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02-13-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
MARIAH CAREY CHOOSES ALBUM NAME: Island/Def Jam effort due on Tax Day.
*Mariah Carey has jacked Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and is using it as the title of her new album, "E=MC²," due April 15 via Island/Def Jam.
According to Billboard.com, the disc features producers Jermaine Dupri and will.i.am, plus DJ Toomp, Stargate, Bryan Michael Cox, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills and James Poyser. Other collaborators include T-Pain and Damian Marley.
"It's kind of strange but I heard a lot of her records and it sounds like the album is better than the last album," Dupri recently told Billboard.
The set's first single, "Touch My Body," was shipped yesterday (Feb. 12) to radio outlets in the U.S. Other tracks expected to appear on the album include "Migrate," "Love Story," "Lovin' You Long Time" and "OOC."
ARETHA OFFENDED BY BEYONCE'S TINA TURNER INTRO: Franklin upset over use of the word 'Queen.'
*Aretha Franklin says she didn't appreciate Beyonce referring to Tina Turner as "the queen" before the duo's fiery performance at the Grammy's Sunday night.
Known the world over as the "Queen of Soul," Franklin says she was taken aback upon hearing Beyonce describe Turner using that particular noun.
"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé, however I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy," Franklin said in a statement posted at People.com.
"In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love Beyoncé anyway," Franklin added.
Grammy No. 20 for Franklin was in the best gospel performance category for a duet with Mary J. Blige.
WHATCHOO TALKIN' 'BOUT 'MARRIED?!': Gary Coleman says he secretly tied the knot in August.
*Actor Gary Coleman has announced that he is off the market, ladies.
The 40-year-old star of "Diff'rent Strokes" exchanged vows with 22-year-old Shannon Price on Aug. 28 after the two crossed paths on the set of a movie called "Church Ball."
The couple exchanged vows, "on a mountaintop," Coleman tells TV's "Inside Edition." "Nobody was around but the minister, preacher, the videographers, the photographer, the helicopter pilot and us. That was all that was there. There was nobody else.”
Price, who currently handles sales of Coleman memorabilia on eBay, says she had no idea that Coleman was famous for playing little Arnold Jackson on NBC's "Diff'rent Strokes."
"I didn't grow up with 'Diff'rent Strokes,'" she explained "I actually didn't like watching TV when I was younger."
Coleman admits that he was a virgin before meeting Price, stating: "I never got the opportunity to be romantic or feel romantic with anyone. I wasn't saving myself, she just happened to be the one."
The newlyweds said all is not always lovey dovey in the Coleman household.
"We may go a week and not speak to each other," he says, while she claims, "He lets his anger conquer him sometimes. … He throws things around, and sometimes he throws it in my direction." She adds, "I don't like the violence."
As for their drastic height difference, (he's 4'8", she's more than 5'7"), Price says: "He was 10 feet tall to me, because he was sweet and I really liked his personality."
Regarding their 18 year age difference, Coleman says: "I don't have issues with age, I have issues with intelligence. She's more intelligent than I am, and that's what matters to me."
MYA TO MAKE BROADWAY DEBUT IN 'CHICAGO': Singer takes over role of Velma Kelly.
*R&B singer Mya will make her Broadway debut this spring in the long-running revival of "Chicago," producers announced.
The artist will bring her vocal talents to the role of Velma Kelly, the cohort of Roxie Hart, played currently by stage veteran Bianca Marroquin.
"It's something I always wanted to do; sing, dance, act and tell a story," Mya said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "It's probably the ultimate complete dream for me."
The singer is currently doing lots of cardio, muscle strengthening, stretching and vitamin popping to make sure she'll be ready when rehearsals begin in April.
"I have gone through all the material with the show's musical director and everything is suited for my key," she said. "We don't have to do any transposing. It's perfect."
Mya, who also had a small role in the 2002 film adaptation of "Chicago," says she has seen the stage show more than a half-dozen times in the last couple of years.
Her nine week Broadway run at the Ambassador Theatre begins May 12 and ends July 13.
'GIRLFRIENDS' MAY RUN CLIPS AS 'PROPER SENDOFF': CW officially announces cancellation; other networks announce post-strike decisions.
