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SEASON OVER FOR PLAXICO BURRESS: Player suspended over charges following accidental shooting; Pierce still under investigation.

*The New York Giants on Tuesday suspended wide receiver Plaxico
Burress for the rest of the regular season, and placed him on the reserve
non-football injury list for conduct detrimental to the team, which means he
won't be back for the playoffs, either.

       The decision comes one day after Burress was charged with two counts
of illegal weapons possession, stemming from in incident early Saturday
morning in which he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at a
Manhattan nightclub.

       Meanwhile, the Giants expect Antonio Pierce to play in Sunday's game
against Philadelphia while the team gathers information about whether the
linebacker tried to cover up the shooting. He might face potential charges
and a possible suspension if he did.

       Following the shooting, police say Pierce drove Burress to the
hospital and returned to New Jersey with Burress' gun in the glove
compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade. Investigators impounded Pierce's
Cadillac Escalade and are searching it for any blood or gun residue.

       Coughlin said Wednesday that he used two words in discussing the
Burress situation with the team - disappointment and sadness.

       "That sums it all up," Coughlin said. "I had a conversation with
Plaxico. He was very humble. He was remorseful. Obviously that doesn't
change anything. But you have to understand that he is part of our team and
our concern is with he and his family's well being, and the ability of him
to get through this circumstance and be healthy again."

The Giants' decision to suspend Burress came down after team
physician, Dr. Scott Rodeo, examined him and found that the gunshot wound
would sideline the 31-year-old player for 4-to-6 weeks.

Police also plan to interview the people at New York-Presbyterian
Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center who treated Burress and did not report
the shooting, as required by law. Dr. Josyann Abisaab was suspended for not
reporting Burress injury. She apparently arrived at the hospital at 2 a.m.
to treat him, but it's not clear why she was called. Giants spokesman Pat
Hanlon said the team has no tie-in with Abisaab.

MOTIVE FLOATED IN J-HUD FAMILY KILLINGS: Prosecutors say Balfour murdered
relatives because wife was dating another man; plus, bail denied.

*Bail was denied Wednesday for William Balfour, whom prosecutors
believe murdered the family members of singer Jennifer Hudson out of anger
over his estranged wife (Hudson's older sister Julia) dating another man.

At a hearing Wednesday, a Cook County prosecutor said Balfour came to
the family's home the morning of the Oct. 24 killings and confronted Julia
Hudson, saying he would "harm" her family if she continued seeing the other
man.

The prosecutor says Balfour and Julia Hudson left together but
Balfour returned to the home, and the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother
were discovered there later that day. The body of Julia Hudson's 7-year-old
son was found in an SUV three days later.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, prosecutors also refuted a number
of statements that Balfour made to police, among them:

o Balfour told detectives that he was home at the time of the shootings, but
cell phone records showed he was in the vicinity of the Hudson family home.
o Balfour told police that after he had earlier been to the Hudson home to
talk with his estranged wife, he had taken a CTA "L" train to his West Side
home. But CTA card records show that Balfour had last used the card two days
before. Also, Balfour had claimed to have used a particular "L" station, but
surveillance cameras showed he had not been there.
o Balfour denied having a gun, but multiple witnesses said they saw him with
one or heard him say he had one. The gun used in the slayings had belonged
to Jason Hudson and Balfour had taken it without permission from Hudson's
bedroom over the summer, prosecutors said.

       Prosecutors also stated the previously undisclosed fact that gunshot
residue was found on the steering wheel of Balfour's car, which, authorities
said, he had driven that morning to the Hudson home and later moved after
the murders.

       Balfour's attorney, Joshua Kutnick, claims the 27-year-old is
innocent and has called the prosecution's case against his client "weak."

       Kutnick told Judge Raymond Myles Wednesday that there were no
witnesses to the slayings and no connection between Balfour and the weapon
that was believed to have been used in the shootings.

       "Thus far it is my impression and William's impression that he has
been painted as guilty in this case," Kutnick said. "And that is untrue and
unfortunate. We implore the public to keep an open mind."

GARY COLEMAN PLEADS NO CONTEST: Actor ordered to pay fine for bowling alley incident in Utah.

*Gary Coleman pleaded no contest to one charge of disorderly conduct
and one charge of reckless driving stemming from his September run-in with a
fan at a Utah bowling alley.

