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08-01-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
ROBIN ROBERTS REVEALS SHE HAS BREAST CANCER: 'GMA' host says she will have operation on Friday and seek treatment.
*"Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts fought back tears as she announced to viewers Tuesday morning that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The broadcaster, 46, said she first discovered a lump in her breast a few weeks ago, while preparing a special tribute piece for ABC colleague Joel Siegel, who had just passed away following a battle with cancer.
Roberts, who says she does not have a family history of breast cancer, will undergo surgery on Friday. In her GMA blog, she says her doctor believes the cancer was caught early.
"I will be having surgery shortly and follow-up treatments in the months to come," Roberts wrote. "So in the coming months, you will probably notice that I will have my good days and my bad days, but I know I will get through it with the love and support of my family and friends."
"And like my good friend Joel, I can't stress enough how important it is to get screened and checked for all cancers - and to do self breast exams," she continued. "I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the Atlantic and scaling the Mayan Pyramids in no time in the mornings to come."
. Vide Roberts announces diagnosis on "GMA"
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. Roberts blogs about her diagnosis here:
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FINALLY, STAR JONES COPS TO BYPASS SURGERY: TV personality tells the whole story - as promised - in Glamour magazine.
*After years of dodging questions about her dramatic weight loss, Star Jones Reynolds has finally admitted to undergoing a gastric bypass procedure in August of 2003.
As previously reported in an EURcast, the former co-host of "The View" will detail the operation and the reasons for her secrecy in an essay for the September issue of Glamour magazine, on newsstands Aug. 7.
"Everything about me was already so public (mostly my own doing - talk about dumb!), so of course everyone wanted to know what I had done,"
she writes. "I was also terrified someone would have a tragic result after emulating me without making an informed decision with her doctor."
"But the complete truth is, I was scared of what people might think of me," she continues. "I was afraid to be vulnerable, and ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure."
Reynolds, 45, lost 160 pounds within the span of three years. At her heaviest, she tipped the scale at 307 pounds - the result of "out-of-control behavior" that began around her 40th birthday in 2002, she wrote. Feeling lonely, she turned to food for comfort and gained 75 pounds over the course of 17 months.
"I used to look in the mirror and take pride in my figure, but that was when I was legitimately a full-figured woman," she says. "I'd gradually gone from full-figured to morbidly obese."
The former prosecutor considered medical intervention after a friend expressed concern about her weight gain. The procedure was a success, she says, though she found she was "still consumed with the same anger, shame and insecurity as before." Her husband, Al Reynolds, suggested she see a therapist in the summer of 2005.
Star learned, among other things, that she "couldn't control what others thought," she says. She began to heal by talking openly about her weight loss to strangers. It will most likely be a topic on her upcoming Court TV talk show, "Star Jones," scheduled to premiere on Aug. 20.
USHER SAYS 'EVERYBODY'S FINE' AFTER NEAR WEDDING: Singer, however, says nothing more about Saturday's events.
*Although Usher and his pregnant fiancee, Tameka Foster, called off their wedding Saturday at the last minute, the two are apparently still planning to get married.
"As of right now we don't have a date but we will let you know when we do," he tells Usmagazine.com in a story posted Tuesday. "Everybody's fine. Tameka and the baby are fine."
"We're good. We're all doing great now," Foster is quoted as saying.
The quotes follow reports that Foster, currently with Usher in Atlanta, had been hospitalized briefly due to complications with her pregnancy. She told People.com Monday: "We had a scare. But, I am fine and the baby is fine."
COREY CLARK ARRESTED AGAIN: Troubled 'Idol' vet nabbed on drug charges in Arkansas.
*Troubles continue for booted "American Idol" singer Corey Clark, who was arrested Monday in North Little Rock, Ark. on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Arizona.
Clark, whose criminal record got him disqualified from season two of "American Idol," was approached by officers at about 2:30 a.m. Monday as he sat in his idling vehicle near Interstate 40. As cops approached him, he exited the vehicle, reports TMZ.com.
In addition to the drug-related charges, authorities soon discovered he had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest in Arizona, where he was charged earlier this year for violating a court order and trespassing, reports AP.
Clark, who famously claimed he had an affair with "Idol" judge Paula Abdul, was being held at the Pulaski County jail pending a court appearance Tuesday. Bail was set at $25,000.
