so now it's expected.
While it's a huge challenge, it's a huge thrill."

Speaking of thrills, Hudlin told reporters what a joy it's been to work on the show and the network in general.

"It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on," he joked. "One minute I'm working on a new primetime animated sketch comedy show, and the next minute, I'm sitting down with the news division creating a news special and then a minute after that we're working on the BET Awards and then I travel over to Paramount and we start developing our slate of BET motion pictures. To be involved in so many mediums, platforms and means of expression and to work with so many creative people, it's a dream come true."

The dream continues tomorrow night on BET 8pm ET/7pm CT. For more on the BET Awards, visit www.bet.com.

"From the very beginning we've made it about bringing together people from different ages," said Hudlin. "We're the only major show that makes sure we have gospel on it; we try to represents all facets of African American entertainment on the BET Awards - from the very beginning."

Beyonce’s Bootylicious Yacht Holiday

The Gossip Girls told you earlier this week that Beyonce and Jay-Z were in St. Tropez enjoying a romantic getaway. Now that same vacation has landed them in the Italian Riviera.
Aboard a $2 million yacht, Jay and Beyonce are living the life many of us dream of. The happy couple have found themselves in Portofino, a romantic Italian city.
And Beyonce is looking every bit the curvy hottie she was before dropping 20 pounds for her Dreamgirls role. She reportedly had to lose the weight fairly quickly to get into character for the film. But she’s filling out her bathing suit quite nicely once again.
Miss Bootylicious and Mr Rap Mogul continue to party their cares away aboard the luxury yacht, taking in the European sights by sea. If you happen to be on the Italian Riviera, you just may catch a glimpse of Bootyliciousness!
Enjoy the pictures of Beyonce relaxing in the pool and giving Jay a little TLC

Rowland Fury At Beyonce's Oscar Loss

R+b singer Kelly Rowland was horrified when Dame Helen Mirren beat her former bandmate Beyonce Knowles to the Best Actress at the Oscars earlier this year.

Knowles was seen at the outsider in the leading actress category for her performance as Deena in Dreamgirls and was beaten to the Academy Award by the British actress in The Queen.

Former Destiny's Child star Rowland says, "I tell you what, though, Beyonce was robbed of the Dreamgirls Oscar."

"She did a great job."

"Mind you, that won't be her last opportunity. She'll have plenty of Oscars in the future."

Beyonce & Kelly join BET Awards; Chamillionaire’s ‘Victory’; Lil Mo’s ‘Pain’; T-Pain’s ringtones; Timberlake’s beatdown.

*Destiny’s Child members Beyonce and Kelly Rowland have been added to the list of performers for the BET ’07 Awards on Tuesday, June 26. The ladies join previously announced performers T.I., 50 Cent, Ne-Yo, Ciara and Yolanda Adams. Presenters include Terrence Howard, Tyra Banks, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Queen Latifah and Big Boi. Mo’Nique returns as host.
*Chamillionaire’s upcoming album "Ultimate Victory," originally due in March and then pushed to June, has now been scheduled to drop on Sept. 18 via Universal, reports Billboard.com. The set features guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, UGK's Pimp C, Devin the Dude, Lloyd and Krayzie Bone. Producers include Three 6 Mafia, Rick Ross, the Runners, Play N Skillz, David Banner and J.R. Rotem. In the meantime, the Houston rapper's "Mixtape Messiah 3" mixtape and DVD will be available for free download on his Web site beginning July 18.
*R&B singer Lil Mo will drop her new album “Pain and Paper” on August 28 through her new independent label HoneyChild Entertainment, reports Allhiphop.com. "I came up with the title ‘Pain and Paper’ because I always felt like in order to get to the top, there is always a struggle, where much is needed, much is required," Lil Mo told the Web site. A video for the disc’s first single, "Sumtimes I" featuring Jim Jones, is scheduled to begin shooting next week.
*T-Pain is the latest artist to join Virgin Mobile USA's exclusive "First Dibs" ringtone program. Customers will be able to download four exclusive ringtones, including three from his new album “Epiphany” and one never-before- released track from his previous album, “Rappa Ternt Sanga.” In addition, customers may enter the "First Dibs" contest at http://www.t-pain.net/vmfirstdibs for a chance to win an autographed prize pack.
*Justin Timberlake tells the U.K. edition of Cosmopolitan he suffered a beatdown as a teenager “for being white.” The singer says he was 13-years-old and living in Memphis, Tenn. when the incident took place and left him with a black eye and broken ribs. “The hard part was trying to understand why it happened. Then you get to a point where you have to let it go,” he said, according to WENN. "When you come through on the other side, you're a much stronger person."