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OUSTED 'GREY'S ANATOMY' ACTOR FULFILLS A GREATER PURPOSE: Isaiah Washington Seeks to Open America's Eyes via the 'Reach One Million' Project
-- by DeBorah B. Pryor
*One only has to go through a magnificent drama and prevail to be a true testament to the adage "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger." Now try going through it, in public.
Actor and philanthropist, husband and father, Isaiah Washington, refuses to sit back and let the controversy that led to his dismissal from the hit ABC show, "Grey's Anatomy," become his legacy.
Armed with passion and a renewed sense of purpose, Washington recently sat down with EUR's Lee Bailey to talk about his removal from the show, the DNA revelation that changed his life; and his action-oriented approach to being what he truly is: A vehicle for change.
"I had to stop saying 'Why?' and understand that ... men that I adore so much, Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Martin L King, Jr., James Baldwin and all the other heroes ... suffered some indignities in human relations far greater than I could ever imagine," comments Washington whose Burbank, California office is decorated with beautiful African art and photos of his most prized moments; including one with President George W. and Mrs. Laura Bush.
Today, instead of dwelling on the animosity that he feels fueled much of the "Grey's Anatomy" aftermath; instead of finding pleasure in the fact that the show's ratings have dropped significantly since his departure, Washington is proud of the impact - that the character he molded over a three-season period - has made on people around the world; people who never imagined a surgeon could look like him. It warms his heart knowing that because of his excellent portrayal of Dr. Preston Burke," New Orleans' Tulane University - whose T-shirt his character often wore casually - is now experiencing its highest attribulation of students seeking to become cardiothoracic surgeons.
"These are the very guys I call my 'go to' guys," says Washington, thinking about his heroes. "... So cowboy up! Take the hits, grow from it, learn from it, and then understand it," he concludes.
Right. But let's keep it real. If you think this "understanding" came easy for Washington, think again.
Simultaneously baffled and disappointed by the apparent dismissal of his lengthy, humble and sometimes self-effacing apology for his use of the six-letter-epithet that caused the ruckus in the first place; his statement read, in part: "I apologize to T. R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance...I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help ... With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted."
Even after that, Washington's willingness to do PSAs and participate in 'executive counseling' sessions did no good. The network had made up its mind and on June 7, 2007 issued a public statement that the actor's contract would not be renewed.
Angered and hurt by the announcement, rebuttals from Washington came via his appearances on television programs such as Larry King Live on CNN, and included the infamously borrowed line, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" and "They fired the wrong guy!" which sent rumblings through the entertainment industry about a potential lawsuit.
"But the more I felt I tried to fight to hold on ... [I got] ... a lot of advice from congresspersons and politicians who said, 'You know, this is not going to end the way you think its going to end. You need to leave. They're just using you to do xyz...' to which Washington replied, 'No, I've got enough credit ... I've been a good boy ...' [But] I realize it wasn't about that. It was time for me to go. It was time for me to go on so many levels, and none of them had to do with what I wanted ... Because I ... wanted to do something that wasn't God's Plan."
But time and distance can prove to be the greatest medicine; and before long Washington was able to reflect on and appreciate the totality of his experience and its outcome; thanks in part to an affirmation from someone he deeply respects. "The 'plan' was you did what you set out to do ... This is what one of my mentors, Sidney Poitier, told me," says Washington. He said, 'You've been that prince. You've shown the world that not only does an African American man exist this way; but you've shown those that could not possibly accept this image as a ... surgeon [or] a doctor at all ..."
Additional help in separating himself from the issue and moving on came from work. NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman was eager to work with Washington, and cast him as a guest star on the new-albeit short-lived series, Bionic Woman. Washington also followed up with roles in a few independent films. Most notably, a recently-wrapped film in New Orleans at Tulane University; where he met students from the Middle East, Asia and America who showed love for his Grey's Anatomy character saying "I want to be like Dr. Burke!" Washington was especially touched noting, "They didn't preface it saying '...the African American Doctor ... the Black doctor ... or ... that Black actor playing the doctor' -- but 'Dr. Burke.'" He continues, "[Dr. Burke] became a brand ... the representation of the medical community."