Darrin HENSON TAKES ‘THE STAND:' Dancer/actor stars in Russ Parr’s “The Stand” DVD
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Actor Darrin Dewitt Henson is busting his acting chops with a vengeance. The “Soul Food” star has moved into his latest project “Last Stand,” fresh off his antagonist role in “Stomp the Yard.” The new film is written and directed by famous radio talent Russ Parr, who is wearing a new hat, while dancer/actor Henson is progressively becoming an accomplished thespian.
The straight-to-DVD flick explores the “drama of comedy,” as it follows the lives of four individuals with dreams of becoming the next big star. Henson plays TD, an up-and-coming comedian with a criminal past.
Henson chatted with EUR’s Lee Bailey to talk about the film and Henson’s growing movie career, and discussed how the film, though a straight-to-disc flick, is big screen worthy.
“There was a premiere in D.C. and my jaw dropped because of how dynamic the movie is. I said, ‘This should be in the movie theaters, now.’ But because they [promoted] that it was coming out on DVD, I guess they had to follow through with it. As long as people get to see the movie, that’s what’s important.”
Henson said that he got connected to the film after a suspicious meeting with Parr during the Essence Festival a couple of years ago. Henson was trying to avoid the crowd when a man he didn’t recognize approached him. That man was Russ Parr.
“I didn’t know him – I knew the name,” Henson said of the legendary Parr. “He was this guy that was staying in the same hotel as me during the Essence Music Festival, and he said ‘I gotta talk to you.’ I still didn’t know who he was until he said, ‘I’m Russ Parr and I’ve got this movie.’ About a week later I gave him a call back and said I’d love to do it.”
The film was shot last year with little fanfare, but the critics are impressed with the film, particularly Henson’s talent.
After all, he’s a dancer first and foremost, and then an actor. But even more, this role asked a lot of Henson’s talent. He’s a dancer, as an actor, playing a comedian, who happens to be a gay ex-con. But Henson did not shy away from the challenge.
“That is the important part – playing these characters and telling the truth of the men that I play. From ‘Soul Food’ to ‘Stomp the Yard’ to ‘Life Support’ to a young Jim Brown in ‘The Express’ – a movie that I just finished a couple of weeks ago. This character that I play is another person that exists and what I wanted to do was jump on the character because it is very real. Playing a gay male didn’t bother me because it’s about telling the truth about people that do exist.”
Henson said that he’s always frequented comedy clubs and loves to laugh, but when he was offered the role, he really dove in, studying comedic timing, delivery, and jokes. He even happened to be finishing up the book “Pryor Convictions” while filming, a book that explores the life and times of legendary comedian Richard Pryor.
“I take what I do very, very seriously,” he said. “It was important when I was playing a comedian that other comedians actually respected my timing and respected the jokes. This guy was supposed to be funny. I was reading ‘Pryor Convictions.’ It was so close to what was going on with my character’s life, it was so strange and surreal to me. [It’s surprising] when you find out how tragic comedians’ lives really are. It blew my mind. Some of the hardships they go through and then they get on stage and make us laugh.”
“The Last Stand” is in stores now and also stars Guy Torry, Laz Alonzo, and Anthony Anderson. Henson just finished filming “The Express” about the first black Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Next up for Henson is the release of his “Darrin’s Dance Grooves 2,” the follow-up to his first instructional dance video – the highest selling dance video in the US.
ANDRE 3000 DETAILS SAMMY DAVIS BIOPIC: Plus, OutKast star talks about his other films in the pipeline.
*Andre 3000 will star as legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in the feature film "Sammy and Kim," one of three movies currently in the works
about the late performer.
"Actually, I just got the script," Andre told MTV. "I am checking it out now, and we will see where it goes from there."
The OutKast rapper said "Sammy and Kim" will follow the volatile relationship Davis had with white actress Kim Novak. Their interracial union was cause for constant drama at the time.
In the meantime, Andre will follow up big screen performances in "Four Brothers" and "Idlewild" with The Battle in Seattle," a drama about the World Trade Organization starring Woody Harrelson and Charlize Theron, and "Semi-Pro," a basketball flick co-starring Will Ferrell.
"I am playing a 1970s basketball star showoff on the team, and we are trying to make it to the NBA. It's hilarious," he tells MTV.
GOLDMANS AWARDED RIGHTS TO O.J. BOOK: Family hopes to secure new deals to help satisfy wrongful death judgment.
