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01-19-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
MURPHY, ROCK, TUCKER TO STAR IN NEW FILM: Ratner said to be developing black ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ with top black talent.
*Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy and Chris Tucker are set to star in a new heist flick from director Brett Ratner that aims to put a black twist on the popular “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise.
According to Fox 411 columnist Roger Friedman, Ratner is also reportedly in talks with Denzel Washington to play one of the film’s bad guys.
The as-yet-untitled project is being penned by Russell Gewirtz, who wrote the screenplay for Washington’s recent film “The Inside Man,” and Universal has signed on to produce and distribute the movie.
Friedman writes: “Watch for Ratner to add more heavy hitters once the script is finished. These could include young actors like Derek Luke or Anthony Mackie, comedian Martin Lawrence and some older actors too, like Sidney Poitier or even Bill Cosby.”
ISAIAH WASHINGTON APOLOGIZES FOR F-WORD FIASCO: Network says they thought they had this thing squashed last October.
*Less than 24 hours after gay rights group GLAAD called for "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington to apologize for his use of a homophobic slur in reference to gay co-star T.R. Knight, the actor has responded by issuing a full apology for his actions.
As previously reported, a reporter backstage at the Golden Globes asked the cast to comment about the October 2005 on-set fight between Washington and co-star Patrick Dempsey. Show creator Shonda Rhimes was about to answer when Washington grabbed the mic and blurted, "I did not call T.R.
a fa**ot."
Despite Washington's denial that he had "never" called Knight "a fag**t," Knight told Ellen DeGeneres the following day that he overheard Washington use the word as he fought with Dempsey.
A statement from ABC said they were "dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."
As of press time, nearly 9,000 people had signed an online petition calling for ABC to fire Washington from "Grey's Anatomy."
Late Thursday, Washington released a statement accepting full responsibility for his behavior:
"I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on 'Grey's Anatomy.' I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.
"I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened.
"T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity."
NEW RICK JAMES ALBUM DUE IN MAY: Late singer’s final project recorded last two to three years of his life.
*A new album from the late funk legend Rick James will be released in early May via Stone City Records, his business manager Ron Kramer confirmed.
The material, led by first single “Deeper Still,” was recorded during the two to three years before his death in 2004 of a heart attack.
The as-yet-untitled set was originally due in Aug. 2005 via Sanctuary.
"This is one he really wanted out," Kramer told Billboard.com. "He really didn't want anybody else on these songs. He wanted to prove himself again. He wanted people to enjoy him; his music."
A 30-second snippet of “Deeper Still,” due at urban radio later this month, can be heard on James’ Web site (http://rickjames.com/).
In other Rick James news, his autobiography “Memoirs of a Superfreak” – written while James was in Folsom Prison for assault from
1993-1995 – will be released in April via Amber Communications.
Also a James biopic has just been given the green light with a script penned by Sheldon Turner ("The Longest Yard").
‘AMERICAN IDOL’ CONTESTANT HAS DUI PAST: First Seattle hopeful to get Hollywood ticket also ticketed for Dec. 2005 hit and run.
*One of the few contestants to impress the judges on Wednesday’s “American Idol” audition show from Seattle was exposed by TMZ.com Thursday as having a history of arrests.
Thomas Daniels, the contestant with the Afro who made Paula Abdul swoon (more than usual), was convicted of a DUI in Clackamas, Oregon in 2004, according to documents uncovered by TMZ. The 21-year-old pled guilty and was sentenced to a one-year alcohol diversion program and a $680 fine.
The infraction was reportedly expunged form his criminal record after he completed his DUI sentence. Daniels also attended eight AA meetings and saw a counselor once a week for two months.
TMZ spoke exclusively with Daniels who said, in reference to his DUI:
"I was young and dumb and drinking and driving."
In December 2005, Daniels was arrested for hit and run. After he failed to appear in court for the arraignment, he was arrested again.
Daniels called the incident "another young and dumb situation."
When asked if he disclosed his criminal past to "American Idol"
producers, Daniels had no comment.
HOWARD HEWETT: 2nd Time Around
Soul singer talks of his latest return to R&B
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Soul singer Howard Hewett has been doing his thing for more than three decades and hasn’t missed a beat. The artist broke out in the late ‘70s as the lead singer of Shalamar – the R&B/disco trio made up of Hewett, and “Soul Train” dancers Jeffrey Daniel and Jodi Watley – that brought the hits “Second Time Around,” which topped the charts in both the U.S. and U. K., “For the Lover in You,” and “Make that Move.” With much success, Hewett left the group in 1986 and launched a successful solo career. His first solo disc produced the gospel crossover “Say Amen” among hit ballads “Stay,” and “I’m For Real.”
As he garnered fans and hits, the singer later settled into a comfortable place with a loyal following and worked on a number of inspirational gospel records to much acclaim. Now Hewett is preparing his new project, a return, of sorts, to R&B.
“A lot of people always say, ‘You haven’t put out anything in a long time. Why haven’t’ you put anything out?’” Hewett said. His hiatus from the secular world of music apparently had left a number of fans wanting. “A few years ago I did ‘The Journey’ project, which was an inspirational project, but I hadn’t done an R&B project in a long time. I’d done other people’s stuff and been on other people’s projects, but basically, I told them, I just haven’t had a lot to say.”
Of his speechlessness, Hewett explained that he’s been happily occupied with his life. He has been consistently doing personal appearances around the globe and intimate concerts.
“For the last seven, eight years or so, I’ve been hitting about
145 dates a year,” he said.
Hewett now has something to say. Things, he said, that are really thought about and have some meaning and are insightful.