If everything happens for a reason, and there truly are no accidents; Washington's dismissal from the show may have been a blessing in disguise. Without it, he may never have had the time to immerse himself into The Gondobay Manga Foundation, the nonprofit he founded shortly after taking the DNA test that confirmed he is 99.5% Sierra Leonean; and that he, because of his mother, is a product of the Mende people -- traditional rice farmers from the southern part of the country.
Get the rest of this story at EURweb.com: www.eurweb.com/story/eur46500.cfm
BET DETAILS CONVENTION COVERAGE: Network to go live from Denver each night; plus offer extended news briefs and more.
*BET Networks announced it will offer live nightly coverage of the
Democratic National Convention, with broadcasts tonight through Aug. 28, as
well as other special programming across multiple platforms.
Also, four BET News specials will explore key issues of the
presidential election. These programs will join hours of on-air programming
on BET and BET J, live coverage, daily news specials, public service
announcements, and extended news briefs, in addition to extensive coverage
online and on BET On Blast, the network's broadband channel.
The schedule for coverage of the Democratic National Convention on
BET and BET J is as follows:
Monday, August 25
o 10 p.m. BET and BET J will air Michelle Obama's speech live. Following the
speech, there will be a half-hour of analysis with BET News correspondents,
political analysts and special guests from the Pepsi Center.
Tuesday, August 26
o 9 p.m. "WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Top 10 Issues Affecting Black America":
Entertainers and political experts weighing in on these topics include Rev.
Al Sharpton, Nas, Chuck D, David Banner, Crystal McCrary Anthony, John
McWhorter, Boyce Watkins, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Keli Goff, Clay Cane, Rob
Stapleton, Donnell Rawlings, Ardie Fuqua, Godfrey, Jina Johnson, Samson,
Sharon Carpenter, Staceyann Chin and Keith Boykin.
o 10 p.m. BET will air Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech live. Following the
speech, there will be a half-hour of analysis with BET News correspondents,
political analysts and special guests from the Pepsi Center.
Wednesday, August 27
o 10 p.m. BET will air Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden's speech
live. Following the speech, there will be a half-hour of analysis with BET
News correspondents, political analysts and special guests from the Pepsi
Center.
Thursday, August 28
o 8:30 p.m. "THE DREAM: 45 YEARS LATER": This special will take an inside
look at Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic speech of August 28, 1963 and
"his" dream exactly 45 years later as it relates to the 2008's presidential
race and this defining moment in history as Barack Obama accepts the
Democratic Nomination for President of the United States of America.
o 9 p.m. "OBAMA'S JOURNEY TO THE WHITE HOUSE": This special, which first
premiered after Obama became the presumptive nominee in June, counts down
the top 10 moments of Obama's rise to the Democratic nomination for president.
o 9:30 p.m. "THE TRUTH WITH JEFF JOHNSON": BET's new weekly talk show will
provide special coverage before and after Obama's speech. Johnson and a team
of political strategists, special guests and BET News correspondents will
provide context and analysis and the latest developments of the Democratic
Convention.
o 10 p.m. DNC Nomination Speech: BET and BET J will air Barack Obama's
nomination speech live from Invesco Field in its entirety.
Friday, August 29
o 11:00 p.m. "THE TRUTH WITH JEFF JOHNSON"
o 11:30 p.m. "LOCKED OUT: EX-CONS AND THE VOTE": This BET News special takes an in-depth look at voter disenfranchisement.
For more on BET Networks' presidential election coverage, please
visit BET's Decision '08 site: http://www.bet.com/news/decision08.
In related news, Greg Braxton of the Los Angeles Times wrote a piece
in Saturday's paper titled "TV One and BET deny they're Obama cheerleaders."
The article notes the unprecedented coverage of the Democratic
National Convention by both BET and TV One and seeks to find out just how
unbiased the reporting seeks to be.
"We've gotten folks who can discuss these issues and what's happening
from all sides of the coin," Robert Branch, TV One's director of programming
and production, told the Times. "There will be balance from people who can
speak with passion."
Read Braxton's entire article here: http://eekeji.notlong.com
'THE WIRE'S' SNOOP ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE: Actress accused of having marijuana and "loose plant material."
*Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, who played a cold-blooded killer of the
same name on HBO's "The Wire," was arrested in her Northeast Baltimore home
Wednesday when cops discovered weed in her bedroom while serving an arrest
warrant.
According to the Associated Press, cops had arrived at Snoop's house
to take her into custody for refusing to cooperate as a witness in a murder
trial.
Once inside of the residence, police found two cigars containing
suspected marijuana in a bedroom and loose plant material. The actress was
arrested and charged with one count of drug possession.
Police were serving a warrant that would allow them to detain Snoop,
if needed, until the Sept. 16 trial of Steven Lashley. Authorities say
Pearson witnessed Lashley stab three men, killing one, during an argument in
2005.
ISAAC HAYES FAMILY PLANS LAWSUIT OVER SONGS: Relatives reportedly seek to retrieve rights to his material.
*The family of late soul legend Isaac Hayes are reportedly planning
legal action to retrieve rights to his back catalog, which was sold for
$30,000 by court order following his 1976 bankruptcy.
The catalog, which includes such classics as "Do Your Thing" and
"Theme from Shaft," is said to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a
year in royalties. Hayes' family wants the money to go toward the financial
security of his father's widow and two-year-old son.
"He definitely was done wrong," his son Isaac Hayes III told WENN.
"I'm very passionate about [providing security for the family]. If that
means me trying to get my father's material back, I'm all for it."
Hayes' lawyer, Allen Arrow, says, "I can't rule out litigation... I
would hope that we can retrieve a good part of what he lost."
Lance Armstrong, president of Rondor Music, which owns the publishing
rights to Hayes' songs, added: "He lost millions, and it was morally and
ethically wrong to take it from him. He was devastated."
MORE CELEBS PARTY FOR OBAMA: Jamie Foxx, Nia Long, Scary Spice, Isaiah
Washington among stars at Beverly Hills soiree.
*Stars continue to come out in droves for Barack Obama. The
Democratic presidential nominee was feted Thursday night at a private home
in Bel Air with such guests as Jamie Foxx, Isaiah Washington, Melanie Brown
and Nia Long in attendance.
VIP donors paid $2,300 each to attend the Black and White Gala,
which featured a performance by a seven-member gospel choir and a menu that
included croissants, crudités, olives and eggplant.
Actress Fran Drescher, who worked with Obama on the Gynecologic
Cancer Education and Awareness Act, served as mistress of ceremonies for the
function. She was a Hillary Clinton supporter during the primaries, but says
she is now fully behind Obama.
"He stands for everything that I believe in," she told the
Associated Press. "I think he's inspirational, and that's what this country
needs right now."
Foxx, accompanied by his teenage daughter, greeted congressmen and
other guests at a table in the corner. "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up
Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown, in a bejeweled black gown, chatted with actress
Nia Long, who has been following Obama's campaign for the past year.
"This is the first election where I've actually paid attention to
every single thing, and I think it's because I'm a mom now," Long said. "I
just think Barack is amazing... I admire him. I admire Michelle."
Comedian Kathy Griffin, actress Lucy Liu and actor/filmmaker Mario
Van Peebles also attended the private party, which raised more than $200,000
for the Obama campaign, said Theresa DeBell, who hosted the event with her
husband, Robert Siegel.
REGINA KING BOOKS NBC DRAMA: Actress cast as detective in pilot, 'LAPD.'
*Actress Regina King returns to television in NBC's pilot "LAPD," an
ensemble drama that follows a group of police officers in Los Angeles.
Last seen on the small screen in Fox's "24," King will play Lydia, a
smart, sympathetic detective in the Hollywood division, according to the
Hollywood Reporter.
Kevin Alejandro and Michael McGrady have also joined the cast.
Alejandro ("Shark") will play Nate, a detective who is happily married with
three kids and another on the way. McGrady ("Daybreak") will play Sal, a
detective who works mainly on gang-related crimes and is obsessed with his
family's safety.
In addition, Benjamin McKenzie ("The O.C.") is in early talks to join
the project.
