Update (1/26): Alan Henderson: “Kanye West is a coward, and his defenders are hypocrites.”
—————————————————————————————–
The bottom-feeding WB and UPN networks (scraping the bottom of an already debauched network TV line-up) are shutting down. (Source)
What a big loss to the culture that will be.
Don’t have a collective cow, coach potatoes. The rich men with too much time and money on their hands will resurrect some of your favorite shows for a new network called “The CW.” (I guess they think it sounds cool.) Anyway, the rich men with too much time and money on their hands will presumably take the “best” of each soon-to-be defunct network to jumpstart a new one.
Good luck with all that.
You know, I’d really, really like to see a massive boycott of network TV…except CBS on Thursday nights from 9-10:00 p.m. 
And please, please stop e-mailing me about this inexplicably popular and profitable person.
Since his embarrassingly asinine “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” stunt at a benefit to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims (video), I refuse, refuse to waste one keystroke on a man who apparently has no idea how generous this country is and how fortunate he is to have the freedom to create wealth for himself, all while contributing absolutely nothing positive to the culture.
Not. One. (More) Keystroke.
(Warner Brothers image)
Addendum: Says Glenn Reynolds:
IF KANYE WEST HAD BALLS, he’d pose as Mohammed, instead of Jesus. But he doesn’t. Efforts to be controversial have become so predictable. Yawn.
Kanye may be inane, but he sure ain’t stupid. 
This is no playground, and I’m no kid, but I dare him, dare him to pose as Mohammed. In public.
I’m. done.
Ditto on that whassisface rapper and ditto on the bottom scraping networks.
To bad there wasn’t someone ready to step forward with wholesome programming. Mel Gibson & friends are you listening? A market awaits the re-innovator.
Comment by Andy — 01.24.06 @ 7:24 pm
He’s a pretty good *shot* too… I heard there were 14 holes in his foot, all of ‘em 9MM… From that last escapade where he truly *shot himself in the foot*… He hit with EVERY round…
Stupid?? No…
An insufferable ingrate?? You betcha…
Comment by TexasFred — 01.24.06 @ 7:50 pm
Kanye doesn’t have to thank Bush for his freedom, does he? The last time I checked, what’s left of our Constitution is responsible for our liberty and rights, although there are those on the right who don’t quite believe in that sort of thing.
–Cobra
Comment by Cobra — 01.24.06 @ 8:13 pm
CSI has NOTHING on the TV show 24. NOTHING!
Comment by sharon — 01.24.06 @ 8:33 pm
There are a few shows that I would save from each network.
Everybody Hates Chris, even though Chris Rock does not exactly rock my boat.
Girlfriends, a genuinely funny, classy show featuring black women in the lead roles.
Top Model, I like the show, so sue me. I think I enjoy watching gorgeous, long legged women walk in heels more than the average person.
A new Star Trek franchise - would be nice.
Smallville - don’t really watch it, but I think it is a fairly good example of well written fantasy drama.
AND…
Actually, I got nothin else…
Comment by American Zealot — 01.24.06 @ 9:02 pm
Regarding your comment about America’s generosity:
USA’s aid, in terms of percentage of their GNP has almost always been lower than any other industrialized nation in the world, though paradoxically in the last four years, their dollar amount has been the highest. (Only in 2004 did they move up from last place by one.)
Since 1992, Japan had been the largest donor of aid, in terms of raw dollars. That was until 2001 when the United States reclaimed that position, a year that also saw Japan’s amount of aid drop by nearly 4 billion dollars (as tables and charts below will also show).
So the fact that Japan is “the larger donor of aid, in terms of raw dollars” negates my assertion that America is generous? - Admin
Comment by Leon — 01.24.06 @ 10:11 pm
LaShawn
Like him or not, Kanye speaks from his heart and he makes people talk. I can respect that. However, what’s really a shame with his posing as Jesus is how he probably has no idea how much he’s being used by Rolling Stone and their liberal politics all to sell some magazines and get him to conform to their perverted agenda.
