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06-19-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
LATIFAH SUES PRODUCERS OF 'PERFECT HOLIDAY': Actress says she hasn't seen a paycheck; plus Jenny Craig spokeswoman pleased with weight loss.
*Queen Latifah's cameo in "The Perfect Holiday" may have been small, but not so insignificant that she shouldn't get her promised paycheck.
Reuters is reporting that the artist filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against Perfect Christmas Productions claiming they breached her contract and owe her $275,000 for her appearance in the movie.
The Oscar-nominated star, who produced and helped to finance the film starring Terrence Howard and Gabrielle Union, says she has yet to see one penny of her promised money.
The lawsuit said Perfect Christmas Productions was believed to have been paid several million dollars by third parties for "The Perfect Holiday," which was originally known as "Perfect Christmas."
Meanwhile, Latifah says she is pleased with the amount of weight she's lost in her current gig as spokeswoman for Jenny Craig. Since signing on in January, the rapper-turned-actress - known for embracing her curves - has dropped some pounds and stepped up her commitment to lead a healthy lifestyle.
It's not "about getting skinny," Latifah told People magazine. "My intention was to lose five to 10 percent of my body weight because it makes a difference with health related issues, and I achieved that goal in a couple of months. I'm excited about this weight loss."
Her presence on the treadmill in a current Jenny Craig commercial isn't just for show. The music and film star spends five to seven days a week in the gym - switching between the treadmill or the elliptical machine for an hour.
"My jeans are looser, I feel more energetic," she said of shedding the weight. "People dig it. They come up to me and say 'I'm glad you're talking about the health side of it.' People get that message, which is important too."
"They see that I'm doing this for the health reasons but also say, 'She's still representing for the big girls. She hasn't abandoned us!'"
Latifah added. "This is me doing something for me, but if I am going to be a role model I hope people can catch on."
YOUNG JEEZY ARRESTED FOR DUI IN ATLANTA: Rapper originally stopped for speeding at 2:30 a.m. on Buford Highway.
*A new celebrity mug shot has hit the Internet. Rapper Young Jeezy was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and cited for driving under the influence and several other offenses in Atlanta.
According to E! News, the rapper was driving a white Corvette on Buford Highway near Interstate 85 when he was pulled over for speeding and reckless driving. In addition to those offenses, officers also cited the 31-year-old for missing tags, driving with an open container and failing to show proof of insurance.
The artist, born Jay Jenkins, was taken into custody and booked at a nearby station before being released on bail several hours later. He's due back in court on July 17.
According to TMZ.com, Jeezy said the Corvette's temporary tags had fallen off in a car wash, which he had just visited moments before he was pulled over. As for the open container, Jeezy says it belonged to the other passenger in the car.
Jeezy was in the ATL to perform at Hot 107.9's annual Birthday Bash, an all-star concert that also featured Kanye West and Usher.
IS THAT YOUNG BUCK CRYING ON THE PHONE?: Leaked phone conversation claims to feature rapper begging to stay in G-Unit.
*The Web site of 50 Cent (www.thisis50.com) posted a leaked phone conversation between the rapper and his former G-Unit member Young Buck in which Buck begs and pleads 50 to let him stay in the crew. [Scroll down to hear tape.]
The 16-minute exchange, later posted on Miss Info's website under the title "The Self-Etherization of Young Buck Part 1 and 2," comes in the wake of Buck's long-winded diss of 50 Cent and G-Unit at a concert in Tampa just last weekend.
During the phone conversation, Buck tells 50 he would never say negative things about him in public like "Game, [Bang 'Em] Smurf or none of them n***as." He admits that he's fallen "off track" and says his outside business ventures, including the launch of his own record label, were only done in hopes of making 50 happy.
"I'll never dismember [sic] myself from the family or nothing because I've always felt like at the end of the day, 50 gonna love me for what I'm creating," he tells Fitty. "I'm just trying to make you happy - as far as dealing with my label."
"I done got out of line a little bit with you. I swear to God I have," Buck later tells 50, just before he gets upset and pauses to regain his composure. During the silence, 50 says, "Hey, you're gonna be alright, you hear me?"
"I'm wrong. A n*gga just gets confused," Buck continues through tears.
According to Allhiphop.com, Young Buck's drama with G-Unit started in 2007 when Buck attempted to broker a truce with bitter rival and former G-Unit member The Game. Buck then made things worse when he denounced G-Unit member Tony Yayo's assault of a juvenile in his 2007 trial. Earlier this year, things came to a head when Young Buck publicly stated he had not received any royalties since signing with 50 Cent. Buck was kicked out of the G-Unit group in April 2008, but retained as an artist on the label.
Young Buck On Phone With 50 Cent Apologizing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6j1Xv0Pxp8
GOLF SEASON IS OVER FOR TIGER WOODS: U.S. Open winner to have major surgery on knee aggravated at Torrey Pines.
*Turns out Tiger Woods' historic performance at the U.S. Open over the weekend was his last for the season. The world's No. 1 golfer announced Wednesday that he will soon undergo season-ending surgery on his damaged left knee.
The procedure will address a torn ligament that he injured 10 months ago. It as compounded when he also suffered a double stress fracture of his left tibia two weeks before the U.S. Open. But, he ignored doctors' advice to take a six week break so the injury could heal. Instead, he played what ended up being 91 holes over five days at Torrey Pines in San Diego - winning in a sudden death face-off against Rocco Mediate on Monday.
"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee," Woods said on his Web site.
He had arthroscopic surgery April 15 to clean out cartilage in his left knee, bypassing ACL surgery with hopes it could get him through the 2008 season. But the stress fracture and a ligament that could no longer sustain a powerful swing made it impossible to keep going.
"Although I will miss the rest of the 2008 season, I'm thrilled with the fact that last week was such a special tournament," Woods said.
