Lately you may have seen a light eyed tenda-roni by the name of TJ Holmes poking his face around B.E.T promoting his upcoming news/talk show called “Don’t Sleep” which premieres on October 1st at 11pm. This is another great effort of B.E.T to re-tapp into its audience that it had abandoned about ten years ago when all programming that didn’t involve music videos or the B.E.T awards was stripped from the network.
I’m excited about “Don’t Sleep”, and the networks work toward re-evolving past ‘Free-Style Fridays’. I don’t feel “Don’t Sleep” captures the essence of the show though.
Side bar… this is the second time B.E.T is guilty of mis-naming their shows. “Reed Between The Lines” was the first offense. While it’s a great family show, and I love it, and I do get the play on words, but it’s not a good play on words. I feel that the name has detered many from latching on to it. Now with “Don’t Sleep”, I understand they wish to appeal to the enlightened urban 30 something, but it isn’t always necessary to dumb titles down to the degree of naming what seems to be an informative show with light overtones.
So why would this rising CNN anchor leave the largest news platform on television, to come to B.E.T.? Holmes has said in interviews that BET offered him a great opportunity, that opportunity being to have his own show, and a multi platform talent deal. The obvious is that he was probably way far from ever having his own platformed show with CNN, so why not take the offer to have your own show?
Again I am excited about this show, and it’s long overdue that networks who say they cater to African-Americans, really start catering to African-Americans with more well-rounded programing choices.
This ‘bump up’ in BET programming seems like a response to the pressures from other AfAm channels like Tv One and Centric who seem to be filling “gap” BET had left behind. Now, all networks are stepping up to the plate, with producing some great television.
So what’s the skinny on TJ Holmes…..
TJ’s name is Loutelious Holmes Jr. ( sounds complicated, like a word you would find in the final round of a spelling bee) has a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Arkansas. He’s worked as a reporter for several networks including NBC and CNN. Also sorry ladies, he’s married to Marilee Fiebig, an Atlanta attorney.
Don’t Sleep debuts on October 1, I will be watching, and I expect great things!
Check out the show’s reel below… I love the set.. the purple in black looks great…but the “all hoods are not created equal” was a complete fail for me and I hope that TJ didn’t write the copy for this reel… and the
