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07-24-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EXCLUSIVE: COSBY RESPONDS TO TERRENCE HOWARD: Veteran entertainer calls EUR to addresses drama surrounding "blackball" article.
*Responding to an article first published by WENN and reprinted here at EURweb; Bill Cosby called our own Lee Bailey to set the record straight regarding allegations that he once tried to blackball Terrence Howard.
"I don't like something being out there that I know for sure isn't true," said Cosby, explaining his reason for contacting us yesterday afternoon.
As previously reported, Howard was quoted as saying he confronted Cosby to ask why his small guest role on "The Cosby Show" ended up on the editing room floor. Howard explained: "I told him, 'I'm a man just like you.' He didn't like it, and the casting agent [Hughes Moss Casting] never took my calls again." Howard said he didn't get another Hollywood gig for the next four years.
Cosby told us he has no recollection of the conversation with the 19-year-old Howard, does not remember Howard coming to his office and has never attempted to prevent any actor from booking gigs, strictly out of spite.
"There's no person that I know of that I've ever felt strongly enough to call - even [to] the Hughes Moss people - and say, 'If this guy calls, don't book him again,'" Cosby told EUR. "And I don't like what's out there because I think with today's media, there's a ton of life a piece can have.
Cosby said he called Howard recently with former casting agent Barry Moss of Hughes Moss Casting on the phone to find out why Howard made those comments.
"The young man said to me on the phone, 'Mr. Cosby, [in] the conversation we had, you gave me information that was valuable,' recalls Cosby, adding that Howard said he "tells people this."
"I said 'Well yeah, Terrence, but look, this is out there. And then you say, "You're a man just like I am,"' and he didn't [have anything to] say about that. And I said, 'They're making it sound like I blackballed you.' And I said, 'Terrence, there's no way that you can prove that.'"
Asked by Bailey if Howard ever denied saying the quotes from the WENN article, Cosby replied, "He didn't say that he didn't say it. What he said was, 'Mr. Cosby, the information you gave me was sort of like priceless, and it was a lesson in the business. You said son, things like this will happen.' And I do know he said, with people on the phone, he said that I told him to keep trying, keep plugging. That's what he said."
Bailey told Cosby that he received a call from Howard's publicist last week denying that the actor ever said what was printed in the WENN story, and requesting that the article be taken down immediately. Bailey declined, as there was no proof that the story was false, and instead asked the rep to provide a statement from Howard denying the story so that EUR could post it as his official response. Bailey said the publicist told him, "We're not prepared to do that."
"Somewhere, there's something missing," Cosby said. "And that is somebody saying either I never said those things, or, I'm sorry. And it's taking too long. And these blogs go out, man. I don't want people looking at Bill Cosby talking about, 'I had people barred.' It just gets too far out."
Cosby put us in contact with Barry Moss, who says he, too, doesn't remember the comedian coming to him with orders to blackball an actor. He tried calling Howard after finding out about the drama yesterday, but had not received a call back as of press time last night.
"I have a call in to my other assistant to see if she remembers anything, but I certainly don't, and I know that if this had happened, it would've gotten in to me," Moss told Bailey in a separate phone call. "I mean I know that if she had talked to him and not me, she would've told me about it. So I don't know what the bottom of this is. If Terrence does call me, I'll find out."
Listen to the entire, unedited phone call from Mr. Cosby regarding the Terrence Howard comments here:
DMX INDICTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT: Grand jury charges him in connection with fake name given to hospital.
*Rapper DMX was indicted Tuesday in Arizona on charges that he used a fake name to try and dodge medical bills incurred during a hospital visit.
A spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's office said a grand jury has charged DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, with one count of theft and one count of taking someone else's identity.
The felony indictment stemmed from his April visit to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, during which he gave his name as "Troy Jones," allegedly to avoid paying for treatment.
The indictment is the latest in a long list of legal trouble for the 37-year-old rapper. Earlier this month, he was arrested at a Phoenix airport for failing to appear in court, failure to pay fines and driving without a license.
He was also arrested in Arizona in May on suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty after searches of his home allegedly turned up weapons, drugs, dog carcasses and abused pit bulls.
SHERRI SHEPHERD CLARIFIES ABORTION REMARKS: Also, "View" co-host apologizes to boss Barbara for joke about 'saving' her.
*Two minutes into Wednesday's broadcast of "The View," co-host Sherri Shepherd began addressing the controversial quotes that emerged from her interview with black Christian women's magazine, Precious Times.
It was reported Monday that she told the publication she has had "more abortions than I'd like to count" and that she wished her co-host Barbara Walters could be "saved." Yesterday morning, she apologized to Walters, who was not present during the broadcast, and clarified her remarks about having many abortions.
She said the reporter started out by asking how she deals with her fears as a member of "The View."
Shepherd explained Wednesday: "My joke was "Oh sometimes I say 'Lord, Juanita Bynum or Joyce Meyers would be so good at this table. And they could lay hands on Barbara Walters and get her saved.' It was a joke that I made. It didn't come off the way I wanted it to."
"I called Barbara in France and I told her [about the quote], and Barbara laughed," said Shepherd. "She didn't ask me to say this, but I do want to say Barbara, if I offended you in any way, I apologize. I love you."
As for her other headline-making remark about having multiple abortions, Shepherd explained that she intended only to encourage women who are going through the guilt and shame of abortions by sharing her own experiences.
"[The reporter] didn't print the entire quote," she clarified. "So all it said was, "I've had more abortions than I can count."
She shared the rest of her quote, telling her co-hosts: "I had suffered from a lot of shame and guilt, and I didn't know how to forgive myself, and a wonderful woman at one of the women's conferences I speak at came to me and said, 'Sherri, you know when you get to heaven all your babies are going to be there saying, 'Hi momma.'"
