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Get ready for the Oprah Winfrey takeover. “The
Mighty O” is getting her own network. The Oprah
Winfrey Network debuts early next year. Oprah’s
network will replace the Discovery Health Channel.
Oprah will serve as chairman of the network, which
reaches 70 million homes. Don’t look for reruns of
her talk show on this network because Oprah is still
under contract until 2011, and she says she will
decide this fall if she will continue under that
deal.
What’s going on with celebrities and steroids? First
the athletes, now some of your favorite entertainers
are being outed as buyers or takers of steroids:
Rapper 50 Cent, Producer Timbaland, Singer Mary J.
Blige and Director Tyler Perry. A recent report
named the celebrities, and they have all denied
involvement with steroids. The celebrities have not
been accused of any wrongdoing. A lot of people use
steroids as an anti-aging method because of the
pressure to look young and healthy.
Look for Tyler Perry’s last hit movie, Why Did I Get
Married with Janet Jackson and Jill Scott, to come
out on DVD Valentine’s Day.
Disgraced Olympic Star Marion Jones is scheduled to
start a six month jail term on March 11th. Despite
her tears and being separated from her two babies,
the judge felt he had to make an example of Jones
for lying to prosecutors about her steroid use and
her involvement in a check fraud scheme. Another
athlete in trouble is Reggie Bush, the running back
for the New Orleans Saints. According to a new book,
Tarnished Heisman, Bush took money from recruiters
and marketers while he was in college. Did Bush and
his family pocket more than $300,000 illegally? If
the allegations prove true, Bush could lose his
Heisman Trophy.
Bishop Thomas Weeks and his wife Juanita Bynum had a
private meeting with their lawyers last week. This
was the first time the couple have faced each other
since Bynum’s brutal attack. Both parties claim they
are victims of abuse. Bishop weeks has been on a
media tour trying to tell his story. He says he was
the one who was abused, and he is not gay nor did
cheat on his wife. He also claims Bynum’s claims
have hurt his ministry, and she is the reason why
the marriage fell apart. He claims she was never
around to take care of him like a wife should.
Can someone get Sherri Shepherd from the TV show The
View a history book? The other day she made a
statement and didn’t realize Patti LaBelle was
black. SHERRI! Stop the madness. How are you walking
around and not know that? I see why Whoopi is always
shaking her head at you. Please say this dumb act is
just that, an act.
Congratulations to David E. Talbert. The playwright,
author and movie director has a hit on his hands
with his first movie, First Sunday. I loved this
movie. So far, it has taken in over $20 million at
the box office. The comedy stars Ice Cube, Katt
Williams and Tracy Morgan. Despite his box office
success, this can’t be the best of times for Tracy
Morgan, who is drinking again. Last week, he was
bragging about being sober, but his wife has spilled
the beans. She is going through with the divorce
from Morgan because he won’t stop drinking. His
family has begged him to get his life together, but
it has fallen on deaf ears. Ankle monitoring
devices, two D.U.I. convictions, and a hurt family,
what will it take to wake this man up?!!!
Despite the on going writers’ strike, The NAACP
Image Awards will not be affected. The writers’
strike has virtually destroyed the 2008 awards
season. At press time, the future of The Grammy
Awards and The Academy Awards were up in the air,
but the NAACP Awards will run as planned. The reason
for this is the NAACP is an organization that
focuses on social justice that just happens to put
on an awards show. The awards show will air Friday
March 2nd on Fox.
This year’s Superbowl will have American Idol
flavor. Judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will be
teaming up for a live appearance to promote
Jackson’s new CD, Music Club Volume One. I hear
Abdul will be singing a tune from the album. Last
year’s American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks will be
singing the National Anthem.
Here’s an update on Singer Angela Bofill who
suffered a second devastating stroke last year.
Bofill is best known for the classics I Try and This
Time I’ll Be Sweeter. Bofill is currently getting
24-hour round the clock care at a California nursing
home, and she is confined to a wheelchair. Many of
her friends in the music business have been holding
fundraisers for her since she didn’t have health
care.
Bobby Brown is in trouble with the police in
Massachusetts. Authorities in Boston want to talk to
Brown about a cocaine possession charge. Was Brown
driving around in a Lincoln Navigator with Cocaine
on the front seat? Brown can’t afford to get into
trouble now. He is about to debut in a new reality
show on the Country Music Channel called Gone
Country.
Dr. Jan Adams says he’s relieved about the initial
reports on the autopsy report on Dr. Donda West.
