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06-30-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
MANDELA'S 90TH B'DAY CONCERT IN THE BOOKS: Winehouse performed; no Naomi on stage; Oprah's bunion roams fundraiser.
*Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday was celebrated in grand style Friday in London's Hyde Park before nearly 50,000 fans – 46,664 to be exact.
The number represents the amount of tickets sold to the concert event held in support Mandela's HIV/AIDS charity "46664," named after his prison number.
Amy Winehouse, who was hospitalized last week for what may or may not be emphysema, performed as scheduled – in her trademark beehive hairdo, a black and white dress and high-heeled shoes. The 24-year-old reportedly received one of the biggest cheers of the night before a set that included her hit single "Rehab" [Watch "Rehab" clip here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vzvBLHuss] and her song "Valerie."
To close the show, Winehouse returned to the stage with musician Jerry Dammers and led an all-star rendition of his 1998 anthem, "Free Nelson Mandela." [View clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGF4o6Xj5ik&NR=1]
Will Smith served as the master of ceremonies, while other acts on the bill included Queen, Simple Minds, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox and Razorlight.
On Wednesday, supermodel Naomi Campbell attended a fundraiser dinner in Mandela's honor with Brazilian boyfriend Marcus Elias, despite being dumped as a presenter from Friday's event due to her recent assault conviction.
Former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea were also at the dinner, along with Emma Thompson, Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and Elton John, who performed "Happy Birthday."
According to the New York Daily News, Smith got Thompson to bid 1 million pounds (about $2 million) for a painting of the guest of honor. Winfrey (who at one point removed her shoes because the bunion on her right foot needed to breathe) also spent a million pounds for a framed copy of Mandela's remarks on human rights. The dinner raised about $9 million for Mandela's 46664 charity.
RUSSELL SIMMONS EXPLAINS CUSTODY AGREEMENT: Also, Kimora Lee puts L.A. house on market for $7.75 million.
*Russell Simmons says he's happy to pay $20,000 per month for each of his two children in a divorce agreement with his former wife, Kimora Lee Simmons.
The amount was made public last week with the reporting of his child custody arrangement regarding 8-year-old Ming and 5-year-old Aoki Lee. Kimora won sole custody of the girls, while Russell gets his daughters one week out of every eight, plus extra time for summer vacations and holidays, according to court documents.
As previously reported, the monthly $20,000 per child ends when each reaches the age of 19 1/2, or until the daughter is emancipated, married, becomes self-supporting, joins the armed forces or stops living with their mother.
Russell is also required to buy or lease a car valued at $60,000 or more for the girls once every 24 months.
In a letter addressed to critics, Simmons defends his child support ruling and explains the reasons he thinks it's appropriate. He stated the following:
Friends of mine have forwarded me gossip online about my custody agreement details with Kimora. The fact is, we’ve had a pretty good partnership at sharing the girls in the past.
There have been a few bumps in the road, and those bumps have led us to negotiate a minimum amount of time I’m guaranteed to see my kids. That deal is as follows: I have the girls one full week out of every eight, half of the summer, half of all the holidays, a full week at Christmas, and half of Spring Break.
Like in all good partnerships, contracts are meant to protect the partners but are usually not the only way the partners work together. If I show up in L.A., where she now lives, unannounced, I can call up Kimora and she will most likely send them right over. The same goes for when she comes to New York.
We have always had a school in New York and a school with the same curriculum in L.A., so when the girls are with me in New York, we can spend quality time together. I can get up with them, take them to school and just be together. Kimora consults with me about doctors or schools for the girls, but she’s always had final say in those areas. If we had an argument about a school, guess who’s going to win?
But there are other stipulations in our agreement where we have to make final decisions together. Anything having to do with business decisions pertaining to my kids cannot be done without my consent. I’ve also seen a lot about people reading into the supervised visits stipulation. Kimora travels with a security guard and a nanny.
In the past, she’s gotten really nervous that I never travel with security, so if it makes her more comfortable to have her security and a nanny with us when I’m with my kids, that’s OK with me. Finally, I want to say Kimora is an excellent mother and is doing a great job with them. My kids are studying a couple of foreign languages, they travel around the world, they practice yoga, ballet, swimming, karate and piano, among other things...sometimes I think they do too much, but I trust in Kimora on this because she IS a good mother.
