|
Arsenio Hall to Host The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves, Five-Part TV One Original Special Premiering Sunday November 9
SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 13 -- Beginning Sunday, Nov. 9,
TV One will premiere an original, five-hour special chronicling the
unforgettable moments, cultural movements and personal achievement that
have advanced the black race and helped change the course of American
history over the past century in The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves.
Arsenio Hall, the groundbreaking television host who literally changed the
face of late-night television, will host the special, which will air over
five consecutive nights, covering 20 Power Moves each night, culminating
with the top 20 -- and the #1 moment -- on Thursday, November 13.
The Blacklist will encompass Power Moves from a wide cultural and
historic perspective, from unwavering civil rights leaders to Nobel
Prize-winning literary giants to independent-thinking film directors to a
pop star who "Beat It." The special will highlight African-American
pioneers and awe-inspiring moments such as: the 1968 Olympic Medalists
proudly raising their fists in the air in support of Black Power; Thurgood
Marshall's induction into the Supreme Court; the birth of Motown records;
Bill Cosby becoming the knowledgeable, advice-giving father figure for the
American television audience; Michael Jackson's "Thriller" becoming one of
the top selling albums of all time; the emergence of Rap music as a voice
of the inner city; Malcolm X's stance of self-preservation "By Any Means
Necessary"; the steadfast determination of the Little Rock Nine as they
helped to desegregate the school system; and, of course, Barack Obama's
historic bid for the Presidency.
With a unique blend of reverence, "tell it like it is" attitude and a
little bit of humor, this highly entertaining series promises to give a
historical perspective, as well as an inspirational walk through of the
best and most celebrated moments of the African-American experience. The
Power Moves will be presented with a fast-paced display of memorable
imagery, the most-up-to-date graphic technology and soulful music,
transporting the viewer to times and places that should never be forgotten.
Through in-depth interviews, viewers will hear firsthand accounts of
many of these Power Moves from those who witnessed or took part in these
moments or personal achievements, lived to talk about it and reflect on
their impact on the American culture. The special will include commentary
from scholars Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante and William Jelani
Cobb; cultural critics Chuck D, Michaela Angela Davis and Emil Wilbekin,
Hip Hop pioneer Russell Simmons, rising politician Kevin Powell; and a host
of celebrities and comedians for a lighter and somewhat irreverent view of
the Power Moves.
"Viewers love list shows, and at TV One we wanted to create one that
would not only capture attention, but would provoke discussion online and
around the water cooler about the events, people and moments that have
truly impacted American culture and even shaped our world, society and
identity," said TV One President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers.
A popular stand-up comedian, Arsenio Hall hosted Fox's The Late Show in
1987 and the syndicated late-night series, The Arsenio Hall Show, from
1989-1994. Changing the face of late night television by capturing young,
multi-ethnic viewers across the country, the show provided a forum for
cutting edge comedy, politics and the television debut of such pop
superstars as Mariah Carey, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Boyz II Men, and countless
others. Although entertainment was a priority for Hall, he also conceived
of his show as a space where audiences, especially youth, could be
educated.
The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves is produced for TV One by Dark
Matter Entertainment. Executive producers are Jason Bolling and P.J.
McSwain.
Launched in January 2004, TV One (http://www.tvoneonline.com) serves
more than 43.7 million households (Nielsen July 2008 estimate), offering a
broad range of lifestyle and entertainment-oriented original programming,
classic series, movies, fashion and music designed to entertain, inform and
inspire a diverse audience of adult African American viewers. TV One's
investors include Radio One (Nasdaq: ROIA and ROIAK;
http://www.radio-one.com), the largest radio company that primarily targets
African American and urban listeners; Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA
and CMCSK; http://www.comcast.com), the leading cable television company in
the country; The DirecTV Group; Constellation Ventures; Syndicated
Communications; and Opportunity Capital Partners.
|