According to first reports, Dr. West died from heart
disease. Dr. West, 58, had undergone plastic surgery
(breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction) the
day before she died. Dr. Adams says he feels
vindicated by the coroner’s report. Even though he
wasn’t a board certified plastic surgeon, he denied
any wrongdoing in Dr. West’s death.
Kimora Lee Simmons is showing the world there is
life after Russell Simmons. Kimora is featured with
her latest beau, Actor Dijmon Hounsou, in the new
issues of Ebony magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. Kimora
says she loves how Hounsou keeps her grounded.
Singer Jill Scott is also moving her with her life
after divorce. At the recent BET Honors, Scott was
hanging out with her Why Did I Get Married Co-star
Lamman Rucker. Scott is gearing up for a concert
tour and lots of new ventures. She’s going to be
featured in an upcoming issue of Vogue, and she’s
doing a spread for Allure magazine. Scott will also
be unveiling her new clothing line, The Butterfly
Collection. It’s a clothing line inspired by and
designed by Scott in conjunction with Ashley
Stewart.
Kimberly Locke of American Idol lost weight and got
a married man. Locke has been hanging out with Sgt.
Harvey Walden from VH-1’s Celebrity Fit Club. Walden
is currently in the process of divorcing his wife.
Locke admits it is kind of awkward. That’s why she
doesn’t refer to him as her boyfriend. She says once
his divorce becomes final, then he will be her
official boyfriend.
At the movies this week, it’s Mad Money with Queen
Latifah, Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes. Queen
Latifah has begun her work as the new spokesperson
for Jenny Craig. Latifah says she doesn’t want to be
skinny, just healthy. The recent Golden Globe winner
says she hopes to lose 25 pounds on the Jenny Craig
Program. Latifah won a Golden Globe Award last week
for her HBO movie Life Support.
Let’s talk babies: Lionel Richie is a granddad. His
daughter Nicole and boyfriend Rocker Joel Madden
welcomed a baby girl last week. Pop Star Christina
Aguilera and her hubby celebrated the birth of a
baby boy. Singer Monica had her second son last
week, and Actor/Comedian David Alan Grier and his
wife welcomed a baby girl.
Actor Wesley Snipes is relying on his celebrity
friends to keep him out of jail. Snipes, 45, faces 6
years in jail for failing to pay income taxes on $37
million and for trying to get tax refunds. Snipes
tax fraud trial is underway in Florida, and if he
has to, he’ll use his celebrity friends as character
witnesses. Celebrities on the list include News
Anchor Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Sly Stallone,
Muhammad Ali and Director Spike Lee.
Singer Dionne Warwick is said to be holding up well
after getting robbed in Italy. Warwick, 67, was in
Italy performing when thieves broke into her hotel
room and stole a diamond ring, a gold necklace and a
Rolex watch.
The breakup between Former En Vogue Singer Dawn
Robinson and Producer Dre Allen has taken an ugly
turn. Did Robinson and her family attack Allen on
line? Is Robinson a sex addict who trolls the
internet? Last year, the couple failed to get picked
up for a reality show based on their life as
struggling performers, and the marriage broke up.
Allen has taken to attacking Robinson’s character
claiming her diva, witch-like behavior got her
kicked out of En Vogue.
When Usher finally releases his long awaited album
this year, will his new wife Tameka Foster be
involved? According to published reports, Usher will
be doing a duet with Foster.
Singer Chauncey Hannibal, of Blackstreet fame, is in
jail. The 39-year old singer is in a Virginia jail
on a larceny charge and for nonpayment of child
support.
Is Dr. Phil losing his steam? Ever since the
Britney Spears hospital debacle and fall out with
her family, Dr. Phil is having a hard time getting
celebrity guests for his anniversary show. Dr. Phil
is getting ready his 1000th show anniversary, but
friends say A-list stars are staying away.
According to a recent Harris Poll, Oscar Winner
Denzel Washington is America’s favorite movie star.
Washington had an amazing year in 2007 with American
Gangster and The Great Debaters.
Former NBA Star Glenn Rice of the Miami Heat is out
on bond after surrendering to police on an assault
charge. Rice has been separated from his wife for
six months, but the sight of her with another man in
his house drove him mad. Rice attacked the man after
catching him naked with his wife.
Actor Mario Van Peebles is best known for the movies
Posse and New Jack City, and now he’s joining the
soap opera world. Peebles will play a possible love
interest for soap vixen “Erica Kane” played by Susan
Lucci.
Get Ready for The James Brown Auction. The family
has to settle several debts including the $70
thousand dollar funeral bill and back taxes. Items
on the auction block include clothes, jewelry, boats
and cars.