"[The reporter] didn’t print the whole thing, but I just wanted people to know I wasn't being flippant about abortions," she added. [View clip below.]
View clip here:
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=1007cd47-7630-4ca1-afd2-0c3c55199211
WILL SMITH IS HOLLYWOOD'S TOP MONEYMAKER: Forbes comes out with its latest list; Eddie Murphy is No. 3.
*Will Smith earned more money last year than any other film star, according to Forbes magazine's latest ranking of Hollywood's top earners. The "Hancock" actor raked in $80 million in 2007, beating No. 2-ranked Johnny Depp and his $72 million.
Eddie Murphy, whose output last year included "Norbit" and "Shrek the Third," is tied at No. 3 with Mike Myers, each having earned $55 million.
Cameron Diaz is the highest ranking female film star, with $50 million banked in her account last year. "Atonement" leading lady Keira Knightly earned $32 million, and Jennifer Aniston pulled in $27 million to rank No. 2 and 3 respectively.
In terms of media personalities, Oprah Winfrey's $275 million haul in 2007 eclipses everyone and everything.
ASHANTI HIRED BY LONG ISLAND TOURISM BOARD: Singer to promote her hometown as official ambassador.
*In a ceremony held Tuesday, R&B singer Ashanti was appointed one of nine tourism ambassadors expected to promote her hometown of Nassau County on New York's Long Island.
The tourism campaign pitches Nassau as "The Island Next Door" and is targeted at visitors to the city.
Ashanti was born and raised in Glen Cove, located on Long Island's North Shore. During Tuesday's news conference at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, she was given an orange blazer with a tourism patch by County Executive Thomas Suozzi to signify her new position.
The music star said it's "amazing" to be asked to "give something back to the community."
She sang at Suozzi's two mayoral inaugurals in Glen Cove and recently released her fourth studio album, "The Declaration."
NAOMI CAMPBELL TRIES TO DODGE HOTEL BILL: Supermodel refused to pay for the silk sheets she allegedly ruined.
*Naomi Campbell is in trouble again, this time in Russia for allegedly refusing to pay a $400 hotel bill after being accused of burning the silk sheets in her room.
According to SF Gate, the supermodel was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Moscow last week with "billionaire lover" Vladislav Doronin. Cleaning staff went through the room and found holes burned into its silk bed sheets.
Her rep, however, says the allegations are not true.
"She didn't have candles on the sheets. She did not smoke in the hotel room. It is completely untrue," said her spokesperson.
In other Naomi news, the runway diva said she was able to get through her recent air-rage incident by bending the ear of her good friend Victoria Beckham.
"When I was going through my hard time recently she was immediately on the phone, asking me how I was doing and saying, 'I hope you're well,' " Campbell, 38, told Britain's Daily Mirror, which featured her as a guest editor for its gossip column. "She was very sweet."
"[We speak] pretty regularly about normal mundane stuff," Campbell said. "We share girl stuff and she is so funny – people just don't know her or get her."
ROMEO TURNS DOWN FILM ROLE FOR USC B'BALL: Rapper-actor says loyalty to college team comes first.
*Romeo Miller, the son of Percy "Master P" Miller, has reportedly passed on a starring role in a new film so he can focus 100 percent on his upcoming year as a freshman basketball player at the University of Southern California.
According to a press release from an outlet called "Hollywood Movie Report," the actor was to star in "Sweetwater," a biopic about the first African-American player signed by the NBA.
But according to the release, "he could not appear in a film related to basketball and remain eligible to play for his college team due to NCAA regulations."
Sunset Pictures, the production company behind the film, reportedly supports Miller's decision and has committed to working with the teen on future projects once he completes college.
"Romeo has agreed to abide by all NCAA regulations," Master P is quoted as saying, "but I think a lot of their rules will need to be updated to take into account a person of his magnitude and his past accomplishments. I couldn't be more proud of my son's decision to choose education and athletics over money. Being a student athlete takes a lot of hard work and discipline."
Romeo added: "I'm not perfect, but I like to have fun, just like any other teenager. Being raised in poverty-stricken New Orleans, I know first hand what it's like to have nothing and to see what my dad has done with his education, goals, and opportunities has really opened my eyes. Now I'm grown up and I'm setting my own goals and with the right education, I know there's no limit."
AL JARREAU ALREADY PREPARING FOR 'CHRISTMAS': Singer to release his first holiday album in the fall.
*This fall, veteran crooner Al Jarreau will be releasing his first-ever Christmas album, "Al Jarreau Christmas," which will also be his first collection of newly-recorded music since 2006's "Givin' It Up" with George Benson.
The disc opens with "Winter Wonderland" and continues with "The Christmas Song," "Come All Ye Faithful" and "White Christmas," the classic by Irving Berlin and first sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical, "Holiday Inn."
The album also features Jarreau's versions of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Carol Of The Bells," "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Some Children See Him" and "Gloria In Excelsis," a sacred song used in the Roman Catholic Mass.
On October 14, this holiday collection will be available from Rhino Records at all physical outlets for a suggested list price of $18.98. The digital release will be available for $9.99.
USHER'S SON IS RAMBUNCTIOUS: Singer's wife afraid boy will injure himself because he's so hyper.
*Usher and his wife Tameka Foster say their newborn son, Usher Raymond V, is a great big bundle of endless energy – and he's only seven months.
"He's like hyper baby - he's crawling so fast. He stands up, and he's walking around the table. It's amazing to watch him," Foster told Usweekly.com. "I've never seen a baby crawl so fast! I call him Dash, like on the [2004 animated film] 'Incredibles.'