“Those are the kind of songs that I enjoy writing,” he said of his latest works. “That’s why I don’t do the ‘fast food’ type of songs.”
Hewett told EUR’s Lee Bailey that the first single on the new disc is a track called ‘Enough’, written by songstress Mikki Howard’s son Brandon and co-produced by Hewett with George Duke.
“This idea had been circulating in my mind for a long time about how we deal with relationships. A lot of times when a relationship ends or we think about ending a relationship, it ends with ‘I hate you.’ But there’s a window of opportunity to ask questions. It may not rectify the relationship, but you know what happens so you don’t take it into the next relationship. So I was dealing with this whole concept of enough. ‘Was I there enough, did I share enough…’ It’s something to think about,” he said.
The yet-titled disc is expected to be released early this year.
In the meantime, the singer is not only appearing as solo artist Howard Hewett, but he reteams with bandmate Daniel for dates as the group Shalamar. Singer Carolyn Griffey performs with the two in place of the femme fatale of the group, Watley.
“I’m not gonna even call it a reunion because the only type of real reunion we could have is if it was me, Jeffrey and Jodi,” Hewett said of Watley not being a part of the Shalamar appearances. “But Jeffrey and I have been doing Shalamar shows overseas for the last six or seven years. We only do it maybe three or four times a year.
It’s something fun, and a [break] out of the norm ‘cause my whole thing is Howard Hewett all year long, so I get to jump into another persona.”
He explained that the two did ask Watley to participate, but that the singer declined saying, “I don’t think I want to revisit that part of my life,” Hewett said she said.
“My Shalamar experience is not somebody else’s Shalamar experience, so you have to respect that,” he continued.
For more on Hewett’s new project, tour dates, check out www.howardhewett.com. And for more on Shalamar, visit www.shalamar.org.
WILL SMITH CHILLS WITH LEADER OF JAPAN: Prime Minister impressed with message of actor’s latest film.
*During a visit to Japan to promote his current film “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith received props from the country’s Prime Minster Shinzo Abe.
While visiting his official residence Thursday, the prime minister told Smith and gathered press that the film’s true story of a homeless father overcoming adversity to become a Wall Street tycoon mirrors the ideals of his country.
"I think we should treasure the idea of not giving up dreams," Abe said, according to AP. "We are aiming to create a society that is full of chances and allows people to take up a challenge again. The movie presents us an example of such society."
The film follows the rags-to-riches story of Chris Gardner, played by Smith, and his 5-year-old son, played by Smith’s 7-year-old son, Jaden. Abe said he is looking forward to seeing the film when it opens in Japan on Jan.
27.
USHER FINED FOR JULY 4TH SPEEDING TICKET: Singer pulled over after clocked flying down I-75 in Georgia.
*Usher has been fined $425 for a speeding ticket he picked up last July 4th in Georgia.
The singer and recent Broadway sensation appeared in Bartow County court Tuesday, where he was found guilty of driving his 2005 Range Rover sport utility vehicle 103 mph on Interstate 75.
In addition to the fine, Probate Court Judge Mitchell Scoggins also sentenced Usher to perform 20 hours of community service.
After the ruling, the pop star reportedly spent about 30 minutes signing autographs for fans who had flocked to the courthouse.
GOLDMAN’S LAWSUIT OVER SCRAPPED O.J. BOOK EXPANDS: Plus, imprint behind project is disbanded.
*Not only has O.J. Simpson’s book “If I Did It” been benched, but the publishing imprint that attempted to put it out has just been shut down; and its parent company, Harper Collins, has been added to a lawsuit from the father of murder victim.
ReganBooks, the HarperCollins imprint of Judith Regan, was disbanded in the wake of outrage over O.J.’s aborted book, which included an imaginary “confession” to the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman.
The imprint has been temporarily renamed “HC” and will be dispersed throughout the company in the fall, reports AP.
A statement released by HarperCollins president and group publisher Michael Morrison read: "We feel our authors will be best served by being integrated into HarperCollins. Our talented, dedicated staff will work hard to ensure a seamless transition."
Meanwhile, a lawsuit against Simpson brought by Ron Goldman’s father Fred Goldman over the book’s proceeds was expanded Tuesday to include HarperCollins.
The action was made after discovering what Goldman’s lawyer described as the contract between Simpson and the publisher, which is dated May 8, 2006, and guarantees him $1 million.
"They (HarperCollins) were added because they are the current holders and owners of the book deal," said Goldman lawyer David Cook, who filed the lawsuit against Simpson in December demanding that the former football star turn over the money to help satisfy a 1997 civil judgment.
OPRAH WINFREY TOPS TWO MORE LISTS: Mogul named America’s favorite TV personality…again; tops Forbes’ list of richest women.
*Billionnaire talk show host Oprah Winfrey sits atop Harris Poll’s list of America’s favorite TV personalities for the fifth consecutive year, and ranks No. 1 on Forbes magazine’s inaugural list of "The 20 Richest Women in Entertainment."
As reported yesterday, Denzel Washington was named America’s favorite movie star in the annual Harris Poll, which grilled 1,162 U.S.
adults online between December 12 and 18, 2006. On the TV side, Oprah beats second place personality Jon Stewart, and Bill O’Reilly at No. 3.
Meanwhile, Oprah and her estimated $1.5 billion in amassed earnings throughout her career are perched atop Forbes’ “20 Richest Women in Entertainment" list ahead of second place “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling with $1 billion, and homemaking maven Martha Stewart at No. 3 with $638 million.
Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson placed 6th and 7th with $225 million and $150 million respectively, while Jennifer Lopez came in at No. 9 on earnings of $110 million.
To make the list, these working female megastars needed a minimum net worth of $45 million amassed over the course of their careers.
Forbes and E! Entertainment have teamed up for a one-hour TV special about the list, which premieres on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. ET.
Here is the first-ever list of Forbes' 20 Richest Women in
Entertainment:
1) Oprah Winfrey $1.5B
2) J.K. Rowling $ 1B
3) Martha Stewart $638M
4) Madonna $325M
5) Celine Dion $250M
6) Mariah Carey $225M
7) Janet Jackson $150M
8) Julia Roberts $140M
9) Jennifer Lopez $110M
10) Jennifer Aniston $110M
11) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen $100M
12) Britney Spears $100M
13) Judge Judy (Sheindlin) $ 95M
14) Sandra Bullock $ 85M
15) Cameron Diaz $ 75M
16) Gisele Bundchen $ 70M
17) Ellen DeGeneres $ 65M
18) Nicole Kidman $ 60M
19) Christina Aguilera $ 60M
20) Renee Zellweger $ 45M
‘DREAMGIRLS’ TO FINALLY OPEN BIG: Paramount to put film in more than 2000 theaters; plus, soundtrack still tops Billboard.
*On the heels of Golden Globe honors given to “Dreamgirls” co-stars Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy, and a soundtrack topping Billboard for a second straight week, Paramount is increasing the number of theaters showing the musical this weekend to more than 2000, the studio announced.
"With the Globes, you do get a lot of publicity -- especially when you win," Jim Tharp, Paramount's head of distribution, told Wednesday’s Los Angeles Daily News.
Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office trackers Media By Numbers, told the newspaper, "I think Dreamgirls is going to bask in the afterglow of those Golden Globe wins."
Meanwhile, the soundtrack featuring songs from Hudson, Murphy and co-star Beyonce, moved 60,000 copies in the United States last week according to Nielsen SoundScan to keep it at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart for the second consecutive frame.
However, the album has once again made history for moving the least amount of units for a No. 1 title since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. This week’s total beats last week’s record of 66,000 copies sold.
NAOMI CAMPBELL VICTIM FILES CIVIL CASE: Guilty plea not enough for model’s former maid Ana Scolavino.
*One day after Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty to assaulting Ana Scolovino with a cell phone, the former maid has decided to go after the supermodel in a civil case, reports Contact Music.
On Tuesday, the 36-year-old runway veteran pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault and was ordered to complete five days of community service, attend anger management classes and pay for Scolavino’s $363 medical bill.
But Scolavino is far from done with Miss Naomi. Her newly-launched civil suit against the British model seeks unspecified damages for battery, libel and slander, reports Contact Music.
While Campbell pleaded guilty to the assault charge in court, she insisted that she hadn't meant to hit Scolavino when she hurled a cell phone at her for being unable to find her favorite pair of jeans.
EUR FILM REVIEW: The Dead Girl
Sub Headline: Unorthodox Crime Saga Explores Angst of Females All Linked to Serial Killer
by Kam Williams
*When Arden (Toni Collette) stumbles upon the mutilated body of a naked woman lying in a field, little does she know the chain of events that this discovery is about to set into motion.
First, it inspires the spineless spinster to find the strength to end a dysfunctional abusive relationship with her abusive mother (Piper Laurie), even if it means abandoning an invalid for the arms of a sado-masochistic weirdo (Giovanni Ribisi) with a fixation on serial killers.
Next, when the corpse arrives at the morgue, a grad student (Rose Byrne) working there examines it closely for birthmarks, hoping that the unidentified Jane Doe might be the body of her long-lost sister who disappeared without a trace. If so, that might finally enable her and her parents (Bruce Davidson and Mary Steenburgen) to get some closure on the missing-persons case that has consumed the family for 15 years.
Meanwhile, a neglected housewife (Mary Beth Hurt) uncovers the reason for her husband's (Nick Searcy) frequent unexplained absences when she uncovers evidence in a storage container implicating him in eight murders. Upon his return home, she immediately confronts him informs him that she's aware of what he's up to. But when he then flatly denies having anything to do with the series of grisly killings, she faces a critical decision as to what to do next.
A fourth plotline follows the grieving mother (Mary Gay Harden) of the late Krista (Brittany Murphy) as she tries to piece together the reasons why her recently-deceased daughter's life spiraled into such a disastrous trajectory. She finds a sympathetic shoulder to lean on in Rosetta (Kerry Washington), the proverbial prostitute with a heart of gold. The final thread spun in this multi-layered mystery involves a protracted flashback to the hours leading up to the ill-advised impulsive act which resulted in her untimely demise.
Brilliantly written and even better directed by Karen Moncreiff, The Dead Girl represents a rather remarkable innovation in the female empowerment genre, as this sequential storyline offers a spectrum of perspectives of the fallout of a spree killer. For these five intriguing lad characters are not the shallow, cowering, helpless weaklings we're used to seeing in a typical slasher flick, but rather intelligent, emotive individuals inclined to rely on all their faculties when suddenly plunged into crisis mode.
Though relentlessly ominous as it winds its way inexorably towards a decidedly grim resolution, the movie somehow simultaneously maintains an almost optimistic air, since none of the women portrayed here is inclined to submit to victimhood willingly. A compelling cross between a psychological crime thriller and an intricate soap opera.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and grisly images.
Running time: 85 minutes
Studi First Look Pictures
FANTASIA’S TOUR DATES: ‘American Idol’ winner on the road through mid-March.