*After opting to cancel its long-running sitcom "Girlfriends" and scrapping production on the remaining 9 shows of its scheduled 22 this year, the CW is reportedly considering ways to give the show "a proper sendoff,"
perhaps via a clip show, reports Variety.
As previously reported, Monday night's two new episodes marked the end of the road for "Girlfriends." Hours earlier, the CW told writers that the show would not return for a ninth season.
"Girlfriends" star Tracee Ellis Ross also made her directorial debut on the 9:30 p.m. episode, which ended up being the series swan song.
The CW has also cancelled its freshman drama "Life is Wild," but will quickly resume production on five or six episodes each of dramas "Smallville," "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "Reaper" and "Supernatural."
On the CW comedy front, "Everybody Hates Chris" had wrapped production of a 22-episode season before the strike kicked in. And the network is looking to crank out eight or nine more episodes of "The Game."
ABC renewed nine series for fall. Freshman dramas "Dirty Sexy Money," "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies" and "Samantha Who?" all received 13-episode pickups, while 22-episode orders were given to "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Ugly Betty."
CBS has renewed all three editions of the "CSI" franchise, "NCIS," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "Numbers," "Criminal Minds," "Ghost Whisperer" and "Moonlight." Comedies given a green light are "Two and a Half Men," "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Big Bang Theory." So far, CBS hasn't asked for more episodes of dramas "Shark" or "The Unit," starring Dennis Haysbert. Both programs are on the bubble for a return next fall. As for the new Latino family drama "Cane," CBS said no more episodes will be produced this season, however, the series remains a contender for renewal next season.
*NBC is expected to bring back most of its Thursday sitcoms, including "My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and "30 Rock." It's not yet clear how many more episodes of "Scrubs" will be produced. NBC is contractually obligated to produce more "ER" episodes this season, and it seems likely at least four to six of those will air starting in April. "Law & Order: SVU" should also resume production on new episodes, while "Medium" is gearing up to come back to finish out its season. "Chuck" is a favorite at the network, but the odds are that the show won't return until late summer (after the Olympics) or early fall. "Heroes," with its elaborate serialized storyline, is also expected to take the summer to regroup. No new episodes of "Las Vegas" will be produced this season, but it's still on the bubble for renewal. NBC execs are looking for a way to bring back "Friday Night Lights." It was announced late yesterday that "Saturday Night Live" will return on Feb. 23 pending the official end of the writer's strike.NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the only late-night show completely shelved by the writers' strike, is planning a Feb. 23 return if the writers ratify a contract agreement NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the only late-night show completely shelved by the writers' strike, is planning a Feb. 23 return if the writers ratify a contract agreement NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the only late-night show completely shelved by the writers' strike, is planning a Feb. 23 return if the writers ratify a contract agreement NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the only late-night show completely shelved by the writers' strike, is planning a Feb. 23 return if the writers ratify a contract agreement
*FOX has decided to extend the regular TV season in order to take advantage of late-delivered episodes from shows including "House." Originals of certain shows could continue airing into June, insiders tell Variety, or else in August. Serialized series won't return until next season, however; the net felt that producers -- not to mention viewers -- may have trouble getting back into those shows' storylines at this late date. The network has decided to begin the new season of "24" in January instead of trying to force a full season of the Kiefer Sutherland drama at this late date.
XM RADIO ADDS MICHAEL JACKSON CHANNEL: Quincy Jones to preside over temporary effort next month.
*It's all Michael Jackson all the time on a new XM Radio channel that will debut next month in honor of the singer's "Thriller" album turning the big 2-5.
"Thriller: The Music of Michael Jackson" (XM 63) will feature the King of Pop's solo work, as well as recordings from The Jackson 5, interviews and stories from other artists.
Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller," among other Jackson solo albums, will serve as XM 63's executive advisor, providing counsel on the channel's creative direction and structure.
"With 'XM Thriller,' we are paying tribute to the best-selling album in the world and a music icon whose influence on pop music is unparalleled," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming, XM.
"Thriller: The Music of Michael Jackson" will be available on XM 63 from March 1 through 31. Programming information for the channel will be available online at http://www.xmradio.com/thriller.
GAME SENTENCED TO 60 DAYS IN JAIL: Rapper pleads no contest in firearm case.