The golf star will miss a major for the first time in his career - the British Open next month at Royal Birkdale and the PGA Championship in August at Oakland Hills, where Woods is the two-time defending champion. He'll also miss the Ryder Cup in September.
DON CORNELIUS SELLS 'SOUL TRAIN': Property bought by multimedia company that promises to expand the brand.
*After 37 years, "the hippest trip in America" has come under new ownership.
Don Cornelius, creator of the "Soul Train" franchise, has sold the property to MadVision Entertainment, a multimedia company specializing in branded urban content and production.
The deal includes production rights to "Soul Train's" weekly series, including a catalog of more than 1,100 hours of archival footage. New episodes haven't been produced since 2006, but it's understood that MadVision may bring the show back sometime in the future.
"The 'Soul Train' legacy and brand are of the utmost importance to me and to 'Soul Train's' millions of fans," Cornelius told the Hollywood Reporter. "After years of offers, I feel the time is now finally right to pass the torch. The MadVision team understands and respects my vision."
Peter Griffith, who founded MadVision with Kenard Gibbs and Anthony Maddox, said the company also is eyeing new opportunities for "Soul Train" on DVD, broadband and video-on-demand.
"Our goal is to preserve the show's legacy and expand the brand for the generations to come," Gibbs added.
ESPN.COM'S JEMELE HILL APOLOGIZES FOR COLUMN: Writer used Hitler analogy to describe rooting for Celtics.
*ESPN.com columnist Jemele Hill was suspended from her post Monday for a piece that invoked the creator of the Holocaust in describing fan support for the Boston Celtics in their NBA Finals series with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It's like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan," Hill wrote in her column, titled "Deserving or not, I still hate the Celtics."
The two offensive statements were taken out of her online column hours after it was posted, but not before a torrent of negative feedback was unleashed by ESPN.com readers, as well as Celtics fans and other sports columnists.
Some folks calling for Hill's firing compared her comments to that of radio jock Don Imus, who was dismissed for referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."
According to Richard Prince's Journal-isms column, Boston Herald columnist Joe Fitzgerald invoked the memory of a Holocaust victim to underscore his stance.
"There is nothing witty about using Hitler as a punch line," wrote Fitzgerald. "The Celtics remind Jemele Hill of Hitler? Please. Eric, who died four years ago, understood that the time would come when supposedly bright people like her would be flippantly indifferent to the evils he experienced, if not totally ignorant of them."
Hill issued the following apology in an ESPN statement: "I deeply regret the comment I made in a column Saturday. In expressing my passion for the NBA and my hometown of Detroit I showed very poor judgment in the words that I used. I pride myself on an understanding of, and appreciation for, diversity - and there is no excuse for the appalling lack of sensitivity in my comments. It in no way reflects the person I am. I apologize to all of my readers and I thank them for holding me accountable. This has been an important lesson for me and illustrates that, like many people, I still have a lot of growing and learning to do."
FANS CAN GET INSIDE EDDIE MURPHY'S HEAD: Huge replica of character's on tour. Plus, actor to be subject of new song from Mel B.
*A 15-foot tall replica of Eddie Murphy's head - as depicted in the upcoming film "Dave" - is in the midst of a cross-country promotional tour touting the Fox comedy's July 11th release date.
The movie features Murphy as the tiny commander of a space ship that just landed on Earth - only the ship looks like a large human version of himself.
The Meet Dave tour began in Los Angeles on June 13 and is visiting a number of major markets until it takes up residency at New York's Times Square - a key location in the film - from July 3-5.
Those who venture inside of the nearly three-ton noggin will have the opportunity to take photos inside of Dave's ear (mirroring the image in the film's current poster), then upload them onto the movie's Web site.
Some of the photos will be selected by Twentieth Century Fox for a mosaic version of the Meet Dave poster, which will go in theaters across the country - where moviegoers can learn if they've made it into Dave's head.
Meanwhile, Melanie Brown, the mother of Murphy's youngest child Angel Iris, says she's writing a revenge song dedicated to the actor for her upcoming album.
She tells Britain's New! Magazine: "The working title is 'Beverly Hills C**k,' because that's what he is. He never bothers with his daughter. I mean, what kind of man is that?"
Brown, a.k.a. Scary Spice of the Spice Girls, was dumped by Murphy on live television last year while she was pregnant with their child.
JAVON WALKER DETAILS ROBBERY: Oakland Raider tells Web site he was abducted from hotel room while unconscious.
*Oakland Raiders star Javon Walker spoke to TheDirty.com about his mugging early Monday morning at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, stating that reports of the incident have not been accurate.
The NFL player disputes rumors that things heated up at Tryst Nightclub after Walker sprayed multiple bottles of Dom Perignon on retired boxer Floyd Mayweather's table. Word had it that the alleged slight ultimately led Mayweather's crew to beat and rob him on a street corner, leaving him unconscious.
Javon says the only thing true about that story was the part about him being beaten and left unconscious. He tells TheDirty.com: "I was just back at my room and at about 5:30 in the morning I got a knock at the door. I opened it and three guys with guns were there. They cracked me in the head a few times, knocking me unconscious. They then robbed me of everything I had; my watch, money, everything! Somehow they got me to a car and dropped me off in the street. That's what happened."
Walker also released an official statement Wednesday saying he was "quickly recovering" from the concussion and facial injuries suffered during the robbery. The 29-year-old was released from the hospital and thanked well-wishers for their prayers and support.
"Javon looks forward to getting back to his family and teammates," the statement said, "and is looking forward to the start of the upcoming season."
Police Lt. Clinton Nichols said a large amount of cash and some jewelry were taken from Walker, and that detectives planned to interview him about events leading up to the incident.
