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07-11-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
SPIKE LEE WEIGHS IN ON JACKSON'S OBAMA COMMENT: 'I think it's coming down to jealousy,' filmmaker says of civil rights vet.
*Spike Lee says Jesse Jackson needs to go somewhere and sit down.
Well not in those words, but when EUR caught up with the filmmaker in Beverly Hills yesterday to discuss Jackson's comments about Barack Obama "talking down to black people," and wanting to "cut off his nuts," Lee expressed profound disappointment in the civil rights veteran and suggested that jealousy may have been behind his words, which were said when Jackson thought his mic was turned off during a commercial break on – of all places – Fox News Channel.
"I’m very disappointed in Jesse Jackson. These old heads, I don't know why they're doing this stuff," a frustrated Spike told us yesterday after a panel in Beverly Hills for his upcoming ESPN Films project.
"I think jealousy has to be somewhere in there. I read today that even Jesse Jackson's son, Jesse Jr., is upset about his father's comments. There's no place for that and I think it's really making Jesse look bad. I haven't heard anybody say cut the man's nuts off but Jesse."
"In life, sometimes you have your moment," Lee continued. "You have your window that lies upon you and then it leaves. This is not Jesse's time right now. This is Barack Obama's time, and I think he's having a problem with that."
Lee was at the Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Thursday to discuss his upcoming ESPN Films project "Game Day with Kobe," which used up to 30 cameras to follow Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for 24 hours.
JORDIN SPARKS BACK ON THE ROAD: Singer finishes Alicia Keys tour and jumps into trek with Jesse McCartney.
*Jordin Sparks, who just wrapped work on the Alicia Keys tour, continues to promote her self-titled debut album on a new North American trek with fellow tween favorite Jesse McCartney.
"I am really excited to be going out and sharing the stage with someone as talented as Jesse McCartney," Sparks said of the 21-year-old, who co-wrote Leona Lewis' hit "Bleeding Love."
"Jordin has the most incredible voice," McCartney said of the 18-year-old "American Idol" winner. "She's one of those pure talents you don't see a lot of in this business. I can't wait to get out there with her."
Jesse & Jordin Live kicks off Aug. 5 in Sacramento, Calif., according to E! Online. It will include stops in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Sparks' hometown of Glendale, Ariz.
TIGER WOODS TO BECOME FIRST BILLIONAIRE ATHLETE: Golfer expected to surpass mark in 2010.
*Tiger Woods is on the verge of breaking another record, this time with his bank account.
The golf icon is on track to become the first athlete to reach one billion dollars in career earnings - and according to Forbes Magazine, he may do it as soon as 2010.
"It will be an unprecedented occurrence," the magazine said. "There are plenty of billionaires who have excelled at sports like Switzerland's richest man and champion sailor Ernesto Bertarelli. But there are no billionaires who accumulated their fortune by playing sports."
The magazine said in its Wednesday edition that while tycoons like Bill Gates accumulated his wealth by holding a stake in a company with soaring profits, Woods is unique because his massive fortune was earned through paychecks. Tiger banked $115 million last year alone.
After winning the U.S. Open in June, Tiger announced that he's taking the rest of the year off to heal from several surgeries on his knee.
FOREST WHITAKER TO PRODUCE 'FAT' HBO PROJECT: Oscar winner behind drama about a weight loss guru investigated by the feds.
*Forest Whitaker is tapped to executive produce a new pilot for HBO titled "Fat Sells," which is set in the world of the $46 billion herbal weight loss industry.
According to Variety, the project centers on the head of a weight loss behemoth (and his family) and how his life starts to unravel when the FDA begins investigating the company's claims.
"It's the magic pill theory," said Dave Broome, who created the show with writer Gren Wells. "As a society, we don't care what the side effects are to these pills. I thought it would be an interesting world to look into, the fact that it's a market unregulated by the FDA."