*Score another win for the family of murder victim Ron Goldman. On Monday, they were awarded rights to O.J. Simpson's canceled book "If I Did It," which tells a hypothetical account of how he could have killed his ex-wife and Goldman in 1994.
Under the settlement approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge A. Jay Cristol on Monday, the Goldmans won all rights to the book, as well as Simpson's name and likeness in connection with it. Those rights will now be held in the name of Ron Goldman LLC, a new entity that "will market the book under the true crime genre," family lawyer David Cook told Reuters.
Lawyers for the Goldmans said they would seek to capitalize on the book by arranging new publishing, film or TV deals to help satisfy a $33.5 million wrongful death judgment won by the family against Simpson in 1997.
Cook said he had received several inquiries about the book from literary agents in recent weeks, and Fred Goldman has said in the past he would consider releasing the book under the title "I Did It," or possibly "Confessions of a Double Murderer."
As previously reported, relatives of Nicole Brown Simpson were unsuccessful in their last minute attempt to collect 40 percent of the proceeds from any future book profits going toward the Goldmans.
However Monday's agreement requires the Goldmans to give a court-appointed trustee 10 percent of the first $4 million in gross proceeds and a percentage of all proceeds beyond that. The Brown family will get most of that money, Reuters reports.
COPS SUSPECT LINK IN NBA PLAYER ROBBERIES: Chicago authorities look for tie between Eddy Curry and Antoine Walker crimes.
*Detectives in the Chicago area say it might not be a coincidence that two NBA players were tied up and robbed at gunpoint in their homes just weeks apart.
As previously reported, New York Knicks forward Eddy Curry was tied up along with his wife and an employee at his mansion in suburban Burr Ridge on Saturday. Miami Heat forward Antoine Walker was similarly robbed along with a relative at his $4 million townhouse in Chicago's exclusive River North section on July 10.
"Our guys are talking to Chicago to determine if it's just a copycat or a coincidence or if there is a relationship there," Burr Ridge police Cpl. Tim Vaclav told the Associated Press.
Details of items stolen from Curry have yet to be disclosed. In the robbery at Walker's home, the gunmen took his Mercedes-Benz, which was later recovered, and other items, including a $55,000 wristwatch.
A few days later, police recovered some of Walker's jewelry during a traffic stop on the city's South Side. A woman was arrested, but police said they do not believe she was in the house when Walker was robbed, and they would not give any further information.
Dan Wasserman, a spokesman for the NBA Players Association, said the union will brief all NBA players living in the Chicago area about the home invasions and answer any questions they have about security.
EMINEM PUBLISHER GOES AFTER APPLE IN COURT: Complaint accuses company of allowing unauthorized downloads.
*Eminem's music publisher has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Calif.-based Apple Inc., accusing the company of violating copyrights by allowing unauthorized downloads of the rapper's songs.
According to the Detroit News, the complaint from Ferndale-based Eight Mile Style and Eminem's copyright manager, Martin Affiliated, says Apple allowed unauthorized downloads of the Detroit artists songs onto iPods.
"Eight Mile and Martin have demanded that Apple cease and desist its reproduction and distribution and Apple has refused," the lawsuit alleges.
Filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, the complaint, follows a lawsuit from Eminem's music publisher against Apple in 2004 over its use of the Eminem song "Lose Yourself" in a TV commercial for Apple's iTunes music store. That case was settled out of court.
LIL JON TAPS ERR'BODY FOR 'CRUNK ROCK': Producer trying to release project by end of the year.
*P.O.D., Kid Rock, Ciara, Ice Cube, and R. Kelly are among the artists crowded onto the guest-heavy "Crunk Rock," the forthcoming hip-hop/rock hybrid album from crunk king, Lil Jon.
According to Billboard.com, the producer hopes to release the TVT set sometime before the end of the year.
"My sh*t is real rock guitars with my beats, not keyboard guitars with ghetto beats," Lil' Jon tells Billboard.com. "It's gonna be a little different from what you hear right now, but I think everyone will love it."
Other artists featured on "Crunk Rock" include Remy Ma, Lil Wayne, The Game, Gucci Mane, Fabo from D4L and Three 6 Mafia.
Lil Jon couldn't resist taking a jab at the current rock fad in hip hop, which is something he claims to have promoted years ago.
