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01-12-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
JILL SCOTT REVEALS PREGNANCY: Singer/actress shows up to HBO press conference in a family way.
*By simply walking on stage to promote her new HBO series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" at the Television Critics Association conference Friday, star Jill Scott revealed she is six months pregnant with her first child.
The film, due to premiere on the network in March, is based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith and was filmed entirely on location in Botswana.
"The first trimester I spent in Botswana," said Scott, who is due April 25. "That was one of the biggest challenges of my life. First trimester! You're sick every morning. It was seven hours time difference, the heat, the bugs, the 14 hour days."
Still, the actress, who is engaged to drummer Lil' John Roberts, says she's glad she went through with the plans to film. "My doctors gave me a clean bill of health and said you can do this, so I did it."
Scott, 36, is a three-time Grammy Award winner and was previously seen on the big screen in Tyler Perry's 2007 film "Why Did I Get Married?"
Click here for more info about HBO's "The No. 1 Ladies Detective
Agency": http://www.hbo.com/events/no1ladies/index.html
BET TAKES REALITY TO NEW 'HEIGHTS': Upcoming series follows young, college-educated African Americans in Harlem. Kanye's ex among cast.
*BET held a session at the Television Critics Association press tour Saturday to promote their upcoming inauguration coverage, introduce a new head of programming and unveil its promising new series following young urban professionals in New York.
This is a historic time,” said BET CEO Debra Lee, speaking to reporters at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
As previously reported, BET will saturate its schedule next week with coverage of the nation's first black president, Barack Obama. In addition to a full day of live reporting from the inauguration on Jan. 20, the network will air two specials: “King to Obama,” looking at the impact the slain civil rights leader had on the president-elect, and “The Obama Effect,” in which a cross-section of African-Americans of different ages and backgrounds “reflect on how Obama’s rise has moved them,” Lee said.
Obama's presence also figures prominently in “Harlem Heights,” BET's upcoming reality show following a group of young college-educated professionals living and working in the New York neighborhood.
In a departure from many reality shows, most of the "Harlem Heights" cast members either knew each other, or knew the show's creators and producers. Among the cast is Brooke Crittendon, a former assistant to MTV News chief David Sirulnick and ex-girlfriend of Kanye West.
During Saturday morning's Q&A session, Brooke tried to keep her famous ex-boyfriend a secret, apparently unaware that the room full of TV critics were all on laptop computers connected to wi-fi and a click away from Wikipedia.
She explained that her reason for doing the show was to repair some of the tabloid damage she endured during her relationship with West.
"I was involved with a very famous rapper for a number of years," she said. "And I worked in the news and documentary department (at MTV). So a lot of our pop news involved myself. But because I sort of played the background to the person that I was dating, I had to go through people saying things about me or just sort of assuming who I was... I just was like, 'I just want to let people know what I really am and what I really do.
I’m not just this person’s girlfriend.'”
When a reporter (likely without a laptop) asked Brooke to reveal the rapper's name, she replied: "Part of my personal journey beyond actually wrapping the show is to not mention that person, because if I’m trying to get from under the shadow of being that person’s girlfriend, I feel like to constantly drop their name and that association is sort of saying, 'Hey, I don’t want you to think I’m just that, but I did used to date this really cool person,' you know what I mean?"
The show was acquired before Obama became the nominee of the Democratic Party, but cameras were rolling on the night of Nov. 4 and captured several of the cast members' emotional reaction to Obama's victory.
“None of us expected the election to be so meaningful to us and the people in Harlem,” said Loretha Jones, BET's new programming president. “We happened to be with these people on Election Night. And you saw their reaction to the election.”
"Harlem Nights" was acquired before Jones joined the network to replace former head of entertainment Reginald Hudlin. Since being named president of entertainment along with Stephen Hill in November, she has enjoyed “a pretty smooth transition” and said “it’s been very easy for me to get inspired about what BET has in store.”
TNT PUTS BARKLEY ON THE BENCH: Move comes following results of blood alcohol test following DUI bust.
*TNT has announced that Charles Barkley will take a leave of absence from his job as NBA commentator following results from blood work taken during his recent DUI arrest.
Barkley refused to take a Breathalyzer test at the scene, but, his blood-alcohol level was found to be 0.149, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to the Gilbert Police Department.
