BET and CENTRIC Celebrate African American Heritage During Black History Month With An Outstanding Lineup of Specials, Original Series and New Movie Premieres

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- BET and CENTRIC will pay homage to the remarkable accomplishments of African Americans who have paved the way in music, film and entertainment during Black History Month with a superb lineup of thought-provoking black films and compelling original programming.

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Throughout the month of February, BET will showcase African American theatre and cinema with the premieres of movie favorites such as the blockbuster hit, THE GREAT DEBATERS starring Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Jurnee Smollet on Saturday, February 6 at 6:30 PM*; the premiere of THE LORETTA CLAIBORNE STORY, the inspiring fact-based saga of a mentally and physically handicapped young woman who fulfilled her dream to excel at track and field on Sunday, February 14 at 6:00 PM*; and adding to the extraordinary programming is the third annual BET HONORS on Monday, February 1 at 9:00 PM*.

Additionally, BET will premiere two new original series, THE FAMILY CREWS and THE MICHAEL VICK PROJECT as well as the compelling documentary TEN9EIGHT. Premiering on Tuesday, February 2 at 10:00 P.M.*, THE MICHAEL VICK PROJECT - which is produced by DuBose Entertainment, MV7 Productions and Category 5 Entertainment - will follow the iconic and polarizing professional football player as he journeys on the road to redemption in both his personal and professional life.

With THE FAMILY CREWS, which debuts on Sunday, February 21 at 9:00 PM*, viewers will get an unprecedented glimpse at the life and family of America's favorite TV father and funnyman Terry Crews of Everybody Hates Chris. On Sunday, February 7 at 12:00 PM*, BET will also premiere the compelling documentary TEN9EIGHT. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio, the documentary tells the inspirational stories of several inner city teens from Harlem to Compton and all points in between, as they compete in an annual business plan competition run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

CENTRIC will also introduce its new original series MODEL CITY which will give viewers an exclusive look at the highly competitive roller coaster world of the male model of color. Premiering on Thursday, February 18 at 8:00 PM*, MODEL CITY will venture into a small facet of the elite male model trade in which only 2 percent of African American and Latin male models inhabit. From go-sees and castings to the catwalk and high profile campaigns, the men of MODEL CITY struggle with the highs and lows inherent in a world where looks are really everything.

ON BET:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

7:00 PM* on BET

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE - BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE is a hilarious comedy starring Queen Latifah and Steve Martin when a lonely guy meets a woman on the Internet who happens to be in prison, she breaks out to be with him, and proceeds to wreak havoc on his middle-class life.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

9:00 PM* on BET

THE BET HONORS - THE BET HONORS celebrates the best and brightest in African American culture: entrepreneurs, corporate citizens, public servants and entertainers are lauded with moving musical tributes. Hosted by Gabrielle Union, this year's honorees include Whitney Houston, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Queen Latifah, Dr. Keith Black and Ruth Simmons.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

10:00 PM* on BET

THE MICHAEL VICK PROJECT - THE MICHAEL VICK PROJECT will follow the iconic and polarizing professional football player as he journeys on the road to redemption -- in both his personal and professional life.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

6:30 PM* on BET

THE GREAT DEBATERS - The blockbuster hit starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker is a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

12:00 PM* on BET

TEN9EIGHT - Directed by award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio, this documentary tells the inspirational stories of several inner city teens from Harlem to Compton and all points in between, as they compete in an annual business plan competition run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

6:00 PM* on BET

THE LORETTA CLAIBORNE STORY - Starring Kimberly Elise, THE LORETTA CLAIBORNE STORY is the fact-based saga of a mentally and physically handicapped young woman who fulfilled her dream to excel at track and field.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

10:00 AM-11:00 PM* on BET

THE GAME Marathon - Viewers are treated to an all-day rundown of this hit comedy starring veteran actors Tia Mowry and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

9:00 PM* on BET

THE FAMILY CREWS - Viewers will get an unprecedented glimpse at the life and family of America's favorite TV father and funnyman Terry Crews of Everybody Hates Chris.

-more-

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

3:00 PM* on BET

A MOTHER'S COURAGE: THE MARY THOMAS STORY - A MOTHER'S COURAGE: THE MARY THOMAS STORY is the story of Mary Thomas, the mother of basketball star Isiah Thomas, and how she fought to keep her family together and her sons out of trouble despite the surroundings of poverty, drugs, crime and violence of their ghetto neighborhood. Starring Alfre Woodard.

*All times ET/PT

Dates and times are subject to change.

For up-to-the-minute information, footage and photos about these shows, please visit www.bet.com.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

SOURCE BET Networks