SPIKE LEE TO DIRECT FILM ABOUT BLACK PHYSICIST: Plus, view trailer of his WWII film 'Miracle at St. Anna.'
*Spike Lee will co-write and direct a new film about one of the country's first African-Americans to earn a Ph.D in theoretical physics.
"Time Traveler" is based on a memoir by Ronald Mallett that recounts his rise from poverty to a distinguished academic and scientific career. The book also details the technical specs for what Mallett envisions as a workable time machine. Its development became an obsession for Mallett from the age of 10 after his father's death. His goal was to travel back in time and save him.
According to Variety, Lee acquired "Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality" with his own money and has set up the project through his Forty Acres & A Mule Filmworks banner.
The director recently wrapped production on "Miracle at St. Anna," based on a novel about members of the U.S. Army's 92nd Division of all-black buffalo soldiers who become trapped in Italy during WWII. Click here to view the film's trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1aaC8AWWug.
IT'S OFFICIAL - 'THA CARTER III' SELLS 1 MILLION: Lil Wayne tops Billboard and becomes 08's top first-week artist.
*Lil Wayne's album "Tha Carter III" has lived up to expectations and reached the 1 million mark in sales during its first week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The accomplishment also gives him the best selling first week of the year.
"I've been saying a million all along, and I've been telling people, and they've been looking at me crazy," said Ron Williams, co-founder of Lil Wayne's record label, Cash Money Records. "He worked hard. He just came with something different. He let his skills show on a lot of mixtapes. He's featured on a lot of people's records. It just made people anticipate his record more than ever."
The first-week total matches overall sales of his last two albums "Tha Carter" and "Tha Carter II," which sold 1.1 million and 1.4 million copies, respectively. "Tha Carter III" is on track to become the first multi-platinum album of Lil Wayne's career. Critics have anticipated that the CD would catapult the New Orleans artist into superstardom.
In a slumping industry where selling 200,000 albums in one week is becoming a rare feat, Lil Wayne's achievement is not only a triumph but a much-needed boost - the last CD to sell 1 million or more in its first week was 50 Cent's "The Massacre" in 2005.
SEALED R. KELLY TRIAL DOCS RELEASED: Prosecution's star witness said employee of singer threatened her.
*Documents that had been sealed in the R. Kelly child pornography trial were opened Tuesday and revealed claims from the prosecution's star witness that an employee of the R&B star threatened her.
According to the Associated Press, Lisa Van Allen says the employee told her last year she should've been killed for coming forward with information that could send Kelly to prison.
Van Allen testified that she had several three way sexual encounters with Kelly and the girl in the sex tape at the center of the trial. In her pretrial statement, Van Allen testified that she stole a copy of the tape from the singer's duffel bag.
Kelly was acquitted last week of child pornography.
J.LO PERFORMS CONCERT FOR AUTISTIC KIDS: Singer visits after students responded favorably to 'Let's Get Loud.'
*New mom Jennifer Lopez visited a Staten Island, NY elementary school for autistic children on Tuesday to give them a special performance of their favorite song.
Students at P.S. 37 got to hear J.Lo belt out her 2000 hit single "Let's Get Loud," a song and video first played for the group of eight 10- and 11-year-olds by their teacher, Kathy Amati.
The kids loved it so much that they wanted to watch the video every day, Amati told the Associated Press. Soon, they had the lyrics memorized and had even mastered J.Lo's dance moves.
Amati encouraged her students to write Lopez and request that she send pictures or an autograph. Instead, she asked to come to their graduation.
KANYE TO PERFORM AT NIKE+HUMAN RACE CONCERT: Kelly Rowland to sing in Paris as part of worldwide running event.
*Kanye West will headline a concert in Los Angeles following the grand finale of the 25-city Nike+Human Race, the world's biggest one-day running event taking place on Aug. 31.
"This race is bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to run and listen to some great music while serving a higher cause, and I'm excited to perform in L.A. as part of the grand finale," West said in a statement.
Participants in this unprecedented event will experience an exclusive music performance by some of today's top artists in each of the 25 designated race cities. Runners in Los Angeles will take to the streets passing the city's most famous landmarks before ending at the LA Coliseum to see West take the stage. Kelly Rowland will perform in Paris, while Moby will rock London's Wembley Stadium.
West's performance will bring to a close, a day of 10K races and activities around the globe starting in Taipei, ending in LA and including cities across Europe, Asia and North and South America.
For more information on the Nike+Human Race and a complete listing of race cities visit www.nikeplus.com.
OBAMA BITS: Obama sits next to McCain at Russert funeral; Michelle co-hosts 'The View'; Andre Leon Talley wants to remake Michelle's image.
*Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama sat next to his Republican opponent John McCain Wednesday morning at the funeral for NBC's Tim Russert in Washington.
The seating arrangement was the result of a special request by the Russert family, according to the AP. Without fanfare, both presidential candidates arrived at the ceremony at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown to pay their respects.
The funeral was private, but a loud speaker broadcast the service to about 100 onlookers standing outside. Bryant Gumbel was among the honorary pallbearers, along with the man who replaced him as co-host of NBC's "Today" show, Matt Lauer, and NBC News anchor Brian Williams.
*Obama's wife Michelle began her guest-hosting duties on "The View" Wednesday morning by demanding that she be "greeted properly." She then proceeded to give fist bumps to each of her co-hosts for the day - Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and yes, even Barbara Walters.
"It is now my signature bump," Michelle Obama told the ladies. "But let me tell you, I'm not that hip. I got this from the young staff. That's the new high-five."
Also during her appearance, Mrs. Obama praised first lady Laura Bush for defending her after she was criticized by Republicans for her February comment that for the first time in her adult life she was proud of the United States.
