Yesterday, Oprah Winfrey interviewed Gerald Imes, the brother Mo’Nique has infamously accused of molesting her for several years.

For years Imes has denied molesting his sister, but on Oprah’s show finally acknowledged Mo’Nique’s claims. At the beginning of the show Oprah revealed that while Mo’Nique gave the talk show host her blessing to do the episode after Gerald reached out to Oprah, she didn’t want to be involved.

Early into the interview Gerald acknowledged that he had been abusing drugs since he was 11 with “several people close to the family.”

Although Mo’Nique has always maintained that the abuse occurred between the ages of 7-11, Gerald countered that the abuse lasted a year or two.

He also denied that it happened regularly but did make note that “it happened more than it should have.”

As a victim of molestation by a relative herself, yesterday’s subject matter was a sensitive issue to Oprah.

Gerald claimed that the majority of the abuse took place as Mo’Nique slept.

When pressed on why he decided to finally admit to his abuse now, Gerald told Oprah that after 37 years of denial, he wanted to come forward and confirm Mo’Nique’s truth with the hopes that the two can “somehow as siblings come back together as brother and sister.”

On how he felt about initially denying Mo’Nique’s abused claim, Gerald told Oprah he felt, “Ashamed. I betrayed her but at the same time I was in denial because I was afraid of what was going to happen to me.”

Unfortunately, he seemed very ambivalent about just how destructive his behavior was.

He didn’t want to admit that he was a “monster” to his sister. He would only say that he understands “why it would be perceived as a monstrous act.”

You molested your sister, sir. Own up to the fact that you’re not just her big brother.

I also didn’t like the fact that Mo’Nique’s other brother, Stephen Imes, smirked and laughed condescendingly. When asked why he was laughing, Stephen explained to Oprah that after the incident was finally acknowledged by Mo’Nique to her parents at the age of 15 that everything went back to “normal.”

None of Mo’Nique’s relatives – including her parents – seemed to fully grasp why Mo’Nique might have behaved “normally” with them yet carried confusion and a sense of hurt with her years later.

Mo’Nique’s mother revealed that she didn’t know that Gerald abused her between 7-11, but noted that she had wished her daughter would’ve told her first before going to the public.

What you saw in Mo’Nique’s family was a sentiment still often conveyed by many black families: That you don’t talk about family business outside of the family.

Fortunately, Oprah was there to explain why Mo’Nique felt that way and compared her perceived “normal behavior” with that of her own when dealing with the uncle who molested her.

Mo’Nique’s family didn’t seem to really “get it,” which made it a bit easier to understand why she hasn’t spoken to her family in years.

As far as Mo’Nique’s role in Precious, Gerald said his sister was “truly amazing” and her mother expressed “glee” for her success.

And while they don’t completely understand Mo’Nique’s speaking out her inner turmoil following her sexual abuse, they’re hoping the Oscar winner will reach back out to them as a result of Gerald’s appearance.

Good luck with that, ya’ll.

In the meantime, here’s a clip of the interview:

A few weeks ago on The Mo’Nique Show, BET’s night time talk show host and current Oscar front runner Mo’Nique joined Miki Howard in denouncing homophobia.

And now, with a new interview with The Advocate, Mo’Nique elaborated about her stance on that episode with What The Flick’s Clay Cane:

Recently on your talk show you had R&B singer Miki Howard as a guest. Both of you said you grew up with gay people in church and there wasn’t anything wrong with it. That was so refreshing to hear. Could you elaborate on your experiences with gays in the church?

I actually was not a person that grew up in church — that’s what Miki was saying and I was agreeing. Now, I know a lot of folks that go to church and are gay. I tell them, “God don’t make no mistakes, baby, and we keep using it when it’s convenient.” If we are all made in his image, there are no mistakes. I think it’s absolute foolishness, just in my humble opinion, when people make statements like, “It’s blasphemy and you’re going to hell!” Really? And I’m a child of God — do you think God set me up? I’ve never bought in to it. With gays and church, I think there are so many of our brothers and sisters that’s in pain because they go to a place to receive nurturing, the love of God, and you start hearing that you’re going to hell because of who you were made to be. I just don’t buy that!

I interviewed Lee Daniels in September and he said he feels very much alone in the black community being openly gay. We know not all black folks are homophobic, but what do you think it will take for some sectors of the black community to have a shift in consciousness when it comes to the gay community?

