By Damian Holbrook TV Guide Magazine, @damianholbrook
Cheers to Jesse Williams
for Being Awesome. Accepting the 2016 BET Humanitarian Award for his continued efforts to furthering social change, Grey’s Anatomy hunk Jesse Williams dropped truth bombs about equal rights, police brutality, cultural appropriation and institutionalized racism across the country in a speech that was both magic and real. And speaking of..
Cheers to the BET Awards’ Royal Salute
Jennifer Hudson took “Purple Rain” — and the crowd — to church (in some Prince-inspired perfection by Project Runway champ Christian Siriano, no less), while the late R&B genius’ bestie Shiela E. led a rousing mashup of his hits with a passion clearly fueled by their longtime friendship. We should all be so lucky to have someone sing our praises so ferociously.
Jeers to Showtime
for a Dreadful surprise. You know, a little advance warning about that series finale would have been nice, gang. You can’t just end Penny Dreadful’s third season with a major death and then be all “We out!” Although, if any show can get away with ghosting, it was this macabre gem.
Jeers to The Bachelorette ‘s Weak Baby James Taylor
Ugh. This guy went from curly-topped fave to churlish sad sack in record time by first playing the “I’m not as hot as the other guys … wahhhhh” routine, then by trying to make Jordan look like a jerk with a complaint that the guy is “entitled.” Why, because Aaron Rodger’s coif-blessed brother Jordan insisted on playing a card game by the rules? Needy is not sexy, bud. And neither is using pity as a way to keep JoJo’s attention.