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Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Ananda Lewis helped define the MTV VJ at the turn of the millennium
Music is a natural subject for people talking about it to bring their whole self into the mix, and Lewis did just that during her four-year MTV run: Early on in her tenure, she praised Queen of the Blues Dinah Washington en route to introducing the video for Snoop Dogg's 'Gin and Juice.' During a 2001 tribute to the late singer Aaliyah, she took time out from the script to give her own elegy to her friend and peer. She also had journalistic chops that MTV (and, before that, BET) let her flaunt, hosting 'True Life: I Am Driving While Black' and shows that dealt with the aftermath of the Columbine High School shooting. 'Ananda is Cleopatra. You know she's a queen,' Prince told the Advertisement 'Giving them the space to talk to people who would honor and respect who they were, especially brown people at the time, was really special,' she said in 2020. Three years later, Paramount Global shut down MTV's news division, and Lewis Lewis, who was born in Los Angeles in 1973 and grew up in San Diego, had her own talk show from 2001 to 2002 and hosted the celebrity news show 'The Insider' before stepping away from the entertainment world and becoming a carpenter in the 2010s. The short-lived 2019 reboot of 'While You Were Out' brought her two career trajectories together, and in recent years she'd popped up on documentaries that covered her era of MTV. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 2010s, and during a 2024 CNN roundtable, she revealed that it had progressed to Stage IV. Lewis died on June 11 at her home in Los Angeles, where she was in hospice care. Advertisement 'MTV was like going to an amusement park and having the FastPass to every ride, and you were on the ride with your favorite people every single time,' Lewis told Check the Rhymes TV. During the channel's reign as America's chief arbiter of pop music, Lewis and other standout VJs brought millions of viewers along for each trip with knowledge and enthusiasm. Maura Johnston is a writer and professor living in Allston. She can be reached at .
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who was Ananda Lewis? Know about the Former MTV VJ who died due to stage 4 breast cancer at 52
Know about Ananda Lewis: Following a protracted fight with stage IV breast cancer, Ananda Lewis, the pioneering MTV VJ turned talk show host, passed away at the age of 52. Her passing has reignited discussions about the significance of screening and the dangers of delaying treatment. After receiving her diagnosis in 2020, Lewis publicly expressed her remorse about postponing mammograms because she was afraid of radiation and selecting alternative therapies. Known for her lively singing on songs like "Total Request Live" in the late 1990s, she went on to host her show, gain recognition as a social activist, and even pursue a career in carpentry. Her son and a strong legacy of charm, integrity, and fortitude that transcends entertainment are left behind by her passing, which was confirmed by her sister Lakshmi. Who was Ananda Lewis? She was an MTV VJ | Credit: X Ananda Lewis was an American television broadcaster, carpenter, former model, and social crusader who lived from March 21, 1973, to June 11, 2025 . From the late 1990s until 2001, she was an MTV veejay. She then left the network to host The Ananda Lewis Show, a syndicated television chat show. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as a correspondent for The Insider. She later pursued a career in carpentry. She was the host of TLC's 2019 While You Were Out revival. Lewis told her Instagram followers on October 1, 2020, that she has been fighting stage 3 breast cancer for the last two years. Ananda Lewis's education qualification Lewis had a strong artistic background, having spent nine years at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts studying dance, theater, music, and photography. Later, while attending Howard University, she mentored at-risk youths and got involved in youth activism through the Youth Leadership and Development Institute (YLDI). She tried out for BET's "Teen Summit," a youth-focused program that tackles important issues in the Black community because she was passionate about making a positive social impact. She interviewed prominent people, including Hillary Clinton and Kobe Bryant, while hosting the show for three seasons. In a 2022 interview with BET, she talked about her desire to try out, recalling, "The kids in my program were like, 'you always tell us life comes opportunities and it's your responsibility to step up. You're not going to now? I'm glad I went and paid attention. Also Read: Who was Tijana Radonjic? A model who died due to panic attack while Parasailing in Adriatic Sea in Budva Ananda Lewis's career Ananda Lewis, a renowned TV host and advocate, dies at 52 after battling stage 4 breast cancer | Credit: X As host of BET's Teen Summit, Lewis initially attracted national acclaim for her work, which struck a deep chord with teenage audiences and brought her respect in the business. She became one of the most recognizable faces on MTV in the mid-1990s after her growing popularity led to significant hosting duties on the network's Total Request Live and Hot Zone. She won several NAACP Image Awards while she worked at MTV. She started a syndicated daytime talk show called The Ananda Lewis Show in 2001. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as a correspondent for The Insider. In 2019, she made her most recent TV appearance on TLC's While You Were Out. Later in life, Lewis obtained a professional trade certificate in carpentry, another skill he pursued. After receiving a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, she chose to pursue alternative therapies. She freely disclosed to her admirers that the illness has advanced to Stage IV by 2024. Ananda Lewis's family Ananda was Native American, primarily of the Creek and Blackfoot tribes, and of African American heritage. "Bliss" is the Sanskrit meaning of her first name. Lewis's father was a computer animation specialist, while her mother was an account manager for Pacific Bell. Lakshmi, her sister, works as a doctor. When Ananda was two years old, Lewis's parents separated, and her mother relocated to San Diego, California, with her girls in order to be close to her mother. Her husband, Harry Smith, the younger brother of Will Smith and the CEO of Smith Global Media, is her surviving relative. Langston, the couple's only child, was born in 2011. What was Ananda Lewis's net worth? She started her show in 2001 | Credit: X Many people are interested in the financial legacy that Ananda Lewis left for her two children in the wake of her death. The website Cloudflare stated that The Ananda Lewis Show is thought to be worth approximately $8 million , despite the fact that no official data have been made public regarding her net worth. How did Ananda Lewis die? After a protracted battle with stage 4 breast cancer, prominent TV anchor Ananda Lewis, a former hostess of the Teen Summit on BET and an MTV VJ, passed away at the age of 52. Her sister Lakshmi confirmed her death in a sorrowful Facebook post, writing, "She's free, and in His heavenly arms." Rest her soul, Lord. But in 2020, Ananda revealed that she had received a breast cancer diagnosis. She later shared her experience with the world in an effort to raise awareness and stop what she believed to be her mistakes. Initially, I intended to rid my body of extra poisons. I know that my body is intelligent, yet I still feel that way. During a roundtable interview with CNN in October 2024, she remarked, "Our bodies are brilliantly made." I decided to preserve my tumor and attempt to remove it from my body in a different manner. I want to return. I must acknowledge my mistakes in this.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis, Beloved Host of MTV's ‘TRL' and BET's ‘Teen Summit,' Dies at 52
Ananda Lewis, a prominent MTV VJ from the '90s and early 2000s, has died. Lewis's sister Lakshmi Emory posted the news to Facebook that she had lost her years-long battle with breast cancer. She was 52 years old. 'She's free, and in His heavenly arms,' Emory wrote. 'Lord, rest her soul.' Lewis announced in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer after not getting regular mammograms due to a fear of radiation. In a 2024 CNN interview, she revealed her cancer had progressed to Stage IV after choosing not to have a double mastectomy. Lewis was one of the first big video jockeys on MTV. She began her career by hosting BET's 'Teen Summit' for three seasons before moving over to MTV in 1997 to host 'TRL' and 'Hot Zone.' She got her own show – aptly titled 'The Ananda Lewis Show' – in 2001 that ran until 2002. BET remembered the former host following news of her death. 'As the host of BET's 'Teen Summit,' she didn't just lead conversations—she sparked change, empowering a generation to speak up, love themselves and think deeper,' the post read. It continued: 'Ananda brought brilliance, beauty and authenticity to every space she entered. Her impact lives on through the countless lives she touched, both on and off screen. We honor the life and legacy of Ananda Lewis—an unforgettable voice, trailblazer and truth-teller.' In 2004, Lewis joined 'The Insider' – a nightly show spinoff of 'Entertainment Tonight' – as a correspondent until 2005. She then left the industry altogether to pursue a career in carpentry. She returned to hosting duties in 2019 with TLC's revival of 'While You Were Out.' In an October 2024 interview with 'Good Morning America,' Lewis said she wanted people to remember 'that I loved hard, and lived loud and didn't back away from problems. And loved this life and was OK with letting it go too.' She is survived by her sister, Emory, and her son Langston. The post Ananda Lewis, Beloved Host of MTV's 'TRL' and BET's 'Teen Summit,' Dies at 52 appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis, Host of MTV's ‘Total Request Live' and ‘Hot Zone,' Dies At 52