*Newly-announced tour dates for Fantasia Barrino will see the “American Idol” winner away from home from Feb. 8 through March 18. Below is the full schedule:
Feb 8 2007 North Auditorium Minneapolis, Minnesota Feb 9 2007 Cincinnati Music hall Cincinnati, Ohio Feb 10 2007 Palace theatre Cleveland, Ohio Feb 15 2007 Nokia Theater Dallas, Texas Feb 17 2007 Celebrity Theatre Phoenix, Arizona Feb 18 2007 Sans Expo & Convention Centre Las Vegas, Nebraska Feb 22 2007 Boutwell Theatre Birmingham, Alabama Feb 23 2007 Civic center Atlanta, Georgia Mar 1 2007 New Jersey Performing Arts Center Newark, New Jersey Mar 2 2007 Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, New Jersey Mar 3 2007 ODU Center Norfolk, Virginia Mar 4 2007 The Township Auditorium Columbia, South Carolina Mar 8 2007 James Knight Miami, Florida Mar 9 2007 Johnny Mercer Theatre Savannah, Georgia Mar 10 2007 War Memorial Auditorium Greensboro, North Carolina Mar 11 2007 Spartenburg Memorial Arena Greenville, South Carolina Mar 15 2007 Landmark Theater Richmond, Virginia Mar 16 2007 Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mar 17 2007 The Fox Theatre Detroit, Michigan Mar 18 2007 Roy Thompson Hall Toronto
HIP HOP LEGAL DRAMA: Nate Dogg vs. Suge; DJs Drama & Cannon jailed in mixtape raid; Jacob the Jeweler calls on artists; Source vs. Hip Hop Weekly.
*Nate Dogg is seeking a legal judgment against his former Death Row boss Marion “Suge” Knight, claiming he’s owed $10 million in unpaid royalties. According to court documents recovered by TheSmokingGun.com, the signer – whose real name is Nathaniel Hale – says Knight stiffed him on royalties on hit records dating back to 1993. Nate Dogg also claims that Knight threatened him with physical violence whenever he inquired about his payment. The filing also claims Death Row Records has continuously refused to provide accounting for Nate Dogg's record sales during his association with the label.
*Mixtape kings DJ Drama (Tyree Simmons) and DJ Don Cannon (Donald
Cannon) were arrested on felony charges stemming from a Magistrate's warrant under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act following a Tuesday raid of their Atlanta-based Aphilliates Music Group. Morrow County Sheriff's Joint Vice Task Force and the Clayton County Police confiscated more than 81,000 mixtape CDs, to be destroyed, along with computers, recording equipment and four cars. The company's assets were also frozen. As of press time, both DJs were being held on $100,000 bond. "We have a partnership with a joint vice task force working pirated tapes in the country," says Chief James Baker of the Morrow Police Department. "We found an outlet in Morrow for the criminal sale of recorded material, breaking the OCGA, Official Code of Georgia Annotated, no. 16-8-60, which specifies that CDs must list the true name and address of their office, which these CDs didn't, nor did they [list] copyright permission. People were able to make purchases over the Internet and these guys sold the pirated discs for profit."
*Jacob “The Jeweler” Arabov is calling on some of his famous customers to appear as defense witnesses in his upcoming trial for federal money laundering. Court documents reveal that Jay-Z, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey are among the celebs tapped to testify as character witnesses.
Arabov, urban America’s go-to guy for bling, was arrested in June and charged with helping the Black Mafia Family (BMF) crew of drug dealers launder over $270 million in drug proceeds. He is also accused of failing to file the proper tax forms in an attempt to hide the source of BMF's drug money. Arabov was released on $100,000 bail and has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
*Publishers of The Source magazine have taken legal steps to stop rival magazine Hip Hop Weekly, run by former Source co-owners David Mays and Ray "Benzino" Scott. According to Allhiphop.com, The Source Enterprises sent a cease and desist notice to the pair on grounds that their publication’s header – which reads in bold above the title “brought to you by the founders of The Source" – is misleading to readers. “It creates some confusion as to whether or not the magazine has an affiliation with The Source," The Source's attorney Andy I. Corea told AllHipHop.com. "If you saw a restaurant and it had on the sign 'from the creators of the Big Mac, you would have every reason to think the company had an affiliation with McDonald's.” The letter also states that Hip Hop Weekly is benefiting from an association with The Source that could possibly dilute The Source brand name.
Benzino and Mays released a statement Thursday responding to the cease and desist letter.
“The fact is that Hip Hop Weekly is a magazine from ‘the creators of The Source,’ which Ray and I developed from a one-page newsletter in 1988 into the biggest-selling music magazine on newsstands in the world,” said Dave Mays, co-founder of Hip Hop Weekly. “When we left The Source last year, we set out to create a more up-to-date, exciting and faster-paced format that reflects the drastic changes in media and in hip hop in recent years.”
“It’s a shame that they just can’t move on, because we are the creators of The Source,” said Ray Benzino. “It’s not our fault their magazine looks cracked out.”
Added Mays, “No matter how anyone may feel about myself or my partner, the truth is that we made it possible for an urban monthly to sit on newsstands next to other mainstream magazines. We were also the first to show corporate America the tremendous influence and buying power of the hip hop audience. Hip Hop Weekly signals the beginning of a new era in hip hop media, and will lead to a whole new category of magazines over the next few years, just like we did with The Source.”
PARTIES SCHEDULED AROUND SUPER BOWL WEEKEND: HollyRod’s benefit in South Beach; NFL wives’ ‘extravaganza’ in Hollywood, Fla.