Regarding the money, my kids live a tremendous life. They do have lots of security, nannies, educators, special programs, travel, chefs, on and on. Their mother manages all of those luxuries and I’m happy to provide for that.
With great love all things are possible.
Russell Simmons
In other Simmons news, Kimora has just put her Beverly Hills home on the market for $7.75 million, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The 6,000-square-foot, guard-gated, country-style home has five-bedrooms, eight-bathrooms, and a private courtyard entry with a sitting area and a fireplace. It also has a two-story entranceway, a formal living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, a bar and a new gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances.
There are dark hardwood floors, a spacious master bedroom suite and leaded-glass windows. Outside, there is a swimming pool and room for a tennis court.
JAY-Z SINGS 'WONDERWALL' AT GLASTONBURY: Rapper mocks his most strident detractor by performing musician's biggest single.
*Jay Z had an answer for his toughest critic at the annual Glastonbury Music Festival in Britain Saturday.
The 142,500 fans in attendance cheered as Jigga took the stage with a guitar slung over his shoulder and immediately sang along to "Wonderwall," the 1995 hit single from British band Oasis.
Oasis lead singer, Noel Gallagher, has repeatedly voiced his frustration with Glastonbury organizers for choosing Jay-Z, a hip hop act, to headline a festival that has been traditionally rooted in rock and alternative music.
Judging from fan reaction to Young Hov, and the increased cheers that followed his segue from "Wonder Wall" to his rock-flavored "99 Problems," Gallagher's opinion of hip hop at Glastonbury appeared to be in the minority.
“The world should be all about mixing culture,” Jay-Z said to UK radio personality Tim Westwood. “Hip-hop is music in its art form. It should be accepted and respected. It’s all the same thing, it’s just coming from a different perspective.”
View Jay-Z's performance of "Wonderwall" and "99 Problems" here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXZsO16w9sw
'THE WIRE' MAY GET EMMY LOVE AFTER ALL: Series' fifth and final season in the running for best drama nod.
*The nomination isn't secure yet, but HBO's critically-acclaimed series "The Wire" is very close to nabbing one for outstanding drama series at the upcoming 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
"The Wire" is among the top 10 finalists for nominations in the drama category, as revealed last week by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The contenders were announced on the group's Web site Thursday in a move to thwart the type of Internet leaks that have disrupted the nomination process the past two years.
The lists represents voting from the entire TV Academy membership and comprise 50% of the nomination tally. The other 50% will be determined from last weekend's Blue Ribbon Panel screenings of submitted episodes before a collection of judges. The final list of nominees will be revealed July 17.
"The Wire" faces competition on the short list from AMC's "Mad Men," FX's "Damages" as well as the Showtime second-year pair "Dexter" and "The Tudors." Of the five broadcast network entries, three -- Fox's "House" and ABC's "Boston Legal" and "Grey's Anatomy" -- made the nomination lineup in 2007. The other two are ABC's "Lost" (passed over last year) and NBC's "Friday Night Lights."
As for the ten finalists for outstanding comedy nominations, the list features: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage," "Family Guy," "Flight of the Conchords," "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "30 Rock," "Two and a Half Men," "Ugly Betty" and "Weeds."
DR. JAN ADAMS BUSTED FOR DUI: Donda West's plastic surgeon also gets medical license snatched for being deadbeat dad.
*Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon who operated on the mother of Kanye West hours before her death, is back in the headlines after being arrested for DUI in Northern, Cali, and for having his medical license taken for non-payment of child support.
According to the Associated Press, cops in Vallejo received calls early Thursday morning that someone was trying to drive onto a freeway through an off-ramp.
Turns out it was Adams, behind the wheel of his 2004 gray Jaguar XJ8 and about to head north on southbound I-680. Also turns out he was driving on a suspended license from a previous DUI. He's scheduled for arraignment today in Solano County Superior Court.
If that wasn't enough, Dr. Adams was recently stripped of his medical license until he can pay what he owes in child support, according to TMZ.com.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs, who oversees the Medical Board, sent him a warning letter on May 21 stating he has 30 days to pay up, or his license will be taken. Apparently, the Beverly Hills doctor didn't make the deadline.
According to TMZ, Adams got his license suspended for three months in 2006 -- also for non-payment of child support. It can be reinstated once his payments are current.
Donda West died at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina del Rey after she stopped breathing at her home. Adams had performed surgery on her the day before.