Love. That’s it; there is no special formula. People that have a platform, if they start speaking about love — we are creatures that latch on, may it be negative or positive. So imagine that if in all of the black churches they started saying, “Let’s love each other unconditionally. Let’s not judge.” That’s it! You can have members be openly gay! Not “Well, we think Troy is gay, but you know! Yes, he switches, but we’re not gonna say nothing!”

Source

George Lopez is the latest comedian to join the late night TV show roster. Yay for more diversity on TV from comedians! However, I wonder who’s going to come out on top when it comes to ratings. Lopez will join David Letterman, Conan O’Brian, Jimmy Fallon, Mo’Nique and Wanda Sykes. Each adds something unique to the late night game so maybe the competition won’t be too stiff. We shall see…

The show will incorporate other traditional talk show elements like jokes, guests, comedy and live music but Lopez says he wants to bring change to the night time talk show arena. His plan is to attract a diverse audience and he says they’ll be having a party every night (the LA-based show will air Monday through Thursday), describing the set as “bringing the outdoors indoors.” There will be no desk and no dividing  line between guests and the audience as he wants everyone to interact with each other. 

Lopez Tonight premiers on November 9 at 11p on TBS.  So far, guests for the first night include Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria-Parker and Kobe Bryant. Other scheduled guests for upcoming weeks include Jamie Foxx, Jessica Alba, Queen Latifah, Floyd Mayweather, Arsenio Hall and more.

Did I just type Arsenio Hall? Yep, I did. I’m sold.

Will you watch?

Let’s face it, Black actors still have a long way to go for quality roles on TV. However, progress is being made. Some of the most anticipated shows this Fall star a few of our favorite Black actors new and old. Here’s my list of 10 actors to watch this season.

1. Derek Luke

Trauma (NBC)
Premieres September 28
I’m looking forward to Derek Luke starring in his first TV role. He plays an EMT who is touted as a hero on the job, but struggles with inner demons in his personal life. It doesn’t hurt that he’s nice to look at too.

2. Mo’Nique

The Mo’Nique Show (BET)
Premieres October 5
America’s favorite PHAT girl moves into the late-night arena with a nightly hour-long part-talk, part-variety show. Mo is funny and keeps it real. I can’t wait to see what she has in store.

3. LL Cool J

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
Premieres September 22
LL plays Sam Hana, the tough but charming former Navy SEAL who works undercover. He’s also very nice to look at and charming in real life. This role is perfect for him.

4. Katerina Graham

The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
Airs Thursdays at 8/7c
Katerina Graham is a dancer, actress, rapper and singer. The former Fanta girl has appeared on TV shows like Hannah Montana, CSI, and in movies (most recently 17 Again). I had the pleasure of interviewing her once and she talked about how hard it is to be not just a Black actress, but also a non-wild child (read: no play from the paparazzi). She’s a rare exception of a genuinely talented triple threat, but finding roles isn’t always easy. I’m glad she’s co-starring in The Vampire Diaries, where she plays a teen psychic.

5. Wanda Sykes

The Wanda Sykes Show (Fox)
Premieres November 7
The Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian comes back to late night (she wrote for The Chris Rock Show). She’s a riot so I can’t wait. Hopefully her show won’t conflict with Mo’Nique’s as far as scheduling. Choosing is not an option.

6. Morris Chestnut

V (ABC)
Premieres November 3
This is a remake of the 1980s miniseries about an invasion of aliens known as “visitors” and the resistance against them. Chestnut will play the boyfriend of a Homeland Security Agent who doesn’t know he’s a visitor.

7. Sherri Shepherd

Sherri
Premieres October 5 (Lifetime)

The View co-host stars in a sitcom that’s loosely based on her experience as a single mom, paralegal and actress who’s dealing with dating after a divorce. Malcolm Jamal Warner also stars.

8. Rochelle Aytes

The Forgotten (NBC)
Premieres September 22
Aytes co-stars in this Jerry Bruckheimer executive-produced crime drama that follows a group of dedicated civilian volunteers who try to solve unidentified victims.

9. Mekhi Phifer

Lie to Me (Fox)
Returns September 28
Mekhi Phifer switches from ER doctor to FBI agent in this crime drama, where telling a little white lie could cost him big time.

10. CCH Pounder, Michael Strahan, Daryll “Chill” Mitchell, Carl Weathers

Brothers (Fox)
Premieres October 2
This one is a cheat because it’s a whole cast. No complaints there, somebody needs to fill the Black sitcom void and this group of talented actors is up to the job. Former NFL player Michael Strahan plays Mike Trainor, a recently retired NFL all-star. Penniless and ashamed, Trainor goes to his parent’s home where he reunites with his estranged paraplegic brother (Mitchell). Of course the boys are still at each other’s throats! Good comedy will definitely ensue.