CASH MONEY BUYS INTO MOBILE CONTENT: Record label launches subscription
service for ringtones, graphics, text alerts and more.
*Cash Money/Universal Motown has launched a mobile subscription
service that gives fans direct access to content featuring such label
artists as Lil Wayne, the Hot Boys and Birdman, reports Billboard.
For $9.99 per month, charged directly to a user's phone bill, Cash
Money Mobile will deliver ringtones, graphics, videoclips, text alerts and
contest opportunities related to its talent roster.
Universal had a soft launch for the program in June, around the
release of Lil Wayne's chart-topping "Tha Carter III." Since then,
subscribers have had access to a dozen exclusive ringtones that comprise
second edits, remixes and alternate takes of album tracks.
Similar subscription programs are commonplace with mainstream
artists. Island Def Jam started its own IDJ Mobile subscription service this
year.
"But this is Cash Money. It's a small boutique group of artists with
a very similar fan base," according to Kameo Carlson, senior vice president
of digital business development for Universal Motown Republic Group (UMRG).
"There's a core group of consumers that associate with the specific Cash
Money brand." That core group helped make Wayne's "Lollipop" one of the
first platinum-selling ringtones in the United States earlier this year.
According to Carlson, the company has not yet determined the number
of subscribers who have signed up for the initiative. But more than 100,000
fans have subscribed to Lil Wayne's free mobile fan club, which offers
services like text updates.
MAURICE WHITE SUES HIS CONDO BOARD: Former EW&F singer in dispute with
homeowners association over pest control.
*Former Earth, Wind and Fire front man Maurice White is suing the
homeowners association of his condo for trying to exterminate termites with
chemicals that he claims would further jeopardize his health.
White, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, filed a lawsuit against
the Beverlywood West Homeowners Association, claiming the plan to fumigate
the complex with Vikane gas could worsen his condition.
According to TMZ.com, White says he asked the homeowners association
to find another way of dealing with the termite infestation. He says the
association has threatened and intimidated him with a lawsuit if he doesn't
back off.
His lawyer, Ed McPherson, wants an injunction to stop the
extermination.
BOUNTY KILLA PLEADS GUILTY TO CURSING: Reggae star pays $70 fine for
swearing during concert.
*Bounty Killa's dirty mouth has cost him $70 bucks.
The reggae and dance hall star pleaded guilty to using profanity at a
recent show. He paid the $70 fine during a court appearance on Thursday in
the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court in western Jamaica.
Killa, whose real name is Rodney Pryce, was arrested and charged last
month during his set at Jamaica's annual Reggae Sumfest. He was accused of
cursing out fans who heckled him about dissing two of the show's DJs.
It's against Jamaican law to use profanity in public concerts and
police have been cracking down on performers in recent years, reports
Reuters.
MAXWELL PLOTS FIRST TOUR SINCE 2002: Crooner to travel North America
promoting upcoming album "Black Summers' Night."
*For the first time in six years, fans will get a chance to see
neo-soul star Maxwell live in concert.
The string of live dates were described in a Thursday press release
as a "pre-party tour celebration" for his upcoming trilogy album, "Black
Summers' Night."
The trek kicks off on Oct. 8 in Boston and includes stops at New
York's Radio City Music Hall the following day, Los Angeles' Shrine
Auditorium on Nov. 1st as well as theater dates in Cincinnati, Chicago,
Kansas City, Oakland and Washington, D.C. [Dates detailed below.]
October 8 - Boston, MA - Opera House
October 9 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall NY
October 10 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
October 14 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
October 15 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
October 17 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
October 18 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater
October 19 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater
October 21 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theater
October 22 - Omaha, NE - Music Hall
October 23 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
October 25 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theater
October 28 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
October 31 - Las Vegas, NV - Pearl
November 1 - Los Angeles, CA - Shrine Auditorium
November 6 - Houston, TX - Verizon Theater
November 8 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theater
November 10 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Hall
November 11 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theater
November 12 - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center
November 14 - Greensboro, NC - War Memorial
November 15 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theater
November 17 - Washington, D.C. - Constitution Hall
November 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Center
RAVEN-SYMONE DONE WITH HOLLYWOOD RECORDS: Entertainer plots new album on independent label.