Whitaker, who could potentially direct the pilot, will next be seen in the upcoming Weinstein Co. film "Hurricane Season." He's also developing a Showtime project about the rise of African-American organized crime in the 1970s, as well as an FX show about arms dealers.
SPIKE'S 'PASSING STRANGE' NEEDS DISTRIBUTION: More details emerge about director's film version of Broadway musical.
*Producers of the Broadway musical Passing Strange have announced that Spike Lee's film version will be shot on July 19, with two shows being recorded by cinematographer Matthew Libatique before an audience.
Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule shingle is producing the film, which will also shoot two performances of the show without a crowd, reports Variety.
The budget for the movie is estimated to be around $2 million, according to Steve Klein, a co-producer of "Strange" who is also producing the film with Lee.
So far, distribution has not yet been nailed down. According to Variety, producers are looking into both cable broadcast and theatrical release as options.
Tickets for the July 19 performance of "Passing Strange" at the Belasco Theater are available to the general public.
KANYE WEST IN HIS OWN 'ABSOLUT WORLD': Rapper spoofs himself in new spot for vodka brand; also denies anger management reports.
*Kanye West spoofs his larger-than-life ego in a new ad campaign for Absolut vodka.
According to People.com the rapper is part of the new "In an Absolut World" ad campaign as the star of a fake commercial for "Be Kanye" tablets.
"How many times have you told yourself, 'I feel famous and powerful on the inside, but nobody sees it that way on the outside?'" he asks in the clip.
When added to water, the tablets (which last four hours, according to the package) will "unleash the superstar inside you." [Click here to view clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TrkrSdyIHY]
Meanwhile, West has denied a report from the Chicago Sun-Times that his camp is trying to get him into anger management classes to make him more attractive to potential sponsors.
He posted on his blog: "I have never had any conversations about anger management. If anything, I need anger enhancement!! lol!"
50 CENT SAYS BEING AWAY FROM SON IS HARD: Rapper opens up about toll of current custody battle.
*Rapper 50 Cent says the most difficult part of his public feud with ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins is not being able to see his 11-year old son Marquis. It's "the toughest, because he's my motivation," he tells MTV.com.
Tompkins’ has a restraining order against 50 and refuses to let the rapper see his son. Tompkins also has sued the entertainer for $50 million dollars, claiming he started what authorities call a "suspicious" fire that destroyed the Long Island home where she lived with Marquis.
Fifty has denied masterminding the blaze and filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against his ex, as well as visitation petition in June.
"I'd like to be able to just see my baby," said 50, adding that Marquis will not be able to travel with him on the road this year.
"In the summertime, for the first two years I was successful, my son has traveled with us on those tours," said the artist, who turned 33 on Sunday.. "This summer, when he's free, it's, like, no communication. It's tough."
The hip hop star, born Curtis Jackson, also explained why he's been so hesitant to discuss his custody situation in depth.
"My son at some point will have the opportunity to see [what Shaniqua and I are saying about each other]," he told MTV. "She's still his mother, and I'm still his father, regardless. He's gonna love both of us."
The NY State Supreme Court will hear arguments on July 15 regarding the insurance proceeds on the destroyed home. Suffolk County Family Court commences proceedings on July 17 to hear arguments for 50’s visitation rights.
MIJAC PLANNING SONG WITH NEW KIDS?: Plus, why was King of Pop rolling around Vegas in a wheelchair and trucker hat this week?
*The Internet was flooded Wednesday with paparazzi shots of Michael Jackson being rolled around Las Vegas in a wheel chair dressed in a trucker hat, a black drape, sunglasses, a surgical mask and pajama bottoms. …But we digress.
Word has it that he's been at his Vegas home having secret meetings about recording a track with New Kids on the Block, the 1980s boy band that recently reunited to record a comeback album.
The news comes following reports that New Kids recently teamed with former rival and recently-reunited New Edition to record a new song.
New Kids singer Donny Wahlberg, 38, reportedly said: "It's very exciting.. It's one big party and everyone wants to join us."
