Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect
After an impressive 14 year run, America’s No. 1 music variety show on cable television, 106 & PARK, will host its final daily on-air show tonight December 19, 2014. The show will be hosted by 106’s first and arguably favorite hosts, Free & AJ. The 106 & PARK brand will continue to produce various specials throughout the year, including its annual New Year’s Eve show, 106 & PARTY, along with live event experiences at the BET Awards and BET Experience. 106 & PARK plans to become the hottest online hangout as it will make a shift to a digital only format on BET.com.
Free and AJ took to their Instagram pages to express their excitement for hosting the final show as well as their appreciation for being a part of a show that impacted so many.
Free stated,
“Soooo. On Friday December 19, AJ Calloway and I get to do it one more time like we used to do it.. Together for the final act of 106 & Park. So grateful to have been a part of this show, when we started it was but a dream! Join us as we say goodbye…. and celebrate 14 years of amazing guests, talented hosts and the livest audience on the ONE and ONLY 106 & Park! Salute BET.
AJ stated,
“This Friday Dec 19th 2014 we will be in the building to host the final 106 & park AJ Calloway and Miss Free this is the end of an amazing journey that started in a small studio called Metropolis on the corner of 106th St and Park Ave in Spanish Harlem on Sept 11, 2000 and it impacted so many around the world. We love and thank all of the fans over the years, tune in Friday for our final bow together.”
Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Music Programming and Specials, had this to say about the show via BET.com:
“AJ accepting Janet Jackson’s challenge to…dance. Bow Wow laying that kiss on Tyra Banks (or was it the other way around?). Free crawling around the set LIKE Catwoman WITH Catwoman Halle Berry. Julissa’s taking over Halloween as “Wonder Woman.” Keshia brilliantly bonding with First Lady Michelle Obama. Paigion flying around the world with Rihanna on a 777. Rocsi salsa dancing with Victor Cruz and putting him to shame. Shorty and Ms. Mykie’s killer rap, “The History of Justin Timberlake,” visably thrilling JT himself. Terrence beatboxing while Jamie Foxx rhymed. Tigger making Tom Cruise do the of-the-moment “motorcycle dance.”
One thing is for sure we’ve all been touched by an era of 106 & Park whether it be the Free and AJ, Big Tigger & Julissa, Terrence and Rocsi, Pagion, Shorty, Mykie, Bow Wow or even the latest with Keshia and Bow Wow. 106 has put Hip Hop, R&B, entertainment, and pop culture as well as youth culture on television daily since the turn of this century. BET plans to take 106 to the digital realm as it’s the space in which their audience interacts with music the most. BET wants viewers to understand that there will still be major specials 106 & Party, and for the BET Awards 106 & Park Presents: Live, Red and Ready. The network, being sure not to minimize the new direction, stated that they realize it’s a big change but the “livest audience” will still be entertained well in the digital domain.
106 & Park will have its final daily on-air show tonight at 6 p.m. on BET.