*After her latest album "Raven-Symone" bowed at No. 159 on the
Billboard 200, the young entertainer has parted ways with Hollywood Records
and is charting a new course in independent waters.
"I did it on my second album [1999's "Undeniable"] and like it," the
22-year-old former "Cosby Show" kid tells Billboard.com. "When you're an
independent you really do get full control. You get to do it how you want to
do it and promote it how I want to promote it and sell it how I want to sell
it."
She's already thinking of producers to recruit and a specific sound
for her new album. "It'll be R&B, most definitely," she says, "with an
alternative base for the lyrics."
After working with such big names as Sean Garrett, the Clutch and the
J.A.M., Symone is hoping to find some fresh talent as well. "It's good to go
out there and spread your wings and find new talent and work with people you
haven't worked with before. I'd love to find the next Pharrell or the next
someone who's coming up and no one really knows yet," she says. "At the same
time, I'd love to work with the Clutch and the J.A.M. again."
Symone admits being disappointed in the weak sales of her last album,
but she refuses to put the blame solely on Hollywood Records.
"No one really dropped the ball," she says. "I just think it didn't
get enough publicity so people would know it's coming out."
PARIS BARCLAY'S PREFERENTIAL 'TREATMENT': TV vet promoted to executive
producer on HBO series.
*Paris Barclay, who served as a co-executive producer of HBO's "In
Treatment" and directed 12 of the 43 episodes during its first run, has been
promoted to executive producer status and will helm at least 10 segments
next season, reports Variety.
The longtime TV veteran, whose director-producer resume includes
stints on "NYPD Blue," "ER" and "The West Wing," will oversee the cable
network's unconventional psychotherapy drama that follows the sessions of a
therapist played by Gabriel Byrne.
HBO has ordered 35 episodes for the sophomore season and is expected
to continue to run multiple segments each week, but it may not be in the
Monday-Friday pattern that was presented in the first season, Variety
reports.
Exec producers for season two, in addition to Barclay, are creator
Hagai Levy, Warren Leight, Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson. Barclay's
other recent series helming credits include Showtime's "Weeds," USA's "Monk"
and CBS' "CSI" and "Cold Case."
OLYMPIC ATHLETE KICKS REF IN THE FACE: Cuban tae kwon do fighter angered by disqualification during bronze medal match.
*A Cuban Olympic tae kwon do athlete who deliberately kicked a
referee in the face after being disqualified now faces a permanent ban from
his sport.
Angel Matos snapped his foot into ref Chakir Chelbat's grill during a
bronze medal match on Saturday. The move stunned commentators and prompted
World Tae Kwon Do Federation Secretary General Yang Jin-suk to recommend
that Matos be banned for life.
Matos was winning, 3-2, with 1:02 left in the second round, when he
fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman
Chilmanov. Matos was awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified
for taking more than the one-minute allowance for injury time. Matos angrily
questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked Chelbat, who
required stitches in his lip. Matos spat on the floor and was escorted out.
"We didn't expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur,"
said WTF Secretary General Yang Jin-suk. "I am at a loss for words. This is
an insult to the Olympic vision, an insult to the spirit of tae kwon do and,
in my opinion, an insult to mankind."
View clip here:
http://www.mmatko.com/angel-matos-cuban-taekwondo-kicks-referee-in-face-vide
o-beijing-olympics/
COPS DRAW GUN ON DIDDY POSSE: Traffic stop on Sunset Blvd. gets out of hand before everyone is cleared to go.
*Sean Diddy Combs had an entourage four cars deep on Sunset Blvd.
over the weekend when one of the vehicles was pulled over by LAPD and a gun
was drawn on Diddy in the confusion that ensued.
According to TMZ.com, one car in Diddy's caravan was stopped by
deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department at around 3 a.m. Saturday
morning for having improper tags. The other three cars reportedly pulled
over near the stopped car to wait.
However, Sheriff Dept. procedure forces deputies to call for backup
when other cars linger during a traffic stop. Extra officers arrived and,
according to TMZ, the driver of the second car became "extremely
uncooperative," to the point he had to be detained.
