Black TV Watch: Talking Chicago Violence on 'Don't Sleep!'

By: Celeste Little | Posted: November 29, 2012 at 4:00 PM

T.J. Holmes of Don't Sleep! (BET.com)

(The Root) -- Last night, T.J. Holmes tackled some very tough topics, Wanda Sykes made us laugh and Wiz Khalifa performed a new song. Seems like Wednesday was all about celebrating the comeback kid.

Don't Sleep! With T.J. Holmes (Wednesday, 11 p.m. ET; BET)

"When you're starving, you're not really worrying about who you're hurting. You're starving." --Malik Yusef

Highlight: T.J. Holmes' Don't Sleep! was recently cut down from a daily show to a weekly, hour-long broadcast, and it seems like it just might be working a little better for him. This week, he's got Brad Pitt on, talking about his multicultural family.

He also speaks to Isiah Thomas, Judge Greg Mathis and Malik Yusef of G.O.O.D. Music about violence in Chicago. According to Holmes, during the course of the war in Afghanistan 2,161 American troops have died. During that same period in Chicago, there have been 4,730 homicides. One of the more memorable homicides this year was that of Lil JoJo, a rapper who challenged Chief Keef and was murdered soon after. He talks to JoJo's mother and brother about violence in their neighborhood.

Wanda Sykes on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (Wednesday, 11:35 p.m. ET; NBC)

"I get to say stuff to them like, 'Look, uh, you're white. This means you're going to have to work a little harder to get ahead. Nothing's just gonna be handed to you!" --Wanda Sykes

Highlight: We haven't seen Wanda Sykes in a while. Yeah, there was her failed late-night show, but we like her so much better on Leno. She talks about testing her gayness with Al Roker and being around her snot-nosed kids, who gave her some snot-nose sickness. She also weighs in on today's Romney-Obama lunch and what Republicans are bitter about now that Obama has been re-elected.

Wiz Khalifa on Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:30 a.m. ET; ABC)

"You a fan, I'm a player. I'm the man, you's a hater." --Wiz Khalifa

Highlight: Wiz Khalifa looks less like a hood rapper and very much like a sweaty rock star when he performs his new song, "Remember You." Is that because he is one now?