"We're just scared because the baby knows how to get off the bed already, so our bed is like a gigantic crib because we have rails."
Foster says despite the constant running behind Usher V, she and Ursh are open to add another addition to the family.
"I'd love to have more, we just gotta make the time," she said.
NAS AND LIL WAYNE SWAP PLACES ON BILLBOARD: The album formerly known as 'N**ger' debuts at No. 1.
*It's official, Nas has replaced Lil Wayne at the top of this week's Billboard 200 chart with his new untitled album, which had previously been titled "N**ger" until outrage from Al Sharpton and others caused him to drop it.
The Def Jam set sold 187,000 copies in the week ended July 20, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming his fifth No. 1 on the Billboard 200. His last effort, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," also debuted at No. 1, but sold 354,000 over Christmas week.
Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" fell to No. 2 with 105,000 after spending three non-consecutive weeks on top. The "Mamma Mia!" soundtrack entered the chart at No. 3, while Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" fell two to No. 4.
Elsewhere in the Top 10, David Banner's "The Greatest Story Ever Told" sold 52,000 copies in its first week to debut at No. 8, and Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" fell two to No. 10 with 41,000 in its 59th week.
TRACIE THOMS JOINS BROADWAY'S RENT: Actress to reprise role played in 2005 film version.
*Film actress Tracie Thoms will step into the role of Joanne Jefferson in the Broadway run of "Rent" at the Nederlander Theatre beginning this Saturday (July 26) through its final performance on Sept. 7.
The Baltimore native had previously played Joanne in the 2005 film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Jonathan Larson musical.
Thoms made her Broadway debut in Drowning Crow. Off-Broadway she was seen in The Exonerated and Up Against the Wind, and her regional credits include Joe Turner's Come and Gone, A Raisin in the Sun, The Oedipus Plays and Hair, earning a Helen Hayes nomination for her work in the latter, reports Variety.
Her screen credits include "Rent," "Brother to Brother," "As If," "Porn 'N Chicken," "The Shield" and the Fox series "Wonderfalls."
TYLER PERRY RE-UPS WITH LIONSGATE: Filmmaker extends longtime relationship with studio.
*Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry has signed a new three-year first look deal with his longtime studio partner Lionsgate covering his upcoming theatrical and home entertainment releases.
Under the new agreement, Perry will provide at least three additional feature films to Lionsgate following the fiscal 2009 release of Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys," due in theaters on Sept. 12, and Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail," based on his most popular play and scheduled for nationwide release on Feb. 20, 2009.
Lionsgate will also continue to distribute his popular DVDs - based on his hit films as well as from his large catalog of plays and other material. Under the new pact, two of Perry's senior development executives will be based at Lionsgate's Santa Monica, California corporate headquarters.
Perry has been working with Lionsgate since his breakthrough theatrical box office hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" in February 2005.
"Lionsgate has shared and nurtured my creative vision in a way that no other studio could match," Perry said in a statement. "They continue to play a vital role in bringing my messages to new audiences in new markets every single day with unequalled marketing brilliance. I'm delighted to continue partnering with them on a rich palette of exciting projects for years to come."
TLC TO RERUN LUDACRIS' 'BATTLEGROUND EARTH': Eco-friendly reality series begins next month on new channel Planet Green.
*For Ludacris fans that don't have access to Discovery's new eco-friendly cable channel Planet Green, but would like to see his new series, "Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee," the TLC channel has stepped in with encores of the reality series set to air every Thursday beginning Aug. 7.
In "Battleground Earth," premiering Aug. 3 at 10 p.m. on Planet Green, rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and rocker Tommy Lee battle against the toxic forces destroying Mother Earth as they travel across the country on a 10-episode tour.
Viewers witness the two stars, and their respective entourages, pushed to the limit as they attempt to keep their high-wattage acts as green as possible. Ludacris' crew includes Willie Box, Sesean Bridges, and Tony "4 Ize" Hayes III while Tommy Lee relies on Diggity Dave, Johnny Colt, and Nina Bergman to help him get to the finish line.
Celebrity guests on the series include Jane Fonda, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Pamela Anderson and Gene Simmons.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Pam Grier memoir; Simmons lobbies Congress; 'Baisden' talks divorce; Ralph's 'Discovery'; Lillias White gig; BlackInAmerica.com.
*BlackVoices.com's Karu F. Daniels is reporting that Pam Grier will release a tell-all memoir in spring 2010 under a new deal with Grand Central Publishing. The actress is expected to write about the ups and downs of her life, including past boyfriends (Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Freddie Prinze to name a few), her co-stars (Robert DeNiro, Samuel L.
Jackson and the late Tamara Dobson), and singing back-up for Bobby Womack and Sly and the Family Stone. She'll also share secrets about her various films and her trying experience as a black actress in Hollywood. The company's Springboard Press imprint will release the as-yet-untitled project.
*Russell Simmons is scheduled to hold a conference call today to discuss his stand against the possible banning of seller-funded down payment assistance, the last remaining program available to help low-to-moderate income working American families become homeowners. The legislation is part of the negotiated compromise between the House and Senate as they work to finalize the Housing Bill this week. Simmons says elimination of the practice "would not only be a tragedy for hundreds-of-thousands of would-be homeowners, but the overall mortgage market."
*TV One's “Baisden After Dark” will address the issue of divorce in an episode airing Saturday (July 26) titled “War of the Roses: Why Does Divorce Have to be so Ugly?” Host Michael Baisden will feature the following guests: author and psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere, former "Divorce Court" judge Mablean Ephriam and music producer Teddy Riley. In addition, this week’s show features a special musical performance by Dwele and a standup set by comedian Jonathan Slocumb.
*Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is looking for the next Diva Discovery for her 18th Annual Divas Simply Singing! musical AIDS benefit. Upload a one-minute acappella performance video of you singing your favorite song to the YouTube Web site: http://www.youtube.com/group/divadiscovery. Winners will get to perform on stage at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, Saturday, Oct. 11, as part of the 18th Annual Divas Simply Singing! The talent lineup includes Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Holliday, Ann Nesby, Ledisi, Melissa Manchester, Tremaine Hawkins and Jennifer Hudson. Contestants must: be 18 years old and female; have a current headshot and resume; have valid contact information; live in the 48 contiguous states, and not use profanity in the submitted clip. For more information visit www.DivasSimplySinging.com.
*Tony Award winner Lillias White will celebrate her upcoming birthday with a July 28 concert at the Triad Theatre in Manhattan, reports Playbill.com. Part of Lee Summers' Just a Piano concert series, the performance will feature White accompanied by pianist Mike Dalto. Show time is 8 p.m. The Triad Theatre is located at 158 West 72nd Street. There is a
$35 cover charge and a two-drink minimum. Call (212) 868-4444 for reservations or visit www.smarttix.com.
*CNN has nothing to do with a new social networking site named after its current documentary series "Black in America," however, organizers said in a press release that it does "complement" the two-part program, which ends tonight at 9 p.m. BlackInAmerica.com was created by "a group of motivated supporters" to "give socially-conscious African Americans their very own online community." Users can post their pictures and profiles, read news and blogs, create and join groups, and meet and interact with each other. To sign up for free, visit: http://www.BlackInAmerica.com.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Duck
Senior Citizen Bonds with Duck in Unlikely-Buddy Drama Due on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*It’s 2009, Jeb Bush is president and the U.S. has become no place for those societal castoffs unfortunate enough to have to subsist on fixed incomes or insufficient government subsidies.
Retiree Arthur Pratt (Philip Baker Hall) is just one such poor soul, having landed homeless and alone on the streets of Los Angeles after using up all his savings.
Broke and despondent, the grieving widower is contemplating suicide in the park where his wife’s and son’s remains lay, when he encounters a duckling who mistakes him for its mother.
Instead of following through, Arthur’s paternal instincts kick in, and he adopts the waddling orphan and names him Joe. The two soon bond and become inseparable, wandering all around the city, trying to survive and find their place in a world which considers them extraneous.
Ala Amelie (2001), the naïve waif who won everyone’s hearts in the Oscar-nominated French film, they magically enrich the lives of similarly-situated strangers they encounter on their peripatetic sojourn. For instance, they befriend a blind man (Bill Cobbs) with a seeing-eye dog, an Asian manicurist (Amy Hill) whose clients never look her in the eye, and a little girl separated from her nanny (Annie Burgstede)
Some are hostile, however, such as the callous construction workers, bus driver, mental health workers and members of a hobo support group. This bittersweet flick works only because its star, Philip Baker Hall, throws himself into the role ever so convincingly opposite his anthropomorphized companion in a manner reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart with his imaginary 6-foot tall rabbit in Harvey (1950) and of Tom Hanks talking to a volleyball he called Wilson in Cast Away (2000).
A geezer and his pet pal performing random acts of kindness till they find salvation at the ocean shore.
Very good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for brief profanity.
Running time: 98 minutes
Studi Westlake Entertainment
DVD Extras: Audio commentary by Philip Baker Hall and the director, interviews, cast bios, desktop downloads, theatrical trailer, photo gallery and movie poster.
To see a trailer of Duck, visit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=C23X-B2gjA4
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: The Cost of Living Green
*I am a fan of environmentalists and the environmental movement. Those citizens advocating for our environment provide a useful service to the rest of us – particularly those in government and industry by reminding us of the necessity for prudence when considering the current and future health of our planet.
I am dismayed, however, at the increasing equation of environmental consciousness with moral righteousness and the rampant consumerism that has attached itself to the environmental movement. The resulting mix is an unsavory moral consumerism that stinks to high heaven. Save the planet, save your soul. All it costs you is a few dollars.
That’s the old time religion for you! And the current problem with living green is the same problem with absolution purchased with gold: the more disposable income you have the more morally superior you can become.
Where eternal damnation is not concerned, however, most folk – the rich included – tend to be guided by their economic concerns. The fact is that, right now, living eco friendly is a luxury reserved for those with plenty of mean green as they say (or used to say) on the streets. The failure to embrace green attitudes because of their expense is not a moral failure on the part of consumers, but rather an inability on the part of green manufacturers to compete in the marketplace.
There is, for example, a reason new-home builders do not equip each new home with solar panels, and if my neighborhood is any indication, our neighbors are not rushing to attach solar panels to their roofs. None of us has a love of paying the utility company each month. The fact is, however, that as promising as much of the solar technology is (and huge strides have been made over the years) it still remains an economic loser for average homeowners.
Figures range, but for an average two thousand square foot home one could expect to pay upwards of $30, 000 (before labor) to outfit their home with solar power. Even with the tax breaks and credits that you receive, it is unlikely that your savings in energy cost will pay for the purchase within the time you own the home. To be sure, there are nations that have embraced the solar power. Japan comes to mind. However, they do it through government subsidy. Americans thankfully are still not convinced that they ought to be responsible for heating their neighbors’ homes.
For years, home cooks have been reading about the promise of using electromagnetic energy or induction heat to cook food. Well, the future is here. The problem is that the cook tops are still relatively expensive even for home cooks looking to splurge. General Electric (GE) sells a 30 inch induction cook top for about $2,000. Compare that with the GE gas or electric cook tops that range in price from $331 to $550. Even if one is pondering high end models like Viking or Wolf, you will still pay a full $500 dollars less than the GE induction top.
