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
ej
July 30th, 2011
8:47 am
Well, different strokes for different folks……I think Monique should spend her time in film…..cut back on the cursing, etc!!!!!!!!
S. Reese
July 30th, 2011
11:10 am
Give me a break!…Monique on OWN? Oprah would rather roll over dead than to help a Black with their career!… Let alone a loud-mouthed ghetto ignoramus like Monique! She’s ashamed of her own race.
juan alamag
July 30th, 2011
5:44 pm
monique is monique you either love her or hate her. she has a huge passionate personality, and cares for peoples feelings, due to her own personal expieriences. i personally love her she,s good down to earth for real people and she brought alot to the table for bet. i know their not that stupid to just let her go. i believe shes brought her brand and formula to bet and has put her mark on it the guests she brought on bet were people that are well admired in at least 2-3 generations of people magic johnson shaquille oneil t-boz from tlc chilli from tlc bell biv devoe brandy harris from the 90,s lisa lopes group blaque da brat regina king and brian white to name a few. she was making a change for african american people and stimulated hope and inspiration for african american entertainers and her audiences and fans. bet youd be dumb as a box of rocks to let monique go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vernetta
July 30th, 2011
7:41 pm
Me personally I enjoyed watching Monique’s Show. I agree she may have been loud and outspoken but that’s just the type of person she is. I feel like she did not try to change who she is just because she was on TV. She appeared to be professional during her shows. Monique is just real, and a lot of people can’t handle that. They should have canceled The Went Williams Show, but I guess they like her because she is fake. Monique keep your head up because no matter what its always going to be people hating because that’s just who they are. STAY POITIVE GOD WILL OPEN MORE DOORS FOR YOU…LOVE YOU.FROM YOUR AFRICAN SISTER@@@@
disgusted
July 31st, 2011
12:10 pm
MattGrant Park has proved it again, racism is alive and well in America. What a shame people are so small minded and inferior within themselves that they have to attempt to trash others to make themselves feel good. Pity. By the way, you don’t need a special channel for WET, it’s on all the channels, well almost all (maybe not BET), just pick one. As usual, people like you are not happy until you have it all your way. Well 99.9% out of 100 isn’t bad.
disgusted
July 31st, 2011
12:15 pm
vernetta, you are so on point with the comment on the wendy williams show. Fake, Fake, Fake–how many times can I say it. While Monique may not have been the best interviewer, she was real and catered to a specific audience. Wendy isn’t a good interviewer (fake talking self)and is so pretentious. Now this is one show I can’t watch. One thing about Monique, she is an oscar award winning attress. I’m sure she has plenty of options.
LYNETTE PEGUES
July 31st, 2011
3:03 pm
I’m very dissappointed that her show was cancelled. She had lots of different talent on her show from the old school to the new school talent. Such as the Five Heart Beats and Lenny Williams etc..
Last week there was even black astronauts on the show. Come on black people why are we always hating on each other instead of supporting one another. Maybe she was a little loud sometime, but she toned it down alot. This is a Oscar Winner. Not many blacks have that kind of honor. Instead of downing our own people who had made accomplishments .Let’s uplift them and embrace them upstead. Show them love, dignity and respect .
people
July 31st, 2011
3:44 pm
Get a Damn LIFE
John
July 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
The anonymity of the web unfortunately lets lots of folks say stupid, incendiary, mean-spirited things. How many of the previous comments would have been made if the author had to identify himself in some way?
LydiasDad
July 31st, 2011
4:38 pm
So, she’s been axed huh? Was she axed a question, or did she ax the question?
James
July 31st, 2011
5:17 pm
I watched the show a few times and I felt like I wasted my time cause the show wasn’t that appealing.
Jeff
July 31st, 2011
5:22 pm
Thank god. She’s such an embarrassment to African Americans. Watching her show is like watching a black face skit, loud, obnoxious and stereotypical.
Aubrie
July 31st, 2011
5:33 pm
Hey Monique this is your time to try something else or nonetheless spend time with the family. I know your long lost ones miss seeing you since you have entered the life of fame. Sit down, rest end enjoy life. Everything happens for reason, don’t be like my friend Oprah and decide to retire when your almost to old to do anything else. Although I love Oprah she has another vision as well. A little about me, I left corporate america after 15 years. I was making a decent salary, but I’ve always wanted to own my own business and work for myself and when I wanted to work. Not to make it seem very easy, because working for yourself means you have to generate your own income and make your money work for you. I am now an business housewife and work out of my home. Also I have a college education, own my home, 3 cars ( 1 is mine, other is my husband’s and one we share together for weekends), should I add its a 2 seater and we have 2 children and working on number 3). Just brought my parents a home paid for and everyone is happy. No more commutes etc. Life is tooshort, so Im glad I made the decision to spend more time with those whom I love and care for dearly and feel the same about me. the best thing is doing what I always wanted to do and thats to get paid but hardly working and still have an decent income while still looking better than ever. Should I add no stress. and for those who are wondering Im only 36, my goal was to accomplish this by 40 so Im doing quite well, blessings to my Lord God!