In an interview last week with ABC, Bush said, "I think she probably meant 'I'm more proud,' you know, is what she really meant." She said comments in a campaign are closely watched and can be misconstrued.
Michelle said she sent Bush a thank you note for her remarks. "It took me a while to write it. It's like, how do I address her?" she said. "I said dear madam first lady." She wouldn't elaborate on the content of the letter, saying Mrs. Bush might not have received it yet. "But I was touched by it," Michelle Obama said. "And that's what I like about Laura Bush. You know, just calm, rational approach to these issues. And you know, I'm taking some cues. I mean, there's a balance. There's a reason why people like her. It's because she doesn't, sort of, you know, fuel the fire."
Michelle, 44, also helped to interview "View" guest Matthew Broderick and participated in a segment about eating healthy foods.
Meanwhile, the Obamas cover the new issue of "Us Weekly" magazine this week, under the headline, "Michelle Obama: Why Barack Loves Her."
The Illinois senator said in the interview: "When we started out on this campaign, we wanted to make sure that life for our girls [Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7] would remain as normal as possible, and it's because of Michelle that they are so grounded. Nothing is more important to Michelle than being a good mother, and she works every day to instill in our girls the same values we were raised with."
*During an Obama fund-raiser held Tuesday night by the fashion elite in Manhattan, word has it that Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley expressed interest in wanting to dress Michelle Obama in the way that he orchestrated Jennifer Hudson's look in her run up to the Oscars. The news didn't sit well with folks who remember the infamous gold Bolero jacket Talley made J-Hud wear on Oscar night. According to the New York Post's Page Six, "Some Dems fear that in the months ahead, Talley, a huge fan of Oscar de la Renta, will steer Michelle into a Bolero jacket or an outfit even more ill-advised."
ITTY BITTY BITS: Will vs. Willow; HBO buys Duke lacrosse story; Richard Roundtree to 'Celebrate Life'; Naomi's new man.
*Will Smith and his 9-year-old daughter, Willow, both have films due in theaters on July 2. Smith's "Hancock" will face off against "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," which co-stars Willow alongside Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin from "Little Miss Sunshine." According to the New York Post's Page Six, Smith will cut short his press junkets for "Hancock" today in order to accompany his daughter at her film's premiere at the Ziegfeld in New York.
*HBO has acquired film rights to the book "It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Case and the Lives It Shattered," reports UPI.com. The book - written by Don Yaeger, a former Sports Illustrated associate editor, and Mike Pressler former Duke lacrosse coach - is based in part on a journal kept by Pressler during the weeks after the national scandal made headlines. It chronicles what happened when three Duke University lacrosse players were falsely accused of gang-raping a stripper at a March 2006 team party.
*Breast cancer survivor Richard Roundtree, best known for his role as the original Shaft and most recently as Speed's hero in "Speed Racer," will share his personal battle with breast cancer as part of "Celebrate Life," an annual event in Philadelphia that commemorates the five-year anniversaries of cancer survivors who were treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The event will take place tomorrow (June 20) in the front parking lot of the facility at 1331 East Wyoming Ave. from 9:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
*Naomi Campbell appears to have a new man. British newspapers say he's a Russian businessman and the two were cozy on a recent boat trip to the Italian isle of Capri. Photos of the vacation show Campbell and the businessman holding hands on a gangplank, embracing warmly and kissing. Other shots show them rubbing sunscreen on each other. Meanwhile, back in London, Campbell, is due in court on June 20 to face charges of assaulting a constable, using threatening words toward the cabin crew and disorderly conduct stemming from her April arrest at London's Heathrow airport.
THEATRE BITS: 'Hot Tin Roof' closes Sunday; Lisa Gay Hamilton leaves 'Measure'; Whoopi and ILM talk 'Bricktop.'
*This Sunday, June 22, the historic revival of Tennessee William's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" will close as scheduled. The production starred Terrence Howard as Brick, Phylicia Rashad as Big Mama, Anika Noni Rose as Maggie and James Earl Jones as Big Daddy. Since its first preview, the Debbie Allen-directed production has been among the most successful straight plays each week on the Great White Way recouping its $2.1 million investment in only 12 weeks, and totaling over $14 million during its 19 week run.
*Lisa Gay Hamilton has exited her role in the Tanya Barfield play "Of Equal Measure" in Los Angeles citing "personal reasons." The production, set during World War I, opens July 11 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and continues through July 27. The drama provides a perspective of the Woodrow Wilson presidency as viewed through the character of Jade Kingston, an African American stenographer working in the White House. Jade witnesses first-hand the paradox of Wilson bringing the U.S. into the "Great War" in order that 'the world be made safe for democracy," while trampling civil rights at home by ordering the segregation of black federal employees. Hamilton's role of Jade Kingston will be taken over by Briana White.
*The New York Daily News' Rush & Malloy column reports that Whoopi Goldberg has been talking with George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic about collaborating on her upcoming musical "Bricktop - Queen of the Night." As previously reported, Whoopi is co-producing a play about the fabled Parisian cabaret owner, Ada (Bricktop) Smith. Lucas "could do things Broadway has never seen before," a source tells Rush & Malloy. "They're talking about playing with Cubist images and jazz from the '20s."
EUR FILM REVIEW: Love Comes Lately
Virile Octogenarian Looks for Love and Lust in Wistful Romance Drama
Film Review by Kam Williams
*80 year-old Max Kohn (Otto Tausig) is an Austrian émigré whose world view was substantially shaped by the Holocaust. Still, he overcame the trauma to become a celebrated fiction writer and now lives in Manhattan with Reisele (Rhea Perlman), his very jealous girlfriend of a dozen years.
Even at his advanced age, the accomplished author remains very busy between traveling to speaking engagements and cranking out steamy, semi-autobiographical tales about the sexploits of a geezer suspiciously similar to himself. But the virile octogenarian’s nomadic lifestyle tends to get him into trouble, for his erotic fantasies have a strange way of playing out in a surreal fashion given his active imagination and healthy libido.
