Why The 'Race Card' Is Played

African-American ABC executive who fired Roseanne hired her last year ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey's job just got a bit tougher. Dungey, the first African-American to head programming at a major broadcast network, canceled her network's top-rated show of the 2017-18 TV season on Tuesday, "Roseanne," after racist tweets by the show's star, Roseanne Barr. Dungey couldn't have taken an action of that magnitude in a vacuum. She reports to Disney-ABC TV Group chief Ben Sherwood, who in turn answers to  Disney CEO Robert Iger, who publicly backed the decision , tweeting, "There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing." Still, filling the sudden hole in ABC's primetime lineup is a task that will largely fall to Dungey, whose network finished the season with a bit of momentum thanks to the ratings success of "Roseanne" and to a lesser degree "American Idol" and the new drama &q

Janet Jackson to get the Billboard Icon Award Janet Jackson's icon status is being confirmed at the Billboard Awards. The superstar is set to get the Billboard Icon Award at the May 20 ceremony in Las Vegas, hosted by Kelly Clarkson. She'll also reward fans with a performance on the live telecast, her first televised performance in nine years. Past award recipients include Prince, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.

Was fatal Orlando police shooting justified? Former sheriff says yes ORLANDO, Fla.  - The split-second decision by Orlando police officers to open fire at the speeding driver of a late-model van in the parking lot of Colonial Plaza Monday afternoon was justified, former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said. Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the officers were in the area of Colonial Plaza Shopping Center near Bumby Avenue and Colonial Drive on Monday when they were flagged down by a loss prevention officer at Marshall's, who notified them of a crime in progress. Mina said the suspects were trying to get away when the officers fired at the vehicle. The driver was struck by police gunfire and continued to drive away, leaving the shopping center, and  was found dead near Langford Park soon after the shooting.