DMX'S RAP SHEET GROWING BY THE DAY: Rapper arrested again Friday, this time for trying to buy cocaine.
*On the heels of his arrest exactly one week ago for driving on a suspended license, DMX found himself in handcuffs again – this time for attempting to buy cocaine and marijuana from an undercover cop in Miami.
The rapper, born Earl Simmons, was arrested as part of a narcotics investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Dept., reports TMZ.com. According to authorities, he approached an undercover narcotics detective and requested "30 Powder & 15 Weed" – a.k.a. cocaine and marijuana. The Yonkers-born artist was reportedly arrested when he paid the fake dealer $45.
This is DMX's fourth arrest since May 7, when he was charged with racing on a highway, reckless driving, two counts of endangerment, three counts of criminal speed and driving on a suspended license.
On May 9, he was charged with seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and four felony drug possession charges. Last Monday (June 23), he was arrested for driving with a suspended license.
RACISTS HACK INTO HIP HOP WEB SITES: AllHipHop, SOHH forced to shut down temporarily last week.
*Hip Hop was under attack in cyberspace late last week by racists who hacked into the sites of AllHipHop.com and SOHH.com and swapped out the usual rap-related articles with fake headlines and racial slurs.
According to MTV.com, the hackers also swiped personal information about workers at SOHH.com.
Both Web sites were first infiltrated early last week through its forum pages, and both were forced to shut down temporarily on Friday. Taking credit for the crime is a party identifying itself as "Anonymous."
"AllHipHop and SOHH, two pioneering Web sites that have been in the industry for over 10 years, are appalled by the unprovoked racist attacks of these cyber terrorists," said AllHipHop co-founders Chuck Creekmur and Greg Watkings in a statement released late Friday. "With all the social strides that we have seen for several years, it is sad to see that this sort of blatant, hateful racism still exists in 2008 — a time of tremendous possibility. Together, AllHipHop and SOHH are committed to relentlessly pursuing these attackers, using every resource available, to ensure the capture of these criminals and prevention of repeat offenses."
SOHH CEO Felicia Palmer, the personal victim of derogatory comments by the hackers, said in a statement: "It appears that hackers are specifically targeting Black, Hispanic, Asian and Jewish youth who ascribe to hip-hop culture. Other websites, including AllHipHop and DatPiff[.com's] forums have also been compromised or threatened this week. ... Also, as this is an international issue, it is being addressed by the FBI and the Strategic Alliance Cyber Crime Working Group."
JOY BRYANT IS A MARRIED WOMAN: Actress weds stuntman from set of 'Roscoe Jenkins.'
*Actress Joy Bryant jumped the broom Saturday with David Pope, a stuntman she met on the set of her recent film, "Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins."
According to People magazine, the couple exchanged vows beachside before 100 guests at a private home in Amagansett, N.Y.
The 31-year-old one-time model wore a custom dress designed by her friend Angela Missoni. Afterwards, Bryant changed into a floral Missoni dress.
The groom, 37, sported a grey Calvin Klein Collection suit.
The wedding invites, according to People, were sent via e-mail with the phrase "Ladies, leave your Manolos at home."
Shortly after the ceremony, Bryant is expected to report back to work on her show Virtuality, a sci-fi pilot for FOX.
RUBEN STUDDARD GETS HITCHED IN THE 205: 'Idol's' Velvet Teddy Bear is now husband of Surata Zuri McCants.
*As expected, Ruben Studdard and his fiancée Surata Zuri McCants were married in a suburb outside of his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday.
According to the Birmingham News, the church ceremony lasted about 30 minutes and included prayers and music provided by a string ensemble.
The groom, nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" during his victorious run on season two of "American Idol," wore a black tuxedo with a white bow tie for Saturday's ceremony. His bride wore a white and ivory wedding gown.
The couple will lay down roots in Alabama as the 29-year-old-singer gets set to release a new album later this year.
MORE DETAILS EMERGE IN JAVON WALKER CASE: Bail set for uncooperative suspect; police trace steps leading up to incident.
*Bail has been set for the man charged with kidnapping, beating and robbing Oakland wide receiver Javon Walker this month, while more details surrounding the night in question are being reported.
Arfat Fadel, 30, of Las Vegas, was held Friday on bail totaling $86,000. Police believe he and another man followed Walker as he club-hopped down the Vegas strip, then lured him into their vehicle and robbed him.