Comment by Mr. Grey Ghost — 01.24.06 @ 10:13 pm
Grey Ghost, that’s pretty funny and/or ironic: “Kanye speaks from his heart”
I’m gettng flashes of various snippets from the Bible such as “The fool has said in his heart…” or “Fool & his money…(or was that fame)” etc.
But in this day and age, it’s not the truth that counts, rather the sincerity of feeling. Or at least that’s how Oprah feels about the books in her club.
To wit, Kanye is real cause I’m feelin’ him — to be really dumb/ sincerely wrong.
I second the notion, let’s see him decked out as prophet Mohammed
Comment by Andy — 01.24.06 @ 10:37 pm
Leon, that piece of statistic is flawed because they don’t measure private donations to charities. Yes Japan is but one of leading countries in taking their people’s money (taxes) and donating it to those in need.
The Euros are pretty good at that as well, yet when Joe Six-Pack “cowboys-up” he donates more than than his “fair” share, any which way you care to measure it.
Look it up — plenty of stats comparing the generosity of liberals, elites, working class, conservatives and all points in between. also fascinating how that our elites on both coasts will donate more to save a whale than to help a fellow man in despair.
Comment by Andy — 01.24.06 @ 10:46 pm
American Zealot chose the following TV series for the CW:
“Girlfriends, a genuinely funny, classy show featuring black women in the lead roles.”
Which I add Girlfriends is actually a rip-off of the 90’s sitcom “Living Single” which was a genuinely funny, classy show featuring black women in the lead roles.
Incidentally I work for a CBS affiliate which runs UPN for a couple of regional cable companies and am responsible for the programming. Yes, I am currently trying to find a better job.
Comment by Carl — 01.24.06 @ 10:49 pm
Ditto LaShawn,this fool can’t even talk actually most of them can’t.My father and I just poked fun at Masta P for his absmal performance at Ballroom dancing,he still like so many others want to bring useless ghetto credentials to where they don’t belong,as the saying goes You can take a negro out oof the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of him.Also,I would like to know how much money he donated personally to help Katrina victims,what do you want bet that he didn’t give one red cent.
Comment by Lisa Gilliam — 01.24.06 @ 10:53 pm
You have stated some excellent reasons why both hubbie and I have pretty much given up on regular network TV — except for local news.
We now mostly watch Discovery channels like Discovery, History, Science, TLC, etc. That way we are not only entertained but also learn (most of the time).
Comment by Heather — 01.24.06 @ 11:25 pm
Haiku to an Exploiter
transitive verb
2 : to make use of meanly or unjustly for one’s own advantage
My human sorrow
in my daughters quiet backyard
cannot be measured
Comment by Beto Ochoa — 01.24.06 @ 11:33 pm
#3
So were did La Shawn say that Kanye should thank George Bush for his freedom? Did I miss the link :S
Comment by James Newman — 01.25.06 @ 6:22 am
#14
Forgot the “h”
Comment by James Newman — 01.25.06 @ 6:26 am
You know, I don’t see Japan (and to a lesser extent, the UN), ponying up manpower, food, and logistic support whenever there’s a major disaster. That alone vault America to the top of the ‘generous’ chart.
Comment by Eric Brown — 01.25.06 @ 7:32 am
This is one of those times you have to look at your Bible, especially the verse that talks about a man gaining the world and losing his soul, because idiots like seem to be getting acclaim and reaping rewards for being so ignorant and offensive.
And doesn’t UPN have another idiot? Judge Mathis? Good riddance.
Comment by mj — 01.25.06 @ 9:08 am
I messed up: I meant “idiots like that”
Comment by mj — 01.25.06 @ 9:11 am
re: the dare to pose as “the Prophet”
I believe the article said he did that as well! They just chose the “thorn crown” for the cover.
