Girlfriends coming to BET in 2004!

[Pavan]

- BET Network Picks Up THE PARKERS, GIRLFRIENDS and SOUL FOOD With Its Largest Investment Ever in Syndicated Programming
- 2003 Shaping Up as Year of 'Evolution' in BET Mix of Original, Acquired Shows

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 8 -- BET has taken its most
substantial step to date in the competitive world of syndicated programming by signing a multi-year deal with Paramount Domestic Television to carry the off network cable syndication runs of THE PARKERS and GIRLFRIENDS (currently airing on UPN), along with the basic cable debut of SOUL FOOD (currently
airing on Showtime). Debra Lee, BET President and Chief Operating Officer, made the announcement today at the annual Television Critics Association winter media tour. SOUL FOOD will be the first of the new shows to appear on BET, starting with a sampling of 12 episodes beginning January 21, and marking
a significant step in the continually evolving network programming strategy for BET.
"The value of this new relationship with Paramount Television will truly have a long-term impact on BET," said Lee. "Our viewers have long felt that BET would be the most logical home for programming of this quality beyond its run on broadcast and premium channels. This deal with Paramount to bring such
programs as THE PARKERS, GIRLFRIENDS and SOUL FOOD to BET is a definitive step in that direction, and is a prime example of our plan to strike a better balance between original production and syndicated shows on our network."
Terms of the deal include THE PARKERS this September as part of BET's new Fall 2003 programming, GIRLFRIENDS in 2004 and a full slate of SOUL FOOD episodes in 2004.
In addition, BET will televise a 12-episode "taste" of SOUL FOOD on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT starting January 21. SOUL FOOD makes history as the first-ever dramatic series on BET, and is another shining example of cooperative synergy between BET and its fellow Viacom brands. These 12 episodes are a mixture of episodes from the first three seasons as a means of preparing viewers for SOUL FOOD's fourth season on Showtime premiering April 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
SOUL FOOD chronicles the triumphs, tragedies, pleasures and pains of a contemporary African-American family, and stars Nicole Ari Parker, Vanessa Williams, Rockmond Dunbar, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Boris Kodjoe and Aaron Meeks.
The series is based on the critically-acclaimed feature film of the same name. SOUL FOOD is an Edmonds Entertainment and State Street Pictures production in association with Paramount Network Television for Showtime. SOUL FOOD is executive produced by Tracey Edmonds, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, George
Tilman, Jr., and Robert Teitel. Felicia D. Henderson developed the series for television and also serves as executive producer.
GIRLFRIENDS provides an open, honest exploration of the hot button issues about family, friends, relationships and life facing women today. With fearlessness and sincerity, the show takes on universal issues that appeal to all women and stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, Jill Marie Jones and Reggie Hayes. Mara Brock Akil ("Moesha," "The Jamie Foxx Show") created the series and serves as executive producer along with Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier") and Rudy Hornish. Mark Alton Brown and Dee LaDuke serve as consulting producers. Filmed before a studio audience in Hollywood, GIRLFRIENDS is a Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Production in
association with Paramount Network Television.
THE PARKERS features the outrageous mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker, and is one of the most popular shows on television with African- American viewers. The Parker women's signature "Heeyyy" greeting has even made its way into popular vernacular. THE PARKERS stars Countess Vaughn ("227"), stand-up comedienne Mo'Nique, Dorien Wilson, Jenna von Oy, Yvette Wilson and Ken L. Sara V. Finney and Bill Boulware are the executive producers. Sara V. Finney, Vida Spears and Ralph Farquhar ("Moesha") created the series. THE PARKERS is taped before a studio audience in Hollywood and is a production of
Big Ticket Television.
The acquisition of SOUL FOOD, THE PARKERS and GIRLFRIENDS joins a recently-announced production agreement with Oxygen Network for HEY MONIE as one of many moves that BET's Lee sees as pivotal to the network's new programming direction. HEY MONIE, an animated comedy series about the lives of two African-American women, makes its BET premiere on March 4 at 8 p.m.
ET/PT. The historic collaboration between BET and Oxygen marks the first-ever joint production effort between two basic cable networks.
"There's a plan in place to further diversify what BET has to offer, and augmenting our lineup with more syndicated programming is part of that plan," said Lee. "For us, 2003 will be a year full of evolution for BET. In recent years, we've leveraged more market research, audience analysis, focus groups
and direct viewer feedback into our programming decisions. Many of those findings are direct contributors to this shift in BET's focus to reach an even broader audience, including more African-American women."

[David]

that ssoo kool!

[trekkie]

GIRLFRIENDS is quality? LOL

[Lisa_06]

I don't think they should add girlfriends because alot of people think that show is stupid (like me).

[iluvjackandkaren]

i'll take girlfriends over the parkers.

talk about buffoonery!

[Lisa_06]

Girlfriends is not a good show to me!

[Rene]

i love girlfriends! im glad ill be able to see the earlier eps

[Pavan]

Starting Oct. 4 on BET:

GIRLFRIENDS (NEW) - Entertainment Weekly proclaimed GIRLFRIENDS as "smart and funny" and "the show you should be watching." This hilarious sitcom joins the weekly BET lineup and explores hot-button issues about family, friends, careers, relationships and life facing contemporary African-American women. Tune in to see what all the talk is about.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday @ 8:30 p.m. ET/PT