BET Awards ‘a straight up party’

Miki Turner Entertainment writer

LOS ANGELES - Say what you will about BET’s regular programming. Yes, it can sometimes be rather whack. But when it comes to award shows, the network that Bob Johnson built and sold usually gets it right.

In fact, the only thing that could have topped Tuesday night’s BET Awards ’07 at the Shrine Auditorium was if the original Temptations — four of whom are dead — had miraculously come back to life and serenaded lifetime achievement honoree Diana Ross with “My Girl.”

Stranger things have happened at the BET Awards and that’s why show tickets are harder to score than prime seats at the Academy Awards. On the day before the show I was offered $1,000 for one ticket, but I sensed something special was going to happen so I turned it down.

I’ll get that iPhone during the next wave.

“The best thing about this show is that it is always live,” said LL Cool J after the show while he was waiting for his limo. “You never know what’s going to happen and who’s going to pop up. Plus, it’s like being at a big family reunion. You don’t get this feeling at any other awards show. You just don’t. That’s why you have to be there.”

Added P. Diddy: “It’s a party — a straight up party with plenty of food.”

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He’s right. The show hosted by Mo’Nique, who revisited her infamous 2005 impersonation of Beyonce Knowles with a rendition of B’s “Déjà vu,” is a virtual buffet of tasty treats.  It’s come a long way in the seven years it’s been on the air, which is why it’s now cable’s No. 1-rated awards show and the hottest ticket in town.

And while the show was entertaining from start to finish, there were some audio glitches, time issues — four awards weren’t even presented on stage because the show went over — and at least one tribute that kind of fell flat. But thanks to all the surprise appearances, the hot performances and the emotional tributes, the show’s weaknesses were easy to overcome.

One of the biggest surprises was the pairing of J.Hud and J.Hol. Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson opened the show by belting out the first few bars of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” and then introduced her favorite “Dreamgirl,” Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role that won Hudson an Academy Award in February. Two divas with two big voices put all four of their feet into a number that brought the house down. It was one of those magical moments that spanned generations and even brought a smile to 63-year-old Ross’s face.

You could feel that heat 43 rows back!

Strong and loud for Gerald Levert
And if that sounds as though it was hard to top, it was, but a quartet of old school R&B singers and a new school gospel queen were up to the task. In one of the night’s more emotional moments, a teary-eyed Patti LaBelle introduced a tribute to the late Gerald Levert, who died last year from a heart attack at 40. When LaBelle exited stage left, the spotlight shone on Levert’s father, O’Jays crooner Eddie Levert who began singing “Wind Beneath My Wings” center stage with video and still images of him and his son looping behind him. Eddie was soon joined by Gladys Knight, Yolanda Adams and LaBelle, who closed it out in a way that only she can. Strong and loud.

Matt Sayles / AP Flava Flav and the rest of Public Enemy reunited to salute the late James Brown at Tuesday's BET Awards.

There was hardly a dry eye in the house. Among those shedding tears were P. Diddy, Flava Flav, Alicia Keys and Nelly, who I think might have rusted his grill.

Son, we need to talk about that. It’s kind of played out, ya dig?

Other highlights included Knowles’ performance, capped by the surprise appearance of her Destiny’s Child partners Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, as well as her baby sister Solange; P. Diddy and Keyshia Cole being joined onstage by Lil’ Kim; Public Enemy reuniting to salute the late James Brown; Don Cheadle’s humble and inspiring speech after accepting BET’s Humanitarian Award for his efforts to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur; and Best Hip Hop Artist winner T.I. apologizing for punching the manager of his Dirty South rival Ludacris at a party on Sunday.

One of the most anticipated moments was the salute to Ross, but by that time the energy in the room had waned. Plus, there were a few things that went wrong here. The selected performers — Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder were all less than stellar. It would have been more prudent to have folks like Knowles or Keys in on the tribute, as well as Motown legends like Knight or Martha Reeves.

It was cool, however, that Ross’s five kids — Tracee, Evan, Rhonda, Chudney and Ross — presented their mom with her award. And it was even cooler when Ross schooled the new kids about career longevity and sent a special shout-out to Mary Wilson. Their relationship has been rather strained since Ross left The Supremes in 1970.

“And to all the Supremes — especially Mary Wilson — I want to really, really send my love out to her,” she said.

Wow. Yet another surprise. I’m sure glad I kept my tickets.

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