The retired NBA forward was pulled over Dec. 31 in Scottsdale, Ariz., at 1:27 a.m. after officers saw him run a stop sign. During his arrest, Barkley told police he had been on his way to get oral sex—hence his haste—before he was stopped.
"When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understood the significance of this situation," Turner Sports president David Levy wrote in an email to Bloomberg.com.
He's due back in court on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
LIL KIM WANTS NO PART OF 'NOTORIOUS': Faith Evans says Queen Bee's attitude toward biopic is 'just sad.'
*It's no secret that Lil Kim is not supportive of the upcoming film "Notorious," a biopic about her late friend, mentor and lover, Notorious B.I.G.
The pint-sized rapper told Hip-Hop Weekly that she blames Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, and his widow, singer Faith Evans, for what she calls a negative portrayal.
"I've had enough and I'm about to expose them both. ... I've been quiet for a long time," Kim told the magazine. "I'm very disappointed in Faith. There's nothing Faith or Ms. Wallace could do to stop me from reppin'
B.I.G. all day. I'm gonna always do that. ... It's time for Ms. Wallace to be exposed.
"I was not involved in the movie," she continued. "[The filmmakers] never came and asked me anything about Biggie, but again, this was Faith and Ms. Wallace's movie,"
Furthermore, Kim – who has not seen the film – said she thought actress Naturi Naughton was a bad choice to play her and that Jamal Woolard was not the right actor to portray Big.
Naughton, meanwhile, told MTV that she had to make do without Kim's involvement while researching the role.
“I had the guys from Junior Mafia [Biggie’s entourage and labelmates on Bad Boy records] help me out a lot,” Naughton said. “I really just researched on my own. I studied videos and spent time in Brooklyn to get an idea of the mentality.”
When asked about her attempt to contact Lil Kim, Naughton cryptically offered, “I don’t know. I tried to reach out to her. I think there was some conflict. I’m not sure.”
Faith Evans, who was married to Biggie, told MTV.com, “I don’t know what [Kim] wanted. But we all signed the same agreement to be portrayed in the movie.”
"I try my best not to think about it. It's kinda sad," she continued. "I got four kids, and I definitely don't have time for this type of sh**. It's just sad. I don't know Kim's story like that. The part of my life that she was a part of, that's what was in my book. This movie is not relative to my book other than that there are certain things in there. This is not my movie. I didn't write the script. Any characters in the film had to agree for their life rights to be in the movie. I don't think I would have signed anything had I felt I was not portrayed properly. I think she had the opportunity to do that. I could be mistaken. I wasn't there."
"It's not like [the film's producers] are calling Faith to write something about somebody," Evans added. "It's based on a book that I think she participated in as well [Editor's note: 'Notorious' is based on the biography 'Unbelievable: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.,' by Cheo Hedari Coker.] I don't know what to say. I think that beyond myself, Ms. Wallace or whoever else she wants to blame, everyone who was around Big at that time has had some things to say about [her relationship with Biggie] in order for Cheo to even write the book. He interviewed pretty much all of us. She's sadly mistaken. I'm aware of what she has to say, and that's fine. I don't know what to say. God bless her."
FANTASIA CUTS DEAL TO SAVE HOME: Charlotte pad was due to hit the auction block this month over unpaid loan.
*In jeopardy of losing her $1.1 million home in North Carolina, "American Idol" champ Fantasia struck an eleventh-hour deal to keep it off the auction block, reports TMZ.com.
The Broadway star had borrowed $58,000 from Broward Energy Partners to cover her 2006 taxes and has yet to pay them back. The company was due to auction her Charlotte home to recoup the money.
According to TMZ.com, 'Tasia struck a deal with the company and "her home is safe – for now."
R. KELLY'S DIVORCE IS OFFICIAL: Amicable resolution reached between artist and wife of 11 years, Andrea Kelly.
*The marriage between R. Kelly and his wife of 11 years, Andrea Kelly, has finally come to an official end, according to a joint statement released Friday by their attorneys.
"The parties have reached an amicable resolution concerning all issues related to their marriage and will share joint custody of their three children," the lawyers said in announcing that a judgment for a dissolution of marriage was entered Thursday.
"The details of this agreement will remain confidential and the family requests that their privacy be respected during this time," the statement concluded.
The Kellys exchanged vows in 1996. They have two daughters, Jaya and Joann, and a son, Robert Jr. This was R. Kelly's second marriage, counting his five-month union with a then-15-year-old Aaliyah, which was ultimately annulled in February 1995.
