Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 March 2001 — Page 26

PAGE C6

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2001

BET says Smiley’s audience isn’t what advertisers want

THE SCOOP

BET/Viacom is claiming the sacking of Tavis Smiley, host of ’’BET Tonight” boiled down to numbers. Smiley's ratings, the net claims were flat and were not looking to improve. ‘ BET Tonight" with Smiley at the helm was seen in an average of 2 15.()()() households. Michael Lewellen. VP of corporate communications for BET told the Associated Press the cable net is aiming for the 18-34 audience, which advertisers covet, while Smiley's viewers tended to be older. < "We're not singling out BET Tonight.' we're looking to energize our entire news and public affairs block. There will be even more of a commitment to new sand public affairs,” Lewellen said. BET s most popular programs include the entertainment shows "106 And Park" and "Comic

Tavis Smiley

View." which averages 535.000 households. Last week on the Tom Joyner show. Smiley. 35. told listeners he learned of his dismissal through a letter faxed to his agent. "After five years of hosting the signature talk show on the network.

could not one person have picked up the phone to call me personally instead of choosing to fax a foursentence memo to my representative? Five years, four sentences.’' Smiley said. Smiley also said that he thought about just walking away from the show now. but decided against it. He's going to stick around until the very end. Seeing as how Smiley thinks of himself as an advocate for Blacks and an agent for change, this could get downright uncomfortable for BET and Viacom. Perhaps it's fortunate for the net, that "BET Tonight" is taped and is no longer broadcast live. If you want to read a transcript of Tavis' comments on the Tom Joy ner show, go to his Web site at www.blackvoices.com/tavistalks/ tavis_bet032201. $ $ $ $ $ QUINCY JONES’ label.

Qwest, is being bought out by the Warner Music Group as part of WMG's restructuring, and will no longer be a “stand alone" label reports the Hollywood Reporter. Qwest's joint venture deal with Warner Bros. Records will be dismantled. The label is expected to layoff only a handful of its 20 employees and a number of artists will be picked up by Warner Bros. Warner execs have said they expect to continue a relationship with Quincy Jones. ***** JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, the former curly top — now shaved ' Nsy nc-er. is the latest celeb tapped for the hip-hop rendition of “The Wizard of Oz" titled “The O.Z.” Timberlake will play the Scarecrow. Producers are also courting LITTLE RICHARD for the part of the new millennium wiz and SAVION GLOVER and GREG

LEGUIZAMO are also in negotiations for the film. BRANDY was expected to take the lead as Dorothy, but has bowed out. Reports say MYA may fill the ruby red slippers instead. In this version, Dorothy is a L. A. hip-hop musical producer who finds herself, and her little dog too, in the Big O.Z. after an earthquake. ***** MARIAH CAREY is free at $25 million a project. The artist is free after being released from the Sony label, of which ex-hubby Tommy Mattola is president, to sign with another major label. Though Carey owed the label one more album, her lawyers worked out a deal. Carey will take the soundtrack toherupcoming semi-bio film, “All That Glitters,” to another label for stateside distribution while Sony has rights to the soundtrack in Ja-pan-where Carey is particularly

huge. According to the New Yotlt Daily News, Carey is shopping for a four-album deal that would pay her $25 million each, which would be the largest recording contract of all time. In the meantime, the singer plans to rake in a few dollars at the box office. “All That Glitters’’ opens in August. • * * * * * fj Fans of the movie “FLASHDANCE” will be dancing like maniacs over this news. The 1983 hit that boosted the sale of legwarmers and cut sweatshirts, is soon to become a stage musical. No word yet on whether the production will keef) totally ’80 ensembles, but plans are to have the play running for the 2002-2003 season. The Scoop is provided by Electronic Urban Report. Visit its Web site at www.EURweb.com

m Y-100.9

WHHHoosier

MV WOMEN OF WRESTLING on WAV TV-53 WEDNESDAYS at 10:00pm

Watch GRIFFEY and the REDS on WAV-TV53

88 GAMES!

(®) COMCAST' Channel 99

TIME WARNER CABLE Channel 20

106.7 FM

AM1310

Liah

■r

WAV53 Indpls. (Time Warner Cable Ch 20, Comcast Cable Ch 99) Program Schedule 4/1 - 4/7

