Atlanta-based ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ canceled
Mo'Nique has lost her talk show after two years. CREDIT: AP
Loading ...Earlier today, I heard that “The Mo’Nique Show” had been axed. I had sent an email out to various BET publicists to ask what was up. No word back.
At about 1:30 p.m., I called Rodney Perry, who was Mo’Nique’s sidekick on the show. He said he was running into a meeting and didn’t answer my question. While I was at lunch over at the mall court, at 1:40 p.m. EST, he texted me: “I was told indefinite hiatus.”
That’s a euphemism for canceled.
[UPDATE: At 3:40 p.m., I received an email from a spokesperson at BET which included a slightly milder euphemism: "The Mo'Nique Show will be on production hiatus beginning in the fall." ... Mo'Nique Hicks and The Mo'Nique Show are important to the BET Networks family and we look forward to continuing our relationship our with her."]
In an interview I did at 2:40 p.m., the stand-up comic said he enjoyed the experience working with Mo’Nique. “I’m selling out shows now,” he said. “That’s a win.” He heard the news from Mo’Nique’s husband but hasn’t spoken to the Oscar-winning actress yet. (He wouldn’t say when he knew about this, implying he has known for awhile.)
“We did some good work,” Perry said. “And I think the show is significant. There hasn’t been an outlet for people of color late night since Arsenio.”
The talk show, which Mo’Nique compared to a high-energy nightly party, lasted two seasons and had been taped in Turner Studios, which are now being used for BET’s show “Reed Between the Lines” through October. When I heard that earlier today, I wondered if that meant “Mo’Nique” was not coming back or had been moved to another studio. If her show were coming back, she would be taping by August. (Like many shows, it does not tape original episodes during the summer.)
This didn’t appear to be an issue of ratings. I didn’t have time to do an entire season’s check on ratings so I sampled four weeks in April, 2011 vs. April 2010. Ratings from April 5 to April 29, 2010 averaged 615,000 viewers a night. From April 4 to April 28, 2011, her show averaged 586,000. That’s only a five percent drop.
Mediatakeout, which broke the story, said there were conflicts between BET management and Mo’Nique. Was it creative and/or financial? The story does not say. It also doesn’t say if BET will seek another talk-show host or just drop the concept.
Perry isn’t sure why the show was cut but thinks it might have been a financial decision. “They haven’t had this type of investment ever,” he said. “We did 300 shows over two seasons. That’s a huge investment.”
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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336 comments Add your comment
BET Cancels 'The Mo'nique Show'? | BlackThespian.com
July 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
[...] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that they were told that The Mo’Nique Show has been put on “indefinite hiatus,” ie, after only 2 seasons. The reason the show has been cancelled is being cited as conflicts between BET management and Mo’Nique. [...]
Pootytang
July 27th, 2011
10:10 pm
We played drinking games to every time she said baaaaaaabbbbyyy! I’m emailing from AA.
tierra roads
July 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
@S’okay that was a great come back lol
Monique
July 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
She was too loud and screamed too much for me. I could not take it so I rarely watched…
tbaby
July 27th, 2011
11:11 pm
I love Monique and her show!! Loud and all. Most of the people who were on the show would not have been on any other talk show and for that I thank you Monique. Some of you guys comments are just mean and unnecessary. I love BET and will continue to watch. Where else will we get to see shows that appeal to the black audience, no where. I hope its just a rumor and her show continues.
radioGuy
July 27th, 2011
11:19 pm
i lost respect for mo’nique when she went on a racist rant during her oscar acceptance speech. c’mon black brothers and sisters – let’s get past race and get in sync with the rest of the country
Kayetta
July 27th, 2011
11:30 pm
Haters..The Mo’nique Show is a great late show. Even though she started out loud, she calmed it down a bit. Her interview skills were okay. At least she was not annoying and full of Gossip like Wendy Williams. Mo’nique brought to her show black entertainers that have been forgotten, and never known by the black audience. She brought black entertainers that we wondered what ever happened to them, and what are they doing now. She brought to her show unknown black entertainers. She had a good run, did a great job, and I don’t think its over for her yet. She was no Oprah, because Oprah pushed through the other persuasion, Mo’nique is for her people. And folks are angry about that. Mo’nique wanted the black heritage to be known by all. Keep your head up Mo’nique you represented your black family well.