'60 MINUTES' TO RELEASE OBAMA DVD: 'Obama All Access' to cover President-elect's path to the White House.
*The folks at "60 Minutes" have announced plans to release a special edition DVD that chronicles President-elect Barack Obama's history-making road to the White House.
The release, titled "Obama All Access," is part of CBS' attempt to use the "60 Minutes" brand to market news-themed DVDs, which have never sold as much as movies or television dramas released in the format.
"We're always looking for the right opportunity to do this, and you couldn't find a better example than the Barack Obama story," said Jeff Fager, executive producer of "60 Minutes."
"Obama: All Access," due the first week of February, is the first time "60 Minutes" has released a special edition DVD with material that never aired on TV which, combined with its four-hour length, sets the DVD apart from other "60 Minutes" discs sold in the past two years, network executives said. Those DVDs contained the latest "60 Minutes" stories, but only as they appeared on the program.
The DVD will show Obama's complete inaugural speech, and other notable campaign speeches. Other features include his first post-election TV interview on "60 Minutes," which drew 25 million viewers, and previously unaired footage such as him talking about Abraham Lincoln in the Illinois statehouse.
The disc also shows Obama behind-the-scenes with family.
KANYE WILLING TO POSE NAKED TO 'BREAK RULES': Artist also says he wants less fans.
*In the new issue of Vibe magazine, Kanye West says he would love to have less fans – more like a core of 20,000 devotees rather than a mass of 100,000 fly-by-night bandwagon followers.
"I made a decision. I wanna make popular music, but I want less fans,"
he told writer Sean Fennessey when asked if he was comfortable with fame. "I want the freedom of having less fans. It's like the freedom of having less money. If you have less money, you have less responsibility.
"It's like Björk. If she wanted to pose naked, you'd be like, 'Oh, that's Björk.' But if I wanted to pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it. I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked. I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture."
West also gave his take on some of his peers, telling the publication that he refuses to say anything negative about fellow performers, but has no problem giving praise where it is due.
"I believe Beyoncé is the greatest performer of our generation," he offered. "I believe I am the greatest entertainer of this generation. I go neck-and-neck on Jay-Z and [Lil] Wayne as far as who's the best lyricist.
Jay-Z has longevity."
SERENA DAZZLES WITH 2.5 MILLION DIAMOND NECKLACE: Oh yeah, and she beat Samantha Stosur in first round of Sydney International.
*After Serena Williams struggled through her first round win over Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 at the Sydney International, she brought a little something extra to the post-match press conference.
Photographers were immediately drawn to her neck, which was adorned with a $2.5 million (US Dollar) necklace sporting 427 diamonds. The bling was given to her by a local jewelry designer in hopes she would wear it on the court.
"I told the jeweler that I would wear it at the press conference because I didn't have the cash to be losing a three and a half million dollar necklace," Williams said with a laugh. "I'm just not comfortable with it and if it fell off I just would have gone for it..... I wouldn't care about the ball."
Williams, the world number two, has worn diamonds on court before, causing some controversy at the 2004 US Open when one of her $40,000 earrings fell off during a match.
PACMAN VOWS RETURN TO DALLAS THIS YEAR: Adam Jones says Cowboys owner may give him another chance after cutting him last week.
*Days after being cut from the Dallas Cowboys, trouble-prone cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones suggested Saturday that he may return to the team next season.
In an interview on CBS' NFL pregame show, the athlete said that not only does he expect to play football in the fall, but "I think I might be back in Dallas."
Host James Brown then asked: "And you have an inkling that Jerry Jones will give you another shot?"
Jones grinned and said, "Yeah, I do," but didn't offer any details to back his assertion.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team had no comment, the Associated Press reported.
Dallas released Jones on Wednesday after a turbulent season in which he was suspended six games for an off-field scuffle and made little impact on the field. The Cowboys had traded for Jones despite the cornerback's suspension for the 2007 season after multiple incidents while with the Tennessee Titans. On Oct. 7, Jones got into a scuffle with a bodyguard who was part of a team-employed security detail.
With his lawyer Robert Langford by his side, Jones was interviewed Saturday via satellite from California. He insisted his troubles were behind him.
"I did have an alcohol problem, but I have addressed the alcohol problem and went to AA," he said. "I went there for 2 1/2 months, going to AA every other week, seeing my counselors every day. Regardless ... I'm doing whatever it takes for me to change my life as a man, you know. Football, I'll always love football and always want to play football, but I still got to take care of myself as a person also."