TEAIRRA MARI RETURNS ON INTERSCOPE: Singer's drops single "No No No" under new label deal.
*Teairra Mari, the singer who made a stir in 2005 with the Def Jam single "Make Her Feel Good," is back with a new track titled "No No No," her first release under a new deal with Interscope.
Managed by Cudda Love of Fo Real Entertainment, whose roster includes Nelly, Mari is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on her next as-yet-untitled album, slated for a late 2008/early 2009 release, reports Billboard.com.
Mari was under the Def Jam family by then label-president Jay-Z, who signed her to his Roc-A-Fella imprint with the nickname, "Princess of the Roc." Her first single "Make Her Feel Good" peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her first album, "Roc-A-Fella Records Presents Teairra Mari," reached No. 2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 5 on The Billboard 200.
The singer said she was about to start work on the follow-up album when she heard that Def Jam had dropped her.
"I got a call before my high-school graduation," recalls Mari. "I kept it to myself for about six months; I didn't even tell my mom. Then news about it started coming out on the radio. I stopped doing music for a year."
Mari was eventually introduced to Cudda Love, who brought her to Los Angeles, where she cut several songs and eventually signed with his company.
Meanwhile, Mari has been hired as the spokeswoman for Love's jeans line Jean Addicts, which bows officially in the fall. She also appears in the film "Doorman," due later this year.
RAPHAEL SAADIQ TAPS WONDER, STONE FOR CD: New project scheduled to drop Sept. 16 via Columbia.
*Raphael Saadiq is finishing up work on his next album, "The Way I See It," a sample-free project due for release on Sept. 16 via Columbia.
The former lead crooner of Tony, Toni, Tone enlists Stevie Wonder and his harmonica for the first single "Never Give You Up."
According to Billboard.com, the album also includes the Hurricane Katrina-inspired "Big Easy" and "Just One Kiss" with his one-time rumored girlfriend, Joss Stone on vocals.
Meanwhile, Saadiq is currently producing tracks for new albums from D'Angelo, Solange Knowles and Bobby Valentino.
THE GAME LASHES OUT AGAINST HIS FAMILY: Rapper is interviewed about fight with cousin at recent funeral.
*The Game appeared on Phoenix radio station Power 98.3 to discuss – or rather vent about – the money-related fight that broke out at his cousin's funeral. [Click here to hear interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exITScwYFuU]
The rapper reportedly promised to pay for half of his cousin's burial costs, but failed to do so. Another cousin, Robert "Kirky" Kirkwood, told TMZ.com that he asked Game about the money when the rapper showed up to speak at the funeral. And that's when the fight broke out.
Game told Power 98.3's "The Nutz In The Morning" that he offered to pay only for the casket and flowers, but it wasn't enough for Kirky, who, according to Game, brought gang members to the funeral to back him when he asked for more money.
It was Kirky, says Game, who threw the first punch.
NO MORE MADRE'S FOR J.LO?: Jennifer Lopez shuts down her restaurant in Pasadena, Calif.
*After six years, Jennifer Lopez's restaurant Madre's is closed for business, according to a sign hanging on the door.
The fancy diner, which opened in April 2002 with a bash that included celebs Nicole Kidman, Christian Slater and then-boyfriend Ben Affleck, shut its doors on July 1, according to TMZ.com.
The restaurant, which once employed her ex-husband Ojani Noa as a manager, has a sign posted outside that reads Madres is closed "until further notice."
TIFFANY 'NEW YORK' POLLARD IS SINGLE AGAIN: Reality show star and 'Tailor Made' reportedly break up.
*Tiffany "New York" Pollard has reportedly been dumped by her beau George "Tailor Made" Weisgerber – and the entire breakup will be shown on her upcoming VH1 reality series, "New York Goes Hollywood."
Tiffany chose Tailor Made as her boyfriend on the season finale of VH1's "I Love New York 2" in December. Several months after they were engaged, the relationship began falling apart because of Tailor Made's work hectic schedule. He quit his job at Calvin Klein to participate on the VH1 series. After the show, he landed a job with designer Mark Ecko, and that's when things began to turn sour.