Kayetta
July 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
Mr. Smarty pants sounds like you need a new TV!
felecia
July 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Its so sad,another black entertainment show off the air. I loved the show, the artist she had on the show are artist who do not get any play on the so called reg networks. Come on,BET, don’t take away the show nor Monique. At the Matt character, grow the hell up, people like you don even need to voice your opinion. You don’t count, your ignorant
Tara
July 27th, 2011
11:45 pm
I loved the Monique Show! I am so proud of her and wish the show could go on. Monique had alot of interesting guest on her show. It was so nice to see and hear from the BLACK successful guest she chose to expose to us while she sat and chatted with them. Monique seems to be a really “Real” person that cares about people and, she seems to be really proud of her people [people of color.] I wish only the best for Monique whether her shows continues or not.
juanita trammell
July 27th, 2011
11:46 pm
I KNEW BY HER COMING ON THAT LATE IN THE NIGHT SHE WOULD BE CANCEL.
Tara
July 27th, 2011
11:56 pm
I really enjoyed the Mo’Nique Show! Mo’Nique seems to be a really “Real” person that really cares about her people [people of color.] However, I did feel as though she should have invited other races as guest too. I wish only the best for Mo’Nique whether her talk show continues or not.
BET Puts Mo’Nique’s Talk Show on ‘Production Hiatus’ : thepeoples411.com
July 28th, 2011
12:09 am
[...] has responded to reports by Media Take Out and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that “The Mo’Nique Show” has been cancelled. The network is choosing to go with another term [...]
Monique show cancelled? « robertswife
July 28th, 2011
12:11 am
[...] According to Rodney Ho of Access Atlanta, BET’s The Mo’Nique Show has unceremoniously finished its run after 300 shows, two seasons, and a whole lot of hollerin’. After becoming the first African-American woman to host her own late night talk show, Oscar winner Mo’Nique Hicks, along with sidekick comedian Rodney Perry, was told that the show was to be on an “indefinite hiatus”, a euphemism for cancellation. The show had been taping in Turner Studios, which is now being used for the new BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines, set to debut in October. [...]
Gold Teefs
July 28th, 2011
12:24 am
I don’t get the first sentence. What was the show axed to do?
Mrs Gee wiz to the haters
July 28th, 2011
12:57 am
Her character is loud! Everything that Mrs. Hicks does (comedy, movies, etc…) is loud. That’s for you who did not know that about her. If you did not care for her there were other stations to watch. Getting an Oscar should not limit what a person wants to explore. She had a good run, made money and has a bank account larger than most of us commenting. To whom it may concern RACISM still exists and it is not hard to watch certain talk shows to recognize. Mo haters keep hating, because that’s what you probably do best.
conraddobler
July 28th, 2011
1:02 am
“Good Riddance, and take Oprah with you, Monique !
Too loud, obnoxious, and too racist.
I tried to watch WET the other day ( White Entertainment Television), but couldnt find the channel.”
We can always count on ANOTHER whiney silly good for nothing ” ” to be
boohooing about “alleged” discrimination against whites blah, blah, blah….don’t like B.E.T -then too bad…good look at ‘KRKR-TV’ to get your fix…
NO MORE MO? BET’S “The Mo’Nique Show” Placed On “Indefinite Hiatus” | Pictures of Celebrity
July 28th, 2011
1:18 am
[...] Earlier today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that "The Mo’Nique Show" has been placed on indefinite hiatus. That’s fancy TV talk for "won’t be no ‘Mo’ shows." [...]
alisa
July 28th, 2011
1:19 am
i just wanted to share this information with you
NO MORE MO? BET’S “The Mo’Nique Show” Placed On “Indefinite Hiatus” | The Buzz
July 28th, 2011
3:05 am
[...] Earlier today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that "The Mo’Nique Show" has been placed on indefinite hiatus. That’s fancy TV talk for "won’t be no ‘Mo’ shows." [...]