*Actress/humanitarian Holly Robinson Peete and her husband Rodney Peete, former NFL quarterback and co-host of the Best Damn Sports Show Period, welcome scores of celebrities, athletes and philanthropists to the
2007 EdgeTech Gridiron Glamour on Saturday, Feb. 3 in South Beach, Fla.
The 9th Annual charity fashion show/benefit brunch presented by Anheuser-Busch will be co-hosted by Alonzo Mourning of the NBA World Champion Miami Heat and wife, Tracy Wilson Mourning, executive director of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, a program of Alonzo Mourning Charities.
This year, Miami based entrepreneurs and philanthropists Jack and Lucia Penrod will receive the 2007 Spirit of Hope Award for their contributions and support of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program.
A full silent auction featuring NFL memorabilia and many celebrity-donated items will also highlight the event that has become a popular staple of Super Bowl weekend.
Runway seating is still available at $500.00 for reserved seats and $300.00 for general admission. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please contact Candor Marketing Group at 248-362-7366 ext. 237. For more information about the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, please visit www.honeyshine.org.
ALSO…
*Off the Field presents its 6th Annual Players' Wives Fashion Extravaganza and brunch – hosted by Patricia Smith, wife of legendary NFL player Emmit Smith, and Wendy Raquel Robinson of the CW’s “The Game.”
The event, benefiting Miami Children's Hospital and Total Renaissance Woman, is to be held on Friday, Feb. 2 with a 9:30 a.m. Silent Auction and 10 a.m. Breakfast and Fashion Show at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL.
"In keeping consistent with the mission of Off the Field, wives and their husbands will be in attendance to raise funds for two worthy causes,"
said Ashley Brown, President and Founder of Off The Field. "We're not only excited to be helping these organizations, but also to be working with Bloomingdale's to make this event a huge success."
In attendance will be retired Washington Redskins, Ray Brown; retired Oakland Raider and future Hall of Famer, Tim Brown; Michael Barrow, Dallas Cowboys; Derrick Dockery, Washington Redskins; La'Roi Glover, St. Louis Rams; Randy Jordan retired Oakland Raider; Stockar McDougle, Jacksonville Jaguars; Damion McIntosh, Miami Dolphins; John St. Clair, Chicago Bears; Dan Wilkinson, Miami Dolphins; and many more.
Silent auction items include signature designs from Diane von Furstenberg, tickets to the New York City Opera and tickets to the Philarmon de Radko France at the infamous Carnegie Hall, and more. All runway designs are courtesy of Bloomingdale's, and will be modeled by the NFL players'
wives.
BET TAPS RAY CHEW FOR ‘GOSPEL’ CELEBRATION: Plus, Kiki Sheard booked to replace pregnant Faith Evans.
*Legendary band leader Ray Chew has been named music director of the 2007, BET Celebration of Gospel, while Kiki Sheard will replace Faith Evans in the performance lineup of the program, scheduled to air Jan. 28 at 9 p.m.
ET/PT.
Other artists performing on the 2007 broadcast include Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and Fantasia, to name a few. The ceremony marks the second consecutive year Chew has directed music for the show.
"Gospel represents the spirit of all American music from Soul and R&B to Country and Rock and Roll. It is music that moves you and that's what we will aim to do," said Chew. "I'm especially excited about the exceptional line up of female talent we have this year including some women who have made a name for themselves in R&B like Kelly Price, Coko and Fantasia who will be paying homage to their gospel roots."
Kiki Sheard, the daughter of gospel great Karen Clark Sheard, will perform the classic Clark Sisters track "Endow Me" with Coko, Fantasia and Lil’ Mo. Kiki’s booking came after Evans had to drop out due to her pregnancy.
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening January 19, 2007
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
The Hitcher (R for profanity, terror, and gory violence) Grisly horror flick about a couple of college kids (Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton) whose Spring Break is ruined by the increasingly menacing hitchhiker (Sean Bean) they repeatedly encounter on their road trip across New Mexico.
The Dead Girl (R for sex, expletives, nudity and grisly images) Gritty, female empowerment flick examines the psyches of several women whose lives have been serendipitously interlocked by their connection to a victim (Brittany Murphy) of a serial killer still on the loose. Cast includes Toni Collette, Kerry Washington, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Steenburgen, Mary Beth Hurt, Piper Laurie, James Brolin, James Franco and Giovanni Ribisi.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Alone with Her (Unrated) Colin Hanks stars in this psychological thriller as a voyeuristic stalker who plants hidden cameras around the apartment of the beautiful stranger (Ana Claudia Talancon) he's secretly obsessed with.
TheGoodTimesKid (Unrated) Stolen love/stolen identity comedy about two strangers who share the same name (Gerardo Naranjo and Azazel Jacobs) and later the same girl after their lives intersect when they coincidentally cross paths at an Army recruiting office.
The Italian (Unrated) Road flick about an abandoned, six year-old Russian boy (Kolya Spiridonov), adopted by an Italian family, who opts to embark on a perilous trek back to his native country to search for his long-lost mother (In Russian with subtitles)
Regular Lovers (Unrated) B&W period piece, set in Paris during the turbulent summer of '68, revolves around a rabble-rousing bohemian (Louis Garrel) who finds himself falling in love with a sculptor (Clotilde Hesme) as his anti-establishment fervor cools. (In French with subtitles)
Shockproof (Unrated) B&W neo-noir revolving around a recently-paroled femme fatale (Patricia Knight) embroiled in a love triangle with her parole officer (Cornel Wilde) and a very shady character (John Baragrey).
FILM/TV BITS: ‘Winged’ Whitaker; America saluted; Evans’ education; Judge Mos Def; Yahoo ‘Hates Chris.’