Bail was set at $73,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 16 on four felony charges: first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and battery causing substantial bodily harm. A kidnapping conviction carries a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Fadel, meanwhile, told another judge Wednesday that he couldn't raise $13,000 bail in a separate kidnapping and domestic battery case.
Las Vegas police say Fadel is being uncooperative with investigators who are trying to find another man shown in surveillance videotapes with Fadel shadowing Walker at nightclubs late June 15.
According to police, Walker, 29, "willingly" got into a vehicle with Fadel and the other man in a valet area at the Bellagio resort about dawn on June 16. Walker, described by a cop as drunk, was discovered robbed, beaten and unconscious a little more than an hour later. He suffered broken bones in his jaw and around his right eye, and a concussion, according to a police report. Police said $3,000 in cash, at least two $1,000 gambling chips, two credit cards, and a watch, diamond earrings and necklace worth a combined $100,000 were taken and have yet to be recovered.
The police report tracks Walker's movements on the night in question. He was photographed at the Body English nightclub spraying champagne into the crowd, and also captured by video cameras at the Hard Rock casino, where police say he won $1,600 playing blackjack. Next, he went to the Dorm Days after-hours club at the Hard Rock.
Walker arrived back at the Bellagio in a car with a female friend before police said he got into a black Range Rover with Fadel and the other suspect about 6 a.m. Walker later told police he never met the men before.
Walker called his female friend once, and said he was at Drai's, an after-hours nightclub at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon on the Strip. Walker was found unconscious shortly after 7 a.m. several blocks away. The Range Rover, seen on surveillance tapes at the Bellagio and at Drai's, was traced to Fadel's girlfriend, Alicia Granstedt, 32, of Los Gatos, Calif., and was found near an extended-stay motel near the Strip.
RICK ROSS QUIET ON FOXY BROWN RUMORS: Rapper won't confirm rumored engagement.
*Rick Ross, a.k.a. "the biggest boss that you've seen thus far," isn't really big on kissing on telling about his love life.
The publication Hip-Hop Weekly got the rumor mill churning about a serious romantic relationship that had developed between Ross and trouble-prone rapper, Foxy Brown. The article even reported that Foxy was planning a move from New Jersey to Ross' Miami digs because they were so in love with each other.
But Ross told MTV News Tuesday: "Nah, nah, nah. The engagement is just speculation. I'm married to the money."
As far as "The Boss" and "Il Na Na" being an item, Ross didn't say. In the meantime, the rotund rapper is partnering with Baby from Cash Money for a movie and possible duet album – both entitled "H."
N-WORD SHUTS DOWN 'RAGTIME' IN THE PARK: District in Chicago suburb cancels outdoor play fearing passersby wouldn't get context of slur.
*Officials in suburban Chicago's Wilmette Park District shut down a planned outdoor staging of the play Ragtime, citing concerns that passersby on the park grounds would take offense to the N-word, which is used several times in the script and score.
"We had grave concerns that people would take the language they heard over the amplified sound system out of context from a performance that was being held in the bowl," Wilmette Park District executive director Tom Grisamore told the Pioneer Press.
The district got the rights to present Ragtime in January, but the content of the show was not examined until recently. Grisamore announced the play's cancellation on June 25.
"This is something we very honestly should have known about and hopefully we could have acted on this sooner, but we did as soon as we found out what was there," said Grisamore.
Ragtime, a show about racism, community, family and justice, was already in rehearsals with a cast of more than 40 when the bad news was handed down. According to Playbill.com, a June 17 letter from Wilmette Park District's performing arts supervisor, Robert Bierie, to the show's licensing agent, Music Theatre International, asked for the script to change the N-word to the no-less-offensive (out of context) words "darkie," "coon"
and "boy."
"I find this sad and also hilarious," Ragtime lyricist Lynn Ahrens told Playbill.com June 27 of the letter. "It seems to sum up the blind ignorance of people who sit busily cherry-picking bad words, while not even bothering to read the script they are producing to understand its ideas or the context in which these words are spoken. We authors have always said that if people were uncomfortable producing the show, they shouldn't produce it. We feel the language is accurate and honest in the context of the era, and important to preserve. That hasn't stopped Ragtime from being produced in numerous theatres, high schools and colleges, where the heads of these institutions don't underestimate the intelligence of their audiences, whether comprised of children or adults, nor feel the need to censor and protect them from their own national history."
