COCK-A-DOODLE DOO?

At this point, I, along with a lot of other sane people, have grown tired of the whole Star Jones-Reynolds v. ABC & Barbara Walters thing. Still, the situation gives me cause to pause.

Let's re-view. Star, super accomplished attorney, joined daytime talk show, The View, in 1996. Had heard a thing or two about her; wasn't crazy about her opinions on O.J., Mike Tyson, or the fact that she successfully had a 13-year-old convicted of murder as an adult. The show is the brain-child of news guru and celebrity in her own right, Barbara Walters. Star was the only African-American co-host and a bit overweight at the time. Nevertheless, she was articulate, did an outstanding job, and always for the most part remained true to her people.

As her career blossomed (guest roles on television and gracing red carpets across the nation), Star began to gain more weight. Soon, she was obese. People poked fun at her (comedian and radio co-host J. Anthony Brown was the leader of the pack); she was having health issues. Star decided to do something about it. What that something was, she will not tell.

Simultaneous with her serious weight loss, the 40-something North Carolina native found love with Al Reynolds, an investment banker; Star was ecstatic. And who could blame her for being so damn happy? The stats for black women finding available black men, especially ones of her status—money, education, job, are extremely bleak. Hell, even Halle Berry has a hard time keeping a man, having married and divorced twice.

As Star continued to peel off the pounds, the love between she and Al blow-up-chu-waited; a deaf person could hear the potential nuptial bells ringing. During half-time at the 2004 NBA All-Star game, Sir Reynolds pops the question in front of millions of people. A November date was quickly set and the preparation began. It was a wedding fit for a queen; and that is what some folks were calling her: a queen bitch. Bridezilla. She was getting freebies, endorsements, “corporate sponsors,” etc., by the truckload and loving it. She blew the off the complaints about “using what she had, to get what she wanted,” and continued to brag about her fairy tale wedding.

Fast forward to June 27, 2006. Star announces that she is leaving the show in mid-July because she is about to be fired. Barbara Walters is unmistakably pissed. The next day, The View airs with Star visibly missing from the opening credits and she does not enter, stage left, with the other co-hosts. Walters stated that Star blindsided her and the other hosts the day before. Stupposedly, the plan, accorinding to Walters, was for Star to find another another job, and then announce her depature so that Star could "leave with dignity.” Translation: so we (ABC) would not look like the bad guys; oops, too late. Walters ended with, “Regrettably, Star will no longer be on this program.”

According to Walters and ABC, research showed that people were turned off by Star’s glitzy wedding. What people? Did they ask me? Or my cousin Maurice and them? Let’s be real, it was white people who were upset that this sister was living the life that some of them will never be able to afford.

Valuable lessons for folks here:
1. Never, ever, ever brag about what you have. Ever. If Star had kept her mouth shut, there would have been nothing to “turn people off.”

2. Never quit. If fired, you can collect unemployment. Besides, there is no shame in being fired. At an NABJ Short Course once, one of the media professionals advised that if you are good at what you do, you can still be fired. That is no reflection on you personally, or your abilities; just poor judgment on the part of your employer.

3. Keep your private life private. It does not matter how much other folk share; what goes on in your house stays in your house (with the exception of a few close relatives).

4. ABC giving Star the boot proves that black folk have got to get it together and keep their own shop (BET does not count; their programming is ghetto and ignorant. Plus they did Tavis the same way).

Question regarding the Bottom Line: Can Mrs. Jones-Reynolds' termination be likened to a case of “chickens coming home to roost”?

Still, I wish her the best and have no doubt she will land on her feet.

Axe.

Currently Listening To: David Sandborn, TimeAgain
Mood: Pleasantly Pleased