*Fresh from his Golden Globe win for best actor in a dramatic role, Forest Whitaker has been cast in the upcoming ensemble drama “Winged Creatures,” about a group of survivors from a diner shootout. Set in Los Angeles, the story has been described as a deeply moving examination of both the emotional fallout and a critique of American society. Guy Pearce and Kate Beckinsale will co-star.
*Fellow Golden Globe winner America Ferrera of ABC’s “Ugly Betty”
was honored inside the U.S. Congress Wednesday by Congresswoman Hilda L.
Solis (D-Calif.), who took the floor and said the following: "Madame Speaker, I rise today to congratulate America Ferrera for winning the Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy for her work in the ABC show ‘Ugly Betty.’ Through her work, Ms. Ferrera is breaking down barriers for Latinos in prime-time television. ... I commend America and everyone involved in ‘Ugly Betty’ for helping to break down stereotypes and provide a role model for young Latinas."
*Damon Evans, one of two actors who played Lionel on “The Jeffersons,” plans to enroll at a historically black college to earn a degree in history, reports the New York Daily news. At age of 57, the former sitcom standout just graduated from Bronx Community College in June with an associate's degree in psychology. "I never thought of myself as an academic person," he told the newspaper, adding, "I actually did enjoy learning.
People don't think about the amount of work and research that goes into being an actor." At 22, Evans joined "The Jeffersons," replacing the late Mike Evans (no relation) as George and Louise's son.
*Rapper-turned-actor Mos Def will serve among the jurors selected for the U.S. dramatic film competition at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, which began Wednesday in Park City, Utah and runs through Jan. 28. Also on the jury are director Catherine Hardwicke, Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson, film editor Pamela Martin and actress-director Sarah Polley.
*The CW Network and CBS Paramount Television are currently streaming a never-before-seen episode of “Everybody Hates Chris” on Yahoo! TV
(http://tv.yahoo.com) for one week prior to its network debut. In the episode, entitled “Everybody Hates Eggs,” Chris (Tyler James Williams) and Greg (Vincent Martella) get a classroom lesson on parenting when they are each assigned an egg to care for as if it were their own child. The episode is available free-of-charge and without commercial interruption at Yahoo until its CW debut Monday, Jan. 22 (8 to 8:30 p.m. ET).
MUSIC BITS: ‘Irreplaceable No. 1; more Grammy presenters; Prodigy’s LP; Wanya’s LP; Pookie Hudson dies; Heller’s new label.
*Beyonce’s latest single “Irreplaceable” continues to hold down Billboard’s Hot 100 for a seventh consecutive week and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a ninth cycle. The single, from her album “B’Day,” is also No. 1 on the Pop 100 for a second straight frame and sixth non-consecutive week. Also notable on the Hot 100 this week is Justin Timberlake, who becomes the first artist since 50 Cent in May 2005 to have three songs in the Hot 100’s top 20. "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" rises 21-12 to join the prior No. 1 hits "My Love" (6-8) and "Sexyback" (13-16) in the chart's upper fifth.
*The Black Eyed Peas, Ciara and Nelly Furtado have been added to the lineup of presenters for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards telecast, joining previously announced presenters Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Pink, and Rihanna. The ceremony will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 11, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide and XM Satellite Radio, and covered online at Grammy.yahoo.com. Performers include Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Ludacris, Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley and Beyoncé.
*KOCH Records announces the release of "Return of the Mac," a new album from Mobb Deep's Prodigy and produced by Eminem’s DJ, The Alchemist.
This release will be followed in late 2007 by "H.N.I.C. 2," the follow up to Prodigy's Gold solo album, "H.N.I.C.," which spawned the hit, "Keep It Thoro." "Stuck On You" will be the first national radio single and a video will also be lensed for it shortly. Two underground videos for "Return of the Mac" have already been shot and are available for viewing: Check out "Mac 10 Handles" at http://youtube.com/watch?v=kZLuFIADKYg and "New York Sh*t" at http://youtube.com/watch?v=twV7FRiJkOM&mode=related&search.
*Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris is about to record his first solo album and release a new mixtape titled “Unreleased” via new label, The Company Entertainment. For more information, visit the company’s myspace page at www.myspace.com/thecompanyentertainment.
*Thornton “Pookie” Hudson, the lead singer/songwriter of famous 50s doo-wop group the Spaniels, died Tuesday of complications from cancer of the thymus at his home in Capitol Heights, Md., publicist Bill Carpenter said.
He was 72. The Des Moines, Iowa native is best known for writing "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight," which reached No. 5 on the R&B chart in 1954 and No.
24 on the pop chart. The McGuire Singers, a white vocal group, covered the tune and took it to No. 7 on the Billboard pop chart. The Spaniels' version was heard on the soundtrack of the 1973 film "American Graffiti." Hudson reformed the Spaniels in the early '70s and performed at oldies concerts until last fall, when his cancer returned after remission.
*Former NWA manager and Ruthless Records co-founder Jerry Heller has launched a new record label dubbed Streetlife/Klock Work Records, reports Allhiphop.com. The music industry vet has partnered with producer Johnny "J"
and Pablito Vasquez to run the new operation, which plans to sign artists from diverse genres. "This is going to be way past the hoods," Vasquez said in a statement. "It is going to be about the streets, but we will release music and artists that will transcend both cultures and transcend neighborhoods.”
THEATER BITS: Jenkins in ‘Hattie McDaniel Story’; Bailey saves ‘Ethel Waters’; Payne to belt Ella; Ted Lange presents ‘George Washington’s Boy.’
