TV One February 2010 Goes Way Back When With Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor, What's Happening, and More; 67th Annual Golden Globe Winners

Monday, January 18, 2010

TV One February 2010 Goes Way Back When With Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor, What's Happening, and More; 67th Annual Golden Globe Winners

It's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today and what better way to celebrate his life by telling you about TV One's Black History Month salute for February 2010!
This February TV One is excited to present a new take on Black History Month by taking a look back at dramatic, musical, and comedic portrayals of African American life from the '70s, '80s and early '90s with their "Way Black When" programming event. Beginning at 8pm each weeknight of Black History Month, TV One will spotlight a variety of black cult classics from film to television with in-depth, provocative commentary from a star-studded gathering of industry experts including actresses/actors, producers, directors and musical artists who helped create, or were influenced by these celebrated productions. Each week in February 2010, TV One focuses on one of the following four genres popular with African Americans: comedy/variety television, film soundtracks, classic sitcoms, and Blaxploitation movies.

For "Way Black When" week one (Feb. 1-7) entitled "Lords of Comedy," TV One will feature the variety shows of two legendary comic geniuses, Richard Pryor and Flip Wilson. The work of these two comedians changed the face and tone of television with their colorful characters, and irreverent brands of sketch comedy. Beginning at 8pm each night on this week, viewers will be treated to encore presentations of The Flip Wilson Show with two back-to-back episodes all week and then at 9pm, the first re-airing of The Richard Pryor Show since the 1970s. The host for the week's panel is comedian and actor/comedian Tommy Davidson. Also slated to discuss the impact that Pryor and Wilson's comedy had on television, and generations of black comedians such as themselves, are Mark Curry (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper) and Doug Williams. Richard Pryor's daughter, Rain Pryor will also be a panelist. Flip Wilson episodes airing are #101 & #208; #103 & #111; #206 & #218; #307 & #306; and #324 & #408. And ALL five episodes of Richard Pryor Show are airing (I guess the first one is the special then all four episodes of the short-lived series).
Weekend Marathons: On Saturday, February 6, beginning at 12 Noon through 6pm (select encores late night 4am-6am), TV One keeps the "Way Black When" theme in full effect with an all-day marathon of the '70s hit sitcom That's My Mama! starring Clifton Davis as a Washington, DC barbershop owner who still lives with his 'mama'. Then on Sunday, February 7 (12pm-7pm) and again on Sunday, February 21 (12pm-6pm), beginning at 12 Noon on both days, TV One presents a classic "Crime-Time" marathon of the '80s private detective series A Man Called Hawk starring Avery Brooks in the title role. Hawk, the tough and streetwise private detective, moves back to his hometown of Washington, D.C. dressing fly while fighting crime -- despite the fact that he lacks the "official" credentials to do so.

During the second week of "Way Black When" (Feb. 8-14), the theme is "Soul Soundtracks," as TV One will honor the film soundtracks that underscored our lives such as the hip hop classic, Krush Groove; the quintessential coming-of-age treasure, Cooley High; and the heartwarming favorite, Claudine. TV One will take a trip back to the "blue light basement" with the host for the week, producer, rapper, and comedian Chris "Kid" Reid (House Party), who is joined by film veteran, Warrington Hudlin as well as musical artists, El DeBarge, Brian McKnight and Kurtis Blow.
Weekend Marathons: On Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 beginning at 12 Noon on both days, TV One celebrates Valentines Weekend with romance marathons of two classic sitcoms Good Times on Saturday from 12pm-10pm and Amen on Sunday from 12pm-9pm. First on Saturday, the Good Times: Men of Thelma Marathon features episodes focusing on the men in Thelma's life concluding with the one she married in a multi-part episode. Then on Sunday, the Amen: Rocky Road to Matrimony Marathon features episodes focusing on the relationship, romance, and marriage of star crossed couple Ruben and Thelma.