When will MTV show Janet Jackson some love. She’s
preparing to release her new CD, Discipline, and
she’s planning a heavy promo tour. Will the MTV
networks be included? The network has shunned Janet
ever since the infamous Superbowl where she
participated in a stunt with Justin Timberlake that
let the world see her bare breast. Janet insisted
that it was an accident. But, MTV, which produced
the show, caught the flak and vowed never to have
her on the network again.
In the latest issue of Essence magazine, Tyra Banks
talks about being lonely. A lot of Tyra’s friends
were surprised to hear her comments since she moved
to New York to be with her latest boyfriend, a much
older investment banker.
Remember Actor Emmanuel Lewis who played “Webster”
on the hit 80’s show “Webster?” Well, Lewis is
looking for love. Lewis is in talks to get his own
reality show where he tries to find the woman of his
dreams.
Singer Johnny Mathis is returning with a new CD, A
Night To Remember. This time Mathis returns with the
ladies: Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Yolanda
Adams. The new CD comes out on February 5th.
Vivica A. Fox recently boasted to People magazine
about her involvement in a sex tape. Fox says there
is no sex tape, and if there was, she would be
making money off of it. A couple of weeks ago, there
was a tape going around featuring a woman who
resembled Fox performing a sex act on a guy who
taped it on his cell phone.
Actress Sharon Leal has been added to the cast of
the movie Soul Men. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson
will star as two soul legends who put aside their
differences to hit the road for a reunion tour. Word
has it Mac and Jackson will be doing their own
singing and dancing. Leal is best known for her
roles in the movies Dreamgirls, Why Did I Get
Married and This Christmas.
Look for a new album this spring from Michael
McDonald. Love Speak arrives in stores this March
and Mariah’s Carey’s new album, this April.
Tyler Perry’s new movie, Meet The Browns with Angela
Bassett and Rick Fox, opens in theatres March 21st.
Oprah’s new reality show, Oprah’s Big Give, debuts
March 2nd on ABC. The show’s host is Oprah’s number
one designer Nate Berkus and Chris Rock’s wife,
Malaak Compton Rock, will serve as a judge. On the
show, 10 people will compete to give away thousands
of dollars to unsuspecting people.
After 15 years at the artistic helm, Walter Dallas
is leaving Freedom Theatre. Dallas, who has worked
with such noted artists as Sonia Sanchez, the late
Grover Washington, Jr. and Glynn Turman, says it’s
been an amazing 15 years, but he is ready to move on
with new ventures. Dallas says he has a couple of
plays he’s working on. His last day at Freedom
Theatre is June 1st.
:::::
UPCOMING TV &
FILM EVENTS
::::::
The United Negro College Fund Evening of Stars
salute to Smokey Robinson airs 4pm, Sunday January
27th on Fox 29. Appearances include Aretha Franklin,
Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Anita Baker.
Get ready for Sex And The City, the movie. The movie
opens in theatres May 30th.
Martin Lawrence is also gearing up for a busy 2008.
Lawrence has two big movie projects coming out:
College Road Trip with Raven Symone opening in
theatres March 7th and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
with Mo’Nique, James Earl Jones which opens in
theatres on February 8th.
The new season of American Idol: Season 7 premieres
Tuesday January 15th.
BET’s Celebration of Gospel takes place January
27th, 8pm on BET. There will be special appearances
by Patti LaBelle, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Dr.
Bobby Jones and the top five Sunday Best finalists.
Steve Harvey is hosting.
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will air February 10th
on CBS.
The 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards air February 14th
on Fox. Stevie Wonder is getting inducted into the
Image Awards Hall of Fame.
The first annual BET Honors will air February 22nd
on BET. Dr. Cornel West, Tyra Banks and Alicia Keys
are among the honorees. Cedric The Entertainer will
be hosting.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions take place
March 10th. Philly’s own Gamble and Huff will be
inducting into the Hall of Fame with The Ahmet
Ertegun Award.
Mad Money – Queen Latifah, Diana Keaton & Katie
Holmes January 18th.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins - Martin Lawrence,
Mo’Nique, Nicole Ari Parker and James Earl Jones
opens February 8th.
The ABC movie, Raisin in the Sun, airs Monday,
February 25th. It stars Sean P Diddy Combs, Audra
McDonald, Sanaa Lathan, Phylicia Rashad and John
Stamos.
::::: WHAT'S THE
UNDERGROUND BUZZ
::::::
The jig may be up for this pied piper. Poor tickets
sales and his jealousy of other artists are dooming
his concert tour.
Since revealing his tears, will this sports
superstar finally reveal the truth about himself?
There is a reason he is so emotional.
Lets
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