Major historical changes will be going down at BET when current CEO Bob Johnson retires and the company's COO Debra Lee takes over in 2006.

Robert Johnson, CEO of Black Entertainment Television (BET), will be retiring as of January 2006. Taking over Johnson's position as CEO of the Viacom-owned cable network is Debra Lee. Lee has been serving as the COO since 1996 and has worked at BET for nearly twenty years. She ranks among a tiny elite circle of female African-American media chieftains, including the chairman of CNBC Pamela Thomas Graham and MTV President Christina Norman.

Lee responded, "I grew up with Ebony and Motown. BET has surpassed those brands to become the No. 1 brand in African-American media."

Lee will begin serving as the CEO as BET prepares for competition from cable channel, TV One -also aimed at Black viewers.

Lee stated that under her direction, BET will invest more in original programming. One new show coming to BET's line-up is "The Ultimate Hustler", a reality-based show similar to Trump's "The Apprentice". Hip-Hop mogul Damon Dash will fill in the "Donald-like" role on the show
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Atlantic Recording artists Trick Daddy, Twista, T.I., Fat Joe, Fabolous and Lil' Kim have teamed up with Marvel to present The Joint Chiefs comic book entitled "The Heist".

"The Heist" features the chart-topping rappers as they go on a mission to steal back the Check Writer's precious diamond.

Armed with their own special skill, each rapper partakes in various adventures to help break into the compound and battle the evil Clone's mindless army.

Copies of the limited edition specialty comic are being sold with any of the Joint Chief's albums at mom & pop retail outlets across the country.

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