The Mo’Nique Show Canceled? | EbenGregory.com: Culture. News. Truth.
July 28th, 2011
4:30 am
[...] Atlanta Journal: In an interview I did at 2:40 p.m., the stand-up comic said he enjoyed the experience working [...]
BET Cancels The Mo’Nique Show | Curvy™ Magazine (Beta)
July 28th, 2011
5:01 am
[...] radio show goes and now this? Maybe Mo’Nique is having a bad streak of luck right now but According to Rodney Ho of Access Atlanta, BET’s The Mo’Nique Show has surprisingly canceled after 2 seasons and 300 shows. [...]
OK BABY
July 28th, 2011
5:56 am
Stop………Mo was everything that an Oscar winning actress and please don’t make me repeat that (Oscar winning actress: couldn’t help myself), as well as a very incredible stand-up comedian/mogul, who has been doing the damn thing for some time; should be, while venturing into the talk show arena. It’s brutal and I don’t think Mo went in thinking that she was going to be Oprah or as big or popular but then again Oprah never thought she would be that big too. Many other celebrities whether they are the biggest players or small ones have ventured into the talk show circuit and it’s tough. I really enjoyed Mo’ being herself and believe it or not most people really enjoyed her. It was refreshing to have guest on a Black network and have the guests that don’t get a chance to express themselves for multiple reasons. Basically, she allowed her guest to not only be the rarest of the bunch but to talk about what they got going on and how we can either join the party or support some worthy cause. She had on Terry Kennedy and he is pretty big news in the skateboarding world. You have to remember that he isn’t getting the exposure and opportunity to be a household name say like Shaun White. Both of these guys are great but Terry is Black and Shaun is White (how fitting for his name). It seems that Terry is someone that other talkshow outlets should have swooped up because he is a very kind and generous human being, who just happens to be amazing and we can’t forget the extremely good looking part.
Mo’ would have her friends on in the business (show business friends) and people that she just didn’t admire or adore but people she developed close relationships within the walls of show. How many guest did she have on the show that were completely in awe of her for so many reasons. The best was Snoop (her co-star in Soul Plane) and he put his people (his team) on blast because he claimed they advised him against come on Mo’s show. He said there was no way he wasn’t coming to support his girl. Yes, she is everyone’s homegirl and I don’t think she was loud or rude but showing compassion and showing her softer side. Her personality looks big to others because she is a tall gal, who had some serious meat on her bones. Mo’ lost a serious amount of weight but she was completely fabulous and still will continue to be fabulous for ever. She conducted herself always with class but she made you feel like guest were her friends and she was now introducing to her friends. Please leave MO’ alone, she isn’t bothering any body.
RSoul
July 28th, 2011
6:03 am
MattGrant Park
american history 101:
the reason that there are things made especially for peoples of color, be it “black” entertainment tv or anything else, is because these peoples have been traditionally EXCLUDED from “mainstream” offerings. Everyone’s needs are not met when everyone has to look think and act the same (i.e., like white people or in a way that they are comfortable with), so people who realize this, create spaces and things that express or meet needs to go beyond the few that white people seem to think EVERYONE should have. Nothing is going to meet everyone’s needs and there is nothing wrong eith making SPECIFIC things. White don’t need anything made that says white on it because everything that we see is made BY OR FOR white people and their tastes are being met and expressed in and by the mainstream.
and black people can’t be “racist” unless they believe in and practice WHITE SUPREMACY, because that is the only functioning form of racism in the world today. anything else may be biogtry or prejudice and some of that is JUSTIFIED by the way we are treated by even the nicest white people, who condescend and look down their noses at everything about us. no one with good sense likes being treated that way.
Seriously?
July 28th, 2011
7:02 am
“Things look very bleak for America”
Cong Hank Johnson
GTFO
July 28th, 2011
7:05 am
@ RSoul
“and black people can’t be “racist” unless they believe in and practice WHITE SUPREMACY”
Ha…haha….hahahaha.
