Arsenio Hall to Host The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves, Five-Part TV One Original...

Arsenio Hall to Host The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves, Five-Part TV One
Original Special Premiering Sunday November 9

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning Sunday, Nov. 9, TV
One will premiere an original, five-hour special chronicling the unforgettable
moments, cultural movements and personal achievement that have advanced the
black race and helped change the course of American history over the past
century in The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves. Arsenio Hall, the
groundbreaking television host who literally changed the face of late-night
television, will host the special, which will air over five consecutive
nights, covering 20 Power Moves each night, culminating with the top 20 -- and
the #1 moment -- on Thursday, November 13.
The Blacklist will encompass Power Moves from a wide cultural and historic
perspective, from unwavering civil rights leaders to Nobel Prize-winning
literary giants to independent-thinking film directors to a pop star who "Beat
It." The special will highlight African-American pioneers and awe-inspiring
moments such as: the 1968 Olympic Medalists proudly raising their fists in the
air in support of Black Power; Thurgood Marshall's induction into the Supreme
Court; the birth of Motown records; Bill Cosby becoming the knowledgeable,
advice-giving father figure for the American television audience; Michael
Jackson's "Thriller" becoming one of the top selling albums of all time; the
emergence of Rap music as a voice of the inner city; Malcolm X's stance of
self-preservation "By Any Means Necessary"; the steadfast determination of the
Little Rock Nine as they helped to desegregate the school system; and, of
course, Barack Obama's historic bid for the Presidency.
With a unique blend of reverence, "tell it like it is" attitude and a
little bit of humor, this highly entertaining series promises to give a
historical perspective, as well as an inspirational walk through of the best
and most celebrated moments of the African-American experience.
The Power Moves will be presented with a fast-paced display of memorable
imagery, the most-up-to-date graphic technology and soulful music,
transporting the viewer to times and places that should never be forgotten.
Through in-depth interviews, viewers will hear firsthand accounts of many
of these Power Moves from those who witnessed or took part in these moments or
personal achievements, lived to talk about it and reflect on their impact on
the American culture. The special will include commentary from scholars
Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante and William Jelani Cobb; cultural
critics Chuck D, Michaela Angela Davis and Emil Wilbekin, Hip Hop pioneer
Russell Simmons, rising politician Kevin Powell; and a host of celebrities and
comedians for a lighter and somewhat irreverent view of the Power Moves.
"Viewers love list shows, and at TV One we wanted to create one that would
not only capture attention, but would provoke discussion online and around the
water cooler about the events, people and moments that have truly impacted
American culture and even shaped our world, society and identity," said TV One
President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers.
A popular stand-up comedian, Arsenio Hall hosted Fox's The Late Show in
1987 and the syndicated late-night series, The Arsenio Hall Show, from
1989-1994. Changing the face of late night television by capturing young,
multi-ethnic viewers across the country, the show provided a forum for cutting
edge comedy, politics and the television debut of such pop superstars as
Mariah Carey, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Boyz II Men, and countless others. Although
entertainment was a priority for Hall, he also conceived of his show as a
space where audiences, especially youth, could be educated.
The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves is produced for TV One by Dark
Matter Entertainment. Executive producers are Jason Bolling and P.J. McSwain.
Launched in January 2004, TV One (http://www.tvoneonline.com) serves more
than 43.7 million households (Nielsen July 2008 estimate), offering a broad
range of lifestyle and entertainment-oriented original programming, classic
series, movies, fashion and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a
diverse audience of adult African American viewers. TV One's investors include
Radio One (Nasdaq: ROIA and ROIAK; http://www.radio-one.com), the largest
radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners;
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA and CMCSK; http://www.comcast.com), the
leading cable television company in the country; The DirecTV Group;
Constellation Ventures; Syndicated Communications; and Opportunity Capital
Partners.
SOURCE TV One

Lynn McReynolds for TV One, +1-410-268-0275, lynn@mcreynoldselek.com