An offbeat blending of Max’s wistful myths and actual conquests is the subject of Love Comes Lately, a bittersweet romantic romp written and directed by Jan Schutte. The German director based the picture on three short stories (“Alone,” “The Briefcase” and “Old Love”) by Yiddish Nobel Prize-winner Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Superficially, the scenarios which unfold reflect the perspective of an elderly Jew, since this is precisely Max’s point-of-view. Yet, they are simultaneously somehow universal in nature, since the essence of what he experiences remains commonly human.
His amorous adventures begin at a Miami hotel where he has a couple of close encounters, one with a seductive widow (Caroline Aaron) and another with a Latino maid (Elizabeth Pena) with a limp who likes Max because he treats her with respect. However, when he has second thoughts about cheating with her, she responds angrily, mistakenly feeling rejected because of her infirmity.
Next, he ventures to Hanover, New Hampshire to deliver a lecture only to end up in the arms of an ex-student (Barbara Herhsey) who now teaches Hebrew Literature at Dartmouth. Later, he entertains the advances of his still-grieving, new neighbor (Tovah Feldshuh) who informs Max that he reminds him of her recently-departed husband right before she uses her balcony as a launching pad.
Proof galore that Viagra has enabled a whole generation of frisky seniors to turn the clock way back. Eighty is the new Forty!
Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 82 minutes
Studi Kino International
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Ordained by God
*“Barack Obama has been ordained by God” to be our next president. Or so read the email from a friend of mine. Of course, he is not alone in this opinion. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) is on record as suggesting that this Obama victory “is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance." I remain unconvinced that the senator’s clinching the Democratic nomination is on a par with, say, parting the Red Sea or rising from the dead.(Obama’s promise in his victory speech that his administration will, “heal the planet” and calm the oceans notwithstanding.)I am, however, excited by the historical moment. Our nation is standing on the precipice of history looking over into a brave new world; poised to take a historic leap and it does indeed seem as if the hand of providence is pulling the heavenly strings. I am at this very moment scanning the heavens for omens either good or bad: falling stars, birds flying backwards anything that may shed some light on the great mystery.
I am old enough to recall an America where the “N-word” was used more frequently by White folks than Black, Protests and race riots were staples of the nightly news and a Black family moving into a White neighborhood was a remarkable event. (I was the first Black student to attend my elementary school.)
My stories, of course, pale in comparison to those told by my parents who would recall the days when federal buildings were segregated. Black employees of our government were forced to use separate bathrooms, back entrances and lunch rooms to say nothing of being excluded from the halls of power. The doors to opportunity remained closed. Jim Crow was the rule and Black people were expected to “know their place.” It was a time when the Democratic Party was the home of White Citizen’s Councils and the Klan. Men like George “segregation forever” Wallace carried the banner for the Democratic Party.
Those days seem to belong to another time when in fact it was not all that long ago. It is a testament to the greatness not only of the American people, but of the central idea of our American founding that we have reached this milestone in so brief a time. There is no question that our journey has been grueling, painful and bloody, but as the historical clock goes it has been relatively short.
That is not to say that race and/or racism no longer play a role in our American lives. Indeed it is one of the great ironies of this moment that even as we are poised to deliver the death blow to white supremacy, race will be front and center in this upcoming general election.
Republican candidate John McCain’s words will be measured and analyzed against the “new language of race.” We have already been instructed that criticisms of Obama as elitist are in actuality code for saying he is uppity and to call attention to his inexperience is really to call him a “boy” and so forth. There will be pressure on Black voters to support Barack as a measure of one’s racial solidarity; White voters will be urged to purge themselves of racial guilt. Such ever present notions are exclusively about race and seem to cast a doubt on the real amount of progress we have made.
But I prefer to look at the glass as being half-full. In the end, we have demonstrated the moral veracity of the American ideal of the equality of mankind. I do not know if God has a hand in Barack Obama becoming president of these United States. I am however, certain beyond a doubt that there is a greater power guiding this great nation.
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: Apollo Theater Spring Gala
1,200 Revelers Attend Apollo Theater’s Fourth Annual Spring Benefit That Raises $1.2 Million; Legendary artist Smokey Robinson Inducted Into Apollo Hall Of Fame by Valerie Simpson & Nick Ashford; Pauletta & Denzel Washington Received Coveted Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts & Humanitarian Award for special guest Janet Jackson
By Audrey J. Bernard, Lifestyles/Society Editor
*Harlem, NY-- The ultimate swank soiree credit goes to the Apollo Theater’s fourth annual spring benefit because it was indeed the hottest ticket in town and partygoers are still looking for their party shoes left behind in the Apollo Supper Club long after the last record was spun by hot DJ D-Nice on Monday, June 2 on 125th Street in Harlem.
Hosted by Wanda Sykes, the evening got off to a classy start with a recital by Apollo Stars of Tomorrow, JoSunJari, and their superb strings performance. The highly anticipated party of the season – for a reason -- raised an impressive $1.2 million meeting the financial goal for The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.’s renovation fund.
A highlight of the moving program was the induction of soulful icon Smokey Robinson into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson.
Another high point was a special surprise appearance by superstar Janet Jackson to present the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts & Humanitarian Award to her friends Pauletta & Denzel Washington who were visibly shaken by the honor and her presence.
In addition, the coveted corporate award was presented to Verizon and accepted on its behalf by Monica F. Azare, senior vice president, public policy & external affairs, Verizon New York and Connecticut.
