Archives
5:33:00 PM EDT
Feeling Sad
Hearing "I Will Survive' by Chantay Savage
September 11, 2001: Do You Remember?
By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Five years ago, America as we knew it changed.
Not only for New Yorkers -- who were in the midst of the cataclysmic events that transpired in the morning-- but for the entire nation that was shell shocked from the imagery that was displayed throughout the mainstream media.
I'm not one to join in on any pity parties but I would remiss to not mention what was on some of our minds when it pertained to black entertainment days before the horrific events. There was a lot going on as usual, but I remember some things very clearly.
I know I was anticipating the premieres of two TV talk shows from two dynamic black women who were on the verge (at the time). I was also experiencing my own version of shell-shock from seeing images of "what seemed like an emaciated diva" plastered all over the place.
Yes. On September 10, 2001, "The Ananda Lewis Show' and "Iyanla" made their collective debuts on the boob tube.
Backed by mainstream TV power wielder Barbara Walters, Iyanla Vanzant's short-lived show promised to be the real deal female answer to Dr. Phil, who, ironically, at the time, was being groomed by Oprah Winfrey for his own TV debut.
Winfrey previously set up a national platform for the best-selling motivational speaker/lecturer and life coach on her highly-rated day-time talker before she teamed with Walters.
Lewis, on the other hand, aimed to fill the void that would soon be vacated by talk show veteran Ricki Lake --- appealing to that middle America, young, female demo.
Only thing was: Lewis was black and gorgeous.. and sharp as a tack on topical issues (that can be attributed to her history degree from Howard University).
Maybe a little too sharp.
Was the former 'Teen Summit' co-host ready for the big plunge?
No one ever really got the chance to know for sure. Both shows were canceled soon after they debuted. Some believe they suffered from all of the 9/11 exposure and pre-emptive scheduling.
Could be.
And that brings me to Whitney Houston.
Fresh off of signing a $100 million deal with Arista Records (no longer in existence), the multiple Grammy Award winning diva showed up -- and showed out-- at Michael Jackson's big '30th Anniversary' concert spectacle.
Held at Madison Square Garden on two nights (filmed for a CBS special), the show featured a mish-mosh of celebrity notables and washed up hasbeens (NO NAMES).
While Liza Minnelli, Luther Vandross, Britney Spears and a host of others attempted to dazzle the celebrity-filled crowd, which included a very WHITE-looking Jackson and a very INCOHERENT-looking Elizabeth Taylor from a very HIGH PERCH, R&B crooner Usher, pop tart Mya and the unforgettable Miss Houston delivered the much-buzzed about performance of "Wanna Be Starting Something."
Check the clip out for yourself below -- via You Tube.
In my very own humble opinion, it looked the like the work of the devil.
Well that's what I --and many others-- were talking up before the evil, maniacal anarchy happened in downtown New York and set the stage for the war we Americans are currrently embroiled in.
What were you talking about? Share your stories, thoughts and comments.
And please don't get crazy.
Written by bvnewswire Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
ScarY!! Michael and Mz. Whitney (i hope that she will recover from this HUGE setback)
-
So this is where Gayle King got the hairstyle from. Now something should tell you if it doesn't work on Whitney Houston, it sure as hell ain't gonna work on you. Put a picture of Whitney Houston from this performance next to a picture of Gayle King today and you'll all get it....just one Black Man's opinion
10/1/06 1:11 AM