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05-22-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
WITNESS IN R. KELLY TRIAL IDENTIFIES ALLEGED VICTIM: Plus, courtroom sketch artist fired for drawing jurors.
*A childhood friend of the alleged victim in R. Kelly's child pornography case identified her longtime friend as the one in the explicit video at the center of the trial, according to reports.
The R&B singer is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. His attorneys claim that Kelly is not on the tape and the alleged victim, who is now 23, also denies that she is in the video.
After screening the entire video following opening statements Tuesday, prosecutors spent yesterday trying to prove that Kelly and the alleged victim are indeed in the video, reports the Associated Press.
Simha Jamison, 24, testified that she and the alleged victim were best friends for about 10 years until their junior year in high school — and that she is very familiar with the physical features of her friend's face.
She said that she and her friend visited Kelly at his recording studio and at a Chicago basketball court dozens of times starting when they were around the age of 12.
Her friend first introduced her to Kelly as "her godfather," Jamison said, adding that the singer frequently gave her friend cash gifts — "no less than $100 and no more than $500." She said the two also visited the home where authorities say the sex tape was filmed. Jamison said she saw the tape in 2002 and again just before testifying.
Under intense cross examination by defense attorney Sam Adam Jr., Jamison was grilled about her memory, her previous testimony and her ability to discern doctored video footage.
According to reports, Jamison stood her ground against Adam Jr.'s aggressive questioning. Jamison conceded that in the hundreds of times she had seen Kelly and the alleged victim together, she never saw any sexual contact between them. And though she conceded her former best friend of 10 years never told her about a relationship with the R&B star, that didn't mean nothing ever happened between them.
"There were things I wouldn't tell her as I'm sure there were things that she wouldn't tell me," she told the court.
In earlier testimony, Jamison said she recognized her friend in the sex tape from the mullet hairstyle they were sporting at the time. She said both girls had the same haircut when they were 13 or 14.
But Adam Jr. then showed a series of photos of the alleged victim dating back to early 1997. (In pretrial hearings the prosecution had initially said the tape was made as early as 1997, but the judge narrowed the time frame after Kelly's lawyers said it was too broad for mounting a defense.)
"Now that is the very same year you may have seen the mullet on that video, right?" asked Adam Jr. He then suggested the tape could have been doctored, given the disparity between the alleged victim's body in the 1997 photos and those of the female in the sex tape. Adam Jr. asked Jamison if it was possible it had been superimposed onto a more mature body.
She said it was entirely possible.
He then brought up to Jamison the 2006 movie "Little Man," a feature film where an adult actor's face is superimposed on an infant body using advanced computer technology.
It looked pretty real, didn't it? asked Adam Jr.
Not really, responded Jamison, drawing laughs from the courtroom.
Adam said the reason the alleged victim never told the witness she was having a sexual relationship with Kelly was because there wasn't one and "because it's not her on the tape."
"Are you asking or telling me?" Jamison shot back.
Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of child pornography and faces up to 15 years if convicted.
Also on Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune's sketch artist, Cheryl Cook, was stripped of her press credentials for allegedly violating the judge's order barring the media from reproducing the likeness of any jurors.
The judge had instructed the artists not to reproduce the faces of any jurors and to leave them as ovals without any features. Cook's reproduction, printed Wednesday in the Tribune, showed vague facial characteristics on some of the jurors. Her credentials were stripped by Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan Wednesday morning.
SPIKE LEE ACCUSES EASTWOOD OF WHITE-WASHING WWII: Also, filmmaker announces plans for Michael Jordan documentary.
*During a press conference in Cannes on Tuesday, filmmaker Spike Lee took director Clint Eastwood to task for failing to include a single African American soldier in his two recent WWII-themed films.
Although hundreds of blacks fought in the battle for the Japanese island of Iwo Jima in 1945, none were present in Eastwood's two movies about the historic struggle, "Flags Of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima."
"Clint Eastwood made two films about Iwo Jima that ran for more than four hours total, and there was not one Negro actor on the screen," he said. "If you reporters had any balls you'd ask him why. There's no way I know why he did that -- that was his vision, not mine. But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It's not like he didn't know."
"There were many African-Americans who survived that war and who were upset at Clint for not having one [in the films]," Lee continued. "That was his version: the Negro soldier did not exist. I have a different version.”
The "Do the Right Thing" director was speaking at a press conference preceding the world premiere of an eight-minute trailer for his latest feature film "Miracle at St Anna," a WWII drama with which he hopes to set the record straight. The story follows members of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Division, which fought the Germans in Italy.
Meanwhile, Spike also broke news that he will shoot a feature-length documentary about NBA legend Michael Jordan that he hopes to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009.
"Mike wants to come to Cannes, so hopefully we will be here next year," Lee told reporters.
The NBA is financing the film, with Lee's 40 Acres & a Mule Filmworks shingle producing, reports Variety. The documentary will include extensive unseen footage shot by NBA cameras during the final two years in Jordan's career, the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
Lee and Jordan previously collaborated on a series of Nike TV commercials.
SHARPTON APPLAUDS NAS' N-WORD TOSS: Plus, Rev. fires back against allegations regarding 50 Cent/Game press conference.
*It was good news and bad news for Rev. Al Sharpton this week.
The civil rights activist was pleased to hear that Nas decided against calling his new album "Ni**er," but he is furious over allegations in a new book that he threatened to march against Dr. Dre's Aftermath label unless he was paid a million dollars.
"He said if we didn’t have a million, we marching. It’s that easy," recounted longtime Dre associate Bruce Williams to Web site HipHopDX last week. Williams accuses Sharpton of "orchestrating" the infamous beef-squashing press conference between rival Aftermath artists 50 Cent and The Game, and that "these so-called" activists demand money "all of the time."