Beautiful benefit co-chairs Alicia Riley Bythewood and Yolanda Ferrell-Brown joined Jonelle Procope, president & CEO, The Apollo Foundation, Inc., on stage to thank everyone for their generous support including event sponsors Time Warner Cable, American Airlines, Belvedere Vodka, Coca-Cola, Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Hearst Corporation and Skadden Arps, TV One, Moet Hennessy USA, HSBC, BET, Viacom, WaMu and many more.
During the stellar evening, India.Arie and Nnenna Freelon performed magnificent special tributes to the evening’s honorees. But it was the inimitable Earth, Wind & Fire who blew the tiles off of the roof. It’s a good thing the Foundation left the roof work until last because EW&F had the jump jumpin!
At show’s end, guests resumed their dance on at the Supper Club tent behind the theater where they enjoyed butlered drinks and morsels of delights, an open bar, and a wonderful menu comprised of recipes created by Alexander Smalls for Great Performances.
One of the many sensational people at the bash was CNN’s Roland Martin who was ganged by women and men alike who just wanted to shake the hand of the man who stands for Barack Obama against all odds. Martin was given rock star treatment. “We’re going all the way,” exclaimed the talking head.
As guests swaggered out of the club to pulsating music, they were gifted with terrific swag bags -- and a fabulous time was had by all! (Photos: Shahar Azran, Margot Jordan & Ronnie Wright)
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.
VERONICA'S VIEW: It’s Easy Being Green
Veronica Hendrix
*I’ve distinguished myself as a lot of things during my tenure on this planet. And I am immensely proud of my many different labels such as mom, daughter, journalist, social activist, oh – and gourmet baker.
I have another distinction to add to the list.
I am a budding, environmental conservationist. Yes, you read that right. I am someone who wants to do what I can to help conserve our natural resources and preserve our planet. I’ve decided to go green.
My interest in conservation has grown beyond turning the lights off in a room that is unoccupied, which by the way, used to make my dad absolutely crazy. He viewed wasted wattage as the main culprit behind his exorbitant electric bill.
Our planet is changing.
I noticed it about fifteen years ago while riding in my air-conditioned car in the summer. It seemed unseasonably hot that year, although I don’t recall temperatures breaking any records that year.
What I distinctly remembered is how hot the rays of the sun felt that year against my skin, despite the fact that my car windows were fully rolled up. In fact it was so hot that by the time I reached my destination, my thigh and upper arm were sunburned. It was quite painful and quite alarming.
I saw former Vice President Al Gore’s academy award winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” It was spell-binding. While detractors called the film alarmist propaganda, it is clear that humanity is not treating the world humanely. Drought conditions, record high temperatures, the increase in hurricanes, tornados tsunamis, inordinate rates of skin cancer, and the unprecedented changes in our ecosystems are beyond curious. They are a sign that our planet is reacting to the incessant and pervasive environmental abuses we have exacted upon it.
That abuse, according to scientists, is causing global warming of the planet. And when bears can’t hibernate because temperatures haven't dropped enough, and flowering plants in some of the coldest regions of our nation are blooming in the winter months instead of spring, I say it’s more than an anomaly; it’s a breach of nature.
I’m committed to doing my part to help preserve our planet. And calculating my carbon foot print was a good place to start.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact that our daily activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases we produce, which is measured in units of carbon dioxide.
I found out that my carbon footprint is 2 tons a year. The national average is 7.5. I think I should get a star or happy face for that score. I learned there is even more I can do to decrease my carbon imprint and help make the planet a healthier place. It’s a lot easier than you might think. Here are just a few easy suggestions:
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs reduce the release of greenhouse gas emissions and are safer because they burn at a significantly lower temperature than incandescent and halogen lights. They also last 10 times longer and use 66 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs while delivering the same light levels. CFLs accrue a net savings between $30 and $45 over their lifetimes.
Turn down the hot water heater and your house thermostat during the winter. Set your water heater to 130° F and thermostat to 55° F in the winter months when you go to bed or leave home. These simple changes can prevent the emission of more than 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide over the course of the year, while cutting your energy bill by more than 10 percent.
Inflate your car tires. It can improve your gas mileage by about 3.3 percent -- a savings of about 7 cents per gallon. With gas prices hitting record highs, you can’t afford not to keep your tires inflated.
Purchase EnergyStar-labeled appliances. EnergyStar products are the most efficient appliances and can provide a 30 percent return or better through lower utility bills.
Wash and rinse in cold water. If we all used cold water, we could save about 30 million tons of carbon dioxide each year -- and more than $3 billion in energy costs, collectively. By the way, cold water cleans your laundry just as well as hot water.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. It reduces the excessive amounts of fossil fuels and hydropower required to dispose of these materials.
Get out of your car. I did it. I’ve gone Metro and have saved a ton of money and hopefully a ton of carbon dioxide too. Our cars are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation where you can. Going green is a lot easier than you think. If you’d like to calculate your carbon footprint and learn more about other ways to go green, visit http://liveearth.msn.com/green/calculator. (If you have comments about Veronica’s View, email them to vsview@yahoo.com).###
THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: Judge Lynn Toler uses heer mothers rules on Divorce Court; JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise are 'Live in Baltmore,' and Gospel singer Cynthia Jones give you her soul with latest project
By Eunice Moseley
Divorce Court’s Judge Lynn Toler uses her mother’s rules in her art of arbitration
*A native of Columbus, Ohio Judge Lynn Toler’s life took an unexpected detour from the local court room to a national court room where divorce is the topic and subject matter. Divorce Court, sometimes, she finds herself dealing with troubled children and drug addiction issues, in an attempt to deal with the subject at hand, divorce petitions.
“It’s serious, but I try to be entertaining,” Judge Toler points out.
The judge earned a bachelors degree in English and American literature from Harvard in 1981 and earned a Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1984. She went on to practice law in various capacities in Ohio until 2001 when she was asked to preside over a Twentieth Television’s “Power of Attorney.”
