Pearlena Igbokwe's promotion to head of Universal Television makes her the first African-American to head a traditional TV studio

Television executive Pearlena Igbokwe is moving on up!

On Friday, NBC Entertainment announced that Ms. Igbokwe is now head of Universal Television.

"Pearlena's remarkable track record in drama programming at NBC over the last few years made it clear that she was the ideal choice to lead the studio into its next phase of growth," said Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment. "Her leadership, vision and taste have resulted in an impressive string of drama successes – from The Blacklist, Blindspot, Chicago Med, Shades of Blue and the upcoming series This Is Us, Timeless, and Taken—that coincides with our return to a top position among networks."

Igbokwe has a long track record in television and entertainment. She came to NBC Entertainment four years ago as executive vice president of drama development at the urging of NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt. The pair had worked together at Showtime.

Igbokwe spent 20 years at Showtime Networks, beginning with television movies and then moving into drama development, where she worked on hit series such as Dexter and Nurse Jackie.

Igbokwe replaces Bela Bajaria, who abruptly left her post this week after five years on the job.

Igbokwe is a graduate of Yale and Columbia Business School.

In February, Channing Dungey became the first African American TV network president when ABC named Dungey entertainment president of ABC.

With Igbokwe's promotion to head of Universal Television, she is believed to be the first African-American president of a traditional TV studio.

Video Streaming Pioneer Targets Multi-Cultural Market
What's The 411 Networks, a Silicon Alley online media, entertainment and marketing company, today reboots its video-rich, multi-channel website. Targeting a sophisticated multi-cultural audience, the entertainment and lifestyle website seeks to bring diversity to the online video space.

"The re-launch of http://www.whatsthe411.com is a very exciting time," said Ruth J. Morrison, Founder, What's The 411? Networks. "As independent television producers, we were video streaming pioneers experimenting with online video when most people didn't have 56k modems let alone broadband connections. Today, we are coming full circle, as market forces are ripe for a new era of entertainment and lifestyle products."

WhatsThe411.com boasts a celebrity-infused catalog of original video content including throwback interviews with stars such as Beyonce, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Nicole Carson, Courtney B. Vance, Ernie Hudson, Andre Harrell, Dick Wolf, and many others.

More recent original video packages include: pop singer Gloria Estefan discussing her new album produced by Pharrell Williams; NBA legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier; New York Yankees second baseman and home run derby king, Robinson Cano; and Harlem Week festivities featuring New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, former mayor David Dinkins, former Governor David Paterson, and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

The entertainment and lifestyle website features a streamlined design of nine primary channels:

Film/TV/Stage
Music
On The Town
Book Talk
Sports
Fashion, Beauty, Style
Health
Technology
Industry Insider

Additionally, the website contains Stars On The Horizon, an area that will feature aspiring singers. With the Missing Persons File, visitors are encouraged to give sightings of artists that have left public view. The Missing Persons File kicks off with TOTAL, the first girl group from P. Diddy's BadBoy Entertainment. Ask The Experts seeks to help people with the many facets of their lives: health, fitness, weight loss management, and wellness; relationships; money and finance; education; careers; etc.

"We expect success because we are filling a void. We also have a great vantage point being based in New York City, the media capital of the world. Further, What's The 411 Networks sees a great opportunity to connect with a global audience through social media and live events. Integrating social media marketing strategies will enable us to grow and expand our audience, influence and revenue," Ruth Morrison added.

Sign up today at http://www.whatsthe411.com to receive weekly e-newsletters. Follow @WhatsThe411TV on Twitter and visit our Facebook fan page http://www.Facebook.com/WhatIsThe411 to stay current on interviews, events hosted by What's The 411 Networks, and much, much, more.

Ruth Morrison, Founder, What's The 411 Networks is available for interviews.
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VIDEO INTERVIEW: ACTOR MICHAEL DELORENZO

In her very first interview, What's The 411's co-host, Amelia Moore, talks with actor Michael DeLorenzo, at a benefit for The Valley, a nonprofit organization servicing adolescents in upper Manhattan, led by John Bess.

DeLorenzo talks about his role as Eddie on the hit Fox television show, New York Undercover.

He also talks about how he prepared for the role and his feelings about the police. 

DeLorenzo stars with actor Malik Yoba on this Dick Wolf-produced weekly series.

DeLorenzo and Yoba (who is Black-American) made television history, as the series was the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles.

The interview was conducted around 1994-95.

VIDEO INTERVIEW: MALIK YOBA

Actor Malik Yoba checks in with What's The 411 hosts Roceania and Amelia Moore at an event to benefit The Valley, a nonprofit organization servicing adolescents in upper Manhattan.

Yoba talks about the success of the hit Fox television show, New York Undercover, the expectation of the public, his relationship with Tupac Shakur, entrepreneurial aspirations, and his community service activities.

Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo made television history, as the New York Undercover series was the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles.

This interview was recorded around 1994-95.