"I've been doing crunk rock for the past two years," he tells Billboard. "I did a street record with Three 6 Mafia in October where I say 'Party like a rock star, f*ck like a porn star.' Now everybody wants to be a rock star 'cause it's cool."
"One thing I like is people are opening [our] ears to the music, 'cause [we] tend to be closed-minded to sh*t we don't know about," he continues. "It might make a motherf**ker that don't listen to rock go listen to some Guns N' Roses."
KARRINE STEFFANS TELLS ALL AT ESSENCE.COM: Industry vixen dishes about new book, her various men and why she'll never marry.
*Essence.com caught up with video vixen-turned-author Karrine Steffans for a candid interview to promote her new book "Vixen Diaries," a steamy tell-all about her various celebrity sexcapades that picks up where her previous book, "Confessions of a Video Vixen," left off.
Here are some excerpts from the Karrine Steffans article, available in full at essence.com:
. On Jamie Foxx: "Believe it or not, I have more male groupies than anything. I had a weird experience with Jamie Foxx with whom I have a long history with and we're cool. He was acting like he was in awe of me and I'm like, "Yeah, right, you're the famous one and with an Oscar at that."
. On rap star Lil Wayne: ".I can't start or end my day without talking to him. And we don't necessarily talk on the phone, but we text each other all the time. It's a perfect relationship. He knows that no matter who he's with and vice versa, we love each other."
. On the reactions to her book: "At the end of the day, it's business not personal. I can't afford to ruin my professional life simply to save face with my friends. But I also don't want to lose my friends for the love of the almighty dollar, and I think I found a good balance with this book."
'TOP MODEL'S' JAEL SUES OVER NUDE PICS: Tyra's finalist trying to stop publication of photos taken when she was 16.
*Jael Strauss, a finalist on last season's cycle of "America's Next Top Model," has filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against two men, including her former agent, who allegedly published nude pictures of her without her permission.
According to E! Online, the bi-racial model was 16 when she took the racy photos in question, which ended up in a book called Beautiful: Nudes by Marc Baptiste, published by Rizzoli/Universe Publications Inc. in 2001.
In the lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jael claims her ex-agent, Christopher Donahue, allowed fellow plaintiff Baptiste to take erotic photos of the then-teen and then signed a deal for the book without getting permission from Strauss' parents.
Also named as plaintiffs are the Millennium Agency, where Donahue works, and Rizzoli/Universe. Strauss is seeking unspecified restitution, as well as punitive and compensatory damages.
Some of the unused shots from the 2000 photo session, which included pictures taken at locales in Inglewood and at Malibu's Surf Rider Beach, found their way to the Internet and increased in volume once the Detroit native appeared on "Top Model," where she came in fifth.
In addition to invasion of privacy, Strauss claims that she wasn't paid for the use of her pictures and is also suing for theft of image and unjust enrichment, reports E! Online. She also accuses Baptiste of trying to seduce her following a photo shoot.
"During the shoots.Baptiste offered Jael alcohol, allegedly to calm her nervousness and to relax her," the suit states. "On returning from the shoot in Malibu to Jael's residence, Baptiste inquired whether Jael would like to have sex with him. She declined."
The book's publication and the unsolicited Internet presence have "damaged [Strauss] in the beginning of her entertainment career and caused severe damage to her public image," court documents state.
During her memorable run on "Top Model," Jael was tossed into a hotel pool by rapper 50 Cent, and became emotional upon hearing news that a friend had died of a drug overdose.
WESLEY SNIPES AS THELONIOUS MONK?: 'El Cantante' director wants actor to play jazz innovator in planned biopic.
*Leon Ichaso, director of the new film "El Cantante" starring Marc Anthony and his wife Jennifer Lopez, says he would love to have Wesley Snipes star in his planned biopic of jazz legend Thelonious Monk.
"Wesley Snipes is aware of the project... I think he's kept the same innocence that Thelonious had and something very specific about the face. He looks like him," Ichaso said at a recent press junket. "Thelonious has almost like an ebony-etched kind of a face and an innocence and I think that would be a fit for Wesley."
Ichaso's "El Cantante" is a biopic about salsa legend Hector Lavoe, who famously struggled to balance his incredible talent with the turmoil of his personal life, which included drug addiction and a suicide attempt.
Lavoe died of HIV-related causes in 1993 at age 46.