Stay Tuned reported back in May that Mo’Nique would be joining the talk show club. That’s right. The Queen of Comedy will headline The Mo’Nique Show, a late night talk show premiering October 5 at 1opm, as part of BET’s new fall lineup.

The comedienne will interview A-List celebrities and present performances from today’s hot musical talent. It’s the typical talk show format, but I’m glad Mo’Nique has her own show. She’s my favorite Queen of Comedy. Plus, she makes things happen. She has books, movies, perfume, she appeared on Oprah—she doesn’t play.

In this case, Mo’Nique will be taking on the role of the interviewer but have you seen her being interviewed? She’s genuinely funny. Hopefully, she’ll take that same approach when the roles are reversed. If she does, then we’ll have nothing to worry about as the show will be a hit. I haven’t seen a late night talk show that I was really into since Arsenio Hall—and I had to sneak to watch that because I was barely out of diapers.

Other original programming premiering this fall on BET include Heart of the City, about journeys to various US cities to discover what’s happening in urban centers and the African American community, First In, about real life firefighters and paramedics living and working in Compton, Pay It Off, a game show hosted by Kim Coles, which will offer winning contestants debt relief and Monica: Still Standing, a docu-drama following the singer as she tackles being a full-time mother while staying in the music industry spotlight.

Mo’Nique is a hustler. From comedy tours to sitcoms to book deals the ex-Nikki Parker stays on her grind. If you didn’t know that already, you definitely caught wind of her entrepreneurial skills on yesterday’s comedy-themed episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Knowing Oprah’s blessing is worth more than a winning lottery ticket, Mo’Nique pulled out a sample of her perfume line from her bra and let Oprah know that she’s put some things on layaway for her kids and if she liked her fragrance those items were as good as sold.

Since Oprah gave her blessing, I’m sure you can now expect a bunch of middle-aged women smelling like the essence of Mo’Nique later this year.

In addition to pushing her fragrance, Mo’Nique discussed some of her upcoming projects – including her upcoming late night talk show on BET.

If she’s anywhere near as funny as she was on Oprah’s show, we may have found a talk show host who will finally fill the void left by Arsenio Hall.

While Mo’Nique got plenty of laughs on stage she also got serious when discussing her role in the movie, Precious.

The film – premiering in the fall – earned Mo’Nique a special recognition for acting at this year’s Sundance Festival.

Could an Oscar be in her future? I’m not sure, but I know I look forward to hearing more stories about her late grandmother watching Spanish porno in the fall.

Check out a preview of Mo’Nique’s new BET talk show!

Mo’Nique’s not the only celebrity joining the BET line-up. Check out Monica discussing her new reality series and catch a sneak preview of Mary J. Blige and MC Lyte giving viewers the Hollywood treatment.

Last night at the Nokia Theatre in New York City, BET Networks unveiled their plans for 2009 with Upfront: 09 This is the Time.  The star-packed event including appearances from Mario Van Peebles, MC Lyte, Maxwell, Mary J. Blige and even a performance from the legendary Anita Baker.

One of the most exciting pieces of news from the night is BET favorite Mo’Nique will be hosting a late night talk show, appropriately titled The Mo’Nique Show. A Black woman hasn’t hit the late night circuit since The Whoopi Goldberg Show.

Mo’Nique’s foray into late night TV is just one of several announcements BET made last night during its annual Upfront presentation.

Other shows set to air this year include Still Standing, which will chronicle Grammy winning R&B singer Monica on her road on the comeback trail in between raising a family.

There’s also First In, a groundbreaking new show that will profile Black firefighters in Compton (please don’t start any bush fires thinking you’ll end up on TV, ya’ll).

Changing Lanes will shed light on the next generation of race car drivers.

Crews Control will follow the life of actor Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris) and his family.

The Hollywood Treatment, hosted by MC Lyte, will pair celebrities, such as Mary J. Blige, with young women and give them the ultimate makeover.

A likely personal favorite of mine will be Pay It Off, a game show that gives contestants the chance to get the bill collectors off their backs. I’m already looking into signing about 17 people up for that one!

