Inside the live taping...

The taping of the second annual BET Honors, held January 17, started a little late because Washington, D.C.'s Pennsylvania Avenue was shut down in anticipation of Barack Obama's inauguration. But once the Honors finally started, the audience was in a for a great show. It was more than an awards ceremony because of powerful performances by Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo, Queen Latifah and Anita Baker. Stevie launched into “Superstition” a second time because of an unspecified error. Thank goodness he did a do-over because people in the balcony were a little stiff the first time around. The director even had to prompt people to loosen up by telling the audience that they should feel free to have fun. Presenter Samuel L. Jackson cosigned on that order: “Yeah, make it like the [Democratic National] Convention,” he said with a smile. (Btw, this year the awards were red, white and blue. It seems everyone's feeling patriotic right now!)

Later, Keyshia Cole came out to sing (kind of) a tribute to Black love. (The sentiment was an unofficial honoree.) The audience was shown a pre-recorded video of Keyshia singing, rather than being treated to her live voice. If you look out for a wide shot of her near the end of her song, you might see that the seats look suspiciously empty.

Because this was a live taping, things didn’t go exactly according to plan. We’re not sure who was talking, but it sounded like somebody didn't have their stuff together backstage. The reason everyone out in the auditorium knew that was because we could hear hushed tones over a microphone that had been left on! Now, we know the backstage crew was trying to get everything to go smoothly, but a quick mic check is always a good idea. Just saying! 

The audience also got a preview of BET's newest reality series "Harlem Heights," which follows a group of successful, attractive young people who live in Harlem. From what we saw, this could be a fan favorite on the order of “Baldwin Hills.”

You can catch “Harlem Heights” beginning in March. The BET Honors airs February 9 at 9 p.m.

Notes from the red carpet...

We saw two of our favorites, Queen Latifah and Monica, run into each other on the red carpet and give each other big ol’ hugs. Queen Latifah and BET CEO Debra Lee also greeted each other on the red carpet.  Queen Latifah told Debra that they wouldn’t be able to drag her out of the city; she was that excited about President-elect Barack Obama’s upcoming inauguration.

Star Jones not only looked happy but pretty sexy too, thanks to some special accessories: her Spanx, a shining gold toe ring, black stilettos that had to have to been near 4 inches, and a handsome date--even though he was trying to stay off the red carpet. He waited patiently for Star to wrap up her interviews and picture posing, then when his woman was ready, he put his hand on the small of her back and escorted her to the show. Could this one be the real deal? We're rooting for you, Star!

Handsome actor Lance Gross was excited about his ticket to watch the inauguration. (As for his bowling game? Not so much. "I did okay. A lot of distractions," he smiled about his performance at Ne-Yo's Compound Foundation event, held the day before at Howard University's bowling alley.) Lance planned to brave the forecasted 20-something-degree inauguration weather in a pea coat! His fiancee Eva Pigford wasn't able to make the trip to D.C. because of work. Too bad she had to miss out on all the fun and history. Hopefully Lance took good pics for her!

We also caught up with Roland Burris, the politician who will finally fill Obama’s Illinois Senate seat. After all the controversy he’s endured, Roland is finally ready to take his position and was planning to interview prospective staffers the next day.

Ne-Yo's girlfriend, the lovely Tennille Jimenez, was excited to be at the BET Honors but she was really looking forward to the Grammys. “I'm rooting for him to win all six," she told us about her honey's Grammy Award nominations. "Being realistic, maybe 4, you know, but 6!"  Tenille had just gotten her gorgeous, floor-length, tiered black halter dress earlier that day but she wouldn't tell us where.  "I don't know the name of it, you know? I just bought it today. It's a secret! It's a secret!” She looked really happy throughout the evening.

We interviewed actress Denise Boutte (Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married) on the red carpet, and she told us on that there would be surprises that night, but we had no clue that Whitney Houston was going to come through to honor Tyler Perry. When Steven Hill, BET's co-president of programming, has his secrets, they stay secrets.  One BET publicist told us the PR team didn't even know Whitney was going to be part of the show.

Well, not only was Whitney part of the show, she looked gorgeous and, most importantly, healthy. South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, who was one of the honorees, said of Whitney's appearance, “Oh, that was great. My wife almost cried when she came out there.”  

And back to Monica. She gave a tribute to Mary J. Blige and tore the stage up when she performed the classic “Not Gon' Cry.” Monica came out in the black sunglasses and scarf, just like Mary in the original video for the song.  Some of the S2S team watched it from inside the theater, but those of us in the media center had a better view of Mary's response: She was so hyped by Monica's rendition. (This one is a must-see!) Monica told Mary afterward, "I thank you for giving me the motivation to love me first and let him catch up with the woman I have become. ... Every prayer and every lecture, I heard you."  We know Monica was talking about an old relationship, not the rock-solid one she has with rapper Rodney "Rocko" Hill, the father of her two sons.

Presenter Terrence Howard brought his adorable son Hunter to the show. Even though Terrence had put Sister 2 Sister on his approved list, meaning he'd allow us to interview him backstage, he decided not to talk to anyone except for BET. We were disappointed, but we forgive you, Terrence, just because we got to lock eyes with you across the crowded media center. But you owe us one! ;-)

Check out the BET Honors when it airs February 9 at 9 p.m.

Photo of Anita Baker courtesy of Clutch.

Photo of Samuel L. Jackson courtesy of Black Press Radio.

Photos of Monica and Ne-Yo courtesy of Necole Bitchie.