As I’ve gotten older, I find myself watching less television. My TV viewing is relegated to a few select programs that I Tivo (Mad Men, Curb your Enthusiasm, Bill Maher, Family Guy and Most recently The Cleveland Show) sports and news. Because last night’s MNF game was wack (sorry Redskin fans) I found myself channel surfing and stumbled on what might be this years television gem Master P’s “No Excuses”. Premiering last night on VH1 “No Excuses” is a reality show were Percy Miller aka Master P teaches unsuspecting individuals how to overcome the hardships in life through hard work, diligence, and to not make excuses under any circumstance. I’ve  got to say I was glued to the TV for the entire half hour. The show was not only funny and insightful but heart wrenching and real, I was almost brought to tears   partly due to the chiba smoke that filled the room but also b/c of the show.  In the premier episode Master P helps a gang member out of California who’s fast lifestyle has caused him to be incarcerated multiple times, shot, and has caused tremendous strain on his son’s mother and his son.  Another problem is this guy has an excuse for everything, why he can’t get a job, go to school, or get a car etc. etc.

P shows him that making excuses is part of the reason why he’s in this dead end cycle of life and how he’s currently influencing his young son to live the same gang banging life style that he’s living and that his father lived before him.  After P takes the kid out of the hood and shows him different experiences and different things he could possibly do w/his life, the turn around at the end of the show is nothing short of a Miracle. (I’m not giving away the story b/c I want you to watch it for yourselves)

Obviously the show is focused on and catered to the minority community and is such a positive show and could be a positive force on communities across the U.S. and the world, the question I found myself asking at the end is “Why the hell is this show on VH1 and not BET”.  I haven’t done enough research to find out whether or not BET had a chance to host the show, and maybe b/c the show is produced under P’s Better Black Television banner which in theory is supposed to be a direct challenger to BET would be an easy answer. But from a social responsibility stand point it’s a head scratch-er why this wouldn’t be a no brainer for the BET brass. Maybe they were distracted by all the ratings from Tiny and Toya. What are your thoughts nation?

peep the interview on SOHH

(GAME BLOUSES)!