OBAMA 'STILL CLINGING' TO HIS BLACKBERRY: President-elect not trying to give it up.
*President-elect Barack Obama still hasn't come to grips with the prospect of giving up his last line of direct and instant communication with friends and advisors.
“I’m still clinging to my BlackBerry,” Obama told the New York Times on Wednesday. “They’re going to pry it out of my hands.”
The BlackBerry, which has been attached to his belt for years, is an essential link to keeping him apprised of events outside his ever-tightening bubble.
“This is a concern, I should add, not just of Secret Service, but also lawyers,” Obama said. “You know, this town’s full of lawyers. I don’t know if you’ve noticed.”
As previously reported, Obama is being advised for security reasons and his own legal protection to refrain from sending e-mail during his presidency.
VIDEO VIXENS GET NEW REALITY SHOW: E!'s 'Candy Girls' to spotlight female agent who places women in rap videos.
*Comcast-owned E! Entertainment has given the green light to a reality show that follows the lives of female actresses in rap videos, the network announced Friday in Los Angeles.
"Candy Girls" will focus on a popular agency who specializes in placing female clients in events like the Grammys, the Super Bowl, album release parties, and music video shoots.
Lisa Berger, E! executive VP of programming, says, "This series introduces E!'s entertainment-obsessed viewers to an aspect of the industry that has not previously been revealed. While these women may be recognized for their sexy personas, viewers will find there is much more to them than meets the eye."
E! has ordered eight 30-minute episodes of the show, which will premiere March 8 following the third-season premiere of "Keeping up with the Kardashians."
"Candy Girls" is produced by Good Clean Fun (MTV's "Run's House") in association with Coalition Media.
STEVIE WONDER WANTS MORE GADGETS FOR THE BLIND: Artist plugs 'vision free' devices at Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.
*Stevie Wonder attended the premier Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week to praise innovative "vision-free" devices and urge manufacturers to create more of them.
"Me, I'd like a car I can use to get around," Wonder said when asked by AFP what technology breakthrough is at the top of his wish list. "That may be a long way off."
Wonder praised the fact that the new Apple Nano iPods speak the names of titles in music libraries and feature trademark circular control panel that is simple to navigate by touch. He seeks a device that will listen to snippets of music he happens to hear and then automatically tell him the titles and artists.
On Friday, Wonder handed out Vision Awards to select CES devices for helping the visually-impaired take advantage of digital-age wonders.
"This technology can not only be great for blind people but for people in general," Wonder said. "Anything that is more accessible for us is great for everyone."
CANADIAN NETWORK ON BLAST FOR OBAMA 'RACIST' COMEDY: TV show protested for making racial slurs about president-elect.
*The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. has received a barrage of complaints about a year-end comedy show that made racial slurs about U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama, reports UPI.
The publicly-funded French-language broadcaster's annual "Bye Bye"
comedy television show drew more than 4 million viewers, but also 1,300 complaints about the racial references, Sun Media reported.
In one segment, a comedian said having a black person in the White House "will make it much easier to shoot him" because of the color contrast.
It continued with comments that all blacks look alike and a phony interviewer asking a black man if blacks have large genitals, the report said.
In a statement in response to the avalanche of protests, Sylvain Lafrance, executive vice president of CBC/Radio-Canada French Services, acknowledged things went too far.
"Were we overly lenient in the case of the latest 'Bye Bye?' The answer we've been receiving from the public is a resounding yes, and we've taken note," he said.
FLO RIDA PREPARES SOPHOMORE ALBUM: 'R.O.O.T.S.' due Apr. 7 with first single 'Right Round.'
*Rapper Flo Rida will follow-up his 2008 debut album, "Mail on Sunday," with "R.O.O.T.S." (Routes of Overcoming the Struggle), due April 7 from Poe Boy/Atlantic.
The first single, "Right Round," borrows from Dead Or Alive's 1985 No.
1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and is now streaming on Flo Rida's MySpace page and official Web site.
Collaborators on "R.O.O.T.S" include Dr. Luke, J Rock and DJ Montay, who worked with Flo Rida on the smash hit "Low," reports Billboard.com.
NE-YO TO TAKE 'YEAR' ACROSS U.S.: Tour promoting new album to begin Feb. 5 in Vegas hometown.