*Capathia Jenkins, recently featured on Broadway in “Martin Short:
Fame Becomes Me,” will play Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel in Emerging Artists Theatre's premiere of “(mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story” by Joan Ross Sorkin. The play, which begins a four-week off-Broadway engagement at Theatre 5 from Feb. 7 through Mar. 4, is set in
1952 at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital in Woodlands Hills, California, where McDaniel is battling breast cancer. In her weakened state, she imagines that NAACP head Walter White has come to visit her and possibly reconcile their differences. White thought her roles as maids – most notably Mammy in “Gone with the Wind” – were shameful and degrading to the black race. For the first time, she confronts her most vocal critic to prove to him that she was in fact a credit to her race. In recounting her miraculous life story as the daughter of a slave who became a world-renowned movie star, she proudly illuminates a life that was too often misunderstood.
*Philadelphia-area singer/actress Demetria Joyce Bailey has been cast at the 11th hour to play Ethel Waters in the Northeast premiere of Ethel Waters, His Eye Is On the Sparrow at the Bristol Riverside Theatre.
The Bristol, PA, troupe had to do some scrambling when Ernestine Jackson, who was slated to play the role, cited health reasons and left the production Jan. 16 – a week before its Jan. 23 opening, reports Playbill News. The play focuses on the Chester-born, Philadelphia-raised Waters, who overcame poverty to become a Broadway and Hollywood star noted for appearances in The Member of the Wedding, Cabin in the Sky, At Home Abroad and As Thousands Cheer. Bristol Riverside Theatre is at 120 Radcliffe Street, in Historic Bristol Borough. For information call (215) 785-0100 or
visit www.BRTstage.org.
*Freda Payne, seen on Broadway in Hallelujah, Baby!, will offer a "Tribute to Ella" at Catalina's Jazz Bar & Grill in Hollywood, CA. Showtimes are Feb. 9 and 10 at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. According to Playbill News, Payne will perform such Fitzgerald standards as "A-Tisket, a-Tasket," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "It Don't Mean a Thing" and "Mack the Knife." Catalina's Jazz Bar & Grill is located at 6725 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. For tickets call (323) 466-2210 or visit www.catalinajazzclub.com.
*Ted Lange, best known as the bartender Isaac from “The Love Boat,”
is the writer and director of a new play to be staged in the Los Angeles area. Lange Productions, in association with Los Angeles Valley College, presents George Washington’s Boy Feb. 1 through Mar. 4 at the Horse Shoe Theatre at L.A. Valley College (5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys). Based on historical fact, the play presents the fight for freedom, the Declaration of Independence and the first presidency of the United States from the viewpoint of one of George Washington's closest confidents – his slave, Billy Lee. Lee served his master throughout these monumental times and was privy to Washington’s innermost thoughts and actions. Shows on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays begin at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m. For additional information or reservations, call (323) 960-4442 or visit http://www.plays411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp.
SPORTS BITS: Vick’s wacky water; Giants’ GM makes black history; Derek Jeter, Tiki Barber in the tabloids.
*A water bottle confiscated from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick at Miami International Airport Wednesday was said to have contained a secret compartment that allegedly held a substance resembling marijuana.
When Vick was told he couldn’t take his water bottle through security under new airline rules, his initial reluctance to part ways with it roused the suspicions of TSA agents. After he tossed the bottle in the trash, agents recovered it and found the alleged infraction. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the police report referred to the foreign matter as “a dark particulate." The bottle was taken to the Miami-Dade Police Department crime lab and could take several months before it is analyzed. Meanwhile, the Falcons camp says it’s aware of the incident and “plan to look into this matter and discuss it further with Michael before having any further comment.”
*On Martin Luther King Day, the New York Giants hired Jerry Reese as its new general manager – making the team’s former director of player personnel the third African American in NFL history to hold such a title.
"Many people went before me who suffered through this process and now it's my time,” Reese said. “I'm looking forward to this challenge. It's my time to keep this dream alive. It's very important to me and I don't take it lightly."
*The New York Post’s Page Six is in Derek Jeter’s business, reporting that he was dating catalog model Joanne Campbell before hooking up with actress Jessica Biel. The gossip column also reported that retired New York Giants running back Tiki Barber “has invested in a new brand of flavored water called O that's aimed at children as a healthy alternative to soda pop.”
EVENT CALENDAR: Smiley in Torrance; Famecast contest; ‘C Morrison Presents…’; Tyrese at Dr. King ‘Salute’; Ross’ daughter on catwalk; Nelly at Blender Sessions.
*Tavis Smiley, broadcast journalist and New York Times bestseller (Covenant with Black America), will deliver special remarks at the 10th Annual Black History Month Celebration Luncheon in Torrance, CA on Friday, Feb. 23. The lunch and program be held at the Torrance Marriott (3635 Fashion Way) from noon to 2 p.m. following the Cultural and Vendor Walkway from 10:45 a.m. to noon. Business mogul Magic Johnson will be honored with the 2007 Professional Spirit Award. NBA Hall of Famer James Worthy is this year's master of ceremonies. Preferred seating is still available, but on a limited basis. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Torrance Chamber of Commerce at (310) 540-5858 or by visiting www.torrancechamber.com.
*A new competition, dubbed Famecast, is being launched by industry professionals for unsigned R&B and Hip Hop acts, with a $10,000 cash prize for the winners as well as the opportunity to be flown to Austin TX during the week of SXSW to compete in a final competition that will be shown live via web cast. Entry is free and available on the Web site, www.Famecast.com.
