PATTY JACKSON'S 4-1-1
Week of February 11th, 2008

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Ron Isley is staying in jail. The legendary lead singer of The Isley Brothers lost an appeal to get out of jail early. He will have to finish out his three year sentence in Indiana. Isley was found guilty of tax evasion, and he’s due to get released in April 2010. Isley’s health and age (he is almost 70) did not sway a judge’s decision. He felt that the tax cheat will have to serve his sentence like everyone else.

The end has come for the CW TV show Girlfriends. The show will not see season number 9. The popular comedy show starred Tracee Ellis Ross, and was one of the big causalities of the writers strike. Even though the strike is over, the network decided not to finish the show or renew the contract for a new season. Sources say a special episode featuring favorite clips from the show will serve as a sendoff for the series.

As she gears up for the release of her new album Discipline, Janet Jackson is opening up like she has never done before. The notoriously private Jackson recently opened up about her parents’ marriage, and how Papa Joe Jackson’s cheating broke her mother’s heart and destroyed the marriage. She opens up about her half sister, Jovanni, whose mother was a Jackson 5 groupie. Jovanni lives with Joe in Las Vegas. Janet also talks about her sweetie, Producer Jermaine Dupri, who she says is the love of her life. She says love has finally come to her.

Actor Gary Coleman has found love. Coleman is best known for his role as “Arnold” on the TV show Different Strokes. He recently turned 40 and revealed that he has married a 22-year old woman, who is a foot taller than him. When asked why he married such a young girl, he stated she was more intelligent than me.

Despite published reports, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Bishop Thomas Weeks are not reconciling. The two could make a LOT OF money if they got back together, but it ain’t happening! Their very public separation has led to a lot of hurt feelings. Bishop Weeks is still facing assault charges against Bynum.

Producer Tracey Edmonds is featured as one of the movers and shakers in the Hollywood issue of Essence magazine. Edmonds did the photo shoot before her break up with Eddie Murphy. Sources say Edmonds is having second thoughts about the breakup, but Eddie wants nothing to do with her or her family.

Is Fashionista Kimora Lee Simmons pregnant? Kimora has two daughters by music mogul Russell Simmons, and is dating Actor Djimon Hounsou. She has expressed a desire to expand her brood, and she and Hounsou recently got engaged.

The best show on television finally got an award. The HBO series The Wire has to be the most underrated show on TV. The acting and writing are superb, but the show, which focuses on the gritty world of Baltimore, is often overlooked because it is not glamorous. The stories are hard core and biting. The series is in its final season, and copped one of its first awards. The Writers Guild recently awarded the show for Best Dramatic Series.

Get well wishes go out to Singer Lenny Kravitz. He was recently hospitalized with a severe case of bronchitis.

Martin Lawrence is on a roll. He’s got his new movie Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, which came in second at this week’s box office, and next month he teams up with Raven Symone for the movie College Road Trip.

Actor Laurence Fishburne is headed to Broadway. Fishburne will be starring in a one man show based on the life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Previews start April 12th.

The 30th Anniversary of The Wiz is being celebrated with the release of the anniversary DVD. The classic musical starred Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell and Michael Jackson.

John Travolta will be joining Denzel Washington in the movie remake The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3. Filming starts in New York this spring. Washington is playing the role made famous by Walter Matthau. Travolta is playing the lead hostage taker.

Uncle Luke is coming to VH1. The show, Parental Advisory, will focus on his children, his fiancée and the Luke Girls. Luther Campbell is best known for his music group 2 Live Crew and his racy music and videos.

Mariah Carey’s new album, E=MC2, arrives in stores April 15th. The lead single is a song called ‘Touch My Body’.

Lexus is sponsoring Alicia Keys upcoming tour. She is scheduled to do a show April 20th at the Liacouras Center. Keys will be outfitted by Giorgio Armani.

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe star in American Gangster, available on DVD February 19th.

Will Smith’s I Am Legend is coming out on DVD April 8th.

::::: UPCOMING  TV & FILM EVENTS ::::::

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 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards air March 2nd on Fox. Stevie Wonder is getting inducted into the Image Awards Hall of Fame.

Oprah Winfrey’s new reality show, Oprah’s Big Give, debuts March 2nd on ABC. Oprah’s Designer Nate Berkus will be the host of the show, and Chris Rock’s wife, Malaak Compton Rock, will serve as a judge. Oprah will be having a lot of her celebrity friends appear on the show such as Natalie Cole, Donald Trump, Jada Pinkett Smith, John Travolta and Jennifer Aniston. On The Big Give, ten people will have a chance to travel around the world and help other people. Whoever is the best giver, will win the big prize for their favorite charity.

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 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions take place March 10th. Philly’s own Gamble and Huff will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with The Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Get ready for Sex And The City, the movie. The movie opens in theatres May 30th.

The ABC movie, Raisin In The Sun, airs Monday, February 25th. It stars Sean John (P Diddy Combs), Audra McDonald, Sanaa Lathan, Phylicia Rashad and John Stamos.

::::: WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ ::::::

1. There was a lot of backstage drama at the Grammy Awards including an aging Diva who refused to perform with younger singers, then later lashed out when another legend was given her title.

2. The Young Singer who realized she has to stop with the country bumpkin act if she is going to succeed. Her career has stalled, and now it’s time to step up her game.

3. The Pint sized legend who still holds a grudge against his former bandmates. When the two crossed paths the lil’ legend refused to speak. It’s been over 20 years, get over it.

4. The music mogul who realized his jump off can’t be kept quiet. She’s in a fake relationship with a younger singer, but the truth came out on Grammy night when she won an award and openly showed her affection to the mogul.

5. The music legend who ruined his big comeback when he suffered a panic attack and wouldn’t go on stage.

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