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Michael Jackson
is back. The King Of Pop is making news about everything. Just to sum up
this past week, he was hit with two major lawsuits. One was from Ola Ray,
his co-star in the Thriller video. After 26 years, she feels she deserves a
share of the royalties from the Thriller video. Jackson ex-publicist and
assistant, Raymone Bain, hit him with a lawsuit as well. She is seeking $44
million for unpaid services. Bain claims Jackson stiffed her after years of
loyal service. It was Bain who served as his spokesperson during his child
molestation trial. Jackson is also dealing with promoters who claim he
promised to do a reunion show with his brothers. The promoters claim they
will derail his scheduled concerts in London if their contract obligations
are not met. Jackson says he never signed an agreement. He has been busy
rehearsing and trying to gain weight. Jackson has been told to put on some
weight so he can handle his upcoming schedule. He has 50 sold out shows to
do in London starting in July. He has been rehearsing with
Director/Choreographer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical), who is staging
the London shows. I hear Jackson may even do a duet with his 12-year son
Prince Michael.
In other
Jackson news, get ready for the Jackson brothers reality show. The show is
scheduled to air on the A&E network and will star Jackie, Tito, Jermaine,
Marlon and Randy. The show will focus on them as sons, fathers, entertainers
and entrepreneurs. Now here is my big question, will the show deal with the
tension between Jermaine and Randy? They both have children by the same
woman.
Shaquille
O’Neal is also doing a reality show for A&E called Love Shaq, which will
focus on his family. And, then there’s a new reality show with MC Hammer.
Hammertime will show his life after fame and fortune with his wife of 23
years and six kids.
Who leaked the
nude pictures of Rihanna? The photos featuring her and ex-boyfriend Chris
Brown are quite explicit. Chris Brown says don’t look at him. Meanwhile,
Brown’s ex-dancers are speaking out on the issue of Rihanna. They are saying
she caused the violent outburst involving Brown earlier this year, and that
she was crazy and seeking publicity.
Jamie Foxx will
be hosting the 2009 BET Awards. The show airs June 28th on BET. Beyonce is
scheduled to perform, and The O’Jays are getting a lifetime achievement
award.
Lil’ Kim is
ready to tell all. The Price Of Loyalty is the name of the book that will go
into detail about what led to her stint in prison a few years ago.
Get for latest
Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes To Jail, on DVD when it comes out June 16th.
KeKe Palmer,
the star of the Nickelodeon show Tru Jackson, VP, has a hit on her hands.
The live action comedy show has been renewed for a second season.
Congrats to
Tina Campbell of the gospel duo Mary Mary. She is expecting baby number 4
with her husband.
Teena Marie’s
latest CD, Congo Square, arrives in stores on June 9th. Check out Teena
Marie this year at The West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival. Teena Marie and
The Whispers were just added to the lineup. It all takes place June 19th
-21st on Ogontz Avenue between 70th and 74th.
Beyonce is
releasing a new video anthology based on her CD I Am….Sasha Fierce. Wal-Mart
is carrying it exclusively starting June 16th.
Tyrese says
he’s having a problem with a stalker. The woman has targeted Tyrese since
his recent divorce telling him now that you’re divorced, you can be mine.
Tyrese says the woman is a certified loon, and he needs protection. Tyrese
recently divorced Norma Gibson, the mother of his young daughter.
Orlando Jones,
Dawnn Lewis, Tichina Arnold and LaChanze have been added to the cast of the
revival of The Wiz. Ashanti is starring as “Dorothy.”
Jennifer Hudson
is on the new issue of Essence magazine. Hudson recently gave her fiancé a
five-carat ring when she proposed to him. For the record, he proposed to her
first a few months ago. A summer wedding is planned.
Jada Pinkett
Smith is on the cover of the new issue of Ebony magazine. Her new TNT
series, Hawthorne, debuts June 16th. In her Ebony interview, Jada talks
about her marriage to Will Smith, their children and her career.
Reverend Run
has his hands full these days. His 19-year old son Jo-Jo was arrested last
weekend for possession of marijuana. To make matters worse, Jo-Jo crashed
into a police car trying to get away from the cops. If you have watched the
MTV show Run’s House, you know that Jo-Jo is not a bad kid. He is more of a
follower than a leader, so I’m sure this did not sit well with his parents
or his Uncle Russ.
Aisha Tyler,
the popular actress/comedienne, is in line to get a daytime talk show on
ABC.
Actor Courtney
B. Vance is getting a new show on ABC. It’s a sci-fi drama called
Flashforward. Vance is married to Actress Angela Bassett.
Vin Diesel
(Fast and Furious) has signed on for the new John Singleton movie Wheelman.
The live action movie is based on the videogame.
Is Rapper/Actor
Common the new Mr. T? The A-Team movie is finally being made, and it appears
Common is playing the role of “B.A. Baracus,” made famous by Mr. T. When
Director John Singleton was attached to the project, Ice Cube was rumored to
be playing the role. Then there was talk of Tyrese getting the part. When
Singleton turned down the project, a new casting search was launched, and it
appears the role is going to Common. The A Team movie is based on the hit
80’s TV show which, along with Mr. T, starred George Peppard, Dirk Benedict
and Dwight Schultz.