BET also announced plans to launch a new network called CENTRIC.  “Coming off a hugely successful first quarter, with viewership on BET up 10% and BET.com page views up 77%, we’re confident that our new programming lineup and brand strategy will allow us to build on our strong momentum,” said Scott Mills, president-chief operating officer, BET Networks. “We’re also extremely excited about the launch of our new network, Centric, which is designed for, focused on and central to the African American adult experience.”  In other words, if you’re more into Halle Berry the actress versus the Halle Berry dance, this channel will likely appeal to you.

Hopefully both audiences can find a little pleasure in Maxwell as he is the first confirmed performer for this year’s BET Awards — it was also confirmed his highly anticipated comeback album, Black  Summer’s Night, is due out July 7th.

All of this is a part of BET’s big strategy to push forward with a fresh direction in this year and as it was said last night, “Now is the time.”

What new BET shows  are you most looking forward to?

It’s actually more than six degrees but numero seis sounded catchier for the title of this post. Basically, I saw some commercials for New York’s forthcoming reality show, for the first time last weekend, and realized that Flavor Flav is single-handedly responsible for about 90% of Vh1’s reality TV shows. Let’s track his reality TV journey and see how it all began…

The Surreal Life

Flavor Flav was pulled from the depths of “where are they now” (the rap edition) and featured on season three of The Surreal Life. In a bizarre twist of events, he developed a relationship with 80s model Brigitte Nielsen and viewers couldn’t keep their eyes off the disaster. In fact, the pair was so fascinating that they got their own show:

Strange Love

And this, my friends, is when we officially thought that Flavor Flav had jumped the shark. However, the joke was on us. Brigitte Nielsen broke Flav’s heart, leaving him susceptible to the cunning wits of Vh1 producers, who convinced him to let them help his search for love on national TV. Hence, Flavor of Love was born and lasted for three seasons, until Flav finally decided that he wanted to make a relationship work with the mother of his youngest child.

Flavor of Love (season two’s cast photographed)

The break-out star from Flavor of Love was of course, Tiffany Pollard aka New York. After being strung along and eventually heartbroken by Flav twice, she got her own crack at finding love with:

I love New York (season one’s cast photographed)

New York thought she scored with Tailor Made by the end of season two and moved on to another show, New York Goes to Hollywood, which isn’t featured in this blog, but definitely gets honorable mention because without Flav, there would be no New York. She broke up with Tailor Made on NY Goes to Hollywood and was offered a third season of I Love New York, but declined. However, residual from I Love New York lingered. Break out stars “Real” and “Chance” were brothers competing for Tiff’s love and actually came close to winning NY’s heart.

Real Chance of love

They were such outstanding personalities, that once again, Vh1 struck gold with another spin off and are currently casting for season two. Whatever happened to those Flavor Flav girls? They appalled Black women in America so much that comedienne Mo’Nique made it her mission to help them learn etiquette and become respectable women.

Charm School

Although there was no reform school for the unruly men on New York’s dating show, everyone was brought together on I Love Money.

I Love Money

Technically, For the Love of Ray J and Rock of Love should also get honorable mention, as should Daisy of Love because these shows would not exist had it not been for the success of our giant clock laden, viking hat wearing friend. He provided the prototype for these types of shows, which also proved that viewers like to watch train wrecks whether it’s a guilty pleasure or point of pride. Thanks Flavor Flav, for fueling reality TV addictions all accross America.

 I’ve been following Saaphyri Windsor’s reality TV journey since she was booted from the first episode of Flavor of Love Season 2 for fighting “H-Town” over a bed. Sistas everywhere (myself included) were mortified by her behavior but the hood chick from “54th and Crenshaw” redeemed herself a few months later on season one of Charm School. She proved that she could behave like a classy mature lady and won $100,000. I rooted for her, and was excited when she won because it seemed deserving. But can she do it again?My favorite ghetto fabulous reality TV star is back on the tube in I Love Money 2 and this time around, etiquette gets the boot. Of course, she’ll revive her hood tendencies, especially because money is at stake. I can’t wait to see what outbursts and meltdowns ensue. The third episode airs tonight. Yes! Is it totally sad that I get off on watching dysfunctional TV?Anyway, will Saaphyri win the second time around? With Charm School, it was more about progression and evolution. I Love Money is another ballpark. Sure, she has what it takes to win a shouting match, but is she cunning enough to weasel her way to the prize money? I’m a little skeptical. I think she’ll have a heart attack in the middle of cursing someone out first. What do you think? Check out I Love Money 2 tonight at 9PM EST on Vh1.