Bet Awards

At the 2012 BET Awards Sunday in Los Angeles, anticipation reigned thanks to a long-awaited comeback by soul singer D'Angelo, the potential of Whitney Houston's mom Cissy paying tribute to her late daughter in song, and a performance by Chris Brown. The BET stage is the first high-profile appearance the often-embattled Brown has made following a highly publicized bar melee reportedly involving him, Drake and buzzy rapper Meek Mill. No sign of Drake, but Meek performed with his Maybach Music Group and Brown hit the stage more than midway through the telecast.

During Sunday's live telecast of the 2012 BET Awards, anticipation reigned, with questions filling Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. What would polarizing singer Chris Brown say? How would soul singer D'Angelo's highly awaited comeback performance fare? And how would BET pay tribute to fallen pop titan Whitney Houston, whose February death cast a shadow over the Grammys ? The annual show, which started in 2001, is known for its over-the-top performances and drama onstage and last year pulled in 7.7million viewers.

BET Awards executive producer Stephen Hill sat perched on a makeshift control board in the middle of the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday as production technicians readied the historic venue for the network's 12th annual awards show. The three-hour-plus production will air live on Sunday and feature performances by D'Angelo, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Usher, as well as a tribute to the late Whitney Houston led by her mother, Cissy Houston. One of many crucial questions: Hill needed to know exactly where a mirror ball would be hung for a planned Donna Summer tribute.

When Whitney Houston passed away 24 hours before this year's Grammy Awards, producers of the telecast were forced to scramble to figure out the most appropriate way to honor the fallen pop star and remain sensitive to the news that had sent a crippling shock wave through the music industry. In the hours following the news, Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich and his team tapped former “American Idol” diva Jennifer Hudson for an understated yet poignant version of Houston's signature “I Will Always Love You” and show host, LL Cool J, began the ceremony with a semi-impromptu prayer.

BET executive Stephen Hill is taking responsibility for the Chris Brown-Rihanna snafu that shook up the BET Awards Sunday. A contest winner announced the recipient of the Coca-Cola Viewers Choice award from results on her tablet computer. She first said that Brown had won, then corrected herself and said Rihanna was the winner. At the end of the ceremony, host Kevin Hart brought out Brown to tell him he was actually the winner of the trophy. Hill, president of music programming and specials for BET, tweeted Monday "That BET Awards Viewer's Choice mix-up was due to human error.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Monday. Chris Brown makes a comeback, taking five trophies at the BET Awards. ( Los Angeles Times ) Michael Jackson's red jacket from "Thriller" goes for $1.8 million at auction. ( Los Angeles Times ) "Cars 2" speeds to first place at the box office. ( Los Angeles Times ) Charlie Sheen gets dumped by his last goddess. Ladies, this warlock is back on the market. ( TMZ ) Tracy Morgan picks up the mic again, post-scandal.

Four members of the Los Angeles City Council have agreed to pay a combined $13,300 in fines for taking free tickets to Hollywood award shows and dinners over the last four years, according to agreements reached with the city's Ethics Commission. In separate deals, Councilmen Tony Cardenas, Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar and Herb Wesson will admit they violated a city law that prohibits them from accepting gifts of more than $100 a year from individuals and groups that have business before the city.

Statuesque blond model Michaele Salahi and her husband, Tareq, will be part of the Bravo series "The Real Housewives of D.C." when it launches Aug. 5, but not because they allegedly gate-crashed the White House. The couple, finally confirmed as part of the cast, was already embedded in the series well before showing up at a state dinner last year, Bravo executives said Tuesday. (The Salahis contend they were invited; state and federal investigations have yet to put their stamp on that explanation or issue any reprisals.

Here are the cultural and sporting events that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was scheduled to attend, according to mayoral aides, plus a few more that The Times verified independently. The mayor attended many of the events free of charge, and said he was there on official business or playing a ceremonial role — and therefore those tickets are exempt from gift restrictions on public officials. 9/10/2005 -- Aretha Franklin concert 11/3/2005 -- Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns, Staples Center 11/3/2005- - Latin Grammys, Shrine Auditorium 2/6/2006 -- Musi-Cares Pre-Grammy Award Benefit Concert 2/8/2006 -- Grammy Awards 2/26/2006 -- Jose Jose concert 3/2/2006 -- Carlos Santana concert for Dolores Huerta 3/5/2006 -- 78th Academy Awards, Kodak Theatre 4/3/2006 -- Dodgers opening day, Dodger Stadium 4/13/2006 -- Luis Miguel concert 5/12/2006 -- Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns, Staples Center 6/24/2006 -- Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Hollywood Stars game, Dodger Stadium 6/27/2006 -- BET Awards, Shrine Auditorium 7/8/2006 -- Hollywood Bowl concert 7/22/2006 -- Grammy Foundation Annual Tribute Dinner & Concert 7/29/2006 -- Reventon Super Estrella Concert 8/6/2006 -- Barcelona vs. Chivas Guadalajara, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 8/15/2006 -- Shakira concert 8/26/2006 -- Smokey Robinson concert 8/27/2006 -- 58th Prime Time Emmy Awards,...