       The 40-year-old former star of "Diff'rent Strokes" was ordered to pay
a $100 fine in a Payson court Tuesday. His reckless driving charge will be
waived if he doesn't have any other violations within a year, the Associated
Press reports.

       According to court documents, Coleman, his wife and his bodyguard
were at a bowling alley in Payson, about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City,
when Colt Rushton took pictures of Coleman with his cell phone camera. He
snapped a few more of Coleman's truck in the parking lot.

       Rushton's lawyer says Coleman's wife snatched Rushton's cell phone, a
scuffle ensued and then Coleman ran into Rushton with his truck as he was
backing out of the parking lot.

EVICTION NOTICE FOR 'ATL HOUSEWIFE' NENE: Bravo's breakout star and husband left crib last month after notice came in Sept.

*The season may be over, but drama still continues for 41-year-old
NeNe Leakes of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."

       The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the reality show
star and her husband Gregory left their posh five-bedroom spread after
receiving an eviction notice.

        According to Darryl Pierce, the broker for the 5,000-square-foot
home at 1765 Silvermere Court in Duluth, the couple moved out in November
after Winwood Properties filed an eviction notice on Sept. 24.

Filed with the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, the notice said
Greg Leakes owed $6,240 in past due rent, and "the tenant said they would
move by Sept. 14th because they could no longer afford the house."

       The owner of the home, Kajani Shenaz Ali, lives overseas, Pierce
said. Online records show the home in the gated community of Stonebrier at
Sugarloaf, was purchased for $829,400 in September 2006. Pierce said the
Leakeses moved into the home shortly after it was built in 2006.

       NeNe, in a series of e-mails to AJC Tuesday, would not say where she
is living now. "It's none of your business," she wrote. But she noted that
they "are financial able [sic] and stable to live where ever we feel fits."

       She also wrote that the eviction notice does not have her name on it,
adding "you don't know my relationship with Greg so be careful what you
report!"

       The Duluth home, she wrote in an e-mail late last week, "was a lease
purchase corporate deal with Greg & his company. Things didn't work out
between the two of them so they did what they had to do and he did what he
had to do."

       On Tuesday, she wrote, "If we rent, lease purchase or buy, money is
still coming out of my pocket. So who's [sic] business is that??"

       Gregory, 54, is a real estate investor, according to the show. The
only business the AJC could find under his name in Georgia is called
Advantage Move LLC. The phone number listed for Advantage Move has been
disconnected.

       "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" averaged 1.3 million viewers over
seven episodes, the biggest freshman series for the Bravo cable network
since "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" in 2003. The drama-filled reunion
episode on Nov. 25 drew 2.8 million viewers, which is more than any "Real
Housewives" episode, including versions in Orange County, Calif., and New
York City.

O.J.'S TEAM ASKS FOR MINIMUM SENTENCE: Prosecutors want 18 years; defense says that's outrageous for 'first time offender.'

*O.J. Simpson's lawyers are asking that he receive the minimum
sentence of six years in prison for his October robbery and kidnapping
conviction, calling a recommendation of 18 years "inappropriate and
knee-jerk," reports the AP.

Simpson was found guilty on October 3 in the armed robbery of two
memorabilia dealers at the Palace Station hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The
61-year-old former football star and his co-defendant, Clarence "C.J."
Stewart, are scheduled for sentencing on Friday and could face life in
prison for their conspiracy, burglary, kidnapping, robbery and assault
convictions.

"Simpson has never previously been convicted of a crime. Thus, he
now stands before the court as a first-time offender," defense attorney
Gabriel Grasso told the judge in court papers filed in advance of Friday's
sentencing hearing.

Grasso called for Simpson to be given the minimum term of six years
behind bars, adding, "Such a sentence would be a sufficient reflection of
both the nature of the case as well as the first-time offender status of the
defendant."

A report filed by the probation officials has not been made public,
but according to the defense, it calls for Simpson and Stewart, 54, to be
sentenced to 18 years behind bars.

BEYONCE, BRODY DISCUSS 'CADILLAC' KISS: Director takes 'dramatic license'
with make-out scene between Etta James and Leonard Chess.

       *Darnell Martin, the writer/director of "Cadillac Records," admitted
at Monday's premiere that she took some "dramatic license" in creating a
make-out scene between Etta James and the head of her label, Leonard Chess.

       But, Adrien Brody, who plays Mr. Chess, said he had no problem with
the historical inaccuracy of kissing James, who is played in the film by
Beyonce Knowles.