Williams also makes these allegations in his new book "Rollin With Dre: The Unauthorized Account: An Insider's Tale of the Rise, Fall and Rebirth of West Coast Hip Hop."
He writes: "We got a lot of black leaders that don’t do sh** to me. I don’t see what they do. In the (Game/50) situation (Sharpton and company) are going to come and say 'we need X amount of money', whether you are going to give it to charity or not? Why don’t you come and say 'hey, let’s all of us sit down and figure this out?' Don’t come and say 'give me a half a million dollars or we marching!' That didn’t even get the situation resolved. You seen it. They didn’t even look like they squashed anything."
Sharpton's National Action Network responded to the allegations Tuesday with a lengthy statement denying any involvement with the 50/Game press conference, or having ever met with Dr. Dre.
It read: "To state that National Action Network and or Rev. Sharpton threatened to march is almost laughable because the first question would be whom would we have marched upon, since this was reportedly a clash between two black artists and there was no civil rights questions involved, and for what reason would we have marched?
"Secondly if someone gave donations to offset our movement that would have precluded Reverend Al Sharpton’s personal participation in standing with the teenager James Rosemond and his family at a press conference calling for an end to the kind of street violence that scars the hip-hop industry. The press conference was widely reported to be taking issue with the artist 50 Cent, Yayo and G Unit. It would also have precluded our marching on record companies, many of whom sponsored events with us, for using the “N,” “B” and “H” words, and withdrawing an award from record executive L.A. Reid for those same reasons. Clearly donations do not alter our focus and work and certainly are not requested from us to assure that it will. However, we think if Dr. Dre and others did make donations to charities, even in the arrangements that were inaccurately alleged, they should continue to do so, as all successful members of our community should help legitimate agencies and organizations that serve the communities that they sell to. We will continue our work around civil rights, racial violence and police brutality, and will not engage scurrilous banter to help sell books."
The press release from National Action Network also included a statement from Game's manager, Jimmy Rosemond, whose teen son James Rosemond was assaulted by an associate of 50 Cent's G-Unit member Tony Yayo.
"I am 100 percent positive that the Game did not come to the conference in fear of Al Sharpton marching and Rev. Sharpton had nothing to do with that conference or donations affiliated with it," Rosemond stated. "The Game has worked with the community and National Action Network in the past and it has never been affiliated with a donation. The Game recently did a song in support of [police shooting victim] Sean Bell and has been vocal about his support for Nicole Paultre-Bell and the victims involved in the case.”
As for Nas' decision to drop the N-word from his album title, Sharpton released yet another statement saying: "This proves that record companies and distributors realize that the community will not allow companies to profit from denigrating us and polluting the minds of our youth."
"I have a lot of respect for Nas," Sharpton later told the New York Daily News. "I liked what he said about Sean Bell. We have a fundamental disagreement on this. He can rap against me. I'll preach against them. We're still friends."
JASON TAYLOR QUICKSTEPS OUT OF NFL CONTRACT?: Drama between Dolphins' defensive end and front office escalates after 'DWTS' finale.
*Less than 24 hours after NFL star Jason Taylor finished second to Kristi Yamaguchi in the finals of "Dancing With the Stars" Tuesday night, his day job as defensive end of the Miami Dolphins appeared to be hanging by a thread.
According to the Associated Press, a feud between Taylor and the team's new VP of Football Operations Bill Parcells intensified Wednesday, making it likely that the six-time Pro Bowl player will not be in a Dolphin uniform next season.
Following a voluntary team practice Wednesday — with only Taylor missing — coach Tony Sparano signaled the Dolphins are ready to move on without their top defender.
"I'm glad we know this. We've gotten the information, and that's important," Sparano said. "I know that Jason is not going to be in any minicamps, and I know that right now Jason is not going to be at training camp.
In a recent interview, Taylor said he was unhappy he had talked "probably less than a minute each" with Parcells and new general manager Jeff Ireland, which he perceived as silent treatment.
Taylor was in New York on Wednesday for post-"Dancing" network TV appearances. He planned to fly back to Los Angeles for meetings Friday with executives of Universal and Warner Bros., while the Dolphins hold a voluntary three-day minicamp this weekend.
JAY-Z AND USHER RECORD DUET ABOUT MARRIAGE: Jermaine Dupri-produced 'Best Thing' salutes their status as husbands.
*Jay-Z and Usher are celebrating the joys of being married to their respective wives in a new duet titled "Best Thing." [Scroll down to listen.]
"Of course, with the talk of both of us now being newlyweds, there is a question as to why, and is it real?" Usher told MTV Base of the song, which is produced by Janet Jackson's beau Jermaine Dupri. "Well, if you hear that [song], you'll understand what [Jay-Z] meant when he says, 'Seeds becomes plants/ Boys become men/ You've got to grow up, not down.'"
The song opens with Jay-Z speaking of a bachelor who doesn't think marriage is for him: "Can't give a ring up/ I couldn't give a f---, how could I give a finger?/ Let alone half baths and closets/ So claustrophobic, in fear of close objects."
Usher, meanwhile, playing an unfaithful boyfriend, sings: "Listen, is there any chance that you remember me being any more than just a horrible man? And would you consider pullin' this trigger and taking a second shot at romance?/ Oh baby, I want the days when you were my girl and I was your man/ Know I took you for granted/ But it wasn't until now I see how much I miss you."
Jay-Z, 38, married Beyoncé Knowles, 26, in April. Usher, 29, married stylist Tameka Foster, 38, last August.
"Best Thing" – Usher feat. Jay-Z: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AwtlstChXE&feature=related
WESLEY SNIPES DUE IN PRISON ON JUNE 3: Unless the actor is granted bail while his tax convictions are appealed.