Comment by Kavika — 01.25.06 @ 9:22 am
I wonder why the editors at that rag didn’t put that image on the cover? Perhaps they feared a fatwa.
Comment by La Shawn — 01.25.06 @ 9:24 am
Dap: LBC
Pingback by Blackhacker — 01.25.06 @ 10:40 am
UPN’s lineup, from Day 1, has pretty much consisted of (a) Star Trek shows, and (b) garbage. Oh, they’ve had a couple of series in there that weren’t quite garbage, perhaps, but even they were kind of “good tea, nice house” (if you get the ST:TNG reference). Now that there’s no more Trek, it’s unsurprising that UPN has sputtered.
Yeah, if “The CW” were to put a Trek series back on the air, that would work…as long as Rick Berman and Brannon Braga had absolutely nothing to do with it. (They’re almost universally acknowledged to have made a dog’s breakfast of Enterprise, except for maybe the last season.) Better yet, perhaps “The CW” could air a show by someone who knows how to make compelling SF, like J. Michael Straczynski or Joss Whedon. It can be done…
But I probably won’t miss either network that much. Here in Denver, the local WB affiliate will likely become the CW affiliate, and the local UPN station is in the middle of being sold anyway, to the company that already owns the NBC affiliate, so it may not be a big issue.
Comment by Erbo — 01.25.06 @ 11:21 am
To #11 http://www.teamrescueone.com/ even rappers help out. He still sucks at ballroom dancing, but at least he is trying to help out.
Comment by Marc Armstead — 01.25.06 @ 11:27 am
OK, I have to ask: how would we recognize if he were posing as Mohammed?
Comment by ElCee — 01.25.06 @ 12:47 pm
I triple-dog dare Kanye to pose as Mohammed!
Comment by SicSemperTyrannus — 01.25.06 @ 2:10 pm
Don’t one of the hadiths say that Mohammed was pale-skinned?
Comment by Alex — 01.25.06 @ 4:29 pm
Time is too precious. I haven’t watched network TV in years.
Although 24 does tempt me.
Comment by Carol — 01.25.06 @ 4:38 pm
I would never have known Kanye West except for hearing his ridiculous “Bush doesn’t care about black people” comment. With the possible exception of Tom Cruise’s deranged Scientology rantings and George Clooney making fun of Alzheimers victims, this guy has to be at the top of the show business idiocy chart.
Comment by RedBeard — 01.25.06 @ 5:36 pm
Ditto La Shawn #20
I was just going to say that if he did a Muhammed photo, there would have been a fatwa out for him before you could say Atchafalaya.
As for tv in our house, we don’t miss Sci-Fi Fridays.
Comment by RepJ — 01.25.06 @ 5:36 pm
I do not like this guy! Don’t worry about getting an email from me complaining. I agree with you 100%!
Comment by DalesRosebud — 01.25.06 @ 7:44 pm
The only thing UPN had going was “Everybody Hates Chris”.
I almost typed “Everybody Hates Christ”. Freudian slip?
Comment by El Conquistadore — 01.25.06 @ 7:49 pm
Kanye West hates Jesus!
Comment by Craig Bardo — 01.26.06 @ 12:07 am
“USA’s aid, in terms of percentage of their GNP has almost always been lower than any other industrialized nation in the world,” -Leon
HAHA I love this line…
That Is one Program of the United States that always gets calculated in that equasion.
Let Us Forget the Fact that all Logistics and The Cost of the Logistics is carried by the United States and the United States ALONE.
and Let’s also forget the Fact that all U.N. Aid Programs get 40% of there Funding from the United States Plus the Add $$$ that get Pledged when crap happens like the Tsunami.
Also Let us Not FORGET that the United States is the Only Country that does not get to Include The Donation’s Made by the Indivdual Citizens.
But all that Aside, In the United States you will get more charity from a poor Family living in Mississippi (Black or white) Then you will from a rich white Liberal living in New York or L.A.
