BET on lots of shows

Black Entertainment Television is not known as a popular source for animated programs, but the network is trying to change that with releases featuring the voices of actors Vin Diesel and Orlando Jones.

Announced last year, Diesel's "Hannibal the Conquerer," telling the story of the African king of Carthage famous for crossing the Alps with a herd of elephants, has a release date of February 2008. And "BUFU," an animated sketch comedy show, comes from the minds of comedian Jones and "Everybody Hates Chris" creator Ali LeRoi.

With a slate of 16 new shows coming out on varying dates, BET President of Entertainment Reginald Hudlin says the network is set to release "the biggest array of black programming ever."

"These shows ['Hannibal' and 'BUFU'] will help put people on notice about the new direction that we're going in," said Hudlin. "Everything that's being put on makes a big statement" about the network's commitment to programming.

Senior Vice President of Animation Denys Cowan was encouraged by the "great response" the shows received at their Comic-Con panel. At last year's panel, a short entitled "Bid 'Em High" was a highlight, and although the short called "Read a Book" was out before the convention, it also garnered some attention this year.

"But we're working on some things that will be bigger," says Cowan.

-- Jevon Phillips