       "Let's just say it wasn't a deal breaker," the grinning actor told
the New York Daily News. "When I met Etta [the real one], she told me,
'Leonard and I did not do those things!' So, yes, it was somewhat
embellished. But what's wonderful is the truth Beyonce brings to that
moment. That justified it."

       Beyonce, who came to the premiere with husband Jay-Z, said she didn't
find the intimacy repellent.

       "It wasn't so bad," she said. "I remember when he kissed Halle Berry.
He's not shy! Not at all."

       Meanwhile, Cedric the Entertainer, who plays bluesman Willie Dixon,
said he was upset that "they wrote me out of a scene with Beyonce."

       Following the premiere, cast members Mos Def, Gabrielle Union and
Emmanuelle Chriqui hit the after-party at Marquee with guests Leonardo
DiCaprio, Diddy, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Kevin Connolly, Akon and Russell
Simmons.

*Tyler Perry is in a Texas courtroom this week facing allegations of
copyright infringement by a woman who claims material from his 2005 film
"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" was stolen from her 1991 play, "Fantasy of a
Black Woman."

Donna West is suing the actor-screenwriter in U.S. District Court
and is seeking all profits made from the film, reports the Associated Press.

"I can't put my play on because the stories are basically the same
and nobody wants to see that again," she said.

       Jurors on Tuesday watched Perry's film and listened to a reading of
the script from West's play. West testified that her script was based
primarily on her own experiences. With her in the starring role, the play
was performed in July 1991 at the Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters
at the Dallas Convention Center.

       "The play was open to the public. Anyone could have attended," West
said.

       In her opening remarks to the jury, Perry's attorney, Veronica Lewis,
said her client is an "immensely talented" individual "who has no need
whatsoever" to use the materials of others.

       U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis told jurors he anticipates the case
will be completed by next Tuesday.

TRAMPLED WAL-MART WORKER'S FAMILY SUES: Jdimytai Damour's relatives file wrongful-death suit.

*The family of a worker trampled to death in a crush of "Black
Friday" Wal-mart customers in Long Island filed a wrongful-death lawsuit on
Wednesday, claiming store ads offering slashed prices "created an atmosphere
of competition and anxiety" that led to "crowd craze."

The lawsuit claims that besides failing to provide adequate security
for a pre-dawn crowd estimated at 2,000, Wal-Mart "engaged in specific
marketing and advertising techniques to specifically attract a large crowd
and create an environment of frenzy and mayhem and was otherwise careless,
reckless and negligent."

Wal-Mart, the adjacent Green Acres Mall, a realty company that
manages the property and a security company hired to patrol the property
were all named as defendants.

Jdimytai Damour, 34, had been hired by an employment agency as a
temporary worker at the Wal-Mart store and had been on the job about a week
when he died, said his family's lawyer, Jordan Hecht. The 6-foot-5,
270-pound man died of asphyxiation after being crushed early Friday morning
by the crowd, which broke down the electronic doors in a mad rush to buy
items on sale. At least four other people were treated at hospitals,
including a woman who was eight months pregnant.

Police are reviewing store video to identify possible suspects in
Damour's death, but Mulvey conceded that criminal charges are unlikely.

FOLK LEGEND ODETTA DIES AT 77: Civil rights activist influenced Belafonte,
Dylan, Baez and others.

*Folk singer and civil rights beacon Odetta, whose power-packed
voice influenced fellow musicians for a half-century, died Tuesday of heart
disease at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was 77.

       Odetta was admitted to the hospital with kidney failure about three
weeks ago, said her manager of 12 years, Doug Yeager.

       The Associated Press reports: "With her booming, classically trained
voice and spare guitar, Odetta gave life to the songs by workingmen and
slaves, farmers and miners, housewives and washerwomen, blacks and whites.

       "First coming to prominence in the 1950s, she influenced Harry
Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other singers who had roots in the folk
music boom."

       Odetta called on her fellow blacks to "take pride in the history of
the American Negro" and was active in the civil rights movement. She sang at
the March on Washington in August 1963 and had hoped to sing at the
inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, though she had not been
officially invited, Yeager said.

       She was nominated for a 1963 Grammy award for best folk recording for
"Odetta Sings Folk Songs." Two more Grammy nominations came in recent years,
for her 1999 "Blues Everywhere I Go" and her 2005 album "Gonna Let It
Shine."