*Following a current run through Japan and a two-week European jaunt promoting his new album "Year of the Gentleman," Ne-Yo will launch a U.S. leg of his world tour on Feb. 5 in his hometown of Las Vegas.
The 15-city stateside trek will hit clubs and theaters across the country, with stops planned in Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, New York City and Atlanta.
"Year of the Gentleman," released in September, reached No. 2 on The Billboard 200 and became Ne-Yo's third effort to debut at the top of the R&B/hip-hop albums chart.
So far, the Rat Pack-inspired disc has spawned the hit singles "Closer," "Mad" and "Miss Independent," all of which are streaming at Ne-Yo's MySpace page.
Here are the dates of Ne-Yo's U.S. tour:
February 2009
5 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl at the Palms
6 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
7 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
11 - Miami, FL - Waterfront Theater
13 - New Orleans, LA - Uno Lake Front
14 - Houston, TX - Reliant Center
15 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live
18 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
19 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Theater
20 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
21 - Orlando, FL - Universal Studios
22 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
25 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre
26 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theater
March 2009
1 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
DAMON DASH AND EX FIGHT OVER SON'S SCHOOLING: Plus, mom upset over mogul bringing underage son to club on New Year's Eve.
*The drama between hip-hop mogul Damon Dash and his ex-girlfriend Linda Williams forges on, reports the New York Post, with their 17-year-old son, Damon "Boogie" Jr., again stuck in the middle.
Boogie had lived with Dash in Manhattan since he was 8 and attended the Upper West Side's Dwight School, but he moved to his mother's Long Island home last summer to enroll in a school that fielded a football team.
Last month, the teen went back to live with Dash, and Williams now says his father "refuses to enroll him back in school."
"Out of the blue, my son tells me he wants to live with his father," Williams told Page Six. "He left here Dec. 2 and hasn't been in school since."
A source close to Dash says Boogie should be back in school today now that the holiday break is over, and that the music impresario has been looking for a school for his son since he moved back in.
The insider said, "A woman who had their son taken away years ago has no credibility. Damon was a single father, raising a boy on his own. Linda needs to leave him alone." Williams had sole custody of her son until Boogie was handed over to Dash in 2002.
Williams originally contacted Page Six last week in response to their story about Dash taking their son to The Plumm nightclub to deejay a New Year's Eve gig.
"A child should not be in an adult club that serves alcohol," she fumed. "Did anyone even check my son's ID? His father should stop trying to make a dollar off of him and get him back into high school."
Williams took Dash to court on Dec. 18, charging educational neglect.
The next court date is next week.
"I'm happy for my son that he is pursuing [deejaying] but not at the expense of school," Williams said.
ABC, DISNEY TO AIR OBAMA'S 'NEIGHBORHOOD BALL': Jan. 20 event to feature First Couple's first dance.
*ABC and the Disney Channel have secured exclusive rights to televise two of President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural events, including his first appearance at one of an array of inaugural balls on the night of Jan. 20, reports Variety.
ABC gets exclusive access to "The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration," a first-ever event expected to include Obama and his wife Michelle's first dance of the night, along with performances from musicians and other personalities.
Obama is expected to deliver his first speech of the evening at the event, which will take place at the Washington Convention Center. The ball will also feature webcasting and text messaging to link with neighborhood celebrations around the country.
The night before, on Jan. 19, the Disney Channel will get an exclusive view of "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future," a concert where Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President-elect Joseph Biden, along with their families, are scheduled.
The event will be simulcast on Radio Disney and streamed afterward on Disney.com.
As previously reported, Obama's inaugural committee announced a deal with HBO for the exclusive rights to televise a star-studded inaugural kickoff event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 18. HBO will make the event available for free for all cable subscribers.
SHEREE OF 'ATL HOUSEWIVES' REFLECTS ON SEASON: Aspiring designer talks about fan reaction, criticism, dating and more.
*Sheree Whitfield, one of the stars of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," spoke to People.com about her impending divorce, her upcoming fashion line and the status of her relationship with "Housewives" cast member NeNe.
The show is a bonafide hit. How has your life changed?
My life [is] absolutely fabulous. I have received a lot of positive feedback. I was so amazed at how many people watch the show. I knew the gay guys would watch, but so many straight guys watch it, old men, young men, older women and younger women. I love it! It’s been a great ride so far.
Do you think the show portrayed you accurately?
