TV One’s Black History Month Lineup Covers the Entertainment Gamut

Beginning Monday, Feb. 1, and continuing throughout the entire month of February, the cable television network TV One will air its “Way Black When” series, a retrospective of black sitcoms, movie soundtracks and comedians. “For each week [of] Black History Month, which we call at TV One ‘Our History Month,’ we’ll focus on a different [entertainment] genre,” explains Toni Judkins, senior VP of production and programming for TV One. This is a cultural look at content that was set in the late ’70s through the early ’90s, but the core of it is the ’80s. We’re taking a look at our favorite sitcoms, movies soundtracks and comedians,” says the television executive and programming expert. 

Judkins who produced the much-lauded “Dreamgirls: Divas, Drama and Destiny,” program along with the “Black in the ’80s” and “Retrosexual: The ’80s” series is uncommonly adept at identifying industry trends and putting her finger on the pulse of what the viewing audience wants. “What we’ve done here, is we’ve created panels to do wrap around content … sort of like a talk show, but broken up into little pieces. Each week will be hosted by a celebrity that was either a part of that genre or has a connection to it,” explains Judkins.

Mark Curry will host week one of the highly anticipated “Way Black When” series, which will feature the comedy of Richard Pryor and will focus on black comedic variety shows. While week two’s host, Christopher Kid Reed, will accompany viewers on an examination of classic movie soundtracks for such memorable classics as Crooklyn, Claudine, Cooley High, Crush Groove and Juice. 

TV One’s move to expand and enrich the perspectives of its viewing audience by using the medium to impact and enhance cultural awareness is a critical aspect of the network’s programming strategy. “We have to be aware and understand [how important it is] to give our viewers not only what they want, but what they need. It’s finding that balance, and finding a way to get them … to the table. We have all of this great nostalgic content on TV One … so they can go back in time or catch up with their favorite stars. But our viewers also know that TV One is the place to come on Sunday morning and get our version of [the week’s events] with ‘Washington Watch with Roland Martin.’  We have to educate and enrich [viewers’] lives in addition to entertaining,” Judkins says thoughtfully. 

Weeks three and four of the “Way Black When” series will focus on classic black sitcoms and movies of the blaxploitation era. Judkins adds that TV One is scheduled to air two reality shows in 2010: “Lisa Raye: The Real McCoy” and “The Ultimate Merger with Omarosa.”

–roz edward

For more information on the Black History Month series, visit www.tvoneonline.com.