A Callifornia TV station has learned not to underestimate Tyler Perry fans. Journal-isms reports that the Sacramento CBS owned station KOVR-TV received at least 13,000 complaints from viewers after entertainment reporter Mark S. Allen asked Janet Jackson about her revealing 2004 Super Bowl half time performance.

The problem? Tyler Perry and Jackson were on-air to talk about about the new Perry movie “Why Did I Get Married,” but all Allen wanted to talk about was Jackson’s nipple slip. Viewers were so upset, they crashed the station’s e-mail system with complaints.

Watch the classic “bait-and-switch” inteview below.

Now watch Allen beg for forgiveness.

Looks like Allen may be taking his actions to heart. Check out this blurb from his KOVR blog:

“I’m really sorry about the Janet Jackson thing. Not because I brought the topic up, especially because that moment on the Superbowl changed broadcast standards forever, but I’m sorry for the flippant way I brought it up and for the way our show was represented during that moment.”

Station’s rarely make corrections for mistakes or apologize, so Allen must have really pissed off the community.

by A.man.I

In the wake of the “Jena Six” controversy, and recent acts of intimidation against African American’s, CNN’s Kyra Phillips investigates the history of the noose.

“Through interviews with historian James Allan and Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Phillips will trace America’s history of lynchings – an atrocity that gives the noose its horrifying meaning. Phillips also examines law enforcement efforts led by the bias crimes coordinator with Nassau County (N.Y.) Police, which tracks downs those who commit hate crimes. She also talks to educators in Philadelphia about what young people are being taught about the nation’s history of racial hatred.”

The Noose: An American Nightmare, airs on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. (ET), and re-airs on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4 at 8pm ET/PT.

Click To Play

As T.I. heads to federal court for a bond hearing on weapons charges, take a moment and check out his thoughts after last years’ BET Hip-Hop Awards.

I was unable to attend the awards this year because I was in Miami, plus BET didn’t credential My Urban Report.

The hearing is set for 10:30am and a large turnout is expected according to the AJC.

“Because of an overflow crowd that came to attend Harris’s first-appearance hearing on Monday, Baverman will hold the bond hearing in a larger courtroom at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and Courthouse.

The story continues…

FIGHT PROPOSED FCC OWNERSHIP RULE CHANGE
Could Big Media get even bigger? My Urban Report received the following letter from Free Press:

“…FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is rushing through a plan to rewrite media ownership rules, letting the biggest media companies control even more local outlets. And he’s doing it without giving the public a chance to respond. The rules could take effect as early as December.

Tell Congress to stop the FCC before it’s too late.

It’s outrageous that Martin would try to pull a fast one on Americans. Fortunately, some members of Congress are fighting back. Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota said, ‘If the chairman intends to do something by the end of the year, then there will be a firestorm of protest and I’m going to be carrying the wood.’”

Click here to read NY Times article.
Click here to take action.

LA TIMES ARTICLE FEATURES THE FIELD NEGRO
Big ups to The Field Negro Wayne Bennet. The LA Times gave him a nice write up. Here’s a quote from the article:

“On his website called field-negro.blogspot.com, he lashes out at commentator Bill O’Reilly as an “ignorant racist self-delusional buffoon.” President Bush is “the frat boy,” and “the man ‘who doesn’t care about black people’ ” — a nod to rapper Kanye West’s comments of 2005. Black activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are “pimping the ‘man’ in the name of civil rights.”

The blog, Bennett admits with a chuckle, is an expression of raw anger, and it has earned him a modest following: He says he gets about 1,200 hits per day, and this year, he won readers’ choice for “Best Political/News Blog” in the Black Weblog Awards.”

PROPS TO THE USF BULLS
I’m always gonna root for my Florida Gators, and my USF Bulls are representing too. Sure the #2 ranked Bulls lost to Rutgers, but USF has nothing to be ashamed of. The program is only eleven years old, and the team is on the rise.

I got to hang out with the team during the first ever PapaJohns.com Bowl last season, and of course My Urban Report camera was rolling. Check out USF Bowl Episode 1.

Click To Play

by A.man.I

The Cos has a new book he’s promoting called “Come on People.” If you missed Cosby, and co-author Dr. Alvin Poussaint’s interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” last Sunday you can check it out here. Cosby is also scheduled to appear on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight.

Link to Bill Cosby’s website.

by A.man.I

The ConvergeSouth Film Festival is only days away, and I’ve learned that two of My Urban Report stories are being featured. The videos are a mini documentary I produced on the Jena Six rally, and the personal story of my wife’s first pregnancy called “My Boys.”

The videos were entered in the “citizen journalism” category, which is cool by me, but I’ve had some discussions with other journalists who question whether or not I can be considered a citizen journalist since I’m already a professional.

The only arguement I can make is that my stories aren’t produced for the mainstream, so perhaps from that perspective it is citizen journalism.

Anyway, click here to see the full schedule at ConvergeSouth, which takes place this weekend in downtown Greensboro.

I’m not going to be able to attend, but it looks like some of my friends and fellow bloggers like Lenslinger, Brian Conley (Alive In Baghdad), and Len Witt (PJNet) will be there.

by A.man.I

A benefit concert for the Genarlow Wilson and Jena Six Defense Funds called “Soul 2 Soul” is scheduled for tonight, Oct. 17 the SugarHill Lounge at Kenny’s Alley. Local artists are sheduled to perform like R&B singer Heston, and Phillipia. The event jumps off at 9pm.

For more info. visit www.divadoment.com or www.myspace.com/burndiva.

ABSTRACT HARDCORE

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You won’t see Tha Urban Poet on the BET Hip-Hop Awards but you can tune into his frequency right here.