Ananda Lewis, one of MTV's first video jockeys and a former host of 'Total Request Live,' 'Hot Zone,' and 'The Ananda Lewis Show,' died on Wednesday of breast cancer. She was 52. Her sister, Lakshmi Emory, reported her death. TMZ reported that Lewis died in her home in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. More from Variety 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars' Is Back: Here's How to Watch Season 10 Online 'The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras' Sets Paramount+ Debut (EXCLUSIVE) 'Helsinki Crimes' Finnish Commissioner MTV Ramps Up Overseas Co-Productions, Plots TV Version of Jo Spain Novel 'The Last to Disappear' (EXCLUSIVE) Lewis revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer on her Instagram account, where she spoke about not getting regular mammograms due to her fear of radiation. In a roundtable discussion with CNN in 2024, Lewis confirmed that she did not have a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She revealed that the tumor had metastasized, and that the cancer had progressed to stage IV. After being hired by MTV in 1997 as one of the new VJs, Lewis became the host of shows like 'Total Request Live' and 'Hot Zone,' where she interviewed rising and established talents for the network. In 2001, she became the host of her own talk show, 'The Ananda Lewis Show,' which ran from 2001 to 2002. She later joined Entertainment Tonight's spinoff 'The Insider' as a correspondent from 2004 to 2005. After taking a break from the industry to pursue carpentry, Lewis returned as the host for the 2019 revival of TLC's 'While You Were Out.' Born in Los Angeles in 1973, Lewis moved to San Diego shortly after her parents divorced where she lived with her sister, mother, and grandmother. After graduating from Howard University in 1995, Lewis began her career as the host of BET's Teen Summit, a talk show that was hosted by teenagers. After working with BET, Lewis was noticed by MTV and was hired in August of 1997. Shortly after moving to New York, Lewis became one of the main VJs for MTV, hosting shows such as 'Total Request Live,' a daily top ten music video countdown show. Lewis became one of the interviewers for 'Hot Zone,' a series focused on highlighting music videos and exclusive interviews with musicians. Lewis left MTV in 2001 to pursue her own talk show, 'The Ananda Lewis Show,' which aired on television from 2001 to 2002. In 2004, Lewis joined the cast and crew of 'The Insider,' a nightly program that served as a spinoff to 'Entertainment Tonight,' where she was a host. After leaving 'The Insider,' Lewis became a carpenter and a contractor. In 2019, she became the host of 'While You Were Out,' a TLC reality series. She is survived by her son, Langston. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
San Francisco Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Al Pacino turned down iconic ‘Star Wars' role because he was confused
Al Pacino revealed that he passed up on a role in George Lucas ' ' Star Wars ' because he couldn't make sense of the story. 'They handed me this script, and I thought, 'I don't understand,'' the 'Scarface' actor, who was offered the role of Han Solo in the 1977 box office hit, recalled during a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. He added that it felt like he was reading a 'different language.' Pacino said that he then passed the script along to his friend and mentor, fellow actor Charlie Laughton, for a second opinion. 'He was pretty wise and he said, 'I don't get it, Al. I dunno. I don't get it.' I said, 'Well, I don't either; what are we going to do? They offered me a fortune, but I don't know. No, I can't play something if I don't speak the language.' 'I said, 'I think I'm in the mood to make Harrison Ford a career,'' Pacino quipped, referring to the actor who ended up famously taking on the iconic role in the science-fiction series once he turned it down. Lucky for him, while he skipped out on the chance to be part of Lucas' billion-dollar franchise, Pacino still had the opportunity to star in a number of highly-acclaimed films in the years that followed, from 'Devil's Advocate' (1997) and 'The Insider' (1999) to ' The Irishman ' (2019) and ' Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' His latest project,' The Ritual,' hit theaters Friday, June 6. The horror film also stars Abigail Cowen ('Redeeming Love', 'Fate: The Winx Saga'); Dan Stevens ('Beauty and the Beast', ' Abigail ') and Ashley Greene ('Twilight,' 'It Feeds'). It turns out Pacino wasn't the only actor to turn down the role of the famous intergalactic pilot in the 1970s. 'Boogie Nights' actor Burt Reynolds, who died in 2018, revealed that was also offered the part but turned it down because he 'didn't want to play that kind of role at the time.' 'Now I regret it,' he told Business Insider in 2016. 'I wish I would have done it.' Others, such as Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell auditioned for the role but never progressed further in the casting process.