For his Monk biopic, Ichaso hopes to portray the jazz legend's battle with similar personal demons.
"Monk is a man who had all the odds stacked against him and became one of the most influential jazz and bebop musicians," said Ichaso.
QUINCY JONES LAUNCHES PODCAST SERIES: Music icon releases first of 26 to come in first year.
*Entertainment legend Quincy Jones has unveiled the debut episode of his new video podcast series that takes viewers behind-the-scenes into Q's private world.
According to podcast partners Wizzard Media, the 26-episode series includes footage of the musician at work in the studio and at exclusive events around the world. Also featured in are Jones' takes on film, popular culture, politics and world events.
The 27-time Grammy winner's new digital platform expands with its second phase, the Fall debut of quincyjones.com, an online destination featuring interactivity of a social network embracing musicians, producers, artists and Quincy's other followers worldwide.
It will include Quincy's Vault that will give users access to previously unreleased audio and video of Jones and the legendary performers he's worked with as well as a virtual Quincy's Academy where users will network and share their artistry with music professionals, like-minded peers and consumers, and have access to digital record distribution and marketing opportunities.
Jones' video podcasts will be available on www.quincyjones.com, MySpace and Wizzard Media Channel on iTunes, and other leading podcast directories including Yahoo!, VH1, Syndic8 and Podcast Pickle.
CASTING COUCH: Franklin grabs 'Snitch'; Underwood gets 'Dirty'; Tyrese courts 'Death'; DMX in 'Jump Out.'
*Director Carl Franklin has signed on to direct the film "Snitch"
for New Line Cinema. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it centers on a devoted father whose son faces 30 years in prison after being set up in a drug deal. The father goes undercover in the drug world to make a bust that will free his son. The story is based on events chronicled in a PBS "Frontline" documentary of the same name. Franklin, best known for directing such movies as "Out of Time" and "Devil in a Blue Dress," is next slated to direct an episode of HBO's "The Pacific."
*Blair Underwood is in final talks to join the cast of ABC's upcoming drama "Dirty Sexy Money." The show follows an idealistic lawyer (Peter Krause) who goes to work for wealthy businessman Tripp Darling (Donald Sutherland), the patriarch of one of New York's richest families.
Underwood would play Darling's wealthy nemesis. The actor, meanwhile, is on HBO's upcoming half-hour drama series "In Treatment" and will continue his recurring role on the CBS sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
*"Transformers" star Tyrese Gibson says he will join Jason Statham and Joan Allen for "Death Race 3000," an update of the 1975 cult film "Death Race 2000" starring David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone. The "faithful remake," according to Anderson, will track a group of contestants on a cross-country race who score points for fatally running down pedestrians.
Gibson and Statham star as two tough guys who are challenged by an unlikely character, played by Allen. Universal Pictures will release the film next year.
*Rapper DMX has been cast alongside Kris Kristofferson in the film "Jump Out Boys," which follows escaped convicts in a race across the country. According to Allhiphop.com, scenes including shootouts, car chases and explosions were shot last week in Port Manchac and Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
MUSIC BITS: Service postponed for KRS's stepson; Flav blows off gig; Obama's Vibe cover.
*A memorial service for KRS-One's stepson Randy has been cancelled for "personal reasons." The ceremony was originally scheduled for Aug. 6 to mark the passing of Randy, who committed suicide earlier this month. KRS and his wife, Simone Parker, said in a statement to Allhiphop.com: "If the hundreds of letters and responses to the announcement of the passing of our son are any indication, we know that through you, his life and spirit will forever be celebrated and live on."
*Flava Flav was a no show at his scheduled concert Monday night in New York. According to WENN, the Public Enemy jester and reality TV star was supposed to host the Rock The Bells After Party at Retox bar lounge and Myst nightclub in the city, but never showed up to either venue. Promoter John Englebert said he never got a phone call from Flav explaining his absence.
"I deal with alot of celebrity parties and sh**t happens but Flava Flav didn't even bother to call," said Englebert. "Maybe if he was an A-lister I wouldn't mind as much but he's lucky I agreed to let his ass host a party at my venue. Let's be real here he hasn't dropped a CD in how long?"
*Vibe magazine makes history with its annual "Juice" issue featuring Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, who becomes the first politician to ever grace a Vibe cover. Inside, the senator addresses criticisms about his ethnicity -- specifically, accusations from some community leaders that he's not "black enough" -- and his policy on Iraq, which includes complete troop withdrawal by 2008. Obama's Juice issue comes with a choice of two covers on August 14th.