This reportedly prompted Diddy and the remaining five or six members
of his crew to exit their vehicles and walk toward the detained man.
"That's when one deputy drew his weapon, not knowing what the dudes
were up to," reported TMZ. "We're told at the time the weapon was drawn,
deputies did not know Diddy was part of the group."
Turns out the original stopped vehicle with the improper tags was a
rental car, so that driver wasn't ticketed. The detained man was
subsequently released and no arrests were made.
SNOOP CLEARED FOR TRAVEL DOWN UNDER: Australia lifts ban on rapper, allowing him to tour with Ice Cube.
*Snoop Dogg can perform in Australia after immigration officials in
the country lifted a ban that prevented him from entering the country.
The 38-year-old rapper will be allowed to tour with fellow West Coast
rapper Ice Cube for 17 days beginning Oct. 21, reports Australia's Herald
Sun.
Former Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews first denied Snoop a visa
back in April 2007 due to his criminal record, which included various drug
and gun charges. But officials decided to approve his visa after speaking
with the tour promoter for the past several weeks.
A rep for tour promoter Andrew McManus says he's "been liaising with
the Immigration Department on Snoop's application, which has been approved."
McManus will announce dates for Snoop and Cube's tour this week.
Meanwhile, family and victim support groups are already planning to
protest Snoop's ban reversal.
"Snoop Dogg trades in toxic messages of menace, violence, misogyny
and lawlessness," Angela Conway of the Australian Family Association said.
"To add to the fire, he's actually had issues with firearms and drugs. So
not only does he portray and glorify these things in his music, it's
exemplified in his real life. We need to keep him out of Australia. These
menacing, blood-soaked misogynist raps have a corrosive impact."
WYCLEF PENS TUNE HONORING VENUS WILLIAMS: Record to be tennis star's theme song during U.S. Open.
*"Venus (I'm Ready)," a song written and performed by Wyclef Jean,
is slated to premiere as Venus Williams' theme music during the 2008 US Open
tennis tournament in Flushing, Queens, New York, running from Aug. 25
through Sept. 7.
The lyrics were "inspired by the spirit, character and prowess" of
the recent Olympic gold medalist (with her sister Serena in the women's
doubles) and reigning Wimbledon singles and doubles champion. (Listen to
the song here: http://www.zshare.net/audio/174782598ee9af0c/)
"Venus' determination and mental strength inspires me," said Wyclef
Jean. "Much like Isis, her strength should be celebrated."
Clef met Williams when the two were paired for an upcoming episode of
the Sundance Channel original television series "Iconoclasts," which brings
together two leading innovators from different fields to discuss their
passions and creative processes. Their episode is scheduled to premiere Nov.
13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
"I have been a fan of Wyclef's for many years, from his work with the
Fugees to his success as a solo artist," said Williams. "He's a fantastic
writer, singer, producer and performer whose music crosses genres and
touches people's lives. I am specially impressed by Wyclef's dedication to
humanitarian causes and his strong sense of character. I was so happy to
meet Wyclef and work with him on our 'Iconoclasts' episode but not even in
my wildest imagination, did I expect that such a beautiful song would be one
of the outcomes from meeting Wyclef. He is an amazing human being and it is
truly an honor for me to be recognized in such a wonderful way by such a
gifted musician and exceptional person."
DUKE LACROSSE ACCUSER WRITING TELL-ALL: Woman's manager announces plans to release memoir about her 'life and struggles.'
*The woman who accused three former Duke Lacrosse players of rape
and assault - in a case that was ultimately dismissed - is writing a book
described by her manager as a "tell-all memoir," reports Durham-Raleigh's
news station WTVD.
"The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story," due in
October, is "the only definitive account of the life and struggles of the
woman at the center of the Duke Lacrosse case, the alleged accuser,"
according to Mangum's co-author Vincent Clark.
"Were it not for the Duke Lacrosse Case, she likely would be
described as a bright, young woman from Durham, North Carolina, who has had
a difficult life," Clark said.
The three Lacrosse players - David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade
Seligmann - were declared innocent of all charges after the State Attorney
General's Office reviewed the case.