“He said he almost felt guilty that she was home alone,” says the source of Weisgerber. “She wasn’t used to dating someone with a traditional 9-to-5 job.”
They tried several times to make it work, according to People, but decided to call it quits sometime in mid-February or early March.
“In January, George had a serious discussion with Tiffany,” a source tells People.com. “He had come to the conclusion that he couldn’t handle the relationship anymore. It was too distracting to his life, his career and his daughter. He couldn’t consistently be involved in that kind of drama.”
According to the source, the couple pretended to still be together for the sake of the show.
“When they began shooting, he played it up that they were still together even though they weren’t,” says the source. “They had an understanding because he has respect for Tiffany.”
ITTY BITTY BITS: Witherspoon's rap album; first female black combat pilot; Babbatunde back in 'Chicago.'
*John Witherspoon, 66, is releasing a rap/comedy album titled "63 Cents." According to Allhiphop.com, the project will be available on iTunes and include songs such as “Don’t Nobody Go In The Bathroom,” and “Dance Now With Your Big Ole Ass.” Witherspoon will personally fund at least two videos from the new album, one for “Dance,” and the other for “Don’t Be P***y Whipped.”
*Vernice Armour, America's first female African American combat pilot, on July 15, will speak to approximately 100 students in Philadelphia from area universities and the Emma Bowen Foundation who hold internships with Comcast. This will kick off Comcast's second annual Multicultural Intern event.. Armour was recognized as America's first African-American female combat pilot by the U.S. Department of Defense, and completed two tours of duty. She left the Marine Corps in June 2007 and will convey her remarkable message of leadership and courage through her unique insight and life strategy.
*Obba Babatunde will return to the Broadway company of Chicago this summer for a two-week run as defense attorney Billy Flynn beginning July 15, replacing Jeff McCarthy, who leaves the show on July 13. Babatundé received a Tony nomination for Dreamgirls and has appeared on Broadway in Timbuktu!, Reggae, It's So Nice to Be Civilized and Grind.
MORE INFIDELITY TALK SURROUNDS KILPATRICK: Wayne County Prosecutor says Detroit mayor cheated with multiple women.
*More accusations of infidelity are about to be leveled against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick based on text messages newly obtained by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
On March 24, Worthy announced a 12-count criminal indictment against Kilpatrick and former Detroit Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, charging Kilpatrick with eight felonies and Beatty with seven. Charges for both included perjury, misconduct in office and obstruction of justice.
Worthy’s office briefly mentioned the decision to bring up the alleged trysts during a court hearing last Thursday, reports the Detroit Free Press. Worthy appears prepared to aggressively rebut a campaign by defense attorneys to discredit text message evidence compiled against the mayor.
Lying about affairs with women besides former aide Beatty could improve Worthy’s chances of winning a conviction, notes attorney Len Niehoff, who teaches evidence at the University of Michigan Law School.
So far, the only perjury charge against Kilpatrick dealing with infidelity accuses him of lying about sex with Beatty. He did so while under oath during a police whistle-blower case last year.
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening July 11, 2008
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13 for profanity, violence and sci-fi action) Ron Perlman reprises the title role in this horror sequel about a red-horned hellspawn who returns to Earth to save the day when the truce between humanity and the invisible realm is broken by a diabolical demon with an army of marauding creatures.
Meet Dave (PG for action, suggestive humor and mild epithets) Sci-fi comedy starring Eddie Murphy as a human-looking spaceship from outer space which lands in Manhattan where it falls in love with a widowed single-mom (Elizabeth Banks). Cast includes Gabrielle Union, Judah Friedlander, Scott Caan, Kevin Hart and Adam Tomei (Marisa’s brother).