People really believe this, huh?
Been there
July 28th, 2011
7:51 am
@RSoul,
You need to get that big white chip off your shoulder bro…You are the only one keeping you down. To blame whites for it only gives up your power and makes you weak. IF you are weak, then be man enough to call it out. IF you are not weak, stop acting like you are.
Jeff Dawson -- aka 'Poogy'
July 28th, 2011
7:57 am
Hello my Atlanta friends! I’m a dude from metro Washington DC. Prior to Mo’s nite show, which I’ll say was basically positive if not always that entertaining, she hosted a very popular and successful radio talk show here in DC. She’s from Baltimore, MD, only 40 miles up the road so some of her radio fan base was from Baltimore too. We loved her. But sadly SHE QUIT THIS POPULAR SHOW SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY WITH NO PARTING THANKYOUs AND APPRECIATION FROM HER DC FAN BASE!! I’m like “what the h#^( !! How could she do this to folks that supported and loved her! It’s ok that she moved on to what she thought was bigger and better things but leaving her fans hanging like this was absolutely classless. So I loose my class now and say to her — Ha! you fool. Now you see how it feels to be unceremoniously DUMPED! And if you come back to the DC area with your tail between your legs like a pitiful dog to start your radio show again, you absolutely won’t be welcomed back without an apology and explanation that is owed to your fan based on this fiasco you orchestrated on DC fans!!
Poogy
Shellie
July 28th, 2011
8:02 am
I tried to watch the show several times and I could not accept all the screaming and hollering. The LOUD noise cancelled ALL the good contents of the show. I kept checking back with the show thinking that they would tone down the noise.
greyeyez28
July 28th, 2011
8:09 am
I actually liked the Monique Show for her different artists and performances she had on there. She does lack interviewing skills and was loud at times, but she had good topics for having certain people on the show at the same time. I liked the show and I will miss it only for the music performances and for giving the spotlight to the different artists who are not mainstream or are under-rated in the media. I certainly appreciated her for giving them that attention and publicity. Now on to bigger and better things for Monique.
Laquandra
July 28th, 2011
8:10 am
She a survivor. Miss Monique a true talent and so bless. She is one of da grate actreses of our time.
Ricardo Cabeza
July 28th, 2011
8:16 am
An occasional cleansing of the night time airwaves is a good thing. In this case, an excellent thing. Loud, obnoxious, and boorish . . . this sis-tah needs to ply her trade elsewhere.
gogirl
July 28th, 2011
8:23 am
Get a life, who cares about any of these people. People are unemployed. 10.5 % unemployment in georgia. Most of us can’t afford BET
Bill Branham
July 28th, 2011
8:28 am
21st Century Telecommunications, Inc. has a unique “wireless, Internet and DTV mobile television network concept including renewal energy, transportation, housing and manufacturing.” We are promoting a change in the way we design new communities using a renewal energy systems approach–with sustainable planning, net zero-energy homes, advanced vehicles, and innovative utility interconnections–which will significantly decrease energy use.
Gina
July 28th, 2011
8:35 am
I said from the beginning that Monique was just too loud and common acting for a lady. She was definitely “no class.”
TIm M
July 28th, 2011
8:45 am
Unprofessional in my honest opinion. glad its gone so they can put something on better to fill that time slot.
d
July 28th, 2011
8:49 am
..(sigh) Monique..Honestly after the Red Carpet stunt (remember the man foot unshaven legs in an evening gown thing?….YUCK!) I found it hard to fight off the raging nausea on sight of this woman…not that i ever watch BET ( and yes…Im a man of color)…but BET as a whole has become a ghetto fabulous mockery of the Black experience..i guess thats how Viacom sees this market…Im giving BET another 5 yrs to fold…steadily losing its audience, ultra low content value, a clear and obvious disconnect with its market and a lack of advert dollars ought to do it in…sit and wait.
cwilli
July 28th, 2011
8:51 am
Love Mo,I think the show could have been done a whole lot better. I don’t know the control she had over the show but when I looked at it, seems like she was trying too hard; it wasn’t natural she didn’t have that flow. As someone else said she was too loud I don’t think that was necessary. But she came to Atl to do what she had to do. Done it so on to bigger and better things. I wish nothing but the best for her and everyone involved.