In 2006 she went over to preside on “Divorce Court”, a Monet Productions and Twentieth Television show. It is a half-hour show that deals with relationship-oriented issues.
When asked to give her opinion on the quickie marriage of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Judge Lynn Toler said, “In general three to four weeks is not enough time…if they are that in love they can wait 6 months.”
The judge recently added author to her resume with the release of her autobiography, “My Mother’s Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius.” The book is an inspirational memoir of her family, life and justice.
The judge currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband of seventeen years and her two children.
‘Exalted…Live in Baltimore’ is the newest release from J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise
“I just felt like a praise and worship album,” JJ Hairston said about his newest project on Evidence/Light Records, “Exalted…Live in Baltimore.” “Baltimore was the first city outside the Tri-state to embrace us. I did my first concert there and I thought why not my first live recording.”
Hairston and Youthful Praise (YP) are currently on tour promoting the release. They will be in Washington, DC Saturday June 21st at Bibleway Temple, June 22nd at the United Nations Church in Richmond, Virginia, and end on July 2-3rd at the AIM Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan.
YP is a Bridgeport, CT based choir directed by James “JJ” Hairston. The “Exalted…Live in Baltimore, project is a CD/DVD combo. It was recorded live at Baltimore’s Church of the Redeemed of the Lord. Judith McAllister, Ted Winn, Jordan Martin, Timiney Figueroa Caton and Steve Lawrence, and Hairston’s mother-in-law Gloria White are featured on the new project.
J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise have 20 years and five albums to their credit and this is their first DVD.
“I want to change people’s mind set” JJ said sincerely. “I want to influence relationships with God.”
On the “Exalted…Live in Baltimore” DVD you will see YP perform the anthem “He is Exalted/Give Your Praise” and “Glory and Honor,” which features Judith Christie McAllister, and Jordan Martin on “Everything is Changed” and “You Are.”
This project is 100% a praise and worship release; anyone, after listening to it will feel much better in the end. Check out JJ and YP at www.youthfulpraise.org.
Vocalist Cynthia Jones’ got a soul and wants to share it with you
“I’m living my dream,” Gospel singer/song writer Cynthia Jones says about her life as a performer. “I told someone I think I need to set new goals.”
Cynthia Jones is releasing her third project “Gotta Soul” and the video of the single of the same name should getting air-play. Jones started in the industry singing contemporary and traditional Gospel, but in 2005 Cynthia decided to stick to the style of Gospel that is really her, Soul.
“I’ve always taken my singing seriously…I love music,” Cynthia Jones said. “You can give yourself to Christ and still like Soul music.”
Jones has performed on such tours as the Hero Tour with Kirk Franklin, Men of Standard and Da Truth; the Night of Praise and Worship Concert with Fred Hammond and Martha Munizzi, and at Open Ear Christian Entertainment’s Super Sundays with Lisa McClendon and Debra Killings.
My favorite songs on the “Gotta Soul” CD on Kingdom Records are “Influence,” which has a Erykah Badu/Jill Scott flavor; “God Said,” “Testimony,” “Something About The Name (of Jesus), has an R&B flavor, and “No Apology,” which has a jazz feel to it.
Visit www.kingdonrecordsinc.com for more on the Gospel-Soul singer Cynthia Jones.
REGGAE UPDATES FROM JAMAICA: Urban Music Alliance; Konshens' 'Winner;' MBC's 'Busted;' Mario C and TOK
By Kevin Jackson
*Urban Music Alliance provides digital distribution for the reggae, dancehall and urban market Jamaican artistes have been complaining that they are being treated unfairly by record labels and management alike, there is little opportunity for them to be exposed in the US and global markets. This limited exposure, it is said, generally rewards the record labels and management to a far greater extent than the artistes who do the hard work.
In response to that, digital distribution company, Urban Music Alliance has set about addressing that disparity, giving artistes an opportunity to sell their product internationally at royalty rates generally reserved for record companies, and with complete transparency.
Urban Music Alliance provides various distribution and marketing services for its artistes/labels. According to the principals of the company, "Our network of digital retail partners includes all the major distributors such as iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster, Sprint, Verizon and T Mobile, as well as dozens of newly emerging outlets. We distribute to retailers around the world and are tapped into the most efficient delivery and content management systems in the business.
"Our console allows our clients complete access to view the status of their sales and releases. Clients can view where their releases have been delivered, where they are in the distribution process and most importantly, see a very detailed sales history," Morgan Carey, who is the brother of singer Mariah Carey, stated in a release.
Inquiries contact Morgan Carey at morgan@urbanmusicalliance.com
Konshens is red hot with Winner
Newcomer Konshens seems to have hit the right notes with the single Winner. Recorded late last year, the song has become a sort of an underground hit, making its way onto various mix tapes and drumming up solid rotation in the dancehall.
‘Winner is a song that I wrote shortly after the birth of my daughter. It was an expression of the mood that I was in and the bills were piling up and I just didn’t see a way out’, Konshens said in an interview earlier this week.
Though not surprised at the response that the song has gotten, Konshens who has steadily built up a fan base among the innercity, said he wanted a song that everyone could relate to. ‘I basically did a song that everyone can relate to. I guess it pushed the right buttons and people are now reacting to it’, said Konshens.
Born Garfield Spence, Konshens is from the Sherlock area of Duhaney Park. A former student of the Excelsior High School, he graduated with eight CXC subjects.
Konshens made his entry into the musical field in 2005 when he and his older brother Delus formed the duo Souljah. They got their big break in Japan after recording the hit single Pon Di Corner on the Guilty rhythm from Cash Flow Records. The song figured on various reggae charts in Japan and earned the duo a performance in the Asian territory. Later on the album Sons of Jah earned them a successful four week tour in various cities of Japan.