J.LO IN LEGAL SYSTEM ON TWO FRONTS: Singer sued by flight attendant in one case, and subpoenaed over 1999 shooting in another.
*Jennifer Lopez is suddenly being sued and subpoenaed at the same time.
In one case, a flight attendant is suing the film and music star for $4 million alleging that her German shepherd guard dog caused her to fall and suffer back injuries during a private flight in 2006.
Lisa Wilson's filing in Brooklyn Federal Court, and obtained by E! News, accuses J.Lo's pooch of "attacking her and biting her pant leg" during a NetJet-provided flight from Long Island, NY to Burbank, Ca. Wilson claims the injuries have prevented her from obtaining further work. She began treatment within days for back pain and in April of 2007 underwent surgery.
Because J.Lo "insisted on giving Wilson warnings about how to behave around the animal in flight," Wilson said in her lawsuit that the artist "knew or should have known that the animal had vicious propensities" and as a result is liable for the seven-figure damages.
Also named in the lawsuit is Lopez's Los Angeles-based company, Nuyorican Productions.
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that J.Lo was subpoenaed and asked to tell "all she knows" about the Dec. 27, 1999, shooting at Club New York, which resulted in the conviction of rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow on assault and weapons charges.
Lopez, who was with her then-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs" that night, is being called to testify in a lawsuit brought against Shyne by Natania Reuben, who was shot in the face during the incident and is suing the rapper for $130 million in damages.
'MILLER BOYZ' INVADE WALL-MART: Master P and son Romeo to relaunch clothing line through nationwide chain.
*Romeo Miller will enter his freshman year at USC this fall as an actor, rapper, and now, budding fashion tycoon.
The 18-year-old teen and his father, No Limit founder Percy "Master P" Miller, have agreed to relaunch their P. Miller Designs clothing line exclusively through Wal-Mart, reports Billboard.
The brand of men's apparel, featuring graphic T-shirts, fleece hoodies and fashion denims, will be available at about 350 Wal-Mart stores beginning next month.
"Wal-Mart stands for everything P. Miller does," said Master P. "It's America and diversity. Our whole thing is price point. I want to put out affordable clothes where the masses can buy them."
The P. Miller line used to be available at such retailers as Kohl's and Mervyns "a few years ago," said Master P. Moving their business to Wal-Mart, the mogul added, was a good look for P. Miller Designs and its emphasis on "high fashion at an affordable cost."
Master P said he has shifted most responsibilities for the clothing line to Romeo, whose previous dealing with Wall-Mart was on the duet CD, "Miller Boyz: Hip-Hop History," an album with his dad sold exclusively through the discount chain. (The album is also available for download at online music stores.)
MORE DETAILS ABOUT ATL'S 'REAL HOUSEWIVES': Bravo finally confirms season; preview show to air next month.
*In July, Bravo will give viewers a sneak peak of its upcoming series "Real Housewives of Atlanta," the third incarnation of its "Real Housewives" franchise and the first to feature African American women in the cast.
The blog site YBF.com was the first to report that Bravo cameras had followed five well-to-do socialites in the Atlanta area for a new season to possibly begin in August.
Bravo executive VP and general manager Frances Berwick confirmed
Thursday: "They let us peek inside their exclusive, affluent community and see how they live their often-dramatic lives and manage families and careers. There is truly never a dull day for them."
Cast members for "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" are:
• DeShawn Snow, a mother of three and the wife of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Eric Snow. Runs a non-profit foundation and sits on the boards of three other local charities.
• Kim Zolciak, a single mother of two who's trying to jump-start a career in country music.
• Lisa Wu Hartwell, wife of Oakland Raider Ed Hartwell, real-estate firm owner and jewelry designer, among other things. She and her husband have three kids.
• NeNe Leakes, a mother of two with her husband, a real-estate investor, and founder of an organization to raise awareness of domestic violence. Bravo says she's also aiming to open a boutique hotel "in the very near future."
• Sheree Whitfield, a single mom and former boutique owner who's now concentrating on launching a clothing line.
Bravo will air a 30-minute preview of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" at midnight July 30. A premiere date for the full series hasn't been set. The show follows Bravo's original "The Real Housewives of Orange County," and its offshoot, "The Real Housewives of New York."
MUSIC BITS: Winehouse swings; Diddy's dalliance; Ras Kass CD; Miss Jones cancelled.