Tavis Smiley is
coming out with a new documentary called Stand. Stand arrives in stores on
May 25th. The stand documentary is a road trip featuring Smiley and ten of
his friends, including Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and BeBe
Winans, to name a few.
Nick Cannon,
stop while you’re ahead! Cannon is participating in a public feud with
Rapper Eminem, who may or may have not dated his wife, Singer Mariah Carey.
Cannon will be hosting the NBC talent show America’s Got Talent. He should
be concentrating on this, and not feuding with a rapper who has a new album
to sell. In a series of interviews, Eminem has said some horrible things
about what he supposedly did to Carey. He is probably lying to sell that new
album. The past is the past! Whether he dated your wife or not, if you and
Mariah are happy, go live your life. You don’t have to justify anything. Let
Eminem talk his trash. He needs to rebuild his career. You’ve got Mariah
Carey, her money and a new show. Don’t stoop to Eminem’s level.
Comedienne
Wanda Sykes shook up a lot of people with her recent hosting stint at the
White House Correspondent’s Dinner. Did Sykes go too far with some of her
comments? She has a new talk show debuting in the fall on the Fox network,
and she recently came out of the closet. Will this hurt her chances to
launch the next phase of her career? Sykes is best known for her TV work
with Chris Rock, The New Adventures Of Old Christine and The Wanda Sykes
Show.
Ginuwine is
trying to jump start his career. He has a hot new song out called Last
Chance, and he is hoping this is the breakout song he’s been waiting for. In
the meantime, he is suing his former business manager. Ginuwine says his
former manager ripped him off for $400,000.
Congrats to
Maya Rudolph. The former Saturday Night Live star is expecting her second
child. Rudolph is also the daughter of the late Singer Minnie Riperton.
Get ready for
the Neely’s. Pat and Gina Neely, from the Food Network show Down Home With
The Neelys, have a new cookbook out filled with delicious recipes. Down Home
With The Neelys is available in bookstores now.
Essence
magazine is joining forces with the CNN network to report weekly on issues
important to African Americans.
Check out who’s
coming to Good Morning America: Lionel Richie on May 29th, John Legend on
June 5th, Jamie Foxx on June 19th and Queen Latifah on July 10th.
Singer Will
Downing is marking his 20th anniversary in the music business with a new
release called Classique. The album, his 14th, arrives in stores on June
16th. The new CD will feature Downing recording some classics including
David Ruffin’s Statue Of A Fool and Barry White’s I’m Gonna Love You Just A
Little Bit More. Downing says he’s excited about the project, and his health
has been progressing since being diagnosed with the muscle disorder
Polymyositis.
Will Smith and
Samuel L. Jackson will be appearing in a new ABC money special called
Unbroke. Unbroke is everything you need to know about money, credit cards,
mortgages, the stock market and investing. The special airs May 29th on ABC.
Gladys Knight
is coming out with a jewelry line. The singer/actress and business woman is
excited about her new venture. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line will be sold
at major department stores and through The Home Shopping Network. The Gladys
Knight Jewelry Line debuts in December. Also check her out in the new Tyler
Perry Madea movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which opens in theatres in
September.
Ruben Studdard
wants his fans back. Twenty million people voted him as their American Idol,
and now he wants them to buy his new CD. Love Is will be a collection of
romantic ballads. The CD is due out May 19th. Love Is will be Studdard’s
fourth CD and features production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Studdard
does some remakes, including Michael Jackson’s I Can’t Help It and Al
Green’s For The Good Times.
The Norman Lear
Collection, a boxed DVD set, is coming out on June 9th. Norman Lear is the
famed producer behind the TV classics The Jeffersons, Good Times, All In The
Family, Maude and Sanford & Son to name a few. The first seasons of those
and other Lear classics will be included in the set.
Denzel
Washington’s new movie, with John Travolta and James Gandolfini, The Taking
Of Pelham 1, 2, 3 hits theatres on June 12th. We have the exclusive trailer
on our website at wdasfm.com. Just go to Patty’s Page and check it out. Let
me know what you think. I can’t wait to see it. It’s a remake of the 70’s
action thriller with Walter Matthau about a trio of bad guys who take a New
York subway care hostage.
The Bynum
Brothers are back with a new venture. They own Warmdaddy’s on Columbus
Boulevard and had the old Zanzibar Blue in Center City. Their latest project
is called RELISH at 7152 Ogontz Avenue. It replaces Sadiki’s. RELISH
features live jazz music Thursday through Sunday. For more info go to
relishphiladelphia.com or call 215-276-0170.
The Wendy
Williams talk show is set to debut this July. The show is going nationwide,
and will be seen locally on FOX 29.
The 15th Annual
Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in New Orleans.
Beyonce, John Legend, Eric Benet, Robin Thicke, Anita Baker, Bill Cosby and
Maxwell are all on the bill. There will also be seminars featuring
Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Roland Martin. Plus, there’ll be an all-star
tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes. |