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
August (R for profanity and sexuality) Dot.com bubble drama about a couple of brothers (Josh Hartnett and Adam Scott) struggling to keep their failing financial startup afloat on Wall Street during the month leading up to the
9/11 tragedy. With Rip Torn, David Bowie, Naomie Harris and Emmanuelle Chriqui.
Days and Clouds (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about a middle-aged housewife (Margherita Buy) living in the lap of luxury in Genoa who finds a job and romance after being belatedly informed by her husband (Antonio
Albanese) that they’re in debt because he’s been laid-off for months. (In Italian with subtitles)
Death Defying Acts (Unrated) Fictional romance thriller, set in 1926, revolving around an ill-fated affair between Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) and a Scottish psychic (Catherine Zeta-Jones) intent on fleecing the famed escape artist with the help of her daughter (Saoirse Ronan) during a fake séance.
Eight Miles High (Unrated) Bio-pic about the life of Bavarian Sixties icon Uschi Obermaier (Natalia Avelon), a free-spirited club kid-turned-fashion model-turned drug-addicted groupie who slept with Hendrix and the Stones.
(In German, English and Italian with subtitles)
The Exiles (Unrated) Better late than never documentary, shot in the Fifties on a shoestring budget, just being released in theaters for the first time, about a group of young Native Americans just off the reservation adjusting to life in L.A..
Full Battle Rattle (Unrated) Surreal, simulated war games documentary follows an Army battalion training for a tour of duty overseas in a fake Iraqi village located in the middle of the Mojave Desert outfitted with IEDs and actors playing insurgents and innocent civilians.
Garden Party (Unrated) A day in the life ensemble drama about a 15 year-old (Willa Holland) who runs away from home to escape a pervy stepfather only to fall in with a fast crowd of kids under the spell of a sensual, pot-dealing realtor (Vinessa Shaw) with a kinky agenda.
Harold (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor and underage alcohol use) Spencer Breslin handles the title role in this chrome dome comedy about a teenager afflicted with male-pattern baldness who is helped to deal with being teased by bullies by the janitor (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) at his new high school.
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (PG for intense action and scary
scenes) Brendan Fraser stars in this adaptation of the Jules Verne classic about a science professor who discovers a portal to the bowels of the planet while searching a cave for his missing brother.
La France (Unrated) WWI musical drama about a woman (Sylvie Testud) who disguises herself as a man in order to search for her husband (Guillaume Depardieu) on the Western Front after receiving a letter from him ending their relationship. (In French with subtitles)
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Unrated) Documentary revisits the question of consent surrounding the case of fugitive director Roman Polanski who eluded justice by fleeing America for good following his conviction for drugging and raping a 13 year-old girl. (In English, French and German with subtitles)
The Stone Angel (R for sexuality and profanity) Road saga starring Ellen Burstyn as a fiercely-independent senior citizen who runs away when her son (Dylan Baker) and daughter-in-law (Sheila McCarthy) try to force her to move into a nursing home.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"Aim for success not perfection... Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person." — Dr. David Burns
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
July 11: Singer Bonnie Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is 58. Reggae singer Michael Rose of Black Uhuru is 51. Rapper Lil Kim is 33. Rapper Lil' Zane is 26.
July 12: Actor-comedian Bill Cosby is 71. Actress Denise Nicholas ("In the Heat of the Night") is 64. Rapper Magoo is 35. Singer Tracie Spencer is 32. Actress Michelle Rodriguez ("Lost") is 30.
July 13: Singer Deborah Cox is 35.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Need your Eric Benet fix? Well then www.TrueEBfans.com is the official fan club of Eric Benet and the BEST place to get Eric Benet news.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
July 11, 1905: The Niagara Movement (the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), was established. Among its leaders were W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter.
July 12, 1887: Mound Bayou, an all African American town in Mississippi, is founded by Isaiah Montgomery.
July 13, 1863: Hostility to the draft and fear of blacks as "the cause" of the war and potential competitors in the labor market, the "New York Draft Riots" began, and would become one of the bloodiest race riots in American history. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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