THE “2009 BET Awards” cashed in on Michael Jackson sentimentality, drawing 10.7 million viewers to last Sunday’s broadcast.
Airing three days after Jackson died, the annual entertainment awards show was re-jiggered and turned into an all-star tribute to the King of Pop at the last minute, featuring a moving speech from sister Janet Jackson and an appearance by dad Joe Jackson.
It was a mere 3,000 viewers short of besting the scandal-ridden May 25 premiere of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” for the title of most-watched cable show of the year, according to Nielsen.
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