       In a 1978 Playboy interview, Dylan said, "the first thing that turned
me on to folk singing was Odetta." He said he found "just something vital
and personal" when he heard an early album of hers in a record store as a
teenager. "Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar
and amplifier for an acoustic guitar," he said.

       Belafonte also cited her as a key influence on his hugely successful
recording career, and she was a guest singer on his 1960 album, "Belafonte
Returns to Carnegie Hall."

       Born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Ala., in 1930, she moved with her
family to Los Angeles at age 6. Her father had died when she was young and
she took her stepfather's last name, Felious. Hearing her in glee club, a
junior high teacher made sure she got music lessons, but Odetta became
interested in folk music in her late teens and turned away from classical
studies.

       She got much of her early experience at the Turnabout Theatre in Los
Angeles, where she sang and played occasional stage roles in the early
1950s.

       Over the years, she picked up occasional acting roles in TV and film.
None other than famed Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper reported in 1961 that
she "comes through beautifully" in the film "Sanctuary."

       Odetta is survived by a daughter, Michelle Esrick of New York City,
and a son, Boots Jaffre, of Fort Collins, Colo. She was divorced about 40
years ago and never remarried, her manager said. A memorial service was
planned for next month, Yeager said.

AMC TO AIR SAMUEL L. JACKSON TRIBUTE: Actor is 2008 honoree at Cinematheque Awards; Denzel, JT among celebs on hand.

*For the seventh time, AMC will broadcast the 23rd annual American
Cinematheque Awards, which this year honored the film career of Samuel L.
Jackson.

The special will premiere Tuesday (Dec. 9) at 10 p.m. ET as "
Hollywood Celebrates Samuel L. Jackson: An American Cinematheque Tribute."

       Many of Jackson's colleagues and past co-stars were in attendance to
help celebrate his cinematic accomplishments, including Denzel Washington,
Justin Timberlake, George Lopez, Andy Garcia and Sharon Stone.

        One running theme of the evening was guessing what the "L" in
"Samuel L. Jackson" stands for. Timberlake, who acted in "Black Snake Moan"
with Jackson and who started off the evening, said it stood for "Love. Man
love." Lopez said it was definitely not for "Latino."

Stone put her hands on her hips and purred words such as "Luscious,"
"L'amour," "Ladies love Samuel L. Jackson" -- and told a story about seeing
Jackson "nekkid" in a movie and then trying to talk to him at a premiere.
She eventually got serious, talking about the moral compass he brings to his
characters, and saying that the "L" stood for "Legend."

Denzel Washington said Jackson plays men who can be considered "the
righteous who believe they are sinners and the sinners who believe they are
righteous." Vin Diesel called Jackson "a poor man's acting coach," and Kerry
Washington noted that the actor brings truth to his roles, making his
"heroes so imperfect and (his) villains so lovable."

       Also making speeches were Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who used basketball
terms to describe Jackson as being as unstoppable as Kobe Bryant, as
versatile as Larry Bird and as smooth as Michael Jordan; John Singleton, who
told anecdotes from the set of "Shaft"; and Jackson's wife, LaTanya, who
talked of the movies Jackson made with Spike Lee.

       After finally accepting the award from his "Star Wars" director
George Lucas, Jackson talked about how much the experience of going to the
movies meant to him, when he would catch Saturday double features in a
segregated theater in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and how
important he thinks the Cinematheque's work is in promoting the social side
of filmmaking.

       "I felt a bond with everyone in that theater," Jackson said, according to the AP. "(It was) a kinship that opened up a whole new world."

AKON 'FAN THROWING' TRIAL POSTPONED: Singer faces criminal charges for
allegedly tossing teen off a concert stage.

*Akon was supposed to begin his fan tossing trial on Dec. 1 in
Fishkill, NY, but the start date was postponed until Dec. 17, according to
the Times Herald Record.

The Senegalese artist is accused of throwing a teenager from the
stage into the crowd during a concert in June 2007. The boy had reportedly
heckled him during a performance. After Akon sought the help of crowd
members to point him out, the singer's security pulled him on stage.

       In footage of the incident posted on YouTube, Akon picked him up and
threw him back into the crowd, where he landed on another concertgoer, who
said she suffered a concussion.

       The singer has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of
endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment. It will be
decided on Dec.17 if a trial will go ahead, or if a settlement will be made,
reports the Times Herald Record.