TIME

SUN 4-1 MON 4-2

TUE 4-3 WED 4-4 THU 4-5 FRI 4-6 SAT 4-7

TIME

12:00am

12:30am

1:00am

Shop At Home

1:00am

1:30am

2:00am

2:30am

3:00am

3:30am

4:00am

4:30am

5:00am

5:30am

6:00am

Shop At Home

6:00am

6:30am

7:00am

Am Pel Town Hall

7:00am

7:30am

St. Lukes Church

7:30am

8:00am

Direct Shopping

Shepard's Chapel

Shopping Showcase

8:00am

8:30am

Home Shopper

8:30am

9:00am

The Word & More

• America's Collectibles Network

The Home Shopper

9:00am

9:30am

Awakening Hour

9:30am

10:00am

Revival Temple

Outdoor USA

10:00am

10:30am

Victory Thru Faith

Auto Auction

10:30am

11:00am

Sun. Morn. Mass

R.O.A.R. Recorder On Air Report

11:00am

11:30am

^hristianFellowship

11:30am

12:00pm

Small Bus. Forum

Reds Baseball Cincinnati vs. Atlanta

America's Collectibles Network

Shopping Showcase

12:00pm

12:30pm

Make Rm. Daddy

12:30pm

1:00pm

Movie Casablanca Ezpress

Treasure Search

1:00pm

1:30pm

Crime Strike

1:30pm

2:00pm

The AMOS Brown Show

Movie Medusa

2:00pm

2:30pm

3:00pm

WOW Women Of Wrestling

Sat Eve Post

Home Shopper

Shop Showcase

R.O.A.R. Recorder On Air Report

3:00pm

3:30pm

P.E. McAllister

Direct Shopping

Prof. Forum

3:30pm

4:00pm

NWA Wrestling

Home Shopper

Time For Hope

Revival Temple

Music Direct

4:00pm

4:30pm

Word & More

Shop Showcase

Prof. Forum

Living For City

Direct Shopping

Shop Showcase

4:30pm

5:00pm

OVW Wrestling

Shopping Direct

Shop Showcase

5:00pm

5:30pm

Music Direct

Home Shopper

Direct Shopping

5:30pm

6:00pm

UPW Wrestling

Sm Bus Forum | Hallelujah Hits

Reds Baseball Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh

| Home Shopper

Al-Islam in Amer

Adrenaline TV

6:00pm

6:30pm

Sports Rap

Amer. Adventurer

6:30pm

7:00pm

Direct Shopping

Make Room For Daddy

take Rm Dadd)

State

7:00pm

7:30pm

Auto Auction

Adrenaline TV

Am. Adventurer

Cnme Strike

Police

7:30pm

8:00pm

Hallelujah Hits

Movie Bad Blood

Movie Bamaby & Me

Movie The Avenger

Movie The Proud & The Damned

Movie Medusa

8:00pm

8:30pm

Bible Speaks

8:30pm

9:00pm

Search For Truth

Make Rm Dadd

9:00pm

9:30pm

Church of Harvest

reasure Search

9:30pm

IU:U0pm

Revival Temple

WYJZ Presents Night Tracks

UPW Wrestling

WOW Women Ot Wrestling

Ohio Valley Wrestling

WYJZ Presents Night Tracks

Music Direct

lU:U0pm

10:30pm

Victory Thru Faith

El Buzz

10:30pm

11:00pm

Rock Church

Shop Showcase

"5T I 3s o

Shop Showcase

Auto Auction

WOW Women Of Wrestling

11 :UOpm

11:30pm

Direct Shopping

Home Shopper

Auto Auction

Home Shopper

Direct Shopping

11:30pm

For more detailed program information contact Den McNeel (317) 293-9600