*Wesley Snipes must begin serving his federal prison sentence on June 3rd unless he can convince a judge to grant him bail while he appeals his three federal tax convictions, reports the Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges last month sentenced Snipes to three years in prison, but the actor's attorneys plan to argue before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Hodges erred in several ways before and after his February conviction.
Snipes' attorneys argue that Hodges gave the jury bad instructions and should have granted them an expanded pretrial hearing on their request to move the proceedings.
For bail to be granted during the appeal, the 45-year-old film star must prove that he has a substantial issue to raise and isn't a flight risk. Prosecutors said Snipes had no major issues to raise and has demonstrated he could flee.
In a Monday filing, U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill said Snipes told the probation office he had less than $10,000 in liquid assets, but the actor surprised the government by producing $5 million in payment for back taxes at his sentencing.
"His apparent lack of candor about his assets, combined with trial evidence that he has transferred millions of dollars offshore, show some risk of flight," O'Neill wrote.
FIRST ROUND OF JANET TOUR DATES REVEALED: Five stops announced so far – three in Canada, one each in NY and DC.
*Janet Jackson has unveiled the first five stops of her newly-announced "Rock Witchu" tour. As previously reported, her first North American outing in seven years kicks off on Sept. 10 in Vancouver, BC.
The next four dates, announced Wednesday, are Sept. 29 in Montreal, Oct. 13 in Toronto, Oct. 15 in Washington D.C. and Oct. 17 in East Rutherford NJ. Tickets go on sale for the first shows beginning Saturday, June 7th, and are available at www.livenation.com. Confirmed dates are listed below with more dates to be announced shortly.
Jackson has launched www.JanetFanClub.com, a tour Web site where the public can sign up for access to presale tickets, exclusive content and contests. Pre-registration has now begun for the Web site, which will go live on May 28, with early access to presale ticketing starting May 30 at 10 a.m.
Below are the Rock Witchu tour dates so far:
DATE CITY VENUE
September 10 Vancouver, BC GM Place
September 29 Montreal, QC Centre Bell
October 13 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
October 15 Washington, DC Verizon Center
October 17 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
BARKLEY PAYS OFF $440,000 DEBT TO VEGAS CASINO: But only after hotel sued and D.A. opened a criminal investigation.
*Charles Barkley of TNT's "Inside the NBA" told viewers Monday evening that he has paid back the $400,000 he owed the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after a criminal investigation was launched against him.
The Las Vegas Sun reported last week that Barkley, an avid gambler, was being investigated by the District Attorney's office after it was contacted by Wynn regarding the debt. Wynn filed a lawsuit against Barkley, claiming the money had been lent to the former NBA star in four $100,000 markers on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19.
Barkley told "Inside the NBA" host Ernie Johnson that he had “screwed up” by not paying back the $400,000 earlier.
“It was 100 percent my fault,” he said, adding that the incident has caused him to want to stop gambling.
“I’m not going to gamble anymore,” he said.
But by the end of his discussion with Johnson, he’d backpedaled, saying he wouldn’t gamble for “the next year or two.”
Barkley told Johnson he had paid back the $400,000 in full. But that was news to Chief Deputy District Attorney Bernie Zadrowski, who oversees the bad check unit, which is handling the case. Zadrowski said Wynn officials had informed him that, as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, about 15 minutes after Barkley’s remarks, the casino had not received any money from Barkley.
And for prosecutors to drop the criminal case, Barkley must not only repay the Wynn, he must also pay a 10 percent fee — $40,000 — to the bad check unit.
A Wynn rep confirmed to TMZ.com yesterday that Barkley's check for $440,000 was sent to the Las Vegas D.A.'s office for processing.
MARIAH CAREY 'LAUGHS' AT $4 MILLION WEDDING RUMOR: But she doesn't deny that another ceremony is being planned.
*Mariah Carey is literally laughing at recent reports that she's planning to have a $4 million wedding ceremony this summer in New York City.
In a statement to MTV.co.uk she writes, "4 milly? (million) On what? Cake? LOL (laugh out loud)."
While chuckling at the rumored price tag, the new wife of actor/rapper Nick Cannon did not deny that another ceremony was being planned. She has already said as much in recent interviews, as well as to Ellen Degeneres during a recent appearance on her talk show.
As reported yesterday, MSNBC.com quoted "a source" who claimed that Nick and Mariah were planning the lavish $4 million affair for the benefit of family and friends who weren't invited to the secret nuptials last month.
VINTAGE DIANA ROSS ALBUM GETS CD MAKEOVER: 'Everything is Everything' to make its compact disc debut next month.
*Diana Ross' 38-year-old second album "Everything is Everything" is finally getting a CD upgrade, complete with bonus tracks and alternate versions of several tracks.
Due June 17 from Hip-O-Select/Motown, the CD contains the album's original 11 songs, plus a previously-unreleased cover of the Beatles' "Something," alternate versions of "Ain't No Sad Song" and "Baby It's Love," and remixes of "Come Together" and "I'm Still Waiting."
Also included is a never-before-released cover of "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from the film "The Happy Ending."
"Everything Is Everything" was released in 1970, the same year as her self-titled solo debut, but it failed to yield a hit single as big as her No. 1 pop hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." However, "I'm Still Waiting" reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart, and Ross' cover of Aretha Franklin's "I Love You (Call Me)" was nominated for a Grammy.
Ross will be on tour in North America throughout the summer.
WYCLEF JEAN TRIES TO PULL HAITI 'TOGETHER': Rapper launches new initiative following last month's deadly food riots.
*Haitian-born rap musician Wyclef Jean launched a new initiative in his impoverished homeland aimed at raising $48 million over the next six months to fund expanded food distribution, job creation and assistance for farmers.