sexytip
July 28th, 2011
8:58 am
Well I’ve always loved Monique and always wished that I could meet her in person…plus f*** what people say because to be honest most of them didn’t even try to take the time out to unstand and watch her show. I, beside watching her on tv and in movies, and queens of comedy and on down, but watch when she first came out on BET with the Moniue Show… “Monique god will make away and you’re going to contiune to do your thang baby”…because you is monique! Much love hun..and hold your head up, cause I’m one of your biggest fann..always.. Rodney hang in there with her..”bff for ever”.
Not Impressed
July 28th, 2011
9:01 am
Monique was neither low key, intelligent or smart…..Loud, brash, over-the-top, ghetto-fabulous, angry black woman sooo last year……maybe she should join the OWN and take it down too – then that would rid us of all of them……
Madea
July 28th, 2011
9:01 am
Thank the Lord! That was not a talk show. That was a “How black can you be?” show. Monique’s real talent lies in her comedy and, surprisingly, her acting. That’s where she thrives. She is not a good interviewer. There’s an art to it. Yep, she’ll bounce back. But in her own comfort zone. There are lots of roles and comedy tours waiting for her. Time for her to get back to doing what she does best.
Test Tube Tommy
July 28th, 2011
9:09 am
Lol! she axed somebody and then got axed!
wimberly
July 28th, 2011
9:12 am
I like mo and for “not so impressed ” idiot…..well that idiot is a millionaire so if that’s what being a idiot is all about u need to follow her and nee nee footsteps. I am just saying !
Brandy
July 28th, 2011
9:13 am
Monqiue “tried” to appeal to a black office? Really. She’s black, she doesn’t have to “try”. Obviously the formatting was so the show would be something that black viewers watch because our interests are not represented on late night TV. It was a niche that could be filled.
SOmetimes she was loud, but she had REALLY good guests. SHe’s even had white folks on the show, so it wasn’t JUST a black show.
I just think Black folks need to get away from someone else’s std of what this or that “should” be. She made it her own. I am not a HUGE Monique fan but I didn’t think after the first few weeks, the show was as bad as some have said. She toned down a lot.
And those talking about advertisers not making money, the same commercials come on all day as does during Monqiue THUS, your logic would apply to the entire channel.
Let’s face it BET is owned by white folks and they don’t want anything competing with their other stations like VH1 and MTV which needs to be buried.
You see what they did to Ed Gordon’s show, while Washington Watch is running circles around any news programming BET has.
Monique’s show content was better that Wendy’s by far. An dboth are loud and big
so tired of your talk
July 28th, 2011
9:23 am
wow to all of the comments. just ‘wow’
THESOURCE101
July 28th, 2011
9:27 am
[...] Earlier today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that ”The Mo’Nique Show” has been placed on indefinite hiatus. That’s fancy TV talk for ”won’t be no ‘Mo’ shows.” [...]
ATR
July 28th, 2011
9:27 am
Sorry to see it go. I wathced it and she did have guests that would not get any interview time on other shows. I can tell you one thing is for sure. She is a comedian. That is more than I can say for Leno and Letterman. Their comedy sucks….matter of fact they are not comedians they just tell bad jokes.
wimberly
July 28th, 2011
9:27 am
Jealously……. its a damn shame. Y don’t half of u try to do something positive instead talking about mo she did something kool what about u living on walfare and some r staying hm living off to mama. Maybe u should take some of your negative energy and turn it into positive energy hell this hoe is rich as hell half of us r just getting by and u have the nerve to talk about her u all r fools. Only the negative ones but she was loud as hell.Lolol but I still loved her
JT
July 28th, 2011
9:29 am
Didn’t enjoy the show. Too loud. Too superficial. But it’s a bummer Atlanta will lose some local production.
Gumz McCracklin
July 28th, 2011
9:29 am
Don’t bees hatrin on Mo Mo now peeples!