Neelabea
July 31st, 2011
7:06 pm
I like and respect Mo’Nique. As a sometime loud black woman myself, she was even TOO LOUD for me. I watched while I was trying to wind DOWN from a long day at work, but her LOUDNESS would wind me back UP so I stopped watching. I agree that STEVE HARVEY would make a great Late Night host and I understand that Negotiations are in the works…Watch out Jay!!!
jappeyes
July 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
I hate Mo’s show is being canceled. I watch often but thought she catered to much to one group. I felt she needed more variety in her guest. Maybe it is difficult to get such diversity here in ATL. I grew tired of the rappers with pants sagging and saying you know, you know. Good luck in the future Mo.
ATLBOI
July 31st, 2011
11:16 pm
WHAT!!!…Her show is better than that Wendy Williams Crap…and when I say CRAP I mean CRAP!!!!!!…….I think everybody is missing the obvious reason why this show is being cancelled and that is because there’s never any white guest on her show. A lot of people might say that’s not the reason, but it is. Yea she loud I must admit, but she’s being herself; she keeps it real, and furthermore she shines a light on black talent which is the important part. Although its 2011 and we have a black president, remember ain’t nothing changed people, we live in a world with a glass ceiling……
javon
July 31st, 2011
11:43 pm
her show was ok she was just too loud and annoying at times like “hey babies” why not just say hello, i just think she was trying to be another “oprah” but no one can replace her so STOP trying. but dont get me wrong i love moniques acting!
Alva Kerns
August 1st, 2011
12:21 am
I feel we need to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT for,” THE MO”NIQUE SHOW” ! How can you restrict,MO’NIQUE for being MO’NIQUE ??? Everybody of ALL creed need to get off their couches, get out your laptops,get on your computers or go to the library and involve your choice of quality of BLACK ENTERTAINMENT ! America, it’s your turn, not the executives at BET !!! Remember they cancelled, THE GAME and JUDGE KAREN and got it back !!! I have been to over 100 of MO’NIQUES SHOWS and she is REAL, not FAKE….WE SHOLD HAVE A SAY SO AS WELL !
Top Black News Headlines – July 28, 2011 | The Black Report Archives
August 1st, 2011
5:51 am
[...] BET reportedly cancels ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ [...]
mike scott
August 1st, 2011
8:38 am
aubry this is not a toot your own horn blog.
so tired of your talk
August 1st, 2011
9:27 am
“mike scott July 29th, 2011 11:54 am, this country may never recover from obama” i had to backtrack on that one to see if you pulled that out of the air. i see you did not, found the statement you were responding to. that is all i have to say, not gonna make this a political battle. as far as you 8:38 am post today, too funny and i agree– aubry, wtheck?? congrats, but ummm, this is about monique–love her or leave her…
LydiasDad
August 1st, 2011
4:44 pm
I guess they “axed” her to leave the show.
just sayin
August 1st, 2011
7:01 pm
Monique is not a good interviewer. “So let me ask you this” “You look absolutely Amazing” Sugah. Sounds so rehearsed. Monique and Rodney were not funny to me – just my opinion. Corny to be frank. With that said. I like what she is trying to do. Which is establish a platform for black people. Not being racist – just saying hey – you don’t get exposure on any other show – come here and I will let you be on national TV to showcase your talent. I love that part of her. One thing you notice is there are not many big stars joining her on the couch. They don’t support her. Shameful but true. There were too many unknowns on the same show. They should mix it up with a big star and an unknown. AND BET IS WHACK!!! They have nothing absolutely nothing. BKTV is what it should be black kid tv. No good movies – all about shooting, robbing, and gangster crap. No good video shows to showcase all types of talent. Nothing like it used to be. CHEAP BLACK TV. Monique is a personality that is not caving into what WE want her to be. Another thing I like about her. That has paid off for her. Now she can focus on her acting career. She has that under her belt and is a strong woman who will succeed.