Dubbed "Together For Haiti," the program was announced Tuesday in response to last month's deadly food riots. The initiative is backed by the World Food Program, the Pan American Development Foundation and Yele Haiti, Jean's charitable foundation for Haiti.
"We have come together to launch this new initiative because I believe we can do more and better for Haiti when we act together," Jean told a Manhattan news conference. "We are not only interested in feeding people in response to the current crisis, but we want to offer them an alternative that can help them in a sustainable way."
"Together For Haiti" plans to employ 1,800 people a day in poor areas, distribute food to 1.5 million people and provide fertilizers to 55,000 farmers. Grants will also be given to 9,000 families to support the development of micro-enterprises.
"We want to give them the opportunity to set up a small business which they can live on instead of assisting them every time there is a crisis," Jean told Reuters.
At least six people were killed during a week of violent protests last month against rising food and fuel costs in Haiti, where most people scrape by on less than $2 per day.
TERRELL OWENS HEARS HOLLYWOOD CALLING: EUR's Lee Bailey talks to receiver about acting, as well as NBA playoffs and Pacman Jones.
*Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens is spending the NFL offseason tooling around Hollywood in the wake of his acting debut as Flavor Flav's long lost brother in MyNetworkTV's "Under One Roof."
"It was awesome. Great cast. I can't say enough about that," he told EUR's Lee Bailey of the experience while at a Hollywood party honoring this year's NFL Rookie Class. "I think I did alright."
As for pursuing acting full time, T.O. said it could happen in the future. But "right now football is my bread winner. After football, that's something to be considered."
The conversation turned to his day job and his team's recent signing of suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones to a three year deal.
"He's gonna be a great addition to our team," said Owens of Jones, who was arrested six times in three NFL seasons. "I hope he gets reinstated. When that happens, he's going to be a great addition to our defensive backfield. And obviously with his special team skills, punt returning and things of that nature, it's going to be awesome."
His pick for the NBA championship this season? "I think the Lakers are going to take it this year, and I'm not saying that because I'm here in L.A."
MANDELA MUSICAL EYES BROADWAY: Plus, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking meets former leader while searching for young African scientists.
*A forthcoming memoir on Nelson Mandela will serve as the basis for a new musical about the South African leader's fight to end apartheid, reports Daily Variety.
The production will mix historical events with anecdotes from a forthcoming memoir by Zindzi Mandela about growing up in the apartheid era as the daughter of Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize winner whose efforts played a major role in ending the South African policy of racial segregation. He was elected president of the nation when apartheid was abolished in 1994.
No creative team or director has yet been nailed down for the project, although Welcome Msomi, a South African scribe and producer, will assist with the show.
Routh/Frankel/Baruch/Viertel Group and PSE Broadway have teamed to serve as producers for the project, which is aiming for a Broadway debut in May 2010.
In other Mandela news, scientist Stephen Hawking paid him a visit on Thursday while in the country to launch the Next Einstein initiative, which is designed to unearth budding scientists and mathematicians throughout Africa.
"I am very pleased to meet you. I admire how you managed to find a peaceful solution to a situation that seemed doomed to disaster," the British astrophysicist told Mandela who stood down as president nine years ago. "It was one of the great achievements of the 20th century. If only the Israelis and the Palestinians could do the same."
Hawking, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, was diagnosed with the muscle-wasting Motor Neuron Disease at the age of 22. He is in a wheelchair and speaks with the aid of a computer and voice synthesizer.
Pik Botha, South Africa's foreign minister during the whites-only apartheid regime, accompanied Hawking on the visit to Mandela's offices in Johannesburg.
POLOW DA DON IS BMI'S TOP SONGWRITER: Snoop, Fergie, Ludacris, PCD also lauded Tuesday during BMI Pop Awards.
*Songwriter/producer Polow Da Don picked up his first songwriter of the year award from BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) at its 56th annual Pop Awards Tuesday evening in Beverly Hills.
His songwriter of the year honor stems from four songs he penned among 2007's top 50: the Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons" featuring Snoop Dogg, Fergie's "London Bridge" and "Glamorous" featuring Ludacris and Ludacris' “Runaway Love" featuring Mary J. Blige.
Snoop Dogg Ne-Yo; Pink; and will.i.am were among the list of songwriters earning two BMI Pop Awards each.
Daryl Hall and John Oates were honored as BMI Icons. Together for over 30 years, Hall & Oates took to the stage for energetic renditions of their classic hits "You Make My Dreams," "I Can't Go For That," "Maneater" and "She's Gone."
NAACP TEHATRE AWARDS HONOR FOX, TALBERT: Vivica A. and David E. to be saluted at 18th annual event.
*Vivica A. Fox and David E. Talbert will be honored at the 18th annual Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theater Awards on June 30 at the Kodak Theater.
The celebration begins this year with the inaugural Theater Awards Festival weekend beginning on June 27. Anthony Anderson and Kimberly Elise will serve as co-hosts, while Stephanie Mills is scheduled to perform.
The NAACP Theater Awards celebrate the evolution of the portrayal of African-Americans in theater from stereotypical caricatures to a more balanced reflection of the black experience as a whole.
The award show and festival are sponsored by Los Angeles city councilmen Eric Garcetti and Bernard Parks.
'BAISDEN AFTER DARK' BEGINS NEW SEASON: TV One's nightly series returns June 21 with Tamia, Irv Gotti and Iyanla Vanzant.
*Syndicated radio star Michael Baisden returns to TV One this summer with a new season of hot topics, live entertainment and compelling guests on his talk/variety series, "Baisden After Dark," which premieres Saturday, June 21 at 11 p.m.
In the premiere episode, Baisden discusses the notion, “Why Did I Get Married?” with singer/songwriter, Tamia, music mogul Irv Gotti and spiritual life counselor/author, Iyanla Vanzant. R&B icons Midnight Star and comedian Joe Clair will perform.