The Poor Family will be more willing to Open up there home to a Stranger in need, then a Rich Liberal would.
I am also willing to Bet that it has alot to do with the fact that them poor folks are Good Christian’s and most likely to consider it there duty as such to aid those in need.
Comment by JD — 01.26.06 @ 12:26 am
La Shawn Barber has been covering the topic as well.
Pingback by VirtueBlog — 01.26.06 @ 9:16 am
kanye is laughing all the way to the bank. Get down girl, go head, get down!
Comment by B Gad — 01.26.06 @ 3:41 pm
Thanks for the link.
Comment by Alan K. Henderson — 01.26.06 @ 11:22 pm
Lisa says
“he still like so many others want to bring useless ghetto credentials to where they don’t belong,as the saying goes You can take a negro out oof the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of him.”
I say:
” I must have missed Ghetto 101 the first day, I don’t understand where “they” belong. It’s a tv show. And taking the negro out of the ghetto…I won’t even go there…
Comment by Annette — 01.27.06 @ 12:22 pm
well he speaks his mind. If Jerry Falwell can say Ariel Sharon has brought down the wrath of God on himself then Kanye West can say “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”
He never said George Bush hates black people
And how the heck is he going to pose at Muhammad if no one know what Muhammad looks like.
And crap UPN/WB are the only places I can watch a show with black people that is about black people on TV. I mean there are plenty of Friends, Raymonds, etc on all the networks. But because UPN/WB shows black people that show the entire spectrum of our experience and our attitudes, its somehow bad.
I agree with some of the things you say Lashawn but sometimes I just feel you down black people and black American culture (yes we have our own Americanized culture and sub-cultures) just to down black people period. There is absolutely nothing wrong with UPN and WB that isn’t wrong with any other station , including FOX. FOX is probably the worse station out of any of them. FOX shows filth and morally defunct shows, more than any other of the main networks. UPN and WB on the other hand show positive roles for Black Americans and many of us can relate to the characters. We can relate to Girlfriends, One on One is funny, Half and Half shows a positive relationship between two half sisters (I mean I have 7 half sisters), Judge Mathis doesn’t’ take himself and his show seriously (because he knows its entertainment) Jerry Springer is the only real stain I see on those networks. FOX on the other hand has the family guy, the simpsons, the violent 24, dumb reality shows (Like “Who’s your daddy”, ) And the morally out of control OC.
Comment by Zakia — 01.27.06 @ 2:08 pm
I hate when black liberals come onto my blog and try to dump all their frustrations on me. But it’s sadly predictable.
First, calm down, try to see through your presuppositions, and read the post again. I didn’t write that West said Bush hated blacks; you may have been responding to a specific commenter. It’s unclear. And I’m “down” on the part of black sub-culture that has been reduced to welfare-state wards, the same sub-culture that will continue putting sugar daddy, big-government liberals in office. If you want to pretend that part of the sub-culture doesn’t have serious problems, that’s on you. I prefer to keep my head above ground where I can see trouble coming.
Second, the decision to put Kayne-as-Jesus on the cover was more of the same in-your-face disrespect toward Christians, but I’m not whining about it. That is also sadly predictable. The decision to NOT put him on the cover as Mohammad was cowardice, plain and simple. And I think I’ll pass on the comment about what Mohammad looks like as too childish for words and totally beside the point.
Third, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills because I clearly stated that the rest of network TV is debauched, too, just like your beloved WB and UPN networks. All that comparing and contrasting UPN/WB vs. Fox was a waste of space.
And I think it’s a darn shame that black parents let their impressionable children, children who should be studying , by the way, watch that deplorable crap simply because the shows have black casts.
Agreeing with me is not a requirement to comment on this blog, as you well know if you’ve been reading it for at least a few weeks. It’s how people dissent.
Comment by La Shawn — 01.27.06 @ 2:33 pm