*Chit Chat Communications, Burger King and Florida Memorial University Student Activities celebrate Black History Month with the South Florida community by bringing emerging black business leaders and basketball great/business guru Magic Johnson to Florida Memorial University for the 5th Annual C. Morrison Presents… “After The Party, What’s The Plan?” Symposium Series, promoting higher education and entrepreneurship. The event takes place Friday, February 2, 2007, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Florida Memorial University’s Lou Rawls Auditorium (18900 NW 42nd Avenue, Opa-locka/Miami, Florida). The program is open to the public. Tickets are $20 (general admission), $10 (for students). For more information on C. Morrison Presents… “After The Party, What’s The Plan?” Symposium Series, call (404) 815-5667, (305) 626-3714 or Log ont www.chitchatcommunications.com.
*Singer Tyrese is scheduled to headline the 15th Annual Celebrity Salute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a benefit for the World Literacy Crusade (WLC), a grassroots educational movement in support of urban youth.
The concert – which will feature performances by Doug E. Fresh and Tevin Campbell, and appearances by Omarosa and actors James Lesure, Tiny Lisner and N'Bushe Wright – will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Lynwood Performing Arts Center. The red carpet begins at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7:30 p.m. Tyrese will be presented with the World Literacy Crusade Humanitarian Award during the ceremony. Tickets are still available to the benefit, which is being held at The Lynwood Performing Arts Center, on the campus of the Lynwood High School at 4050 E. Imperial Highway. Tickets run from $25 for general seating, to $50 for preferred seating, to $150 for VIP tickets, the latter of which includes admission to a VIP reception. For tickets contact Dr. Hanan Islam, the WLC executive director, at drhanani@yahoo.com or 310-537-2273 or in person at 3209 N. Alameda Street in Compton.
*Diana Ross’ youngest daughter Chudney will model in the Rolling With Style fashion show Feb. 6 at Cipriani 42nd Street to benefit women's spinal cord research, reports the New York Post’s Page Six.
*Blender magazine and TAO Las Vegas present Blender Sessions at TAO to the Sundance Film Festival for the second year in a row on Jan. 22 with host Nelly and performances from Akon and Rich Boy. "This year, the Blender Sessions are bringing some soul to Sundance,” says Blender publisher Lee Rosenbaum. “We are excited to be back in Park City with some returning sponsors, and have no doubt that; once again, Blender Sessions will be the hottest ticket in town. Even though there are no tickets -- just invites to a few thousand of our closest friends in the movie biz."
DILLARD STUDENTS ASKED TO RETURN FEMA MONEY: Feds say they were never eligible for aid following Katrina.
*Black College Wire is reporting that hundreds of Dillard University students in New Orleans who received financial aid from FEMA are being asked to give back the money because, according to federal officials, they were never eligible for the aid.
FEMA spokswoman Rachel Rodi says the glitch occurred when students incorrectly claimed college dorms that were damaged by the storm as their primary residence.
“Students who lived in a dormitory owned or managed by the school will not qualify for housing assistance because dormitories are not considered a primary residence,” Rodi says, according to Black College Wire
(http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_6901.shtml).
The students should have instead sought compensation for their losses through the school’s insurance company, which was National Student Services, Inc. at the time of the hurricane.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, began sending out the repayment letters in late July following an investigation in early May of fraudulent claims, says Freddye Hill, Dillard’s vice president of campus life.
Students are also accused of making unnecessary claims on items that were actually Dillard property, the Web site reports.
“The investigator asked questions about what furniture and appliances the university provided in each residential unit because some applicants requested assistance to replace large appliances such as refrigerators and stoves,” Hill says.
According to Rodi, students have 30 days to pay the money back in full or agree to an installment plan. But they can appeal the demand for repayment by explaining in writing why they feel FEMA’s decision was incorrect. They can, for example, supply additional information, such as a utility bill or any other kind of bill with an address to prove that it was their primary residence.
Hill says Dillard is working with the students and FEMA to fix the situation.
“Since October, I have sent FEMA letters on behalf of residential students who resided in university housing in August 2005,” he says. “If a student needs a letter verifying that he or she resided in University housing in August 2005, I will provide a letter verifying residency.”
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
::A Brand New Way to Look at Your Goals and Dreams::
by Jason M. Gracia
www.motivation123.com
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Your Personal Exercise
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I want you to take one of your most important goals and pull from it three simple steps you can carry out today.
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Eat a healthy meal. Walk downstairs to your home gym.
Search the Internet for an exercise book. These are simple things that you can do right now. Small steps that will make a difference.
So, think about three things you can do right now that will bring you one step closer to your goal. The smaller, the better. After you have your ideas in mind write them down on paper.
The last step is easy. Do them!
And when you do something exciting will happen that you won't want to miss.
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Why Does it Work?
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If there is one thing that the people I speak with underestimate it is the act of taking a single, small step toward their goal.
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We both know that getting and staying motivated to achieve your goals is vital. We also know that getting motivated to take that first, second, or third step isn't always easy.
Even when the steps are small we can still hesitate for an eternity.
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Jan. 19: NFL star Junior Seau is 38. Actor Shawn Wayans is 36.
Jan. 20: Actress Stacey Dash is 41. Singer Heather Small is 42.
Jan. 21: DJ Jazzy Jeff is 42. Singer Billy Ocean is 57. NBA veteran Hakeem Olajuwon is 44.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
The folks at this site say if you want to hear "real music" such as Dwele, Lina, and more, check them out here: http://www.4dasoul.com. You'll find yourself embraced by an extended family.
Submit your favorite website to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Jan. 19, 1969: UCLA renames its social science buildings to honor alumnus Ralph Bunche.
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