Former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong was disbarred and
jailed following the collapse of the case. Nifong is among several
defendants named in at least three federal lawsuits stemming from the
ordeal.
Mangum plans to donate $1 from each book sold to help battered women.
HIP HOP POWERED MICHAEL PHELPS TOWARD GOLD: Olympic gold medalist may get to thank Young Jeezy in person for inspiration.
*It's no secret that record breaking swimmer Michael Phelps had hip
hop pulsing through his iPod before every race at the Olympics in Beijing.
Young Jeezy, whose tracks "I Got What it Takes" and "Go Getta" with
R. Kelly were cited by Phelps as two of the songs he used for motivation,
says his camp has reached out to the swimmer's reps to organize a formal
introduction in the near future.
"It would be great if I could holler at Phelps," Jeezy told the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Peach Buzz column. "And it's a compliment
that the man found inspiration in the music I do for the streets over here,
over there in Beijing."
"Phelps and his American rival Ryan Lochte, who is also a fan of
Jeezy, greet each other by saying 'Juh,' in homage to the rapper, a.k.a. Jay
Jenkins," the New York Times' Karen Crouse wrote in an article last week.
Lil' Wayne's "A Milli," Rick Ross' "Hustlin" and Jay-Z's "Hello
Brooklyn" were also mentioned by Phelps as pre-race motivation.
"The music transforms him," wrote Crouse in the Times profile. "His
goofy grin dissolves into a glower, his eyes turn cold as ice. The hip-hop
beats have a hypnotic effect on Phelps, who sometimes, after a race, is
unable to recall the songs that locked him into his groove."
The playlist that Phelps provided to Yahoo.com during his historic
Olympic turn reads as follows:
1. "Overnight Celebrity" - Twista
2. "Burn" - Usher
3. "Roses" - OutKast
4. "Till I Collapse" - Eminem
5. "Smile" - G Unit
6. "A Milli" - Lil' Wayne
7. "Hustlin" - Rick Ross
8. "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" - Jay-Z (featuring Lil' Wayne)
9. "I Got What It Takes" - Young Jeezy
HOSTS CHOSEN FOR PIONEER AWARDS: Warwick, Butler, Brady and Raitt to help pay homage to honorees.
*Wayne Brady joins music legends Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Raitt and
Jerry Butler as co-hosts of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's 20th Anniversary
Pioneer Awards gala, to be held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
in Philadelphia on Sept. 9.
The event will pay homage to Chaka Khan with the Foundation's
Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Bill Withers, Teena Marie, and
singer-songwriter Sugar Pie DeSanto will receive the Foundation's Individual
Artist Award; The Whispers and Kool & the Gang will receive the Foundation's
Group Artists Award; Motown session players the Funk Brothers will receive
the Foundation's Sidemen Award; soul legend Donny Hathaway will posthumously
receive a Legacy Award in recognition of his influential output in the
1970s; and Al Bell, former president of two renowned record labels, Stax
Records and Motown Records, will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Leadership
Award.
Patricia Wilson Aden, executive of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation,
commented on the organization's 20th anniversary: "Over the years, the
active support of Jerry Butler, Dionne Warwick and Bonnie Raitt has been
enormously beneficial to the work of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. It's
only fitting that they serve as co-hosts as we celebrate our accomplishments
over the past twenty years and prepare to meet the challenges that will come
in the next twenty years."
For more information about the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and to
purchase tickets for the 2008 Pioneer Awards, please visit
www.rhythmblues.org or call 215-568-1080.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Brand new Tay; Abdul's neck; JT denies Britney duet; Erik
King in Wig Out!; Stevie's $5,000; Marley statue.
*Tay Zonday is back with a new video. The YouTube star, famous for
his "Chocolate Rain" ditty, is using his booming voice to support Democratic
presidential nominee Barack Obama. In his latest video, titled "Brighter
Days," Zonday sings: "Brighter days are here / 'Cuz we declare / that
history won't repeat," while appearing at a park in his Obama '08 T-shirt.