*Amy Winehouse, fresh from her performance the day before at Nelson Mandela's birthday concert in London, attempted to knock out a concertgoer while performing Saturday night at England's Glastonbury Music Festival. During her hour-long set, the troubled singer climbed down into the audience to work the crowd. Cameras were rolling as she swung at a man who reportedly tried to touch her breasts. [View footage here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IN7yJWi21E] Both performances over the weekend follow her hospitalization with emphysema-like symptoms.
*The New York Daily News column Full Disclosure is reporting that the teen girl who supposedly slept with Christie Brinkley's husband also had a fling last summer with Sean "Diddy" Combs. "His reps, however, assure us it isn't true," the column stated. "The pair did meet out east a few months back, but Puffy's peeps insist that they didn't spend any 'quality' time getting to know each other, if you catch their drift."
*Underground rapper Ras Kass, currently behind bars in California, has announced through a press release that his new album, "Institutionalized Vol. II," is due on Aug 5. The MC was arrested in October 2007 for breaking his probation, leaving California and traveling to the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, according to reports.
*New York radio station Hot 97 has cancelled its "Miss Jones in the Morning" show and will replace it with two nationally-syndicated programs. According to a statement from the station's owner Emmis Communications, the morning drive slot in the New York Tri-State area will feature Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and the Los Angeles-based radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Katt's deal; Sharpton's diet; AOL taps Tatyana; Santiago-Hudson's 'Things'; Adriane Lenox 'Ruined.'
*Katt Williams is getting his hustle on at Comedy Central. The self-described "pimp" is close to wrapping a deal that will net him a pilot for a sketch comedy series as well as a comedy special, reports Variety. Williams will star in and executive produce the series, details of which are still being hammered out.
*Rev. Al Sharpton is apparently on a diet. The New York Daily News' Full Disclosure column says he's lost 20 pounds in the past six month from walking four days a week on the treadmill and elliptical and adhering to only two meals daily, both before 6 p.m. His breakfast is reportedly two hard-boiled eggs and tomato, and his other meal is fish accompanied by a green salad. One day a week, just to mix it up, he throws some chicken on the salad.
*Tatyana Ali hosts the new AOL Black Voice Weekly Wire, a three-minute video recap of top entertainment news presented each Friday on Black Voices' Entertainment Newswire and Style Spotter blogs. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the official sponsor of the six-week program.
*Theater veteran Ruben Santiago-Hudson is among the directors chosen to helm a production for the New York Theatre Workshop's 26th season. In spring 2009, he'll bring to life Things of Dry Hours, playwright Naomi Wallace's story set in Depression-era Alabama. "Black Sunday school teacher and Communist Party member Tice Hogan lives on the edge of trouble. When a white factory worker on the run demands sanctuary, Tice and his daughter may be pushed over that edge." For tickets to shows at NYTW, 79 East Fourth Street, call (212) 460-5475. For more information visit the Web site at www.nytw.org. (Playbill)
*Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox of Doubt will star in Manhattan Theatre Club's 2009 world premiere production of Lynn Nottage's Ruined, a co-production with the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The drama is a "haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war - set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo. Lenox plays Mama Nadi, a shrewd businesswoman in a land torn apart by civil war. But is she protecting or profiting by the women she shelters?" The play runs at New York City Center Stage I beginning Jan. 21, 2009, toward a Feb. 10 opening.
SPORTS BITS: Kobe mum on Shaq rap; Venus and Serena play today; Marshawn Lynch's hit-and-run.
*Kobe Bryant is refusing to comment on the recent rap freestyle by his former teammate Shaquille O'Neal at a New York nightclub. "I didn't take it any kind of way whatsoever," Bryant told the Los Angeles Times Saturday of the obscenity-laced rhyme poking fun at his Los Angeles Lakers having gone ring-less since Shaq was traded in 2004. Bryant declined to answer any more questions on the subject.
*Venus and Serena Williams have made it into the 4th round at Wimbledon and are scheduled to play back-to-back matches on Court 2 today at London's All-England Club. Defending women's champ Venus is to face Alisa Kleybanova, and Serena goes against unseeded Bethanie Mattek, the only other remaining American. Venus knocked off Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez Saturday 6-1, 7-5, while her little sister took care of Amelie Mauresmo of France on Friday 7-6, 6-1. So far, the siblings have won three matches each without dropping a set. With No. 1-ranked Ana Ivanovic and No. 2 Maria Sharapova eliminated, and with No. 3 Jelena Jankovic limping to victory Saturday, prospects look good for an all-Williams final next weekend.
*Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch had his driver's license revoked Friday after admitting in traffic court that he was unaware he had hit a pedestrian while driving on a Buffalo street last month. The first-round draft pick in 2007 was driving his 2008 Porsche Cayenne SUV in the city's bar district at 3:30 a.m. on May 31 when he struck 27-year-old Ontario woman Kimberly Shpeley and kept going. "It was raining real hard, there was a dancing pedestrian in the middle of the street," Lynch, 22, said before the hearing. "I slowed down to let her go and continued on my way home. I didn't know my car had hit anyone or anything." The judge also imposed the maximum $100 fine and $50 surcharge after Lynch pleaded guilty to failure to exercise due care toward a pedestrian. Shpeley, who suffered a bruised a hip and required seven stitches for a cut on her thigh, says she is considering filing a lawsuit against Lynch.
RADIO ONE FINANCES 'BLACK AMERICA' STUDY: Research touted as most comprehensive in U.S.
*One of the largest-ever studies of black America was completed recently and presented as "the most detailed snap shot of African American life in the United States today."
Sponsored by Radio One, Inc., the survey from Chapel Hill-based research firm Yankelovich identified eleven specific segments within black America today, ranging from Connected Black Teens, Digital Networkers and Black Onliners at the younger end, to Faith Fulfills, Broadcast Blacks and Boomer Blacks at the older end.
The study found that 70 percent of African Americans already have a plan for their future; 54 percent were optimistic about their future and 60 percent believe "things are getting better for me."
Blacks, according to the survey, are divided pretty evenly on how they liked to be described, with 42 percent (who are more likely to be affluent) preferring to be called "Black" and 44 percent preferring "African American."
The poll research just underscores that African Americans are not a monolithic group inclined to think alike or have the same opinions and beliefs. The analysis identifies differences in black America regarding everything from what it means to be black today, perceptions about African American history and expectations for the future of blacks, to consumer trends, media preferences and confidence in key institutions (such as the church, government, financial services companies and the media).
For instance, among the Connected Black Teens segment, 25 percent are saving to start a business. Yet, among Digital Networkers, the majority of whom are in their 20s, 45 percent are already saving for retirement.
"While people are less inclined these days to think that all Blacks are the same, they really do not understand the diversity within the African American community," said TV One head honcho, Cathy Hughes. "Blacks share many commonalities regardless of age, income and geography, but there are also differences -- that suggest a new understanding of the past and a more optimistic sense of the future. We're confident that black Americans -- and all Americans -- will find the results of the survey useful and in some cases surprising, given perceptions about Black life that are still pervasive in our country."
The study released the following data:
• The average household of those surveyed has three people in it, half of whom live in a single family home, one-third in apartments, one-third in the suburbs and half in cities.
• Among 29 to 74 year-olds, one-third are married. 61 percent of Black Americans are parents, five percent of 13 to 17 year-olds are parents, and half of all parents are single parents.
• From an educational and economic standpoint, 34 percent of those surveyed who are 18 or older have some college or a two-year degree, 21 percent have a BA or higher, 40 percent have an annual income under $25,000 (20 percent of whom are retired), and one-third more than $50,000.
• The digital divide has faded. 68 percent of those surveyed are online (compared to 71 percent of all Americans), and two-thirds of them shop online. Among black teens, over 90 percent are online. Blacks who live in the south are least likely to be online (63 percent).
• Black identity remains strong across all age and economic groups. While 56 percent of those surveyed have "all" or "almost" all black friends, only 30 percent said they prefer being around people of the same race.
• Black solidarity too is strong across all groups, with 88 percent saying they have enormous respect for the opinions of their elders (84 percent among teens). While 71 percent overall said they believe blacks need to stick together to achieve gains for their community, only 54 percent of teens concurred.
• Discrimination remains a very real part of black life in America. While 24 percent said they had been personally discriminated against in the past three months, 82 percent said they believe it is "important for parents to prepare their children for prejudice." 67 percent overall said they believe the history of slavery is a key way in which blacks are different from other groups, but one-third also say that too much emphasis is put on the oppression of Blacks.