Hopefully, the editors, [next] time around, will allow people to see more of who I am as a person and instead of everything being so one-sided. I am a mom. I am a sister. I am a daughter. I am friend. I am all of those things and the character on television is not me everyday. There is a softer side to me and I hope the editors relay that next season. I feel they did what they had to do to make a great show and they did that. The ratings are off the chain! That is me that you see, yes, but it’s not who I am everyday.
They focus on one aspect of my personality.
How are your relationships with your cast mates?
The other ladies and I are forever bonded. We are family. We all have very strong personalities and we respect each other.
You and Nene were once great friends and then things took a downward spiral.
What about now?
Nene is fine. But we don’t hang out. We are cordial.
How is your divorce coming? Are you looking forward to being single again?
We are in the final stages of the divorce and the settlement and I cannot wait to be single and hot again! I feel like I am single already because we have been separated for at least three or four years. I am just ready to do my thing and focus on me, my kids, my family and friends.
Does it bother you when people comment on your life?
At first it did bother me. People think they know you just from seeing an hour of your life on television. They think they know your whole story. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes and we all have had a past.
Do you watch The Real Housewives of Orange County?
When I was chosen for the show, I started watching The Real Housewives of Orange County and I thought it was great. They show the ladies in a great light. But, I have not had time to watch the new season. I have been so consumed by everything that I am doing, so I have not had time for television.
It’s rumored that Dorys Erving, the wife of basketball legend Julius “Dr. J”
Erving will join the cast next season. Is that true and has filming begun?
I heard that as well and I think it would be a great addition to the show. I am completely open. We have not started filming the second season yet, but it’s coming soon.
How is your fashion line, SHE by Sheree, coming?
It’s awesome. It is a fall ‘09 delivery and I am excited about it. That is what I am. I am fashion. It’s second nature to me. I am also writing a book and doing a workout video. To have gone through the things that I have gone through and be where I am today and shine it’s great. 2009 is Sheree’s year.
QUEEN PEN WANTS TOUGHER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS: Rapper to hold press conference on Friday.
*Rapper and domestic violence survivor Queen Pen will host a press conference/rally on Friday (Jan. 16) to push for tougher domestic violence legislation in New York, reports Allhiphop.com.
Last January Queen Pen, born Lynise Walters, was a victim of domestic violence herself when she was severely beaten and rendered unconscious in a home invasion incident with an ex-boyfriend.
The brutal beating resulted in the rapper nearly being killed and requiring reconstructive surgery.
The ex-boyfriend and father of two of Queen Pen’s children remains at large. Before the last attack, Queen Pen had secured five orders of protections since 2005.
“It took 31 minutes for police to respond to a 911 call," Queen Pen told AllhipHop.com. "If my life is taken away or I can't provide for my children, who's going to take care of them?"
Supporters that will be present for the rally include NY Senator Eric Adams, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Executive VP of the NY Board of Rabbis-Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, and retired Knick/activist John Starks.
New Hip-Hop artist Lil Mama and Greg King (father of the late Julian King, nephew of Jennifer Hudson, and representing the Hudson-King
Foundation) will serve as special invited guests.
The event will take place at 4 p.m. at the Denim Lounge, 1223 Bedford Ave in Brooklyn.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Obama loves Wii: Richie denies 'Gossip Girl' role; Beasties to reissue 'Paul's Boutique.'
*In addition to visiting local D.C. landmark Ben's Chili Bowl and taking in a movie with his wife and two daughters, President-elect Barack Obama has also been busy playing with one of his daughter's Christmas gifts – a Nintendo Wii. According to The New York Times, Obama's game of choice is virtual bowling.
*A rep for Nicole Richie is denying reports that she's scheduled to guest star on "Gossip Girl." The famous daughter of Lionel Richie was rumored to follow up her guest turn on NBC's "Chuck" last October with a similarly snooty role on the season finale of "Gossip Girl," slated to air later this year. But Richie's rep tells UsWeekly.com that the claims are "not true."
*The Beastie Boys will reissue their 1989 album "Paul’s Boutique," the trio confirmed via their Web site. The Dust Brothers-produced album was not a commercial success at the time of its release, but has since grown in popularity and is currently certified double platinum. The project, which boasts over 100 samples throughout its 15 tracks, preceded the genre altering copyright lawsuit of singer Gilbert O’Sullivan (Grand Upright Music) vs. Biz Markie (Warner Bros. Records) that required sample clearance.