*The Game was handed a 60-day jail sentence Monday after pleading no contest to felony possession of a firearm in a school zone, reports the Associated Press.
Two other counts were thrown out per a plea agreement, the district attorney's office said.
The 28-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor, was accused of pulling a gun on an opponent during a pickup basketball game last year at a South Los Angeles school.
Superior Court Judge Fred Wapner credited the Compton native with two days already served toward the jail time and imposed 150 hours of community service and a three-year probationary term.
RON ISLEY PRISON SENTENCE UPHELD: Court rejects argument that singer is too old for 37-month stint.
*At age 66 and in poor health after suffering a minor stroke in 2004, an appellate court ruled that Ronald Isley must carry out his entire 37-month federal prison sentence for tax evasion.
A three-judge panel rejected the singer's argument that the sentence is unreasonable due to his age, medical condition and lack of proof that the federal prison system can provide him adequate health care, reports the Associated Press.
The appellate court ruled that the trial judge was correct in sentencing and "best balanced the need to sanction Mr. Isley's 'pathological' tax evasion against the need to accommodate Mr. Isley's poor health."
The R&B crooner was sentenced in 2006 after being convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return. Prosecutors said Isley failed to file tax returns on many occasions over a three-year period and declared bankruptcy after the IRS seized his yacht, cars and other property in 1997.
He was discharged from bankruptcy four years later, but then did not file tax returns for the years 1997 to 2001 and in 2002 did not sign his return and failed to pay all taxes due.
As it stands now, Isley is due for release from the Terre Haute Federal Corrections Institution in Indiana sometime in April 2010.
LENNY KRAVITZ HOSPITALIZED WITH BRONCHITIS: Rocker sidelined in midst of publicity tour for new album.
*Timing couldn't have been worse for Lenny Kravitz. The rocker is currently sidelined by a nasty case of bronchitis that has temporarily shut down the rigorous promotional blitz for his new album, "It's Time For a Love Revolution."
Kravitz, 43, was taken to a Miami hospital Monday morning after suffering from a series of severe respiratory tract infections in tandem with the flu since mid-January. Over the weeks, the illness evolved into bronchitis.
"Due to extreme dehydration and fatigue, doctors were unable to control it with outpatient treatment and advised the singer to check into the hospital. He was taken this morning to the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami for immediate treatment," his rep said in a statement.
Kravitz managed to make his scheduled performances last week on the "Late Show with David Letterman" and "Live with Regis and Kelly." However, his current condition has forced him to postpone a promotional trip to Europe.
USHER'S WIFE ADDRESSES SCIENTOLOGY RUMORS: Tameka Foster laughs at the thought; says she 'can't even spell it.'
*Usher and his wife Tameka Foster were among the guests at a post-Grammy party hosted by L.A. Reid when Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman approached the couple about rumors that she is a Scientologist and only married Ursh to bring him in to the sect.
"Honey, I can’t even spell it! No, I am not a Scientologist," Foster told Freidman.
Usher added: "I’m friends with Tom Cruise, so people think that’s what happened."
Friedman wrote in his Tuesday column: "[Usher] did host a fundraiser for one of Cruise’s Scientology-related schemes, perhaps unwittingly. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. It sounds a little like Madonna and her Kabbalah fundraiser using Gucci as a host.
"Anyway, I met Foster, and she seems pretty nice. The couple appears happy as newlyweds with their new addition. Usher is finishing his new album with Jermaine Dupri."
SHUT UP AND DRIVE…CAREFULLY: Rihanna involved in minor car accident at Grammy after party.
*Hours after receiving her Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy award, Rihanna was involved in a little fender bender while outside of L.A. Reid's Grammy afterparty in Los Angeles.
According to several reports, the singer was a passenger in a vehicle leaving the Entertainment Weekly-hosted event when her vehicle was hit by another car. The artist and her driver were not injured in the minor collision and the police were never called to take a report.
Rihanna, 19, "got out of the car, and got into another after it happened," a source tells People magazine.
Meanwhile, Rihanna's behavior inside the party made headlines yesterday morning. New York Daily News columnists Rush & Malloy wrote: "As soon as she walked in, Rihanna made a beeline for Chris Brown, the boyfriend she's been trying to keep under wraps. 'They were touching and whispering in each other's ears,' says our spy.
