| EVENT REPORT 07.01.09 1:14 PM |
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BET Hosts Opulent, Crimson-Toned Awards Pre-Party for 350 at Drago Centro
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Like the show they celebrated, the flurry of parties around Sunday’s Black Entertainment Television Awards was both haunted and energized by the memory of the late Michael Jackson. BET’s artists and colleagues reveled and remembered the King of Pop at many of the more than two dozen bashes around town, which kicked off Wednesday and included Friday’s tribute to Keri Hilson (who went on to win for best new artist) at a private dinner hosted by Timbaland and Polow Da Don, produced by New York-based MVD Inc.
With budget concerns limiting BET’s post-party to an internal wrap bash at Mihaus, revelers leaving the show Sunday evening spread out among six parties, including Interscope Geffen A&M Records’ “Crème of the Crop” dinner at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills; artist/producer Ryan Leslie’s bash at Les Deux in Hollywood; and Jamie Foxx’s celebration at Guys & Dolls in L.A.
But the weekend’s centerpiece was BET’s lush pre-party Saturday evening, which was hosted by the network’s new president and C.E.O., Debra L. Lee, and designed by Washington-based André Wells in collaboration with Lee’s special assistant, Bobette Gillette, and BET's director of special events, Sarah Storrs.
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BET Awards, BET Networks, Keri Hilson, Michael Jackson |
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| NEWS 01.15.09 12:00 PM |
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BET Hosts First Inaugural Ball, Opts for Smaller After-Parties Following BET Honors
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 | Last year's BET Honors after-party at the Ronald Reagan Building
Photo: Davide DePas |
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FROM WASHINGTON
BET Networks is kicking off inauguration weekend with its second annual BET Honors on Saturday at the Warner Theatre, where Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo, Anthony Hamilton, Anita Baker, Joss Stone, Yolanda Adams, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater will perform. Hosted by actress Gabrielle Union, the show toasts the accomplishments of Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, B. Smith, Judith Jamison, and Congressman James E. Clyburn.
Booking talent for the show proved to be harder then it was last year with artists mulling possible options for the 10 prime Presidential Inaugural Committee balls and dozens of other events. “Everybody was waiting for Obama to call,” said BET line producer Robert Boyd. Last year’s massive Honors after-party at the Ronald Reagan Building will this year be replaced by two smaller private parties at Café Milano and private club L2, both in Georgetown.
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BET Honors, BET Networks, BET, Inauguration 2009 |
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| GUEST QUESTIONS 06.26.08 12:30 PM |
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BET Awards Performance Lineup Was "Off the Chain"
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 | Guests exiting the Shrine Auditorium
Photo: BizBash |
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D.L. Hughley served as host at Tuesday night’s BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium, where black entertainers scooped up their honors amid a long list of performers. Outside the auditorium was a throng of guests, wannabe guests, CD-hawking loiterers, and fans who wanted to catch a glimpse of the stars on the black carpet. We asked the the actual ticket-holding crowd on their way out of the show what they thought of the production.
“BET has definitely stepped it up. Doing a live program is something they didn’t do in the past. The performances and talent were great.”
—Steve Cover, owner, Alador & Smith apparel brand
"I didn’t like the location this time. They had it at the Kodak Theatre when I first started going. There was more room to park, and you can hang out [in the Hollywood & Highland Center]. They had a bar you could go to; they don’t even let you close to it here.”
—John Williams
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BET Awards, BET Networks |
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| EVENT REPORT 06.24.08 4:28 PM |
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In the Midst of a Heat Wave, BET Takes Awards Suites Poolside
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 | The outdoor setup at BET's suite
Photo: Jonny Nunez/WireImage |
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Today, BET is busily preparing for its award show tonight at the Shrine. But yesterday and Sunday, the vibe was more relaxed for some nominees, presenters, performers, celebrities, and media poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt for the network's "Oasis Spa Lounge" with Akademiks.
The two-day event wrapped last evening just as the extended L.A. heat wave was finally beginning to break after days of 100-degree temps. Poolside was the right place to be in such weather, where lounge furniture sat under cover of white umbrellas and a DJs MOS, Q-Stick, DL, and Kelly G spun dance hits. Inside the ground-floor suites it was even cooler; there, guests scooped up gear from the likes of Akademiks, Rockport, and Cover Girl, and took time out for spa treatments like pedicures and massages.
BET Networks' director of integrated marketing, Derrin Woodhouse, worked with Entertainment Fusion Group on PR on the daytime lounges, which were the official hospitality suites of the awards. —Alesandra Dubin
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BET, BET Networks, Viacom, BET Awards, Akademiks, Rockport, Cover Girl |
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| EVENT REPORT 02.20.08 12:14 PM |
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TNT, Wrigley's, Playboy Flock to NBA All-Star Weekend
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 | Common performed at ESPN the Magazine's party.
Photo: Steve Kashishian |
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Dubbed by "a mini Super Bowl" by more than one planner, the NBA All-Star Game and its surrounding festivities descended upon New Orleans last weekend, bringing along an entourage of piggybacking events. Catering to the bevy of athletes in town (who weren’t nearly as stressed as, say, the Giants or the Patriots were in Arizona), planners from entities such as Playboy, ESPN the Magazine, and Wrigley’s enticed with big-name performances, high-profile guests, and intimate late-night parties.
Turner Sports vice president of event marketing Janet Abbazia bucked the Super Bowl's trend of booking rappers, instead booking Barenaked Ladies to perform at the annual NBA on TNT Celebration Party, held at House of Blues on Saturday. “We always look at our audience, and while the NBA demographic may be different, the people attending our event are businesspeople covering a wide range of ages, so we tried to find a band that appealed to everyone,” she said, adding that the event grew this year, hosting some 1,600 guests (compared with last year’s 1,200).
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N.B.A., Playboy, ESPN the Magazine, Jordan Brand, Nike, Crown Royal, Wrigley's Doublemint, Miller Beer, Old Spice, Gatorade, American Express, BET Networks |
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