DON’T SLEEP! Hosted by T. J. Holmes

In the new original series “DON’T SLEEP!,” Holmes will deliver smart, biting social commentary on significant issues important to African-Americans. Guaranteed to shake up late night, “DON’T SLEEP!,” presents and tackles current headlines that affect our community while also creating awareness about vital stories mainstream media tends to disregard. Airing Wednesday's at 11PM EST/PST, “DON’T SLEEP!” is also infused with a team of correspondents injecting perspective, humor and commentary about a wide range of topics. The witty late night series is keenly focused on keeping Black America engaged, awake and in the know.

Highly regarded and influential in the African-American community, Holmes is an award-winning journalist and respected television personality who, prior to joining BET Networks, anchored weekend coverage for CNN. Commandeering his position at CNN, Holmes secured some of the most riveting stories including the first presidential debate between Sen. John McCain and then-Sen. Barack Obama at the University of Mississippi and the shooting on the Virginia Tech campus. He was one of the first to secure survivor stories of the US Airways flight that crash-landed in the Hudson River in 2009, and he reported from Ground Zero during the September 11 attacks.

About T. J. Holmes
Host of “Don’t Sleep!” on BET Networks
T.J. Holmes is an award-winning journalist and national television personality. He is also host of BET’s new late night show “Don’t Sleep! hosted by T. J. Holmes” premiering this fall on October 1, 2012.

Prior to joining BET Networks, Holmes was a news anchor and correspondent at CNN for more than 5 years. Holmes reported from the scene of numerous breaking news events, including Joplin, MO, which was devastated by multiple tornadoes in May of 2011; New Orleans during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010; and, Blacksburg, Virginia immediately after the shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech. Holmes also anchored from Ground Zero on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Holmes covered the historic first papal visit to the United States of Pope Benedict XIV in 2008, including anchoring live from the mass at Yankee Stadium. Holmes secured some of the first stories from the survivors of the US Airways Flight 1549 that crash landed in the Hudson River in January of 2009. Holmes also reported from the campus of the University of Mississippi during the first presidential debate between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
At CNN, Holmes also anchored significant news stories, including Saddam Hussein’s execution in 2006, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India in 2008, and the terrorist attacks at the Glasgow Airport in Scotland in 2007.

Holmes contributed to CNN’s 2010 coverage of Gulf Oil Spill and 2008 coverage of the 2008 Presidential primary campaigns, both of which garnered Peabody Awards.

Holmes previously worked as a news anchor at NBC11 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While at NBC, he traveled to Athens, Greece to cover the 2004 Olympics, the first Summer Games held after the September 11th attacks. He also covered numerous other stories that garnered national attention, including the historic recall election of the California Governor in 2003 and the double murder trial of Scott Peterson.

Prior to NBC11, Holmes served as a weekend anchor and reporter at KTHV in Little Rock, Arkansas. He started his career at KSNF in Joplin, Missouri.

Holmes is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He now serves as member of the Chancellor’s Board of Advisors at the University and is also on the Board of Visitors at Emory University in Atlanta. Holmes is also a member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and the National Association of Black Journalists.

He is married to Marilee Holmes, an immigration attorney. He and his family reside in Atlanta, GA.