The third week of "Way Black When" (Feb. 15-21), the theme is "Color TV," and it focuses on classic black situation comedies that not only became a proving ground for some of Hollywood's most successful black actresses/actors, but an authentic reflection of African American life as well. These panels airing as 30 minute specials entitled "Color TV" at 8pm all week will feature actors and actresses from the week's featured sitcoms including Demond Wilson (Sanford & Son); Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons); Ernest Thomas & Haywood Nelson (What's Happening!!); Jimmie Walker & BernNadette Stanis (Good Times); and the host for this entire week, Darryl Bell (A Different World). Sitcoms airing during "Color TV" week will air as follows (Beginning at 8:30pm to 10pm): Monday: What's Happening!!, Tuesday: Good Times, Wednesday: Sanford & Son, Thursday: The Jeffersons, and Friday: A Different World. The What's Happening!! episodes airings are #104, #112, and #204. And the movie that inspired the series, Cooley High, will re-air from 6-8pm leading into the What's Happening!! primetime event! Hey, hey, hey indeed!
Weekend Marathon: On Saturday, February 20 beginning at 12 Noon through 11pm (select encores late night from 1am-6am), TV One concludes "Way Black When: Color TV" week with The Jeffersons: To Be Continued Marathon featuring multi-part episodes of the long running classic sitcom that will give viewers, who are usually kept in suspense during multi-episode story lines, no longer reason to dread those three little words in the sitcom world -- "To Be Continued."

The fourth and final week of "Way Black When" (Feb. 22-28), features "Black Power Cinema," and it will feature Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s: The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, Foxy Brown, Three Hard Way, and Sweet Jesus Preacher Man. Mario Van Peebles is hosting this week's panel, which will be a lively dissection of the highs and lows of this uniquely African American film genre. The other film stars rounding out this panel are Michael Jai White, Fred Williamson and Anne-Marie Johnson. The 'father of Black Exploitation,' and father of the panel's host, Melvin Van Peebles will also be on hand to offer an inside look at what it took to create these iconic films, and how they changed the perspectives of black audiences as well as Hollywood executives at the time.
Weekend Marathon: And finally, on Saturday, February 27 beginning at 4pm through 11pm (select encores late night from 1am-6am), TV One closes out the "Way Black When" Black History Month celebration event with Sanford & Son: Classic Comedy Marathon featuring the late actor/comedian Redd Foxx at his perenial best as junkman Fred Sanford (the role that made him a household name).

Discuss this wonderful month long tribute to Black History Month that TV One is doing!

The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards winners were given out last night. Here are the winners for the television portion:

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 Rock (NBC)
Entourage (HBO)
Glee (Fox)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Office (NBC)
WINNER: Glee

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette, United States of Tara (Showtime)
Courtney Cox, Cougar Town (ABC)
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC)
Lea Michelle, Glee (Fox)
WINNER: Toni Collette, United States of Tara

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell, The Office (NBC)
David Duchovny, Californication (Showtime)
Thomas Jane, Hung (HBO)
Matthew Morrison, Glee (Fox)
WINNER: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Big Love, (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
House (Fox)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)
WINNER: Mad Men.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Glenn Close Damages (FX)
January Jones, Mad Men (AMC)
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS)
Anna Paquin, True Blood (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (TNT)
WINNER: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Simon Baker, The Mentalist (CBS)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter (Showtime)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie, House (Fox)
Bill Paxton, Big Love (HBO)
WINNER: Michael C. Hall, Dexter

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jane Adams, Hung (HBO)
Rose Byrne, Damages (FX)
Jane Lynch, Glee (Fox)
Janet McTeer, Into the Storm (miniseries) (HBO)
Chloe Sevigny, Big Love (HBO)
WINNER: Chloe Sevigny, Big Love

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC)
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
William Hurt, Damages (FX)
John Lithgow, Dexter (Showtime)
Jeremy Piven, Entourage (HBO)
WINNER: John Lithgow, Dexter

Discuss the television portion winners on our message board.