And what about everyday consumer items?
A quick and admittedly unscientific survey of my local grocery store revealed that there is often a staggering price difference between eco friendly products and those that we morally depraved consumers choose to purchase.
The cost of an everyday name brand cleaner was half as much as the eco friendly cleaner. The name brand laundry detergent was 10 cents per load cheaper than the eco friendly soap. Store brand butter was half as much per pound as the organic brand and the energy smart light bulbs were four times as expensive as the traditional incandescent bulbs, (which for my money give off a brighter light).
There was some good news. A 12 roll pack of eco friendly toilet paper was exactly the same price as my name brand. In pursuit of a greener lifestyle this is, I imagine, as good a place to start as any.
Many of the price differences of other products were admittedly small – a few cents here or there, and as I am as eager to breathe clean air and drink clean water as anyone else, there is room for my family to incorporate some changes into our lifestyle.
I don’t mind a little prodding by the tree huggers. I do object to the moralizing when there could be time better spent creating products that will enable all of us to live more cleanly while still enjoying that jingle in our pockets.
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
ROBERTSON TREATMENT – (America’s Premiere Lifestyle Column) Vol. 11, Edition 8: The Cat’s Meow: Novelist Deborah Gregory
*Former high fashion model, turned journalist and author, Deborah Gregory is known throughout literary circles for her generous personality, great sense of wit and fabulous style. In 1999, she put these attributes to maximum test with the release of “Cheetah Girls”, a phenomenally successful 16-series collection that follows the lives of 5 young women whose musical talents allow them to transcend their under-privileged background. A story very much like Gregory’s, whom has used her own gifts to move beyond a painful past of growing up in the New York City foster care system. Inspiring others to reach for their best is a passion for Gregory, who recently spoke to Ebony/Jet.com to discuss the popular characters she’s created and the drama that’s ensued for her to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
Your books deal with a lot of topical themes and issues related to young women, how is Catwalk different?
Deborah Gregory: In Cheetah Girls I used music as a catalyst for the girls to transform their background and rise for the prize. In CATWALK, I use fashion. Catwalk as opposed to Cheetah Girls doesn't just focus on girls---it focuses on boys too and gender identity. There are lots of male models now, so a character like Zeus is someone who is going to use that ticket (his chiseled cheekbones) to advance his life. As always, in CATWALK, I deal with racial identity, sexual identity, struggling to transcend a difficult background. Aphro who is Pashmina's best friend is a foster child who happens to be blessed with the looks of a modern day Naomi Campbell including the attitude. She is fierce and feisty.
What’s the motivation behind your storylines?
DG: The motivation behind my storyline is about manifesting dreams. There is always that yearning. I come from a difficult place and the only way for me transcend that place was through sheer talent and drive, if they have been blessed with both.
Why is your latest book set in the world of high fashion?
DG: CATWALK is set in the world of fashion because that is my original background. If you look at Cheetah Girls closely, you will notice that it is highly stylized. The character of Galleria's mom, for example, is really me. The plus size diva who owns a plus size clothing store in Soho and designs her own private label. That was me and exactly the way I was able to become a writer. The fashion editor of Essence magazine and her staff would come into my fabbie boutique in Soho and borrow clothes for editorial shoots. I started badgering her to let me write fashion and beauty articles. And that's exactly how I began my career--as a freelance fashion and beauty writer. Like music, fashion is an incredible way for someone with talent to see the world and work it for points on the Dow Jones. Sashay, parlay! That is Pashmina's motto.
You were once a fashion model and are well-known for your great sense of style. What are your thoughts about the absence of models of color today in that industry?
DG: I was born tall and skinny and exotic looking but I didn't have any guidance to stick with my modeling career. It was too difficult to take all that abuse about race. I mean literally you would walk into a go-see in Paris and be told right to your face: ``We're not seeing any more Black girls today.' But for one year, I did walk the catwalk and get some advertising and catalogue and editorial jobs. My best friend is Beverly Johnson--and I can tell you she is to this day one of the very few Black models who has gained international recognition. To this day, it is still not easy for a black model to have a viable career. What I find the most strikingly disturbing and it's discussed in CATWALK is how few black designers have a viable global presence in the fashion business. Frankly in the 70’s there were more prominent authentic black designers than there are today: Stephen Burrows, Scott Barrie and Willi Smith --they were making noise. Today, we have Tracy Reese. Why aren't there any black designers who are the equivalent of Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Prada? It's a mystery to me.
Your Cheetah Girls series mushroomed into a phenomenally successfully literary and pop culture franchise, especially among young women. From your work with this audience, how do young women today view themselves?
DG: Now there is a whole generation of black girls who grew up with the Cheetah Girls, which is staggering to me. A girl walked up to me the other day who is 18 years old and now in college. I asked her what she majors in. She said, ``Forensic psychology because I read it in the Cheetah Girls--and that’s what Aqua and Angie wanted to be if there singing careers didn't work out.' So the most noticeable thing I notice about today's generation of black girls is they have more options. As a result of the past generations and the Cheetah Girls phenonmenon, they clearly see that it is up to them to maninfest their dreams. This whole thing of Prince Charming is secondary. They sort of know he's not coming to sweep them off their feet and pay their bills--and that they are definitely going to encounter a lot of frogs!
What issues are most pressing for young women today?