Currently signed to the Natural Bridge stables, Konshens has been churning out singles one after the other. Among his most recent efforts are Music, Warriors (troop rhythm), Don’t Waste Your Talent, and Rasta Imposter (Young Veterans label).
Asked what he brings to the table as an artiste, Konshens said ‘I bring realness. I don’t see myself as a big artiste. I am expressing things that people tend to overlook’.
The video for the song Winner which was directed by Winston Mayhew, was released a week ago. The clip is quite entertaining and it is obvious that some amount of thought and coordination went into the making of the video. Good camera movements, nice colouring, effective wardrobe, and interesting storyline make this video stand out as one of the best videos shot locally so far this year.
Girl group MBC making waves with Busted
Girl group MBC is finally getting some attention with its latest single Busted. The video which was directed by Anju Val has been getting a lot of attention lately. MBC comprises of Foxy, Diamond and Miss Chin.
Busted sees director Anju Val delivering yet another exciting body of work as the video unfolds, with the beginning of what turns out to be a very spicy telephone conversation, between Foxy and Diamond. The video segues into another song with the sexy Divas performing a little piece of their steamy bedroom anthem Hot Lava Sex.
This video is yet another step in the right direction for this hard working girl group. Busted is currently riding RETV’s MVP Top 10 video countdown chart.
Mario C now a part of TOK’s management
Dancehall producer Mario Campbell better known as Mario C, is reportedly a part of the management team for dancehall male group TOK.
Mario C is said to be working on the group’s forthcoming album. He won the EME Award earlier this year for Best Dancehall producer, having scored three number one hits last year namely Give it Up by Beenie Man and Barbee, Back it Up by Beenie Man and Tease Her by Anthony B.
Mario C is best known for the dancehall rhythms Scoobay and Revenge.
BITS AND PIECES
Bahamian reggae artiste Sammi Starr is featured in the latest issue of the Bahamian magazine Nu Woman. The magazine went on sale on June 16. Nu Woman is a lifestyle magazine featuring fashion, health, music, culture and topics geared towards the Caribbean woman.
Canada based reggae artiste Steele walked away with three awards at the recently held Reggae Music Achievement Awards in Toronto. The awards included Album of the Year for the CD The Love of Jah.
Mr. Vegas will mark his tenth anniversary on the entertainment scene with a West Coast Tour. Vegas’ management team Irish and Chin have thrown their muscle behind this initiative. Throughout his career, Vegas has scored a long list of hits including the recent chart toppers Raging Bull, Hot Wuck, Tek Weh Yuself and Nuh Fren From Dem. Vegas recently completed his Campus Rave tour in the US.
The video for Etana’s latest single Don’t Forget was recently directed by Winston Mayhew. The video was shot at various locations around Kingston including Villa Ronai and Shortwood Practicing School.
World-renowned sound system Mighty Crown will be hosting their annual Reggae Festival - Yokohama Reggae SAI - on August 16 at the Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. The Festival, in celebration of Crown's 17th anniversary, promises to be chock-full of excitement. Billed as Japan's largest Reggae Festival, Yokohama Reggae SAI attracts revellers from around the world. The highly anticipated event boasts an intense roster of Japanese Reggae/Dancehall artists and surprise guest artists from Jamaica. In recent years, the likes of Beenie Man, Tony Matterhorn, Voicemail and others have performed at the festival.
Cayman reggae singer KK Eleese recently shot the video for her single Get Loose right here in Jamaica. The video was directed by Ras Kassa.
InSyNc WITH D. YATES: Sony does It REAL Big.
The company known world-wide for its electronics isn’t letting the Mobile Phone Industry pass it by.
*What’s up techies out there, I hope everyone enjoyed last week’s article on the Iphone as much as I enjoyed writing it...21 Days and counting. But since this column is more about what’s happening in the mobile community, not just the Iphone and the Iphone 3G, we’ll table the Iphone hysteria until July 15th.
Meanwhile, back in mobile world, Sony Ericsson has released a slew of new phones that are sure to give the other manufacturers a run for their money…well maybe.
To compete with HTC’s Titan aka (Sprint Mogul or AT&T 8525), Sony Ericsson introduces the Xperia X1. Actually the X1 features a full slide out QWERTY keyboard with Sony Ericsson’s Arc Slider design. The new interface for the X1 is similar to the interface of the Iphone in that it allows customization and easy access to applications. There is also a feature that allows for Video calls, though most carriers in the US probably won’t go for this without some type of added surcharge. Of course there is Bluetooth 2.0 and a Mega Pixel camera, Wi-Fi and 3G to boot. This bad boy has not been released in the US yet, but when it comes, you can bet money that it will probably go to AT&T, since they seems to have monopolized the cell phone industry with their expensive pricing plans and nit picking fees for everything under the sun, including text messaging.
Next up: the C902 Cybershot. This device has been the name of Sony’s platform of cameras for sometime now. It seems as if Sony is taking this platform a step further and is now offering Mobile Technology with the Cybershot platform, which takes the term “camera phone” to a new level. The latest in this trend is the C902. This phone offers 5MP camera as well as Bluetooth, and a memory card slot for expansion. It also has 160mb of internal memory, just in case the external memory card gets full. It seems as if Sony has done just as good of a job on the camera portion as it has with the phone. The camera has a flash that even works at night. The C902 doesn’t have 3G, which means web browsing won’t be as quick as if you were using the X1, but it still does have HSDPA. Just like the X1, this phone appears to be on a GSM network, which means that both Sprint and Verizon gets no love.
Finally on this weeks agenda, the C702a. This is still a Cybershot type phone, but it’s more for the basic user who doesn’t need all the functionality that a C902 offers, but still is well worth its weight in gold. This phone featu
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