"'Then Jay-Z and Beyoncé walked in. Jay was saying hello to everybody except them. Rihanna seemed upset. She walked over to his table and looked like she was reading him the riot act. A few minutes later, she and Chris left together in her car.'
"Jay and Rihanna have both denied rumors of a past fling, and he and Beyoncé did invite Rihanna to an intimate dinner they threw Thursday."
GOODING'S OSCAR SCISSOR-KICK TOPS LIST: VH1 ranks greatest moments in Academy Awards History.
*When it comes to Oscar moments, Cuba Gooding Jr.'s spastic 1997 acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor ranked above all else on a new countdown from VH1.
The actor did a scissor kick and was shouting his thank yous at the top of his lungs after winning an Oscar for his role as a pampered football player in Jerry Maguire.
Premiering tomorrow night (Feb. 14) at 9, "VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar Moments" features new interviews with Oscar nominees and presenters, past and present, such as Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Garner, Tatum O'Neal and more.
Other moments on the list include Halle Berry's tearful acceptance speech in 2002 after becoming the first African American woman to win Best Actress (No. 19), and Berry being kissed by Adrien Brody the following year to celebrate his Best Actor win (No. 3).
More Oscar moments making VH1's countdown are listed below:
• No. 5: In 1977, Muhammad Ali came on stage to surprise presenter, and "Rocky" star, Sylvester Stallone, telling him, "I'm the real Apollo Creed." They jokingly sparred before Stallone said: "Although I might not win anything tonight, I will still remember this night forever to be standing next to a 100 percent legend."
• No. 10: Host David Letterman launches his "Uma/Oprah/Oprah/Uma" joke during the opening monologue.
• No. 11: Issac Hayes' 1972 performance of best song nominee "Shaft," when he emerged on stage from a cloud of smoke, decked out in chains and riding a piano.
• No. 14: Michael Jackson and Madonna went to the Oscar ceremony together in 1991.
C-MILLER LOSES BID TO DISMISS MURDER CASE: Rapper tried to argue that original grand jury was tainted.
*Rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller will stand trial for murder on June 9 as scheduled after his bid to have the case dismissed was rejected by a judge.
Defense lawyers for the artist tried to argue that the original grand jury in 2002 heard testimony from witnesses who were not relevant to the case.
Miller was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting a 16-year-old to death inside of a Harvey, LA nightclub in 2002. His attorneys claim that the grand jury in that case was prejudiced by witness testimony that centered on a 2001 incident, in which Miller was accused of shooting a security officer at Club Raggs in Baton, Rouge.
The rapper was convicted of that crime in September 2003, but the verdict was overturned when it was learned that prosecutors expunged the criminal records of certain witnesses in order to boost their credibility.
Miller faces a separate trial for two second-degree attempted murder charges stemming from the Club Raggs shooting. The 36-year-old faces a mandatory life in prison if convicted of the murder, while he faces 50 years in prison for the Club Raggs incident.
MIJAC MOONWALKS FROM GRAMMY APPEARANCE?: Rep for the entertainer said the segment 'was too last minute.'
*Michael Jackson's scheduled Grammy appearance that never happened is being blamed on a last minute "panic attack," according to the New York Daily News' Rush & Malloy.
The song-and-dance number was to include will.i.am, Fergie and possibly Akon and Kanye West performing their re-tooled singles from Michael Jackson's new "Thriller 25" CD.
Rumor had it that Jackson was originally supposed to perform during the segment to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his "Thriller" album.
This rumor was followed up by reports that the segment would be scrapped altogether because Jackson did not want to participate.
By Friday of last week, there were reports that producers offered to keep the segment only if Jackson agreed to at least walk on stage and wave. Needless to say, none of these scenarios happened during Sunday's telecast.
The Daily News quotes a Jackson rep who explained: "It was too last-minute. All the elements didn't come together."
LUTHER CAMPBELL GETS REAL WITH VH1: Rap impresario stars in reality show about balancing work and family.
*VH1 has picked up a family-oriented reality show from rap mogul Luther Campbell and will begin airing the series in July, reports Allhiphop.com.