FILM/TV BITS: Rush Hour 3 drama in China; Kimora a no-show; Chappelle's 'Coffee' talk.
*"Rush Hour 3" may not ever see the inside of a movie theater in China after authorities there ruled the comedy "fundamentally anti-Chinese."
According to Variety Asia, the Chinese Film Bureau took issue with a scene in which a family involved in organized crime visits Paris. Censors at the Bureau claim they have not banned the film, starring native son Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The group has the power to ask filmmakers to edit the movies to fit standards, but Variety claimed it would not extend this invitation to the makers of "Rush Hour 3."
*Kimora Lee Simmons was noticeably absent for Saturday's "Art for Life" gala, which she was due to co-host with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Russell Simmons at their East Hampton estate, reports the New York Daily News. Her rep said she was absent because of her busy schedule in L.A., but a source said she skipped the event to avoid being around Russell's new girlfriend, Porschla Coleman, who accompanied the mogul to the event. Forest Whitaker, Petra Nemcova, Heather Graham, Nia Long and Babyface did show up for the benefit, which raised $1.4 million for the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.
*Today's Internet broadcast of "Cedric Muhammad and Black Coffee Program" will discuss the announcement of Dave Chappelle as executive producer of "Allah Made me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour." Muhammad will lead a discussion "of the political, cultural, and economic dynamics which Dave Chappelle's decision is poised to set in motion," read a press release. The program will stream live at:
http://www.blackcoffeechannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=
408&Itemid=36 from 12 to 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 1. For more info about the Black Coffee Channel, visit www.blackcoffeechannel.com/
NIKE SETTLES RACE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT: Swoosh to pay $7.6 million to 400 black employees of Chicago Niketown store.
*Nike Inc. has reached a $7.6 million settlement in a class-action race-discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of 400 black employees of the company's Chicago Niketown store, reports the Associated Press.
The 2003 lawsuit accused store managers of using racial slurs to refer to black workers and customers. They also said the store segregated black employees into lower-paying jobs as stockroom workers and cashiers rather than giving them lucrative sales jobs. And they alleged managers made unfounded accusations of theft against black workers and directed store security to monitor black employees and customers because of their race. Nike has denied the allegations.
Under terms of the agreement, Nike Retail Services will pay $7.6 million to the current and former employees to resolve the claims. The lawsuit covers black employees who worked at the store from 1999 until now.
Nike must also make concrete efforts to address diversity, such as appointing a diversity consultant to monitor the Chicago store's compliance and a compliance officer at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton. The company must also conduct diversity training for all supervisors and managers at the store.
The company is also required to review its human resources practice, create equal opportunity objectives for the store and review its theft-loss policies. It also will create a formal mentoring program for black employees.
COREY REYNOLDS: The Closer Interview with Kam Williams
Reynolds Wrapped
*Corey Reynolds was born on July 3rd, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia where he was raised till he decided to head west to take a shot at showbiz.
But his career took a detour and instead of sticking around Los Angeles, he ended up in a traveling production of Smoky Joe’s Café.
Eventually, he settled in New York where he was cast in the role of Seaweed in the original Broadway production of Hairspray. After landing a Tony nomination for that dynamic performance, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in The Terminal, directed by Steven Spielberg, and on several TV series, including Eve, The Guardian, Without a Trace, and CSI: Miami, before being invited to become a regular member of the ensemble on The Closer, the TNT dramatic police series co-starring Kyra Sedgwick, J.K Simmons and Gina Rivera.
Here, he talks about his career, and about playing Sergeant David Gabriel on the show, which recently started its third season.
Kam Williams: Had you hoped to be able to play Seaweed in the new screen version of Hairspray, given that you had originated the role on Broadway and landed a Tony nomination for it?
Corey Reynolds: I had some availability issues because of my prior commitments to the show, but to be honest, it never was something that I was really gunning for, because I really feel that you can’t just go back and recreate something. Hairspray was really special, such a big smash, and we were all so very young, just kids, and then this whirlwind happened. So, I thought I’d just keep my magic in a bottle. Still, I was a little disappointed to see that there’s no one from the Broadway show involved onscreen. I actually sang a song for the soundtrack.
KW: That must feel weird to see someone else in your role.