BALTIMORE MAYOR SHEILA DIXON INDICTED: Official accused of stealing gift cards; failing to report luxury items.
*Following a nearly three-year state investigation, Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore was indicted Friday and charged with committing perjury, theft, fraudulent misappropriation and misconduct in office.
The Democrat, and first woman to be elected mayor of Baltimore, was accused of stealing gift cards donated to the city for needy families and failing to report trips, fur coats and other luxuries paid for by a local developer who was her former boyfriend, reports the Associated Press.
The indictment covers a period from 2003, when she was City Council president, until shortly after she became the mayor of Baltimore in 2007.
She is charged with using at least $2,000 in donated gift cards for Target and Best Buy to buy a digital camcorder, a PlayStation 2, an Xbox 360 and other electronic devices for her personal use and failing to disclose her trips to New York, Chicago and other places with a prominent developer, Ronald H. Lipscomb.
City ethics laws require elected officials to disclose gifts from people doing business with the city. Lipscomb’s company, Doracon, a minority subcontractor, often works on developments that receive city tax breaks.
After state prosecutors raided the mayor’s home last summer, carting away boxes and other items, Dixon admitted having had a “personal relationship” with Mr. Lipscomb in 2003 and 2004 after both had separated from their spouses. The mayor said the relationship had not influenced her “decisions related to matters of city government.”
Lipscomb and a City Council member, Helen Holton, were indicted this week on bribery charges, but their indictment did not mention Dixon.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Not Easily Broken
Marriage Vows Tested in Faith-Based Drama from Bishop T.D. Jakes
Film Review by Kam Williams
*No matter how hard he tries, Dave Johnson (Morris Chestnut) can do nothing to satisfy his wife, Clarice (Taraji Henson).
She's one of those sassy sisters who has never learned to cut a brother any slack.
The trouble is that she was raised by a single-mom (Jenifer Lewis) who showed her father no respect. So Clarice is simply treating her Dave in the same man-hating fashion she was raised to believe ever guy deserves.
Compounding the problem is the fact that she makes more money than her husband. You see, she's a successful realtor who has recently been named salesperson of the year.
And her man, by contrast, had to settle with being a general contractor after an injury ended his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.
It doesn't help matters any that Dave is impatient to start a family after ten years of marriage, while materialistic Clarice just wants to make more money in order to be able to continue to afford to live in the lap of luxury. The net result is that, as the breadwinner, she feels entitled to criticize her hubby constantly, especially about what she sees as his lack of ambition.
Dave, however, enjoys hanging with his pals, ladies man Brock (Eddie Cibrian) and equally-henpecked Tree (Kevin Hart), with whom he coaches a little league team. Everything changes the day Clarice is seriously injured in a car accident which occurs right while she is in the midst of nagging him.
First, Dave's insufferable mother-in-law moves in with them, which means he now has to hear double the nagging. So, it's no surprise that his head might be turned by Julie (Maeve Quinlan), the friendly physical therapist making regular visits to the house to assist his wife in rehabilitating her leg.
Thus, "Can this marriage be saved?" is the question at the heart of Not Easily Broken, a dysfunctional family drama directed by Bill Duke. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by televangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes who, by the way, makes a cameo appearance, here, along with his wife, Serita.
The picture is every bit as compelling as Jakes' previous screen adaptation, Woman Thou Art Loosed, another morality play revolving around the battle-of-the-sexes. This flick, however, is a little lighter in tone, given that the marital tension is intermittently offset by comic relief coming mostly courtesy of trash-talking Tree and Clarice's colorful colleague Michelle Niecy Nash.
But the humorous asides in no way interfere with the ability of the modern parable to drive home a sobering message about the sanctity of marriage. Faith-based entertainment at its best that you don't have to be Born Again to appreciate.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes and sexual references.
Running time: 99 minutes
Studi Screen Gems
To see a trailer for Not Easily Broken, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCDU6TzoV8E
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"We’ve got to have a dream if we are going to make a dream come true." — Denis Waitley
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Jan. 12: Trumpeter Cynthia Robinson of Sly and the Family Stone is 63. Singer-keyboardist George Duke is 63. Rapper Raekwon of Wu Tang Clan is 39. Singer Amerie is 29.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Black College Wire is a news service promoting the journalistic work of students at predominantly black colleges (www.blackcollegewire.org).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Jan. 12, 1965: Lorraine Hansberry, author and dramatist, dies. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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