BALLAST SCORES SIX SPIRIT NOMS: Nods for film set in Mississippi Delta
include best feature, director, actress and supporting actor, among others.

       *"Ballast," a drama about survival in the Mississippi Delta, received
six nominations for Film Independent's Spirit Awards, including best feature
and best director for Lance Hammer.

        The film's six nods ties with "Frozen River," a portrait of two
single moms on the Canadian border, and "Rachel Getting Married," the
account of a dysfunctional family wedding, in earning the most nominations.

       "Ballast's" Tarra Riggs was nominated for best female lead, while the
film's JimMyron Ross picked up a nod for best supporting male. The movie
also received a cinematography nomination for Lol Crawley, and director
Hammer earned a nod for best first screenplay.

       Meanwhile, Rosie Perez ("The Take") scored a nomination in the
supporting female category, and Anthony Mackie ("The Hurt Locker") was
nominated for best supporting male.

The Spirit Awards will be handed out Feb. 21.

TINA TURNER PLAYS GARDEN DESPITE FEVER: Celebs turn out to see legend hours after she was hospitalized.

*Anyone who is aware of Tina Turner's history with her ex-husband
Ike knows she has performed through much tougher ailments than flu-like
symptoms.

       However, the 69-year-old dynamo had a fever so high on Monday that
she was hospitalized and put on oxygen hours before her show at New York's
Madison Square Garden - and still managed to rock the house.

       Whoopi Goldberg raved about her the next morning on "The View,"
urging every woman in the audience to go see the show.

       Other celebs attending "An Evening with Tina Turner" Monday night
included Anne Hathaway, Molly Simms, MTV head Toni DiSanto, Tom Cruise and
his wife, Katie Holmes - who were celebrating their second anniversary.

       The stars were brought backstage to meet Turner before the show, but
due to her illness, they were told "no one is to shake her hand, and she
cannot talk before performing [because of the illness]. She's very shy."

       However, Turner not only shook hands but spoke with each guest, noted
the New York Post's Page Six.

'CRIANNA' SUED OVER INCIDENT WITH PAP: Photographer seeking $1 million from Chris Brown and Rihanna over alleged beatdown and stolen camera.

*The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that a photographer is suing
Chris Brown and his girlfriend Rihanna for $1 million after alleging their
bodyguards roughed him up and took off with his camera in May. [Scroll down
to hear 911 call.]

       Luis Santana, 26, is suing to replace the $3,000 camera that was
broken and stolen; to pay for the photos he lost; and compensation for his
injuries and emotional distress, said his attorney, Paul Kimsey.

       On May 6, Brown and Rihanna celebrated his 19th birthday at Vintage
Ultra Lounge in St. Petersburg. Santana took at least one picture of the
stars through an open window of their limo, Kimsey said. Then bodyguards
working for Brown, Rihanna and Vintage Ultra Lounge chased Santana, forced
him to the ground and stole his camera, breaking it in the process,
according to Kimsey.

       The club and three alleged attackers are also named as defendants in
the suit.

       "This is America. It's called the First Amendment. If you're in
public, you're subject to being photographed," Kimsey said. "Everyone is,
celebrity or not."

       The state attorney's office is not prosecuting because witnesses
provided too much conflicting information to identify the suspects beyond a
reasonable doubt, said Bruce Bartlett, chief assistant state attorney.
Police also presented Santana with photos of possible suspects, but he was
unable to make a clear identification, Bartlett said. Instead, he pointed
out the defendant and said the picture "looks like him," Bartlett said.

       Listen to 911 call here
(http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/audio/santana911/).

OBAMA BITS: Bill Richardson chosen as commerce secretary; no pricey ring for
Michelle; David Plouffe to write a book.

       *President-elect Barack Obama officially announced New Mexico Gov.
Bill Richardson as his commerce secretary Wednesday, naming a prominent
Hispanic to his new Cabinet and calling him a leading "economic diplomat for
America" in troubled times. At a Chicago news conference, Obama praised
Richardson's long resume. He served as United Nations ambassador and energy
secretary during the Clinton administration, and he is in his second term as
New Mexico's governor. He also served seven terms in the House of
Representatives.

