SPECIALS
Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive was BET News’ special to commemorate the life of Richard Pryor featured Dave Chappelle, Lorne Michaels, Mo’Nique, Mike Epps, Q-Tip, Steve Harvey, Chris Tucker, Charlie Murphy and many more celebrities.
'05 Rewind was one of many wrap up/chop up shows typically produced by MTVN and other youth-oriented networks like BET. They are fun to produce and even funnier to watch. The key to these shows is a celebrity booker, strong network brand and a great research team.
BET NEWS, Supervising Producer
As is typical with many news divisions, the mandate is always be cost-efficient and streamlined while creating timely, informative, quality products. The role of this Supervising Producer was particularly broad due to an internal restructuring. To produce Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive meant writing the show’s treatment, negotiating locations, budgeting, booking celebrity interviews (including the first interview with Dave Chappelle after his abrupt exodus from Comedy Central) and finally post-production. The process took one week from conception to air.
The role of the Supervising Producer also included a re-launch of the news division with a more youthful appeal, which included the creation of a shorter news format and redesign of the division’s visual aesthetics, talent and tone. In addition, the Supervising Producer worked closely with the Executive Producer to develop the network’s first magazine show. Other work included, pitching and producing the network's first foreign coverage which featured Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; pop-culture specials, and a live, multi-camera coverage of the Million More March in Washington, DC.