This season, Baisden's topics include "From the Playground to the Prison: Why are so Many Men of Color Going to Prison?" "Obesity: Why Are We So Fat and What Are We Doing About It?" "Who are The New Civil Rights Leaders?" "After the Affair: Do You Forgive and Forget? Or Remember. . . and Remember?" "Shacking Up, Do Men Know What They Are Doing In the Bedroom" and "Are Women Too Picky?"
Additional features include a musical and/or comedy guest performance, from guests such as Angie Stone, Broadway star Elizabeth Withers from “The Color Purple” and R&B legend Peabo Bryson, as well as input from Baisden’s “Man on the Street,” comedian George Wilborn.
ITTY BITTY BITS: ' ColliPark Cafe Sessions'; McCain headed to NAACP; Bey baby rumors; Kanye cancels; Chuck D's company; Mayweather lawsuit; Madonna & Tyson.
*Hidden Beach is offering for free download a sample version of its upcoming album "Unwrapped Vol. 5.0 - The ColliPark Cafe Sessions" on its Web site in advance of its June 24 release date. The album, described as "jazzy flips of hip hop hits," features smoothed-out versions of such ColliPark classics as Soulja Boy's "Crank That," Plies' "Shawty," the Ying Yang Twins'
"Salt Shaker" and Lil Jon's "Get Low." Take a listen at the hidden beach home page www.hiddenbeach.com.
*As previously reported, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain had a sit down with Essence magazine as part of his overall attempt to connect with African American voters. The Arizona senator said in the interview that he has accepted an invitation from the NAACP to appear at its 99th convention this summer (July 12-17) in Cincinnati. McCain told Essence he will "go to places and venues that would allow me to continue a dialogue with the African-American community. I will go to the NAACP convention."
*A female celebrity's sudden halt of alcohol consumption – without being court ordered to do so – is usually a sign that a bun may be in the oven. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Beyonce has been "steering clear of the sauce" lately, fueling rumors that her marriage to Jay-Z was of the shotgun variety. "The hip-hop queen, who often enjoys a flute of champagne, abstained from any alcohol whatsoever at the Kanye West after-party at 1Oak last week," the column reported. According to a source, "Beyoncé only drank water."
*Speaking of Kanye, he has canceled his Glow in the Dark tour stop this Sunday (May 25) at The Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota, reports Allhiphop.com. Promoters blame the cancellation on his hectic travel schedule and low ticket sales. “I can’t really make it a secret that ticket sales were not as anticipated," Fargodome manager Rob Sobolik told Fargo’s Forum newspaper. Phone and internet tickets purchased via Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds, while tickets picked up at a box office should be returned to their original point of sale.
*Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D has launched Bring The Noise Eastlink Media, Management, Music Group (BTNEastlink), a new company that offers a wide range of business and digital media services for artists under one roof. Chuck D runs the company with entertainment lawyer and digital media consultant Dan Lugo and producer Gary G-Wiz. So far, BTNEastlink houses the SlamJamz Records label and divisions to handle artist management, marketing, consulting, video game scoring and other services. BTNEastlink will offer its clients what Chuck D. defined as “what Live Nation has promised Jay-Z, to a much lesser degree,” adding that he is looking to work with veteran artists, as well as up comers, to further market them across the world.
*Floyd Mayweather filed a lawsuit against the Web site FloydMayweather.net claiming that it is falsely promoting itself as his official fan site. According to TMZ.com, the site not only uses his name and image without permission, but it features fight footage and requests that fans fork over $50. In a Nevada lawsuit, Pretty Boy is seeking unspecified damages.
*Madonna has reportedly recruited former boxing champion Mike Tyson in her campaign to help the impoverished nation of Malawi, where she adopted her son David Banda from an orphanage in 2006. According to British newspaper the Daily Mirror, the singer has approached Tyson to help spearhead her Raising Malawi charity effort after the pair met at the Cannes International Film Festival earlier this week. "Madonna thinks Mike is amazing and he has promised to fly with her to Malawi in late summer to promote awareness of children with AIDS there," said a source. "Mike is eager to show he's turned over a new leaf and thinks this is the perfect way to do it."
SEVEN NY COPS CHARGED; FOUR PHILLY COPS FIRED: Action taken against police in both Sean Bell and Philadelphia beating cases.
*Seven New York police officers involved in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man were hit with charges Tuesday, while four Philadelphia policemen caught on tape beating three black suspects were fired from their department.
New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said all seven NYPD officers are due to face hearings relating to the fatal shooting of Sean Bell on his wedding night.
Gary Napoli, the commanding officer on the night of the shooting, faces charges for failing to supervise the operation, Browne said. Michael Carey, who fired three shots, is charged with firing his gun outside department guidelines. Two crime scene detectives, Sergeant Hugh McNeil and Detective Robert Knapp, were charged for their actions in the aftermath of the shooting.
The Justice Department, federal prosecutors and the FBI are now reviewing the case and could take legal action if investigators suspect a violation of federal civil rights laws.
In Philadelphia, the city’s police commissioner announced that four officers were fired and four others demoted or suspended following a two-week examination of a video that showed 18 officers attacking three suspects.
The eight policemen were among a throng that surrounded a car earlier this month, dragged the suspects out onto the pavement and began kicking and punching them while they lay on the ground.
“We do have a group of officers whose actions were outside department policy and procedure,” Commissioner Charles Ramsey told a news conference.
The officers may face criminal charges by Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, whose office is now examining the video. The FBI is also reviewing the video, Ramsey said.
EUR FILM REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Praiseworthy Sequel Sends Pevensie Siblings on Second Magical Adventure
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Between 1949 and 1954, C.S. Lewis penned a captivating series of illustrated children's novels referred to collectively as The Chronicles of Narnia.
