BET's hit show '106 & Park' could make a comeback for its 25th anniversary, CEO says
BET's "106 & Park," the hit daily countdown show that had R&B and hop music lovers glued to their screens in the early 2000s, could potentially make a comeback for its upcoming anniversary.
The network's President and CEO Scott Mills hinted at the potential reimagined reboot during an interview on "The Breakfast Club" last week: "We understand that people love '106 & Park', and so the fact that it doesn't work as a linear television show doesn't mean that '106 & Park' is over. We can bring '106 & Park' back as a podcast. We can bring '106 & Park' back as a digital experience."
"We are evolving what '106 & Park' would look like in 2025 because it does have that very important role," he explained, teasing that a project is in the works. "We have a number of really exciting executions because...we're approaching the 25th anniversary of '106 & Park' as well."
Singer and actress Chloe Bailey, 26, was also present during the conversation. She expressed the impact the show had on her childhood and her generation.
"I'd run home from school, and that's what I would put on," Bailey gushed. "I was used to seeing people who looked like me who were succeeding in a field I wanted to succeed in one day."
Paste BN reached out to BET for comment.
What is '106 & Park'?
Following its launch in 2000, '106 & Park' became the go-to weeknight show for Black millennials to catch their favorite music videos and exclusive interviews with celebrities after school. Notable guests range from musicians to actors to models, including Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Jay Z, Destiny's Child, 50 Cent, Usher, Tyra Banks, Denzel Washington, and Halle Berry.
The hottest names in culture appeared on the show, which always had an in-studio cheering audience. The program highlighted rising stars in the industry and gave young fans a front seat to their journey.
"One of the things that fueled 106 & Park was the absolute dearth of [urban] artists that 14- to 16-year-old girls could lose their minds over,” Stephen Hill, then serving as BET VP of music programming, told Entertainment Weekly in 2002. " ”It was just one of those obvious holes. You’ve got credible hip-hop, you’ve got adult hip-hop, you don’t have that New Edition group. ‘106 & Park’ was intended to be the perfect vehicle.”
Bow Wow, also known as "Mr. 106 & Park," was one of those artists who captured fans' hearts. According to BET, he holds the title for most retired videos on the platform. He eventually became a host in the early 2010s.
The beloved on-air program, which had different hosts throughout the years, concluded in 2014.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.