       *London tabloids reported that President-elect Obama was buying an
expensive rhodium ring from Italian designer Giovanni Bosco for his wife,
Michelle. But Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer quickly dismissed the rumor as
untrue. The office of Giovanni Bosco, reached in northern Italy, also said
the reports were incorrect. The rumor began overseas and quickly ended up on
several American blogs, including the Drudge Report, according to the
Associated Press. The $30,000 ring was rumored to be a "thank you gift" to
the soon-to-be First Lady.

*Barack Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, is writing a book
about the historic election victory and has retained Washington attorney
Robert Barnett, Obama's literary representative, to shop the proposal to
publishers. Tentatively titled "The Audacity To Win," the book will double
as an inside look at the Obama campaign, and a guide for running a
successful an organization. Barnett said the president-elect is aware of and
approves of the book and that it should be ready for release in the fall of
2009.

ITTY BITTY BITS: Rhimes nominated; NFL stars suspended; Nate Dogg's 911
drama; Kilpatrick violates plea deal?

*Shonda Rhimes is among the nominees for the 16th annual Caucus for
Television Producers, Writers and Directors' 2008 honors, to be held Sunday
at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The creator of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and
"Private Practice" will compete against Bill Blinn, David Shore and Matthew
Weiner in the writing category. The Caucus gathers annually to pay tribute
to artistic, creative and exec individuals in television producing
innovative, creative and distinctive contributions.

*Six NFL players were suspended Tuesday for violating the league's
anti-doping policy. New Orleans Saints players Deuce McAllister, Charles
Grant and Will Smith will miss the end of the regular season, as will long
snapper Bryan Pittman of the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings defensive
tackles Kevin and Pat Williams (who are not related). All six were punished
for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

*TMZ.com got hold of the June 23rd 911 call made by Nate Dogg's
estranged wife, Latoya, who said she was being chased by the singer down
LA's 405 Freeway and claimed he was trying to kill her. The artist, born
Nathaniel Hale, was arrested and charged with three felony counts of making
criminal threats and stalking and one misdemeanor count of driving on a
suspended license. Listen to the audio here:
http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/120208_nate_dogg2.mp3.

*Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may have violated his plea
deal by fighting the revocation of his law license. Wayne County Prosecutor
Kym Worthy sent a letter to one of Kilpatrick's lawyers noting that the
surrender of his law license was part of a plea deal that put him behind
bars for 120 days, reports the Detroit Free Press. On Monday, Kilpatrick's
lawyer asked the state Attorney Discipline Board to set aside the revocation
of Kilpatrick's license, arguing that the judge in the ex-mayor's criminal
case overstepped his authority at Kilpatrick's sentencing hearing. Worthy is
now seeking a Dec. 12 probation violation hearing to be heard before
Kilpatrick's sentencing judge.

EVENT CALENDAR: Soulja Boy in toy drive; Lillias White in 'Black-Eyed Pea';
BET examines Chicago gun violence.

       *On Dec. 19, Soulja Boy hosts the centerpiece toy drive event at
Atlanta's Walmart, located on 6149 Old National Highway, reports
Allhiphop.com. In addition to signing autographs and copies of his latest
album "isouljaboytellem.com," the collected toys will be donated to
underprivileged kids and low-income families. The event is part of the 6th
annual Toyz N Da Hood, a toy drive that runs through Dec. 17 at various
Atlanta middle and high schools. Students will compete to collect the most
toys for their school. The winning school will earn a free concert featuring
top rap stars from the region. Last year, the drive succeeded is
disseminating over 20,000 toys. This year's goal is 50,000.

       *The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea - a soulful musical based on the
Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, starring Tony Award winner Lillias White
as a meddling queen - opened Wednesday in a world-premiere production by San
Diego REPertory Theatre at the Lyceum Theatre. Previews began Nov. 23, and
performances play to Dec. 21 in San Diego, CA. The musical is "set in the
heart of two exotic African kingdoms" and concerns "a young princess and her
search for true love." Expect "gospel, funky rhythm and blues, tropical
African world beat and soaring pop ballads" in a show for all ages.

*BET News examines the gun violence tearing apart Chicago
neighborhoods during the half hour documentary special, "Heart of the City:
Chicago's War on Violence," airing Sunday (Dec. 7) at 10 p.m. Through
accounts of parents who have lost children to bullets, police officers on
the frontline, gang mediators and the youth involved in the struggle; the
special serves as a call to end gun violence. In October, the Windy City
made national headlines with the tragic murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother,
brother and nephew.

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