The first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was brought to the big screen in 2005, grossing close to $300 million at the box-office, domestically, a sign that Disney had the makings of a franchise on its hands.
That initial adaptation, began in Great Britain shortly after the outbreak of World War II, and introduced us to the Pevensies -- Lucy (Georgie Henley), Peter (William Moseley) Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) - a tight-knit quartet of siblings evacuated from London to the country to avoid being bombed by the Nazis during the Blitz.
While exploring their new surroundings, they find a magical closet through which they travel to a faraway realm known as Narnia.
And before they finally return to England, the kids embark on an eventful adventure which has them fulfilling an ancient prophecy by breaking the spell cast over the peaceable kingdom by an evil witch (Tilda Swinton).
Set a year later, Chronicles 2 opens with the nattily-attired Pevensies standing on the Strand subway platform in their school uniforms waiting for a train when they are suddenly transported to Narnia again. Upon their arrival, they are dismayed to learn that their beloved utopia's Golden Age has been disrupted by the rise to power of merciless King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), a madman who rules with the help of a race of warriors called the Telmarines.
Furthermore, because Queen Prunaprismia (Alicia Borracherro) has just given birth to a son, the King hatches a plan to kill his nephew, the unassuming Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Apprised of the crisis, the Pevensies pledge themselves to another noble enterprise, namely, the perilous effort to bring harmony back to Narnia again by helping the exiled rightful heir ascend to the throne.
This is far easier said than done, but at least our intrepid heroes are ably assisted in that endeavor by the ingenuity of Trumpkin the Dwarf (Peter Dinklage) and a coterie of anthropomorphic animals, including Aslan the Lion (Liam Neeson), Trufflehunter the Badger (Ken Stott), Reepicheep the Mouse (Eddie Izzard), Pattertwig the Squirrel (Harry Gregson-Williams) and Bulgy the Bear (David Walliams).
Reminiscent of such storied, cinematic epic fantasies as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, the saga inexorably builds to a familiar, cataclysmic battle royal that's simply a marvel to behold. It may lack the element of surprise, but it more than makes up for that failing with the visually-enchanting treat of eye-popping panoramas plus the seamless interaction of the human and animated characters.
Along the way to a satisfying sendoff, this Biblically-themed morality play pauses periodically to deliver a litany of universal messages about faith, courage and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. In sum, Chronicles 2 proves to be a praiseworthy sequel aided immeasurably by the continuity and chemistry of the return of all the principal cast members, and above all by the sort of special effects spectacles the tykes are likely to want to see again and again.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG for violence and epic battle scenes.
Running time: 144 minutes
Studi Walt Disney Pictures
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Good Cops
*Very few of us believe that all cops are bad. We recognize them as mostly decent men and women struggling to do a difficult job under difficult circumstances. That said all too frequently we read about police officers that betray the public trust, make terrible errors in judgment or worse demonstrate no judgment at all. Unfortunately, the lapses of a few tend to color the character of the many. It helps to be reminded from time to time that law enforcement officers care deeply about the communities they serve.
I received such a reminder last weekend when I was invited to speak to young people participating in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department V.I.D.A program. VIDA is an acronym meaning Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives. The program is a 16 week course for at risk youth ages 12 – 17 that seeks to change the mind sets of young people and get them thinking differently about the options available to them. The courts either direct youth to the program or parents request that their problem children enter the program. Under the direction of the sheriff’s department, the young men and women receive mentoring, anger management, family counseling, physical fitness training, career guidance and tattoo removal. The students are also required to perform community service like graffiti removal, trash pick up and weed removal. It is a one stop shop designed to redirect the negative behavior of young people into positive outcomes.
This is not a hand holding program. These are deputy sheriffs after all and they believe that for many of these kids structure and discipline are two of the crucial elements missing from their home training. Misbehavior is confronted in the language the kids understand. The kids believe they are hard; the deputies are trained to be hard so hard is the language in which they communicate.
Underneath all of this hard bark, however, is a dedication to the communities they serve and a deep concern for the future of these children.
It is difficult not to have compassion when one hears stories from the streets like the nine-year-old boy with gang tattoos on his arms and neck recently arrested for burglary. Of children abandoned to be raised by grandparents while their mothers do time and their fathers wander the streets anonymous and unconcerned. Of teenage girls arrested for prostitution with back packs filled with algebra homework – algebra homework graded A+. Girls with futures put on the stroll by drug addicted mothers. Day after day of dealing with bad people and good people at their worst might send many looking for new careers. These men and women grit their teeth and determine to break the cycle.
It is -- as my father used to say -- a hard row to hoe. The officers work on a shoestring budget and only have access to the kids twice a week. They must compete with years of negative influences whose time and resources seem endless. On average, only 45% of the kids graduate from the program. The siren call of the streets is strong indeed. But of those 45 percent, there will be success stories and the benefits of success can be huge. Just one child diverted from entering the criminal justice system as an adult not only saves tax-payers dollars, but saves the community a greater amount of grief. According to deputies I spoke with, just one justified officer involved shooting can cost the city upwards of $1 million to say nothing of the damage to community relations and the emotional toll on families.
Yet in spite of the great benefit, and tremendous resource programs like VIDA are for parents and teens, the classes are largely under capacity. It may be that we are getting a handle on juvenile delinquency. (If you believe that, I have some land in Florida I would like to sell you.) Or it may be that programs like VIDA simply fly under the radar. Families can’t take advantage of programs they do not know exist. It could also be that far too often police officers are viewed with suspicion and considered an occupying force in the neighborhood rather than as an organization filled with men and women that truly care.