CR: It’s like seeing someone else dating your ex-girlfriend. But the truth of the matter is that I’ve worked very hard since leaving the show in 2003 to move into the realm of leading man and young adult, versus kid. So, I think that that type of project may not have been the type of springboard that I was looking for to use to continue my ascension in Hollywood. I’ve moved on, and I’m looking in a new direction career-wise, but I’m very grateful that something I was a part of creating continues to feed people and to provide them an outlet to do what they love. I think that’s just great.
KW: How did it feel to get a Tony Award nomination for Hairspray?
CR: That was pretty exciting. It was my first Broadway show, so to have that happen out of the gate, I was pleasantly surprised.
KW: That sort of stamped you as an accomplished actor right of the bat.
CR: Yeah, but I’ve got to get that trophy, though. I want to take that walk.
KW: Well, The Closer is getting a lot of critical acclaim, so maybe an Emmy’s on the horizon for you.
CR: Who knows? If I play my cards right, and continue to do what I consider good work, and let the chips fall where they may.
KW: How do you like playing Deputy Chief Johnson‘s [Kyra Sedgwick’s character] protégé, Sergeant Gabriel?
CR: I love it, hands down. I loved my character in Hairspray, but when it comes to theater, you’re a little bit more restricted in what you can do, because you have the same show over and over again. But with this, being able to develop this character, and let him grow, and to allow myself to grow as an actor at the same time, really is wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better role on a television show. You don’t see many minority men my age playing college-educated, well-spoken, articulate, good guys. So, that was something that was really important to me as an actor, to try to find something that would present me in a light that I want to be seen in. And this show presented that opportunity.
KW: Yeah, and even when you do see that positive role model-type character, they often inject a lot of humor which undercuts…
CR: …their own legitimacy as what ever professional they are.
KW: Right.
CR: I agree with you 100%. I see that in some other television series, a couple of medical shows. On one, there’s a doctor who went to college and med school, twelve years of intensive education after high school, and he’s still saying, “Whazzup?” You would think that at some point that educational experience would bleed into how they present themselves. What that does, in my opinion, is it kind of discredits the whole idea of being the professional. But for me, in playing Gabriel, it’s win-win across the board as far as how I like to act, and the type of person I want to portray.
KW: On The Closer, you’re surrounded by a talented cast, such as J.K. Simmons, who got the biggest laughs, stealing all his scenes in Spider-Man 3 as J. Jonah Jameson.
CR: Absolutely! He loves those Spidey checks. He was telling me that in the new Spiderman DVD…
KW: Spiderman 2.1
CR: Yeah, in 2.1 there’s a deleted scene of him in the Spider-Man costume in his office running around. And he said, “You know the worst part about it was they gave me Tobey’s suit, and it didn’t exactly fit me.” [Chuckles] Yeah, we have a great group with him, G.W. [Bailey], Kyra, Jon [Tenney], Tony [Denison]… And for me, it’s important to be able to have this be the foundation of my television career.
KW: How is the daily grind of shooting a series?
CR: We shoot an episode every seven days, so we go Monday through Friday, and then Monday and Tuesday of the next week. If you’re in every scene, you’re probably looking at about a 65-70 hour week. But when you’re doing what you love, it may get tiring, but it never gets bad.
KW: Kyra’s from New York in real life, but has a Southern accent on the show, while you’re from the Virginia, but don’t have the accent. Did you deliberately try to lose yours?
CR: I wouldn’t say I’ve worked to lose it, but I’ve always been told by others that I’m well spoken, and that they’re surprised I’m from Virginia.
But if you hear me on the phone with my family, you’ll get a totally different sound, I can assure you.
KW: Former L.A. District Attorney, Gil Garcetti, who prosecuted the O.J.
Simpson case, is a consultant on the show. What’s he like?
CR: I gotta tell you, man, Gil is surprisingly one of the coolest people I know. You’d think that somebody in his position, and who had done what he’s done for a living, would be very uptight. Not at all… not at all.
KW: Jimmy Bayan told me to ask you where in L.A. you live.
CR: I live in Los Feliz. I just bought a house there, so I’m excited.
KW: Who would you like to see yourself acting opposite in a feature film?
CR: Ooh, that’s a really good question. There are lots of people I’d love an opportunity to work with. One of them was Tom Hanks, and I got to work with him on The Terminal. That experience really blew my mind to be honest. That was my first movie ever, and I’m on the set with Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
KW: How was it working with them?
