The 2011 BET Awards are coming up in Los Angeles in two weekends time, on Sunday 26 June. They're being hosted by stand-up comedian Kevin Hart and take place at the Shrine Auditorium - which has become an annual venue.
The good news is that we'll be seeing them in South Africa. The blah news is that they'll only air a week later: on BET on TopTV on Sunday 3 July at 20h00, with a rebroadcast on Saturday, 9 July at 20h00.
The exact same thing happened last year and I was as stumped by it as I am now. You can't believe that a channel can host and air a signature award ceremony live in one country and not ensure that it airs round the world at the same time.
Even a slight delay of a day would be okay but an entire week feels like a year particularly because it spoils the results, which are very important to us with Teargas being nominated in the Best International Act category.
By the time we see the ceremony the winners will have been splashed everywhere already. You'd think that seeings as they have a Best International Act category for both Africa and the UK they'd make it a top priority
that everyone's part of it at the same time.
I could rant on and on and
on about it with so many other channels and shows too (most of them!) - I know you feel the same - it's so unbelievably frustrating and ones breath feels so wasted and bored because it doesn't change.
It's like you want to scream to them "
HURRY UP - we
know what's happening over there - stop leaving us behind!!!!!!"
As Alicia Keys says: it hurts so bad ... like needles and pins. She's confirmed to be performing at the ceremony, as are Chris Brown and Jill Scott. The other performers should be announced soon.
Steve Harvey and Patti La Belle will be special honourees on the evening receving the Humanitarian award and Lifetime achievement award respectively.
The nominees:
Best International Act: Africa2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
D-Black (Ghana)
Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
Fally Ipupa (Congo DR)
Teargas (South Africa) (
Pre-empting)
Best Male R&B ArtistChris Brown
Cee Lo Green
Bruno Mars
Trey Songz
Usher
Best Female R&B ArtistBeyoncé
Marsha Ambrosius
Keri Hilson
Jennifer Hudson
Rihanna
Best Male Hip-Hop ArtistB.o.B
Drake
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Kanye West
Best Female Hip-Hop ArtistNicki Minaj
Diamond
Cymphonique
LoLa Monroe
Best GroupDiddy-Dirty Money
Cali Swag District
N.E.R.D.
New Boyz
Travis Porter
Best New ArtistJ. Cole
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Willow Smith
Wiz Khalifa
Best CollaborationB.o.B f/ Hayley Williams - “Airplanes”
Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - “Look at Me Now”
Chris Brown f/ Tyga & Kevin McCall - “Deuces”
Waka Flocka Flame f/ Roscoe Dash & Wale - “No Hands”
Rihanna f/ Drake - “What’s My Name?”
Kanye West f/ Rihanna - “All of the Lights”
Video of the YearMarsha Ambrosius - “Far Away”
B.o.B f/ Hayley Williams of Paramore - “Airplanes”
Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - “Look at Me Now”
Keri Hilson - “Pretty Girl Rock”
Willow Smith - “Whip My Hair”
Kanye West f/ Pusha T - “Runaway”
Video Director of the YearBenny Boom
Mr. Boomtown
Chris Robinson
Kanye West
Hype Williams
Best GospelByron Cage
Deitrick Haddon
Mary Mary
Karen Clark Sheard
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Best ActressHalle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
Kerry Washington
Best ActorLaz Alonso
Chris Brown
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx
YoungStars AwardShenell Edmonds
Keke Palmer
Diggy Simmons
Jaden Smith
Willow Smith
Best MovieDeath at a Funeral
For Colored Girls
Takers
The Book of Eli
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?
Sportswoman of the YearTamika Catchings
Candice Dupree
Maya Moore
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Sportsman of the YearCarmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Derrick Rose
Michael Vick
Viewers’ Choice AwardChris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - “Look at Me Now”
Lil Wayne f/ Cory Gunz - “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Mindless Behavior - “My Girl”
Nicki Minaj f/ Drake - “Moment 4 Life”
Rihanna f/ Drake - “What’s My Name?”
Trey Songz f/ Nicki Minaj - “Bottoms Up”
Centric AwardMarsha Ambrosius
Eric Benet
Cee-Lo Green
R. Kelly
Kem
Best International Act: U.K.VV Brown
Chipmunk
Laura Izibor
Skepta
Tinchy Stryder
Tinie Tempah