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: A powerful theatrical event comes to Broadway
Laurence Fishburne Gives Electrifying Performance As THURGOOD In Powerful Theatrical Play About First African American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND Presents Award-Wining Actor With “Award of Excellence” For His 2008 Tony Nominated Portrayal Of Late Supreme Court Justice
By Audrey J. Bernard, Lifestyles/Society Editor
*On Wednesday, April 30, THURGOOD, starring Laurence Fishburne in a poignant one-man play as the tenacious Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall -- from his days waiting tables at a country club to his tenure as a United States Supreme Court Justice -- opened to a star-studded audience at the Booth Theatre on West 45th Street in Times Square for a 16-week engagement. The riveting new play by George Stevens Jr. received critical acclaim during previews and continues to live up to the notices.
In this moving role, the award-winning actor narrates the life of Marshall who rose from a childhood in the backstreets of Baltimore to the Supreme Court of the United States. Under the adroit direction of Leonard Foglia, Fishburne is triumphant in this one-man role as the first African American to sit on the United States Supreme Court and NAACP’s lead counsel in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case which garnered him a 2008 Tony Award nomination.
There should be a Marshall Law decree making this a “must see” not just for legal historians and history buffs, but for any decent human being. After his brilliant and insightful performance, Fishburne – who received numerous curtain calls because of a job well done -- was joined on stage by Mrs. Thurgood Marshall and her son Thurgood Marshall Jr. The Marshalls were visibly pleased and bestowed more pleasantries on the exceptional thespian.
During the post party celebration at the tony Bryant Park Restaurant in Bryant Park, Fishburne, joined by his beautiful wife Gina Torrez, was presented with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) “Award of Excellence” by TMCF president and CEO Dwayne Ashley and TMCF founder Dr. Joyce Payne. “It is only fitting that the TMCF recognize Laurence Fishburne for his moving portrayal of this organization’s namesake,” said Ashley. “We applaud Mr. Fishburne for his contribution to entertainment and expanding Thurgood Marshall’s legacy through this production,” added Dr. Payne.
Fishburne, the recipient of Drama Desk, Tony and Emmy awards as well as a nomination for an Academy Award, has an acting career that spans more than 35 years. Ashley noted to Fishburne during the recognition, “Just as Thurgood Marshall exemplified in his works and deeds on behalf of our nation, I present this bust in his image to you for the body of work you have done in your career. The excellence you have exemplified in your craft culminating with your brilliant portrayal of Justice Marshall this evening is the best of the best.”
The Star-studded Opening Night attracted crème de la crème from political, judicial, entertainment, sports and media communities including Vernon Jordan, Rhea Lilias White, Leslie Uggams, Charlie Rose, Cicely Tyson, Ethel Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, George Stevens Jr. (playwright), James Carville and Mary Matalin, Dwayne Ashley, Joyce Paton, Rev. Al Sharpton, Paul Newman, Tom Brokaw, Richard Kind, Leonard Foglia (director), Maria Bello, Christine Andreas, Brenda Braxton, Dee Hoty, Donna Murphy, Tanika Ray, Kathleen Marshall, Jamie de Roy, Larry Gatlin, Caroline Rhea, Leelee Sobieski, Matthew Davis and Lori Petty.
THURGOOD is produced on Broadway by Vernon Jordan, The Shubert Organization, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick, Matt Murphy, Daryl Roth/Debra Black, Roy Furman, Jam Theatricals, Lawrence Horowitz, Eric Falkenstein, Max Onstage, James D’orta, Jamie deRoy, Amy Nederlander in association with Ostar Productions and The Westport Country Playhouse (originating theatre). (Photos: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.)
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Inc., named for the late U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, was established in 1987 and represents 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) located in 22 states with a population of well over 235,000 students. Over the last 21 years, TMCF has awarded more than $68 million in scholarships, programmatic, and capacity support. Scholarships have enabled 7,343 students to attend public Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For more information, please visit TMCF at www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.
MARIANN’S MIDLIFE MAYHEM & MISCELLANY: When Is An Understudy Not An Understudy?
Answer: When she knows she’s a star.
*Last week I went to see a play which is currently running on Broadway. Two of the lead actors were out that night and their understudies went on in their place.
Watching them struggle to fully inhabit their roles, I was reminded of the story of Shirley MacLaine who, some forty years ago, was understudying Carol Haney on Broadway in The Pajama Game when Haney broke her ankle before the opening night performance and MacLaine had to go on in her place.
That was a quite a lucky break for MacLaine. After the glowing reviews came in the next day she was a star! From reading MacLaine’s bio online, though, one discovers that she always saw herself as a star.
Her early childhood dream was to be a ballerina. Because she was so tall, she frequently danced the male parts in ballet recitals. When she came to realize that her body type and the arches and insteps of her feet were ill-suited for ballet, she switched gears to acting, and after graduating from high school, moved to New York City (from Richmond, Virginia) with a goal of acting and dancing on Broadway.
In placement, she may have started out as an understudy, but in her mind, she was already a star...and that’s the powerful energy she brought to the stage.
Unfortunately, the two replacement actors in the show I saw had a self-conscious awareness that they were understudies...to the point that it felt that they were even apologizing to the audience for it in their performances.
Both were very capable actors, but their long list of credits couldn’t quite compensate for that little extra “spark” that was missing. It’s a spark that’s fueled by confidence. It’s a spark fueled by believing that when opportunity knocks, it’s better to give one’s own interpretive performance than an impersonation of somebody else’s interpretation.
Even in real life, it’s easy to get caught up in “playing the role” (of all-knowing boss, model employee, doting mom, perfect husband) the way we think it’s supposed to be played according to how we’ve seen others do it instead of trusting our gut and going with our own instincts. This keeps us in the mode of constantly trying to do something instead of just doing it. It saps energy from our spark. It dims the wattage of our “star” power. It stunts our growth and discovery of finding our own (new) way of doing things.