DG: There are so many issues for young girls and women. The most prominent is that one out of four black women under 30 will be raped or sexually violated. These are hard, cold facts. I am the one out of four. There is still a prevalent attitude among boys and men to disrespect girls and women. The way they think they can talk to girls on the street--and do so, with consequence. It's just a fact of life. And you must learn how to protect yourself on every level. The sexual pressure is ridiculous.
Do you think there is a general disrespect of women in pop culture?
DG: There is an enormous disrespect of women in pop culture. The truth is, most boys and men still think it's okay to try to manipulate a girl into having sex with them. The truth is, most girls and women do not find this satisfying. If I had a son I would teach him to be honest. If you only want to have sex with a woman and want nothing more from her, do NOT pretend otherwise and do not think you're doing that for free--pay her! Buy her a present, take her out. I'm not kidding. There are no freebies in this world. And I'm sick of men always scamming for freebies. Here is the truth: women do not like casual sex. They do not find this satisfying. They succumb to it because of the societal pressure and low self esteem.
What do young girls need to do to position themselves for success?
DG: I believe in education but I know that girls with certain talents such as singers and actresses can start working without going to college--that is sadly a way of the world. College is not for everyone, but it sure can open doors for you in certain careers.
Even with your success in the business, you have been very vocal about unfair business practices that writers often encounter in the industry. Can you elaborate?
DG: Writers create the intellectual property from which all the work springs, but very often do not receive the compensation their talent warrants. This is very unfair and the imbalance is strange. It speaks to a set of values and sends a clear message that writers are largely undervalued. For instance, Winston Groom who created one of the greatest pieces of literature in pop culture--Forest Gump--was only paid $350,000 (before taxes, agent and attorney I might add) for the dramatic rights to his masterpiece and did not receive any back-end compensation. Writers should be very careful to make sure that the compensatory items on their contracts are very clearly defined. It's just not right. Writers must learn everything they can to protect themselves and their intellectual property or they will end up with very little financial compensation and at the end of the day that's all my landlord cares about--me paying the rent on time. He's not at all impressed by the fact that I'm the creator, author of The Cheetah Girls. Despite our contributions, at the end of the day, this is business--and it's all about money--thanks to the insane economic pressure that we're all dealing with on a daily basis. People are really being squeezed.
What’s next for you?
DG. My goal is to continue to inspire and entertain. I am currently at work on the next installment of my Catwalk series, Catwalk: Strike a Pose, which will arrive in stores in September 09.
Gil Robertson IV is an A&E journalist, author and pop-culture critic. He is the author of the bestselling book Not in My Family: AIDS in the Black Community and the upcoming project, Family Affair: The Black Community on Race in America. Visit www.familyaffairbook.com for more information.
BEST BETS – THEATER
"The Color Purple will have national audiences laughing, crying, shouting, and singing Amen - all at once! What illuminates the spirited U.S. touring company is its fluid, consistent movement; never compromising the vivid storytelling and imagery that fans of the Alice Walker-penned novel and Steven Spielberg-produced film have always cherished. Songstress Jeannette Bayerdelle's voice (Celie) is full of grit and grace. Yet, it is the innocence, charm, and strength she conveys that will embrace you. Rufus Bonds Jr (Mister), has an unforgettable alto, and is every bit the tyrannical, devil-incarnate that audiences love to hate. However, it's his lack of physical brawn that betrays his role as antagonist.
What is sure to thrill you are the robust, show-stealing performances of Felicia P. Fields (Sofia) and Stu James (Harpo)! Their scenes are the most memorable of the production. Be sure to take note of Fields' signature song, "Hell No!" - it is a crowd pleaser. The original music, written and produced by composers Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, breathes new life into this classic work. Though the "The Color Purple (reprise)" is the trademark song, it is Angela Robinson's (Shug Avery) emotionally bare offering, "Too Beautiful for Words," that will bring every woman to tears. It poignantly explains Celie's journey, which is the heart of the original work, and the story of womankind: the resilience of inner beauty and virtue; regardless of the external forces that try to destroy it. Like The Color Purple, it endures for a lifetime." – Raegan Burden for the Robertson Treatment (RTSC)
BEST BETS – EVENTS
I made my annual trek to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans recently as a guest of Chevrolet Motor Division, the largest division of General Motors Corporation and one of the most successful automotive brands in the world. Unfortunately, I fell ill before I could even check-in to the Renaissance Hotel, but was rescued by my close friend and fellow GM driver, Dr. Rani Whitfield, who graciously stepped in to cover the event. Chevrolet was the official vehicle for the weekend and from what Rani has shared with me provided all in attendance with stylish rides throughout the entire weekend. Chevy is the leader in fuel efficient products and this weekend they showcased their new fleet of fuel-efficient and gas friendly products. Starting with the Chevy Malibu and Tahoe Hybrids and the Chevy hydrogen powered fuel cell Equinox. The Equinox Fuel Cell is an electric vehicle that is powered by GM fourth-generation fuel cell system. It can start and operate in subfreezing temperatures, go nearly 200 miles per fill-up, and reach a top speed of one hundred miles per hour. This technology offers a really cool driving experience that will reduce America's dependence on petroleum and reduce emissions to help protect our environment. Find out more about the Equinox Fuel Cell and the other great Chevy vehicles at www.chevy.com.
One of the first activities to take place during the weekend was the Chevy sponsored Malibu Voices of Tomorrow. The Chevy Malibu Voices of Tomorrow Sweepstakes was an online singing competition that ran from April to June on www.chevyessence.com in five markets throughout the South East. There were thousands of online entries, however, Baton Rouge native LaTangela Sherman (Rani’s hometown) made it to the top four. She eventually won the contest, which was judged by Essence Magazine music editor Nazenet Havtezghi, XM radio DJ Lisa "Sexy Chocolate" Ivory, the Gossip Columnist Flo Anthony, and none other than R&B vocalist Musiq Soulchild Cheryl Catton, general director of Chevrolet Marketing, presented LaTangela with the keys to a beautiful 2008 Chevy Malibu!
