106 & Parkwas an Americanhip hopandR&Bmusic video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast Monday to Friday at 6/5c on BET (7:00 pm on BET International). Since its inception, it had been the network’s number-oneratedshow. On November 14, 2014, BET cancelled106 & Park.^[1]

The show was originally produced inHarlem, New York City, and the title of the show is derived from the original studio location at East 106th Street and Park Avenue. Viacom’s acquisition of BET prompted a change to the CBS Broadcast Center at 524 West 57th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues, in the Hell’s Kitchen section ofMidtown Manhattan, turning its title into a misnomer for the rest of its history.^[2]

A. J. Calloway and Marie “Free” Wright were the original hosts of the show from September 11, 2000 until July 28, 2005, when Calloway (who was tearful on that episode) announced that it would be his last show, as well as for Free (who spoke via phone), as the show was either presented by Calloway or Wright.

On August 1, 2005106 & Parkpresented by television personality and model Julissa Bermudez and *Rap City: Tha Basement’*s Big Tigger until July 3, 2006 as temporary replacements for the show until they found another female co-host for Terrence J. Around this time, Terrence J would be guest co-host the show with Julissa. Celebrities (Bow Wow and Mýa) hosted the show as well.

On July 6, 2006, Rocsi (real name Raquel Roxanne Diaz), then an afternoon host for the Chicago market’s WPWX (92.3), and Terrence Jenkins (“Terrence J.”) became the hosts after winning the BET New Faces Contest. On May 29, 2012, Rocsi and Terrence J announced they would be leaving106 & Parkin 2012. Thus beginning a nationwide search for the next hosts of106 & Park, which has been active since June 1, 2012 and ended on October 1, 2012. Terrence J and Rocsi’s last episode as hosts was broadcast on September 28, 2012. The announcement for the new hosts of106 & Parkwas broadcast on Monday, October 1, 2012.

The highly anticipated farewell episode aired on September 28, 2012 and was hosted by La La Anthony and Pooch Hall. In the taped video messages, several celebrities wish their farewell for Terrence J and Rocsi. They includedJim Jones,French Montana, Julissa Bermudez, Big Tigger,2 Chainz, Ace Hood,Alicia Keys, Amar’e Stoudemire,Big Sean, B.o.B, Bobby V., Brandy Norwood, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Ciara, Common, Doug E. Fresh, DMX,Dwyane Wade, Elle Varner, E-40, Future,Jacob Latimore, Keke Palmer,Mary J. Blige, MGK, Mike Epps, Ne-Yo, Shannon and Monica Brown, Stalley,Rick Ross, Robin Thicke,T.I., Wyclef Jean and Bow Wow.^[3]

On October 1, 2012, the new hosts for106 & Parkwere announced, including Shad “Bow Wow” Moss,^[4]Jordan “Shorty da Prince” Johnson,^[4]Kimberly “Paigion” Walker^[4]and Mykel “Miss Mykie” Gray.^[4]For the first time in the show’s 12-year history, there were officially four hosts for106 & Park, instead of two. On January 15, 2013,106 & Parkrevealed a new set, graphics, logo, and theme song. On January 23, 2013, the former hostess Rocsi Diaz made an unannounced appearance on the show. New segments included “The Mykie Report”, “The Battle of the Sexes”, “Girl Chat”, “Inside the Rapper’s Studio” and “Virtually Famous”. On July 3, 2013, after many weeks of rumors and speculation about the fates of Johnson, Walker and Gray returning to the show, BET released a statement confirming the news that they would not return to the show. The hosts had not appeared on the show in the nearly two months since May 2013. Bow Wow remained as a permanent host on the show with Angela Simmons serving as a temporary co-host for the summer, her last day was on September 30, 2013, and along with special guest co-hosts such as Adrienne Bailon.

On September 27, 2013, Drake made the official announcement that Bow Wow would be joined by fellow Toronto-native Keshia Chanté as the official new co-host, who would officially start on October 1, 2013.^[5][6]On November 14, 2014, BET cancelled106 & Park. The series aired its final episode on December 19, 2014.^[7]

The show began for one hour (including commercials) and, until 2005, the show was broadcast late night at 2am/1am, immediately beforeBET After Darkand the most recent episode was broadcast on Saturday afternoons at 5/4c. In 2001, it was extended to 90 minutes. In 2008, the show was extended to two hours, but still reverts to 90 minutes depending on BET’s scheduling for that day. The show celebrated its 2,000th episode on August 20, 2008. From July 25, 2011, to September 2, 2011, the show was extended to three hours.

The show’s tenth anniversary special was on October 6, 2010. The previous hosts A.J. Calloway & Free (original; 2000–2005), Julissa & Big Tigger (2005–2006) returned to the show to celebrate along with current hosts Terrence J and Rocsi.

The show returned during the 2015 BET Experience fromLos Angeles. It was hosted by Ray J and Tinashe on June 26, 2015, andYara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner and Keshia Chante on June 27, 2015.^[8]

Every video that was voted onto the countdown starting as a “New Joint of the Day” 65 times would be retired and placed into the “106 & ParkVideo Hall of Fame”. This normally occurred frequently, and earned Bow Wow the permanent title ofMister 106 & Park, and Aaliyah the permanent title ofMiss 106 & Parkfor having the most #1’s of their respective genders. The most recent video to be retired was “Ridin'” by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone on December 19, 2014.

In 2016, aThe New York Timesstudy of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook likes found that106 & Park“is popular in the Black Belt, generally”, andIndian reservationsin South Dakota and Arizona.^[9]