So, here’s something to think about as you go about your regular activities this week. Observe your approach to them and ask yourself these questions: In what ways have I been an understudy in my own life? Do I want to continue to play it “safe”...or do I want to become a star?
Have a great week!
Mariann
www.mariannaalda.com
A veteran of the P&G soap opera, Edge of Night, (“DiDi Bannister,” 1981-84), Mariann Aalda’s 25-year body of work as a television, film and stage actress includes co-starring with Redd Foxx and Della Reese as their daughter, on the CBS sitcom, The Royal Family; three seasons opposite OJ Simpson, playing his wife on the HBO series, First & 10, and recurring on CBS’ Designing Women as the yuppie-from-hell, “Lita Ford,” opposite Meschach Taylor, with whom she also co-starred in the teen cult film, Class Act. Also a stand-up comedienne, she, along with Iona Morris, is co-creator/writer/producer of MOIST! – a “sexistential” musical comedy celebration of women in the throes of midlife (www.moistonstage.com) – utilizing her training as a hypnotherapist to bring new insight to the joys of being a “seasoned” woman. This column chronicles her own journey.
THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: Director Bill Duke tackles AIDS in new film, 'Cover;' Time Life Music and Dr. Bobby Jones release 'Ultimate Gospel," a seven-CD box set.
By Eunice Moseley
Bill Duke tackles AIDS head-on as director of the murder suspense thriller, ‘Cover.’
Award winning actor/director Bill Duke (A Rage in Harlem, Miracle Boys) gets in the director's seat again for a murder mystery "Cover," which touches on litigious issues such as adultery, sexually transmitted disease and retribution. The 20th Century Fox film is distributed on Fox Home Entertainment. The DVD, “Cover,” stars Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill Vol. 1), Aunjanue Ellis (Ray), Raz Adoti (Haven), Paula Jai Parker (Hustle & Flow), Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman), Leon (The Temptations), Patti LaBelle (Idlewild) and Mya (Chicago).
“I always liked him as a person,” actor/singer Leon says about the director. He goes on and laughs, “We butted heads one day…Bill has a big head, so you now that hurt.”
The film is inspired by tragedies among his friends and family, and his outrage at the AIDS epidemic among African-American women in the United States.
“Cover” is about a woman Valerie Maas (Aunjanue Ellis) accused of murder. This God-fearing housewife finds herself in a situation she never imaged possible. As Valerie is being questioned by detective Hicks (Lou Gossett Jr.) and district attorney Simmons (Clifton Davis) who is eager to close a case. As she insists she is not a murderer, she tells the story of the last several months of her life.
“They are all great actors,” Duke says about the cast. “Leon, I have admired and felt he was the right person. Louis Gossett Jr. is a friend of mine and Aunjanue, I loved her work and had never worked with her.”
Bill Duke started out as a theatrical director in New York. He has a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Arts. While living in Los Angeles he attended the American Film Institution. Duke said he wanted to make sure the films could be rated PG 13 because he wants to empower the viewers in terms of AIDS.
“The film touched me emotionally and it will touch the audience,” Bill said. “I did everything I could to make the audience feel it.”
Time Life Music and Dr. Bobby Jones team up for a seven-CD box set, "Ultimate Gospel"
“I produced a show in Nashville on NBC, “The Nashville Gospel Show,” Dr. Bobby Jones said about his career as a Gospel television variety show host. “It was in the 80s, we were at a convention promoting the show and Bob Johnson (BET founder) was there. He wanted some black shows and at the time there wasn’t many.”
Today the Bobby Jones Gospel Show has been airing on BET for over 30 years. It is the longest running show in the history of television. Because of that history and following, Time Life Music teamed up with him to release the, “Ultimate Gospel” a seven-CD box set which features the who’s who in Gospel’s past and present.
The 20-song, “Peace in the Valley,” CD features Gospel hits from the 1950s, such as Mahalia Jackson’s “In The Upper Room;” the 16-song, “Oh Happy Day,” CD features Gospel crossover acts such as the Staple Singers and the Mighty Clouds of Joy; on the 15-song, “In The Spirit,” you will hear classic acts such as the Sounds of Blackness; on the 15-song, “I Need You Now,” CD you will find songs such as Aaron Neville’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and CeCe Winans’ “I Surrender All;” on the 30-song, “More Than A Melody,” CD you will find a compilation of tunes such as Al Green’s “Precious Lord and Kirk Franklin’s “Stomp;” on the 30-song, “Testify,” CD there are choir songs such as Alabama State Mass Choir’s “My Soul Got Another Dip” and Fred Hammond’s “Glory to Glory;” and on the 24-song, “Body & Soul Gospel,” CD you will hear such artists as Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men and Patti LaBelle.
Dr. Bobby Jones said he suggested some names to Time Life Music but that the choice was really their call.
“What’s happening with Gospel is that the music is strong,” Dr. Jones said when asked about the rise in hard-core Gospel rappers. “They will have their audience. God will have them doing it as long as they respect religion and God.”
Time Life Music had previously joined forces with BET J with the releases of “Voices: The Ultimate Gospel Choir Collection” and “Going Up Yonder: The Best of the Gospel Choirs.”
You can get more information on Time Life Music and Dr. Bobby Jones’ “Ultimate Gospel” seven-CD box set at www.timelife.com.
VERONICA'S VIEW: Madam President, We Await You
Veronica Hendrix
*This week’s CNN’s American Morning quick vote asked viewers the question, “Who will be the first female president?” The choices were Hillary Clinton, or someone else.
At my last check of the poll before I finalized this piece, the results of this non-scientific poll (and they make this disclaimer perfectly clear) were 34% Hillary; 66% someone else.
As the sun has just about set on Hillary’s bid for the White House, despite the fact that she won’t go gently into the night, it is clear it won’t be her this time.
But I have no regrets
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