The most rewarding time of the event of the weekend was a visit with the students, ambassadors, and mentors of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools . The entire crew of journalist and GM staff including our wonderful host Carolyn Grant Normandin, Jenni Lewis, Monica Coleman, Oneika Mobley Diedre Wylie headed out early Saturday morning to the Leson Chevrolet Dealership in Harvey, LA for a music therapy event. This is the second year that Chevrolet has showcased its support of the CDF Freedom Schools .students and children from the New Orleans area and share in their growth and development. If you don't know anything about the CDF Freedom Schools , please visit their website at www.childrensdefense.org. Kudos to GM and Chevy for making the Essence Festival a wonderful weekend.
Visit www.robertsontreatment.com
Copyright 2008
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By AdviceChick @ameritech.net
ULTIMATE Ladies NITE Out Event, Chicago! Ladies, Visit http://www.ultimateladiesniteout.com NOW for details!
Dear Advice Chick,
*Me and my man have been together for a while. To get straight to the point, sex was so good at first but now it is getting worse every time. No foreplay, no romance. He always does it right before bed. No candles, just the tv and maybe one kiss. When he gets hard he puts it in then 5 minutes later he is done, rolls over and goes to sleep. I try to tell him but he doesn’t listen or ever change anything. Am I boring?? Please help.
Advice Chick replies,
Stop “telling” him and “show” him that you are still SEXY, and that you still find him SEXY. In your case it seems that monogamy has actually become monotony. Talk is cheap, and so are fishnet hosiery, garter belts, and black patent leather stiletto heels. Well, the heels may not be cheap, but get them anyways. Next, go to a sexy lingerie shop and get at least five teddies or baby dolls. Wear a different sexy outfit to bed every night for five days. If you’re not into lingerie, there’s also something very sexy about wearing a man’s dress shirt and heels.
Check out a couple sex toy shops for playful, erotic accessories. Once there you’ll see hundreds of items that you can bring to the bedroom. Pick up some flavored, warming massage oils, etc.
Make it your business to bring the romance back to the bedroom. Play sexy music, light some candles, and then light his fire. Do a slow, sexy strip tease for your man. Give your man a full body massage. Let him sit up and enjoy the view as you take the “woman on top” position.
Do you think the Pussycat Dolls are famous for their singing? No. They’re famous for being SEXY. You can be too. Look at the Fredericks of Hollywood, and Victoria’s Secret catalog for additional ideas.
Visit http://www.ultimateladiesniteout.com NOW!
ULTIMATE Ladies NITE Out CHICAGO will be held August 22, 2008! I’m seeking businesses and companies willing to provide items of value for my 100 goodie bag
give-a-ways and my six raffles!
I’m also seeking sponsors. For more info, please express your interest in an email to advicechick @ameritech.net.
Send YOUR questions and comments to Advice Chick right NOW! Please put “Dear Advice Chick” in the subject line so your email isn’t deleted as spam. Thanks! Send your emails t advicechick @ ameritech.net
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Ask Advice Chick about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to dating, sex, love, and life! She is THE resident dating expert at EURweb.com, and calls on over 11 years of dating and relationship industry experience.
InSYnc WITH D. YATES: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
After a two week deliberation, I ask, “Is the Iphone 3G all that?”
*Okay so it’s coming up on the third week for this Gadget Goon to use this new Iphone. I must say, Apple’s marketing team definitely did a great job marketing this bad boy. Before the phone came out, I felt as if I needed to have it. Like it was, in some way, shape or form going to cause my life to run better. That’s marketing at its finest. Well, I know the last couple of weeks I have been sort of idolizing this thing, but now my head is out of the clouds and back to reality.
The truth is: while I love the Iphone, my purpose for only one device is defeated. I still have to tote around an upgraded Sprint Touch (they finally fixed this thing with the latest operating system update…check it out here: http://www.htc.com/us/FAQ_Detail.aspx?p_id=76&act=sd) and an even bigger Iphone 3G. Granted, one used for business and the other is personal, but it defeats the purpose. At first I was going to sacrifice the tax deduction and just switch to AT&T, but economically that wasn’t going to do the trick. It would have cost me about $100 per month to have the comparable plan. Sprint was only charging 73.00 month for the same type of service, which included unlimited text messaging.
Another reason I have to carry two phones is the fact that one is Windows based, the other runs on a Mac Based system. The Sprint Touch is very functional in terms of daily business to business functions, but it lacks WiFi, and its interface is corny. The Iphone 3G is a revolutionary device, but even with Apple’s Mobile Me Sync feature, it still lacks some of the basic functions need to conduct business, i.e. No copy and paste, no video camera, no ability to edit Microsoft documents, no Msn syncing support for free. Kind of limiting...
It's like the genius behind the revolution still didn’t cater to the masses. Granted, the Iphone 3G is a great multimedia device, but why not add these simple features that allow the phone to penetrate more of the market. Make no mistake about it, the Windows Mobile Platform still has the mobile platform industry on lock.
While the Iphone is largely great, it lacks another important thing. Wireless Bluetooth Technology. Come on already! This is supposedly the best phone out, yet I’m still having to untangle a cord; that sucks. Even with my Sprint Touch, I could stream music wirelessly through Bluetooth. You would think that Apple would have included this feature in such a music oriented phone.
