The 2007 BET Award nominations were announced last night.

Mo’Nique will return to host the award show, do her little jiggle and shake.

For the collard green folks and R&B and hip-hop lovers, the BET Awards is a reason to rest your channel flipping finger. With all the favorites performing one after the other and the always stellar Old School performance, it’s like a free summer concert.

This year I expect the performances to be entertaining as usual, but when it comes to who wins what, it’s just a sad state of affairs.

Like the picture above [a cover snap from Mo’nique’s official site] whoever was responsible for signing off on the nominees needed to take a look in the mirror, “Is this a good look?”

Seriously, Jennifer Hudson for best female R&B.. with what album? Gerald Levert best male R&B.. why, because he passed away? MIMS.. is not an artist. Beyonce and Shakira.. ? Stuntin Like My Daddy?

Check Mo’Nique’s photo gallery, she had better pictures.

There could have been some touch-ups in each category to tighten this list up.

It’s a reflection of what BET considers great music and by definition, black entertainment.

Let’s work with the hand dealt us.

Best Female R&B Artist

Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, Corinne Bailey Rae

Beyonce will win (can’t really categorize Corinne as R&B?)

Best Male R&B Artist

Akon, John Legend, Gerald Levert, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke

That would be a surprise.

Best Group

Gnarls Barkley, Mary Mary, Outkast, Pretty Ricky, Three Six Mafia

Gospel Artist

Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Mary Mary

Not a gospel listener.

Best Hip-Hop Artist

Diddy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, T.I.

Best New Artist

Lupe Fiasco, Gnarls Barkley, Jennifer Hudson, MIMS, Corinne Bailey Rae

Best Collaboration

Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”
Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Deja Vu”
Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Upgrade U”
Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole, “Last Night”
Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige, “Runaway Love”

Video of the Year

Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”
Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”
Beyonce & Shakira, “Beautiful Liar”
Ciara, “Like a Boy”
Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy”

Best Actor

Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Forest Whitaker

Best Actress

Tichina Arnold, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington, Chandra Wilson

Best Male Athlete

Reggie Bush, LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dwyane Wade, Tiger Woods

.. aka black women’s eye candy

Best Female Athlete

Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Gail Devers, Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams

Swin has the ring but Tamika has the individual stats

BET J Cool Like That

Gerald Levert, Brian McKnight, Eric Roberson, Musiq Soulchild, Elisabeth Withers

.. ice cold. But not the male artist of the year

Viewers Choice Award

Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”
Birdman & Lil Wayne, “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy”
Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, “Shortie Like Mine”
Ciara, “Promise”
Ne-Yo, “Because of You”
Robin Thicke, “Lost Without You”
UNK, “Walk It Out”

Because it’s the last award, time to party and hopefully the entire place starts bopping to this ‘ringtone’ song. Bob Johnson smiling, ‘this is what I’ve created.’