The BET Awards 2013: Turnt Up And Grown Up

The BET Awards is heading into Oscar territory. Not just for it’s 3-and-a half-hour running time, but for a noticeable transition into a new direction. Aside from Nikki Minaj, whose performances were beeped so much they were unintelligible, Kevin Hart playing the role of court jester and some production glitches that left host Chris Tucker searching for filler, the 2013 awards, broadcast for the first time from L.A.’s Nokia Theatre, was an entertaining grown folks affair.

Charlie Wilson and Dwyane Wade, the night’s honorees for Lifetime Achievement Award and Humanitarian Award, kept the classy factor intact and Chris Brown kept the drama on the stage though Claudia Jordan and Omarosa’s mother, yes I said, mother, mixed it up outside the show. Here are the highs, and a few lows, of the night:

COOL BROWN: Chris Brown was a model citizen at the BET Awards, opening the show with an accomplished performance of his current hit “Fine China” and accepting the Fandemonium Award for the fourth year in a row. He summed his brief acceptance speech with “Don’t read the bull in the news. I’m a real dude.”

BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE: Charlie Wilson was paid tribute to by India.Arie, Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder, then performed with Pharrell, Snoop Lion and Justin Timberlake for the night’s best overall segment and the show’s highlight.

FIRE IT UP: Twitter and Facebook were ablaze as apparently so was Paula Patton, whose loopy appearances on the red carpet and as a presenter had folks wondering.

SO GOOD: Presenter Meagan Good, now married to film exec/pastor Devon Franklin likely had more than a few viewers saying “Amen” as to her super-low cut, cleavage-baring dress.

STAR TRACK: NEXT GENERATION: Rebbie Jackson’s son, Austin Brown, performed as part of the Music Matters segment and showed off some serious musical chops.

DRESS AS A WEAPON: R. Kelly did a montage of his greatest hits performed with a group of black-clad singers but his biggest feat was not injuring anyone with his spiked hat and leather jacket.

MOST HUMBLE WINNER: In his acceptance speech for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, L.A. rapper Kendrick Lamar, who said “Keep love, God and respect in your heart and with hard work you can do anything.”

MISSING IN ACTION: Drake, Kanye, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Rihanna, all nominated, none of them in attendance.

BEST POLITICAL STATEMENT: Jamie Foxx, accepting the award for Best Actor wearing a Trayvon Martin T-shirt.

TUCKED IN: Chris Tucker either seemed as though he was rusty, wasn’t given a script or didn’t follow a script, as he floundered through some of the show and disappeared for a good portion of it. Hmmm, maybe next year he’ll rehearse more?

AND THE RATCHET AWARD GOES TO: Hands down, Nicki Minaj, who told the women of “The Best Man Holiday” cast that she looked up to them, then proceeded to do two performances that were bleeped so much you couldn’t tell what she was saying.

SAVE THE OVERTIME: Adding in a performance by Tamela Mann and by a group of reggae stars including Beenie Man and Dawn Penn not only carried the show well over 3 hours, but seemed out of place and better suited to “Celebration of Gospel” and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. This year’s awards also threw in a tribute to youth activists which seemed like just too much for an already crammed show.

DIVA DIS: Several Facebook commentators were appalled that Mariah Carey appeared to be lip-synching during a performance of “Beautiful” that featured not Miguel, who she does the song with but…Young Jeezy. Huh?

BEST DRESSED:

Onstage: Justin Timberlake in classic black formal wear, “The Best Man Holiday” cast.

Red carpet: actress/singer Adrienne Bailon in red and LeToya Luckett in white.

Best Dressed Couple: “House of Lies” star Don Cheadle and his wife Bridget Coulter.

WORST DRESSED: 2 Chainz, it’s truuuu. You are over-accessorized.

Check out the red carpet photos, a full list of winners and performances here: