| NEWS 06.30.09 4:54 PM |
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BET Awards' Hastily Planned Jackson Tribute Yields Ratings Triumph
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FROM LOS ANGELES
After Michael Jackson died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, BET worked fast to transform its already-scheduled awards on Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium into a tribute to the pop star. And, in addition to being what some would consider an appropriate format change for a show celebrating black entertainment, the modified broadcast was also a boon for the network: It was the top-watched cable telecast this year and BET's biggest audience ever, according to a press release from the network.
The live broadcast, hosted by Jamie Foxx, drew 10.65 million viewers. About 10 percent of televisions that were on during the broadcast period were tuned to the awards program, uncommonly high for a cable network, according to Nielsen Media Research findings cited in The Los Angeles Times.
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BET Awards, BET, Michael Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Twitter |
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| EVENT REPORT 01.21.09 2:30 PM |
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Inauguration Balls Feature A-List Performers, High-Tech Touches, and High- and Low-End Decor
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 | The Obamas at the Neighborhood Ball
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images |
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After a day of inaugural festivities held outside amid biting winds and clamoring crowds, last night the masses descended onto a slew of balls celebrating President Barack Obama's swearing in. The 10 Presidential Inauguration Committee-sanctioned parties—the official bashes graced with planned appearances by the new president and first lady—were the tickets to land, with most going to politicians, Hill staffers, and donors. Private functions also dotted the event landscape, with first-ever parties from BET at the Mandarin Oriental and Google at the Mellon Auditorium.
Obama's popularity among the Hollywood set was more evident than ever before, as an award show-worthy roster of performers entertained around town. On the slate at the televised Neighborhood Ball were Faith Hill, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys. Other rosters included Sting and Elvis Costello at the Creative Coalition fete at the Harman Center, Wyclef Jean for BET, and Patti LaBelle at the Africa Ball at the Gaylord.
Street closures, freezing temperatures, and the ongoing taxi shortage made ball hopping a challenge, but as revelers showed throughout the weekend, little could dampen the spirits of those in town for the celebration.
Here are some highlights from the evening's biggest events.
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Inauguration 2009, Google, BET, Creative Coalition, Hawaii State Socity, Pennsylvania State Society, Congressional Youth Leadership Council |
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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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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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| THE WALKTHROUGH 11.04.08 8:00 AM |
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Layla Lounge Now Available for Corporate Events
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 | Layla Lounge's downstairs bar
Photo: Courtesy of Layla Lounge |
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With a nameless, nondescript facade nestled in the heart of the D.C. Farmer’s Market, Layla Lounge’s location may not be typical of an upscale nightclub. “We wanted the club to feel like it’s in the Meatpacking District of New York,” said Andrea Cathey, the lounge's event planner. “We saw the opportunity with this building.”
Layla, which debuted in August, recently opened its space to events, and hosted a gala for Black Entertainment Television (BET). Co-owners Ahmad Ayyad and Anthony Jones used design company New York Sound to create two different looks for the two-story space. A door designed to resemble a bank vault opens up to the 1,800-square-foot downstairs space, which is accented by orange leather couches, cherry-wood tables, and custom-made leather panels. “This is more like your neighborhood bar with a lounge feel,” Cathey said. The space can accommodate 300 people.
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BET |
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| EVENT REPORT 09.26.08 1:42 PM |
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Washington's Top Arts & Entertainment Events 2008
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 | A Liz Lerman Dance Exchange performance during the Capital Fringe Festival
Photo: Courtesy of Capital Fringe Festival |
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1. Kennedy Center Honors
Steve Martin, Martin Scorsese, Diana Ross, former Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and pianist Leon Fleisher were honored with awards for artistic achievement at this black-tie gala in December 2007. Traditionally attended by the president and first lady, the gala is broadcast on CBS, and Restaurant Associates caters the dinner. Independent event producer Carolyn Peachy of Campbell, Peachy & Associates is planning this year’s December 7 event with co-chairs Buffy Cafritz and Ann Jordan.
2. Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala
The historic theater has been under renovation for most of 2008, so the 28th annual gala was temporarily relocated to the National Theatre this June. The gala featured performances by Tricia Yearwood, Clay Aiken, and Hal Holbrook. The president and first lady were among the 575 attendees, and Lincoln Medals were awarded to Maya Angelou and actress Ruby Dee. Produced by the theater’s associate director of development and special events, Jennifer Kiefer, the gala will return to Ford’s in June.
3. SilverDocs Film Festival
One of the nation’s largest documentary film festivals comes to the American Film Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland, each June. This year’s sixth annual festival expanded to eight days, 21,000 attendees, and more than 100 film screenings and panels, including the Charles Guggenheim Symposium, which honored director Spike Lee, and the opening-night party, held at the nearby Discovery Channel headquarters. Festival director Patricia Finneran oversaw the event with director of programming Sky Sitney and Discovery Communications director of global events Elika Hemphill.
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Washington's Top 100 Events, CBS, Steve Martin, Martin Scorsese, Diana Ross, Brian Wilson, Leon Fleisher, Beach Boys, Tricia Yearwood, Clay Aiken, Hal Holbrook, Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Charles Guggenheim Symposium, Spike Lee, Discovery Channel, Discovery Communications, Charles Harrison, Ralph Rucci, Tom Kundig, Office of the First Lady, Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, Wilco, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Virgin Mobile, National Design Awards Luncheon, BET, BET Honors, Cedric the Entertainer, Alicia Keys, Tyra Banks, Cornel West, Shakespeare Theatre Company, A Comedy of Capital Errors, Patrick Leahy, Susan Nixon, Kennedy Center Honors, Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala, SilverDocs Film Festival, National Design Awards Luncheon, Will on the Hill, Artomatic, FilmFest DC, Capital Fringe Festival, Congress |
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| EVENT REPORT 01.15.08 3:47 PM |
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BET Fashions Royal Setting at the Reagan Building
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 | The Reagan Building hosted the after-party.
Photo: Davide DePas |
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The first installation of the BET Honors award ceremony took over Washington on Saturday, recognizing achievements in the African-American community. California representative Maxine Waters was among the recipients, as were Tyra Banks, Princeton University’s Dr. Cornel West, and Janice Bryant Howroyd, C.E.O. of the Act-1 personnel company. The invitation-only event, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, took over the Warner Theatre, covering the venue with BET’s insignia in deep purple. Gladys Knight, Brian McKnight, and Wyclef Jean were among the event's performers. (Michael Jackson was a no-show, even though, according to Yeas & Nays, the King of Pop had already reserved the presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental and planned to celebrate Thriller's 25th anniversary at the show.)
The evening continued with an after-party at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center a block away. To accommodate guests strolling between the venues, local police shut down a section of Pennsylvania Avenue. Once inside, revelers saw a new side to the cavernous atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building, which is usually used for more corporate functions and conferences. Covered in purple details—from lighting to tufted bars and velvet banquettes—the event transformed the space into a luxurious nightclub.
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BET |
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| NEWS 01.10.08 4:36 PM |
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BET Honors to Host Two Star-Studded Nights
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 | The BET Honors after-party will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash |
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BET Networks is taking over its hometown of Washington this Saturday with the BET Honors, a show aimed at celebrating “black achievement in business, entertainment, social justice, and philanthropy.” But before the ceremony begins at the historic Warner Theater, event planner André Wells is putting together a V.I.P. dinner at the Halcyon House in Georgetown tomorrow, hosted by BET C.E.O. Debra Lee and attracting guests such as Vivica Fox and LL Cool J. BET honorees, including Princeton University’s Dr. Cornel West, Time Warner chairman Richard Parsons, singer Alicia Keys, and supermodel-turned-TV mogul Tyra Banks, will also be in attendance.
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BET |
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