Mo
August 2nd, 2011
12:47 pm
I don’t know if any of you r in entertainment business or know anything about running a nation, I doubt u will ever get a chance to be a Academy Winning actress like Monique or The President like Obama. One thing for sure God gave them each a gift and they are doing fine.
Mo
August 2nd, 2011
12:50 pm
And another thing God take care of his children.
Double D
August 2nd, 2011
3:05 pm
They do have WET (White Entertainment TV). It’s called ABC, NBC, CBS
Double D
August 2nd, 2011
6:46 pm
Monique used her show to champion several black-oriented shows such as The Game et al. It is now time for the favor to be returned and have someone come to her aid.
TeeDiamond
August 3rd, 2011
1:23 pm
In response to the ignorant comment from MattGrant Park
WET (White Entertainment Television) would be NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, TNT, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, MTV, ETC. I could go on but I am sure that you get the hint. Just turn on your television set and there you have WET, as you so affectionately call it.
FOH with that ignorant racist comment.
The Real Story Behind The Cancellation Of The Mo’Nique Show :: The Fab Empire
August 3rd, 2011
2:39 pm
[...] Source In Bmore Fab BET, monique show, rodney perry [...]
Marilee
August 3rd, 2011
3:59 pm
I was thinking the other day how much longer would Monique’s show last and ironically I heard that it’s cancelled. I noticed that she began to come on three nights a week instead of five nights. I thought to myself maybe she wants to spend more time w/her family. Yes, her interviewing skills need improving; but I APPLAUD HER FOR HAVING PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE HER & ME ON T.V. Like last night the young black kids that are entrepenuers. We would have never heard/seen them if NOT for Monique. She brought many black artists out that we’d not seen/heard of for a long while. Alot of the guests (i.e., Louis Gossett, Glenn Turman), just to name a few talked about OUR HISTORY that i didn’t know. We are not taught alot about us in schools. So, we do research, which is fine. But I loved the fact that she kept it black and there’s nothing wrong w/that. She, did, however, have the occasional white guest. The white shows aren’t and never will showcase us the way Monique did. I was always concerned when Bob Johnson sold BET to Viacom. And, then when I heard that BET now stood for “BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER,” I knew things were changing. So, if you’re so inclined write, call BET to keep her on the air; just like people did to get The Game back on TV. We must be careful as blacks how we speak about our own. While Oprah is good and I’m proud of her accomplishments and the things she has done for blacks (i.e., scholarship to Spelman each year & the many black children she supported to go to school), her network is white; which blows my mind and I’ve had conversations w/her regarding that via emails. She hasn’t changed yet and I don’t know that she will. Let’s pray for Monique rather than put her down. And, regarding her being loud when my family is together we are loud too. Thank you for reading Marilee’s Moment & HAVE A SPECTACULAR DAY!
Lady Grey
August 4th, 2011
12:41 am
I watched the Monique show, I enjoyed the show.She had guests on that hadn’t been in the public eye in years.And she showed that there were more sides to an actor,rapper and TV personality than met the eye.Such as their contributions to society. So she was loud BFD that’s just her.She has a big heart and a big personality to go with it. And to small minded haters out there,well thats just what you are small minded and pityful.
Jlove
August 7th, 2011
9:57 pm
Thank You. I did learn a lot from this show. I was educated about a lot of guest she brought on the show. She didn’t bash people but always tried to lift them up and encourage. Thanks
Late Night Talk Loses It’s Color… | Flick Appeal
August 10th, 2011
6:26 pm
[...] Mo’nique is having great ratings on BET (at the 11pm timeslot), the show is on hiatus indefinitely (translation: Cancelled). Why would BET want to get rid of one of it’s top rated shows? It [...]
Deyon
August 13th, 2011
3:26 am
Thank God this show was cancelled…Monique was too loud and she spends too much time kissing the guests ass. And call the the guest baby…was so inappropriate. Monique needs further education on interviewing and how to conduct herself….she should have got some pointers from Oprah
nj
August 16th, 2011
5:56 pm
Oh well, you knew it was coming. No one can stay around who is just too real and show casing african american talent. This is a no-can-do. Anyone not following in the exact steps of oprah will be put on hiatus — even on BET. Oprah had some moments but Mo can smoke Oprah by far and do it just being her very natural, confident, really real and “stuttin her stuff” mama. I just love Mo’Nique!!!
nevermind
August 17th, 2011
11:26 am
her show was canceled because she had a black following and BET is owned by white people. Any time black people are happy and get ANYTHING that is for us, it will be destroyed/canceled/killed in this country.