CR: They are truly masters, and to be honest, they are two of the nicest people you could ever meet in your life. And for me, that was great to see people I admire, and to see how they treat other people. That helped me to understand that if you truly want to experience success on the scale that these guys are experiencing, there is a positive aura that must surround you. You must be a positive person to have staying power. Lots of people can get there, but longevity is what it’s all about.
KW: Did you observe anything about how they each approach their craft from being around them on the set every day?
CR: Steven has a very concise and clear understanding of his vision, and what I think Tom had was a very clear and concise understanding of Steven. So, he was able to translate Steven’s vision instantly.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who might want to follow in your footsteps?
CR: Stay realistic, know exactly what it is that you’re going for, and then stay determined, because determination is the deciding factor between success and failure.
KW: Corey, thanks for the interview, and I hope I can get another one with you after you break real big.
CR: You got one whenever you want, all right?
KW: Thanks.
CR: Take it easy.
EUR FILM REVIEW: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Firemen Fake Being Gay for Benefits in Gender-Bent Romantic Comedy
Film Review by Kam Williams
*For years, Brooklyn firefighters Larry Valentine (Kevin James) and Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler) have been best friends, at least on the job, even though they lead very different private lives.
Away from work, Chuck behaves like a wanton womanizer with no intentions of ever settling down, while Larry is a grieving widower who’s too concerned about the welfare of his kids, Eric (Cole Morgen) and Tori (Shelby Adamowsky), to start thinking about dating again.
Despite their differences, these buddies are absolutely committed to being there for each other, and Larry proves his loyalty the day he saves his pal’s life during the collapse of a burning building. In return, Chuck promises to return the favor at the first opportunity, unaware how soon that pledge will be tested.
For when bureaucratic red tape prevents Larry from naming his children as the beneficiaries of his life insurance policy, he learns that the snafu could be corrected instantly, if he only were married or had a domestic partner. So, to expedite matters, he asks Chuck to sign a document saying they’re gay life mates, never expecting that a nosy inspector (Steve Buscemi) from the city’s Fraud Detection Department might show up at his house unannounced periodically to make sure they’re not lying.
With the prospect of prison hanging over their heads, Chuck grudgingly moves in with Larry, rather than risk going to jail. And it doesn’t help that he has to hide the fact that he’s straight from their knockout of a lawyer (Jessica Biel), since he finds himself falling head-over-heels in love with her. The ensuing awkwardness and embarrassment over having to pretend to be strange bedfellows probably sounds like a zany enough premise to make for a potentially hilarious sitcom. However, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is so evilly executed that it deserves to be dismissed as a deliberately meanspirited indulgence in homophobia.
Not only are gays repeatedly referred to by such slurs as “faggots,” “queers,” and “fruits,” but this relentlessly hateful and superficial enterprise seizes on any excuse to link homosexuality with effeminacy and with certain specific tastes and traits, such as an appreciation of show tunes and American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken.
What makes this movie most potentially damaging is Larry’s relationship with his young son whom he suspects to be gay, because the boy prefers the arts to sports. Instead of being supportive, he berates Eric, yelling “Play baseball!” into the child’s ear, as if to suggest that there are no gay athletes and that you can change a person’s sexual orientation simply by shouting at them very loudly. When that doesn’t work, he hands him some heterosexual pornography to look at, now implying that a peek at naked females could nip any contrary inclinations in the bud.
Furthermore, Eric is teased mercilessly as the butt of degrading double entendres about things like “baton swallowing” and is subjected to threats like “sticking a pole up his ass to turn him into a lollipop.” Nor does the bottom-feeding script pass on any opportunity to trade in infantile plays on words, so “Wedding Bells” becomes “Wedding Balls,” “Till death do us part,” becomes “Till dick do us part,” and “Lollapalooza” becomes “Homopalooza.” When not trashing gays, the film goes after Asians with impunity, by making fun of their thick accents and eyeglasses, and by portraying Asian females as empty-headed sex objects. Adam Sandler and Kevin James ought to be ashamed to be associated with the cinematic equivalent of gay bashing.
Poor (0 stars)
Rated PG-13 for nudity, profanity, homophobic slurs, sexuality, drug use and violence.
Running time: 115 minutes
Studi Universal Pictures
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