*“Oprah has her network, why can’t I have mine,” Nick Cannon (Nicholas Scott) said about his new network TeenNick.
TeenNick, of which he is chairman, has launched this month a new series, “The Nightlife,” which features the latest trends in fashion, music, dance and entertainment for teens.
”It’s about teens. Where teens can come to find out the hottest clothes …the latest dance…,” he said about the new show, which he is executive producer. “It’s a voice.”
Well this month that “voice” will be made by legendary celebrity guests T.I., and Ice Cube, and the trendy New Boyz (demonstrating their dance craze) “The Jerk” and Travie McCoy. “The Nightlife” has teen correspondents Chloe Wang and Nick Cannon’s artist Aaron Fresh – who will perform.
“I did research…made graphics,” Nick said when asked how he was able persuade Nickelodeon (owned by Viacom) to give him his own network. He also pointed out that he spoke it into existence. “I was the youngest in a lot of things…and I’d always say I am going to own this channel. Throughout my career I’d say to executives I’m going to run this.”
Now, Nick Cannon does “run this” as chairman of TeenNick Network. At 30 years-old he is now the youngest, if not one of the youngest, black network chairs in the US.
Aside from “The Nightlife”, TeenNick airs sitcoms “Degrassi,” “Sabrina,” and “Drake and Josh.” Young people can also see shows Nick Cannon spent his teen years watching, such as “Moesha,” “Kenan & Kel” and “Saved by the Bell.” Other shows airing on the network include “One on One” and “Full House.”
Cannon’s father, James Cannon, hosted a televangelist public access television show in North Carolina. By age 11 Nick had a spot on his father’s program as a stand-up comedian. By his teens he moved to Hollywood – with his mother – where he performed standup at The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store.
In 1998 he was casted in the movie Drumline and in 2002 Nick was featured in his own series “The Nick Cannon Show” on Nickelodeon. The year 2003 brought a leading role in the film Love Don’t Cost a Thing and in 2005 he starred in Roll Bounce with Bow Wow. On MTV, from 2005-2007, Cannon hosted his “Wild ‘n Out” show.
If all that is not enough Cannon is a rapper. He was featured on the soundtrack of “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” alongside Lil’ Romeo and 3LW. He signed a recording deal with Jive Records in 2001 and his self-titled debut was in 2003. By 2005 he had formed his own label, Can I Ball Records, where he released a single “Can I Live?” that became a pro-life anthem song.
Nick Cannon married legendary songstress Mariah Carey in 2008 and today he is handling the networks’ development and creative concerns.
For more information on the TeenNick Network and “The Nightlife” show log onto www.TeenNick.com.