• Media highlights include: 84 percent of households have cable, 81 percent of those surveyed watch black TV channels weekly, 87 percent listen to radio in a typical week (only 16 percent listen to Satellite radio), 64 percent watch news or news magazines and 50 percent watch court shows (compared to
41 percent for sports and 46 percent for entertainment) • Blacks are not satisfied with how they are portrayed by the media. Only 29 percent agree that the mainstream media portrays blacks in a positive light
-- compared to 50 percent who do not relate to the way blacks are portrayed on most black TV shows. Two-thirds believe there should be more television shows that focus on blacks. Forty percent think black TV is reinforcing a negative stereotype of blacks.
For more information about the Black America Today study, please visit http://www.BlackAmericaStudy.com.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Wanted
The Matrix Meets Memento in Mindbending Splatter Flick
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Wesley Gibson's (James McAvoy) life is a mess. By day, the 25 year-old slacker sits behind a desk at a tiny cubicle in a low-paying job, trying to tune out the unreasonable demands of his overbearing boss (Lorna Scott).
Evenings, he retreats to the equally-unpleasant confines of the noisy dive he shares with an abusive girlfriend (Kristen Hagen) who's openly sleeping with his best buddy from work.
So, it's no surprise that he suffers from panic attacks, especially since he's too much of a wimp to do anything about his dire straits.
But opportunity knocks for Wesley in a drug store while waiting to refill a prescription for his anti-anxiety medication when he's approached by Fox (Angelina Jolie), a femme fatale with a take charge attitude.
The mysterious stranger calmly informs him that the father he's never known had been a colleague of hers in a secret society of cold-blooded killers called the Fraternity. She further delivers the shocking news that his Dad was shot to death the night before by Cross (Thomas Kretschmann), a renegade assassin.
Before he even has a chance to digest this information, Cross appears in the aisle pointing a gun in their direction and a shootout erupts which spills into the street and turns into a gravity-defying, adrenaline-fueled car chase clear cross Chicago. When the dust finally settles, Wesley finds himself deposited in front of an abandoned textile mill on the edge of town which serves as the Fraternity's headquarters.
Inside, he's soon recruited to join the organization by Sloan (Morgan Freeman), a sage elder statesman who explains that it is his destiny not only to avenge his father's slaying but to save the planet as well. It doesn't take much to convince Wes to accept the noble mission, given the miserable existence he'd be leaving behind.
Still, becoming a world-class hit man calls for mastering a variety of fighting techniques, such as being able to shoot the wings off a fly and to bend the direction of a bullet via mental telepathy. So, prior to setting out in search of the ruthless Cross, it is imperative that Wes first embark upon a grueling training regimen with the help of a crack team of taskmasters, including The Butcher (Dato Bakhtadze), The Repairman (Marc Warren), The Exterminator (Konstantin Khabensky) and Gunsmith (Common).
This is the intriguing setup of Wanted, a graphic splatter flick based on Mark Millar's comic book miniseries of the same name. The over-plotted superhero adventure might be best described as a compelling cross of The Matrix and Memento, since it shares the former's reliance on cartoon physics elements and the latter's love of confounding convoluted twists. But Wanted is also at times reminiscent of The Karate Kid, Sin City, The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight and the video game Grand Theft Auto.
Soviet director Timur Bekmambetov makes an unforgettable, if quite controversial, English-language debut with this relentlessly-amoral exercise in gratuitous violence. For the picture emphatically endeavors to desensitize its audience by adopting an air of indifference about all manner of savagery being committed against animals and humanity.
A cinematic Columbine filled with wanton carnage designed to validate the bloodlust of every ostracized loser stuck in a dead-end job and daydreaming of evening the score by going postal.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, pervasive profanity and graphic violence.
Running time: 110 minutes
Studi Universal Pictures
To see a trailer of Wanted, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4pWuFv48Zk
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope for advance." — Orville Wright
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
June 30: Singer Lena Horne is 91. Jazz bassist Stanley Clarke is 57. Actor David Alan Grier is 53. "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino is 24.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Read the "real story" beyond Motown's legend and founder of the Supremes, Florence Ballard, in her sister's book "The True Story of Florence Ballard." Visit www.maxineballard.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
June 30, 1847: Dred Scott, a slave, filed suit in the St. Louis Circuit Court claiming that his temporary residence in a free territory should have made him a free man. Scott would lose the case. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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