He totes around black spoons and white spoons as symbols of America's race
relations. View the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKoZ60XXG0
*Paula Abdul reportedly underwent surgery earlier this month to
repair an old cheerleading injury to her neck, which had been causing her
pain since she was a teenager and was made worse by a car accident in 1987.
The "American Idol" judge quietly checked in to the Olympia Medical Center
in Los Angeles for the procedure, reports the New York Post.
*Justin Timberlake is denying reports that he will record a duet with
his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, for her upcoming album. Timberlake's
spokesman insists the singer "is not scheduled to be in the recording studio
with Britney," according to SF Gate.
*Erik King, best known for his work as Sergeant James Doakes on
Showtime's "Dexter," has joined the cast of the Vineyard Theatre's season
opener Wig Out!, reports Playbill News. King replaces Michael Kenneth
Williams, who left the production "due to personal reasons," according to a
statement. King will play Lucian, the founding father of the House of Light.
Previews at the Off-Broadway venue begins Sept. 10 with an official opening
scheduled for Sept. 30. Tickets are available at (212) 353-0303 or
www.vineyardtheatre.org.
*On Aug. 21, during "Stevie Wonder's Morning Thunder Thousand Dollar
Thursday" radio show on LA's KJLH, Wonder donated $5,000 to
actor/philanthropist Isaiah Washington's Reach One Million Campaign. The
money will be used to build a water well in the village of Njala Kendema in
Sierra Leone, where there is little access to clean drinking water and 70
percent of the country's population lives in extreme poverty. Washington's
Reach One Million Campaign, seeks to help improve the lives of one million
children in Sierra Leone - one village, one region, at a time. The
campaign's official Web sites are www.ReachOneMillion.org and
www.myspace.com/reachonemillion.
*A Serbian village on Saturday unveiled what it claims is Europe's
first statue to the late Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley. According to
Reuters, two Balkan musicians, one from Croatia and one from Serbia,
unveiled the monument in the village of Banatski Sokolac at midnight during
a gathering of rock bands from the Balkans. The statue was erected to
promote tolerance in a region still recovering from war. "Bob Marley
promoted peace and tolerance in his music," said Mirko Miljus, an organizer.
MAGAZINE BITS: LL Cool J on Jet cover; Giant Magazine's Phat Fashions party.
*The new issue of Jet magazine, in stores today, features veteran
rapper LL Cool J on the cover. Inside, the artist explains the value of his
upcoming album, "Exit 13," due Sept. 9. "This is the last record under my
(Def Jam record label) contract; 13th record on a 13-album deal. And thus,
that's the name 'Exit 13,'" he explains on page 36.
*Giant Magazine celebrates the new Phat Fashions Collection at an
event tonight during the Magic Convention in Las Vegas. The label's creative
director, Kimora Lee Simmons, will be on hand at The Bank at The Bellagio
Hotel (3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) to herald the new direction of the brand.
Special invited guests will enjoy signature cocktails compliments of
Hennessy, and hors d'oeuvres and music by world renowned DJ Cassidy.
TUBBS JONES' REPLACEMENT MAY COST $5.5 MIL: Ohio taxpayers could pay that much for new primary and general election.
*The cost of electing someone to replace late U.S. Rep. Stephanie
Tubbs Jones to serve out the final two months of her term will likely cost
Ohio taxpayers between $4 million and $5.5 million, reports the Associated
Press.
The person who is eventually elected in the 11th Congressional
District may not even cast a ballot this year in the House, since no House
balloting is scheduled after Sept. 26.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections would most likely have to
stage both a primary and a general election, each costing up to $2.75
million, to replace Tubbs Jones, who died suddenly Wednesday evening after
suffering a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm.
Tubbs Jones' term expires at the end of December. Her replacement
probably would not be elected until November, AP reported.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." — Jack London
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Aug. 25: Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter is 75. Singer Walter Williams of The O'Jays is 66. Actor Blair Underwood is 44. DJ Terminator X of Public Enemy is 42. Actor Kel Mitchell ("Kenan and Kel") is 30.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
On February 9, TV stations will broadcast in digital only. Find out if your TV is ready via a quiz at www.dtvtransition.org
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Aug. 25, 1925: Philip Randolph organizes the Sleeping Car Porter's Union. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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