Another stupid thing about the phone is the fact that you need to either need to be connected to ITunes or a WiFi connection in order to download music, so you can’t download through AT&T’s 3G internet service. With Sprint, you can download music wirelessly using their EVDO wireless network. I like that feature; again, a feature that shouldn’t have been left out.
Honestly, I feel I could have done a lot just by having the Ipod Touch and not necessarily waiting in line for a highly anticipated phone that doesn’t do all that it should. However, I do like the a lot about the phone. It’s a real dilemma. So here is an ultimatum: I would like for all my readers to comment on the site and tell me whether or not I should keep the Iphone or take it back.
All you have do is comment and say “yeah or nay.” Also if you have one, let me know your thoughts on the 3G of Apple’s “revolutionary” device. I appreciate your support on this issue and look forward to hearing from you via comments. If logging on and creating a user ID is an issue, just shoot me an email at gadgetguyconsulting@gmail.com. I need to hear something within the next week or my 30 days will be gone and I will be bound to AT&T for another 720 days.
Darryl Yates aka The Gadget Guy is a technology consultant based out of Atlanta Georgia, he owns and operates Gadget Guy Consulting, a company that helps people sync technology and life. He can be reached via email at gadgetguyconsulting@gmail.com or geraldyates@gmail.com
AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: ASCAP WALL OF FAME
The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Added Six Music Greats To Jazz Wall Of Fame At Jazz At Lincoln Center Event Including Living Legends Ron Carter, Bill Holman And Sonny Rollins; And Jazz Giants Of The Past Bunny Berigan, Art Blakey And Tadd Dameron. Gonzalo Rubalcaba Recognized With The ASCAP Foundation Vanguard Award
By Audrey J. Bernard, Lifestyles/Society Editor
*On Tuesday, June 17, the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) added six more iconic musicians to the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame at an invitation only event in The Allen room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Hosted by ASCAP president and Chairman Marilyn Bergman, the stellar event was made more memorable with the induction of three Jazz Living Legends -- bassist Ron Carter, composer-arranger and saxophonist Bill Holman, and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. In addition a trio of revered honorees -- trumpeter Bunny Berigan, drummer Art Blakey, and arranger/composer/pianist Tadd Dameron -- were inducted posthumously.
The jazzy evening began with a cool cocktail reception in the Frederick P. Rose Hall reception area famous for its sweeping view of Central Park making it the perfect setting for the cordial awards ceremony that included presenters and/or performers Kenny Washington, Vanessa Rubin, Javon Jackson, Randy Sandke, Jay Leonhart, Jim Rotondi, Peter Washington, Russell Malone and Stephen Scott.
The induction ceremony also included the presentation of The ASCAP Foundation Vanguard Award to critically acclaimed pianist /composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba for his innovative musical activity as a pianist and composer in the field of Jazz.
The reception also celebrated the sixth annual ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards program that was established in 2002 to encourage the jazz creators of the future recognizing composers less than 30 years of age whose works are selected through a national competition.
The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards are now sponsored by the Gibson Foundation which was established by Gibson Guitar Corp. to expand the company’s charitable activities. The Gibson Foundation supports this national program in fulfillment of its commitment to educational excellence through music and the arts. The recipients receive cash awards.
The award recipients are: Roy Assaf, 25 (New York, NY); Sharel Cassity, 29 (New York, NY); Michael Dease, 25 (New York, NY); Jesse Elder, 24 (New York, NY); Quamon Fowler, 27 (Ft. Worth, TX); Ross Garren, 22 (Los Angeles, CA); Tyler Gilmore, 25 (Denver, CO); Nicholas Grondin, 25 (Lee, NH); Alex Heitlinger, 27 (New York, NY); Bryson Kern, 25 (Astoria, NY); Pascal Le Boeuf, 21 (Santa Cruz, CA); Remy Le Boeuf, 21 (Santa Cruz, CA); Ben Markley, 25 (Longmont, CO); Linda Oh, 23 (New York, NY); Rick Parker, 29 (Brooklyn, NY); Joshua Richman, 21 (Hatfield, PA); Sherisse Rogers, 29 (New Castle, DE); Kendrick Scott, 27 (New York, NY); Jaleel Shaw, 29 (Paterson, NJ); Stephen Smith, 27 (Wichita Falls, TX); and Omar Thomas, 23 (Bear, DE).
The youngest ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers, ages 14 to 16, are Lucas Apostoleris, 14 (MA); Joel Carini, 15 (NY); Grace Kelly, 15 (MA); Noah Kellman, 16 (NY); David Lantz, 16 (PA); and Elijah Shiffer, 16 (NY). The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2007/2008 competition included Jay Leonhart, John Fedchock and Rufus Reid.
Composers receiving honorable mention included Patrick Cornelius, 29 (Astoria, NY); Shaul Einav, 25, (Rochester, NY); Eric Hirsh, 23 (Durham, NC); James Hirschfeld, 26, (New York, NY); Jimmy Macbride, 16 (CT); Adam Ratner, 20 (Encino, CA); Matt Savage, 15, (NH); and Ted Taforo, 18, (CA).
Commenting on the Young Jazz Composer Awards, Marilyn Bergman said, “The young talents nurtured by this program represent the future of this uniquely American art form. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the winners.” The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2007/2008 competition were: Jay Leonhart, John Fedchock and Rufus Reid.
Founded in 1975, the ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributors from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States.
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 320,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.
ASCAP has representation arrangements with over 90 similar foreign organizations such that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. (Photos: Scott Wintrow and Gene Ward)
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"When you get right down to the root of the meaning of the word 'succeed,' you find that it simply means to follow through." — F. W. Nichol
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
July 24: Actor Kadeem Hardison is 43. Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez is 40.
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
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