Titled "Parental Advisory," the hour-long show will follow Campbell at home with his children and fiancée, as well as in the office producing adult-themed content.
"Parental Advisory showcases the diversity in my life," Campbell told AllHipHop.com. "One day I am with my kids, the next day I am in the office auditioning ‘Luke Girls’ and the next day I might be out on the road."
The series is being produced in conjunction with Campbell’s new company, the Luke Entertainment Group (LEG).
MORE CITIES ADDED TO JAY-Z/MARY J. TOUR: Atlanta, New Orleans, Vegas, Dallas among new stops.
*The newly-announced "Heart of the City Tour," featuring Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige, has been expanded to include 25 dates across North America beginning March 22 at Miami's American Airlines Arena.
Cities added to the itinerary include Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas and the California cities of Anaheim and Oakland.
"The [songs] we're playing are the soundtracks to people's lives," Jay-Z said in a statement. "We've poured our hearts out many a night in the studio and look forward to going one step further onstage."
Pre-sale tickets for many of the dates are available at Jay-Z's fan community website, while tickets for the general public become available beginning Saturday (2/16).
The updated itinerary for the Heart of the City Tour is as follows:
22 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
26 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
27 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
28 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
30 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
April 2008
2 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
3 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
5 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
6 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
8 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
9 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
10 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
12 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
15 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
17 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
19 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena 20 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
ITTY BITTY BITS: Obama statue; Kanye's 'Lights'; Oyelowo plays 'Chess'; Denzel scouts; Katt's rain'; Grammy ratings; Bubba's deal; Lupe's jackets' Bobby sleepwalks.
*A wax figure of Illinois senator Barack Obama made its debut Monday at Madame Tussauds in Washington D.C. “Barack Obama has certainly earned his place among the political icons represented at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.,” said Janine DiGioacchino, general manager of the museum's New York and D.C. venues. “Madame Tussauds is proud to add the Obama figure to the Spirit of Washington D.C. gallery where he will join other figures that have shaped the history of our nation.”
*Kanye West rolled through Entertainment Weekly's Grammy afterparty for L.A. Reid and gave folks a preview of the video for his new single "Flashing Lights." Co-directed by West and Spike Jonze, the clip featured a lingerie-clad woman driving to the desert and opening the trunk of her car, revealing a bound and gagged Kanye. She batters him with a shovel. "Everybody was in shock," a guest told Rush & Malloy of the New York Daily News. "They were saying, 'What was that about?'"
*Actor David Oyelowo will play blues legend Muddy Waters in the upcoming film "Chess," a biopic about Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Alessandro Nivola will play Chess, while Jon Abrahams will play Leonard's younger brother Phil Chess. Shooting is set to begin April 7 in New Orleans. The film will compete against Sony BMG Film's "Cadillac Records," which also centers on the rise and fall of Chess Records and stars Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. Filming on that production begins in early March in New Jersey and Mississippi.
*Denzel Washington and sports entertainment producer Butch Lewis reportedly spent last weekend scouting locations in New York City for his next project, "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." Tony Scott directs and John Travolta co-stars in the project. Shooting begins in the city within the next couple of months, reports the New York Daily News.
*Comedian Katt Williams "made it rain," albeit in a less chaotic fashion, following his 2 ½ hour set at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood Sunday night. According to Page Six, the actor opened a briefcase and started handing out $100 bills to each of the 280 people in the audience. The handout had fans perplexed, yet ecstatic. Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada told the column: "I hope people don't get the wrong idea. We serve comedy every night, not $100 bills."
*While the Grammy Awards trounced its Sunday night competition in the ratings, it was the least watched ceremony among adults 18-49 since at least 1992, when Nielsen began electronic monitoring. The three-hour telecast on CBS averaged 18.2 million viewers and a 6.9 rating/16 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates.
*Bubba Sparxxx will drop his fourth studio album this summer under a new deal with KOCH Records. The label will also house his imprint, New South Entertainment, reports Allhiphop.com. The southern rapper is scheduled to release a new mixtape this year and will introduce new artists signed to New South Entertainment.
*Lupe Fiasco has created his own line of reversible jackets with L.A. streetwear designer Dr. Romanelli, reports MTV. The jackets are black on one side and pink on the other, and have "The Cool" — referring to Fiasco's latest LP — scrawled on the back.
*Cameras on the CMT reality show "Gone Country" caught Bobby Brown nearly urinating on Twisted Sister rocker Dee Snyder while in the midst of sleepwalking. The two artists live in a house together with five other celebs who are all learning to become country singers. View Bobby B's grainy sleepwalking incident here:
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1415631314
ABC/DISNEY SUED OVER NOOSE INCIDENT: Black engineer says bosses refused to remove lynched doll near his work station.
*Reuters is reporting that a black engineer has sued Disney's American Broadcasting Co (ABC) on Monday, saying his supervisors refused to remove a black doll that dangled from a hangman's noose near his work station for more than a year.
Oswald Wilson, who worked in ABC's Broadcast and Engineering Division in Manhattan, said the doll was displayed beginning in March 2004 in response to a newspaper clip celebrating Black History Month that he posted, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.
But an ABC spokeswoman said that there was "absolutely no tolerance for discrimination" at the company and that the doll was actually a Mardi Gras voodoo doll displayed by some employees, including Wilson, to "put a hex on a supervisor."
"What Mr. Wilson appears to be describing are Mardi Gras beads and a Mardi Gras doll that he participated in placing," ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover said.
The lawsuit accuses American Broadcasting Co, its parent company Walt Disney Co., and six of Wilson's superiors of discrimination and allowing a hostile work environment.
Wilson said that he was also forced to endure "racially charged comments and epithets" by his immediate supervisors.
Wilson first discovered the noose -- a potent symbol of racist lynchings and hatred of black Americans -- in March 2004. He notified his manager, saying "such a hateful display was incredibly offensive to him as an African-American man."
Wilson was temporarily transferred to another location, but the doll was never taken down, he alleged in the complaint. According to the complaint, Wilson was told that since the noose was not "in his immediate work area" he did not have reason to complain.
The doll was taken down in October 2006, only after Wilson was transferred back to the original location and had informed his superiors that he photographed it, the complaint said.
Hoover said that the doll was removed as soon as Wilson told human resources division of its existence.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Why Did I Get Married?
Tyler Perry Marital Ensemble Drama Arrives on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Every year, four affluent married couples take a break from their hectic schedules to share a weeklong vacation together. Best friends since college, their annual getaway this go-round is to a luxurious lodge nestled in the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.
But none of them could anticipate just how eventful a reunion is about to unfold, one with shocking skeletons coming out of the closet at every turn to reveal a quartet of failing relationships acutely in crisis.
Providing the flashpoint for the sordid festivities are Mike (Richard T. Jones) and Sheila (Jill Scott ), the only couple with obvious issues.
At the point of departure, we observe him cruelly abusing her by boarding a commercial flight with his mistress (Denise Boutte) while his wife's being escorted off the plane for being too heavy.
This means that he and Trina show up at the soiree way ahead of his spouse who has to drive herself to the tiny town of Pemberton, Colorado through a swirling snowstorm.
This development does not sit well with the other wives, especially outspoken Angela (Tasha Smith) who not only feels loyal to Sheila but also a bit threatened. And Angela doesn't need any additional drama, as her handsome hubby, Marcus (Michael Jai White) has a case of VD he might have gotten from his ex.
"Can these marriages be saved?" is the recurring theme raised by this alternately enlightening and entertaining adaptation of the Tyler Perry stage play. Perry again exhibits his unique ability to create African-American characters with considerable depth who relate to each other in a realistic manner likely to resonate with black audiences thirsty for credible, sophisticated fare, even if his one-dimensional portrayal of whites and gays still leave a lot to be desired.
The Best Man meets The Big Chill, only with more flava.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexual references and mature themes.
Running time: 118 minutes
Studi Lions Gate Home Entertainment
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart." — Jonathan Swift: 17-18th century: Irish essayist, novelist, and satirist
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Feb. 13: Singer Freedom Williams (C & C Music Factory) is 42. MC Natalie Stewart of Floetry is 29.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
A lively interactive site and a top-notch resource for women of color who are planning their weddings is www.african-americanbrides.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Feb. 13, 1892: The first African American performers, the World's Fair Colored Opera Company, appear at Carnegie Hall. (Source:
www.BlackFacts.com)
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