03-06-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
CHRIS BROWN ARRAIGNMENT POSTPONED: Artist due back in court on April 6; more details regarding altercation with Rihanna.
*A Los Angeles judge has granted a request from Chris Brown's attorney to postpone his arraignment until April 6 at 8:30 a.m., according to local reports.
The 19-year-old pop star was officially charged Thursday morning with assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats in connection with the alleged beating of his girlfriend, singer Rihanna. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted of the two felonies.
Sporting a gray suit with a white button up shirt and flanked by his lawyer Mark Geragos, Brown arrived on time for his scheduled 3:30 p.m. arraignment to a horde of media cameras and photographers.
Geragos asked the judge to postpone his arraignment until April 6th. Chris signed a waiver allowing Garagos to appear in court on his behalf. But the judge ordered him to appear on April 6, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Rihanna's lawyer was also present in the courtroom. He shook Brown's hand at one point and said, "nice to see you again."
Brown was also placed on a 60 day protective order. The judge said he is not allowed to "annoy or harass" anyone. He remains free on $50,000 bond.
Prosecutors said Brown attacked Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, the night before the Grammy Awards last month. She was referred to in the official complaint as "Robyn F."
The first count claims that he "did willfully and unlawfully commit an assault on Robin F by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury."
A second count of criminal threats states that Brown "unlawfully threatened to commit a crime with which [sic] would result in death and great bodily injury to Robin F. with the specific intent that the statement be taken as a threat."
"It is further alleged that the threatened crime on its face value and under its circumstances in which it was made was so unequivocally and unconditional and specific to convey to Robin F a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution."
The documents also allege that "the said Robin F was reasonably in sustained fear of his/she [sic] safety and the safety of his/her immediate family."
The charges were filed a week after Brown and Rihanna, who dated for about a year, were reported to have reconciled.
Meanwhile, LAPD detective notes from a search warrant in the case detail the events leading up to the alleged beating. [Read the original document here, courtesy of SmokingGun.com:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0305093brown1.html]
According to Los Angeles police Detective De Shon Andrews, the two began arguing in Brown's rented Lamborghini after Rihanna read a three-page text message from a woman with whom he had previous sexual relations. Brown allegedly tried forcing Rihanna out of the car but couldn't because she was wearing her seat belt.
Brown then allegedly shoved Rihanna's head against the passenger window, "causing an approximate one inch raised circular contusion." When Rihanna turned to face him, Brown punched her, then continued punching her while driving, according to the detective's notes.
Blood spattered all over Rihanna's clothing and in the interior of the car. Her mouth was filled with blood. Brown allegedly told Rihanna, "I'm going to beat the **** out of you when we get home. You wait and see."
Andrews also writes that Brown tried to choke Rihanna after she took the keys to his car away. Andrews wrote that Rihanna nearly lost consciousness but also tried to fight back while in the car, at one point trying to gouge at Brown's eyes.
Rihanna, according to the notes, pretended to call her assistant and leave a message saying, "I am on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there." Brown then replied, "You just did the stupidest thing ever. I'm going to kill you."
According to the report, Brown continued to punch Rihanna, bit her on her ear, her fingers and put her in a headlock – causing her to nearly lose consciousness.
E! News is reporting that Rihanna's $11,000 strapless Gucci gown, on loan to the superstar for Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy Gala, was among the evidence turned over to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office because it contained blood stains.
The Web site also learned that, just hours after the alleged attack, the LAPD filed an emergency protective order—at Rihanna's request—barring Brown from having any contact with her. The order expired five days later, according to sources.
"Access Hollywood" reported yesterday that Brown was photographed at 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning arriving at Rihanna's temporary L.A. residence via limo.
RIHANNA TOLD POLICE BROWN ABUSED HER BEFORE: Plus, Rihanna's dad comments on the felony assault charges.
*The night she was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend Chris Brown, pop superstar Rihanna reportedly told police that it wasn't the first time he had been violent toward her.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, Rihanna said Brown had put hands on her in the past and that the attacks were getting "more violent" as time went on, reports TMZ.com.
The Web site is also reporting that the leaked photo showing her bruises is mild compared to other evidence photos. "We've learned additional pics were taken on Feb. 9, the day after the attack, and they are far more gruesome -- the bruises and swelling far more pronounced."
Meanwhile, Us Magazine interviewed Rihanna's dad shortly after Brown was formerly charged Thursday with assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats.
Ronald Fenty said of Brown: "Justice can never be served in this situation. …He can't feel the pain she felt."
Below is a transcript of Mr. Fenty's entire interview with
UsMagazine.com:
US: What was your reaction after hearing Chris Brown was charged with two felonies?
Fenty: I don't know how to react. Chris is a very talented guy. I still think he's a little immature for Rihanna. Justice can never be served in this situation. He can't feel the pain she felt. I don't believe in hitting a woman. I hope everything works out better for them. I don't feel happy or sad. He's in the court's hands. Let justice prevail.
US: Have you seen the new police report that details Brown biting, hitting and threatening to kill Rihanna?
Fenty: I haven't seen anything. I hear so many things. I don't know what to believe until I see it myself. Rihanna's mother is telling me that she hasn't heard anything from her [Rihanna]. She said the last she heard Rihanna was well.
US: If those reports are true, how upset are you?
RF: I don't know what to say, honest to god. I've been hearing so many stories. I don't feel any pain anymore. I've gone numb. I've heard so much. But I can't get on to her. Her mother can't get on to her, her brother told me she changed her email. Somebody has a stranglehold on her. I'm lost.
US: I know you've been speaking with your daughter over text. Is she no longer reachable?
RF: I'll text the old numbers she had, and I call them. One girl answered, and she said, "This is not Robin's number anymore." I asked, "Do you work for Robin? Do you deal with Robin?" And the girl hung up, so I don't know what's going on anymore. I'm lost.
US: What was her last text to you?
RF: [She] said, "Daddy, I miss you." And that's it. And I could not reply. I saw a number and texted back, "I miss you too." And I didn't get another reply from her.
US: Obviously, you still support her.
RF: Yes, of course. Anyone in my family, I'm there for them. All of my kids, I'm there for them. Rihanna's no exception. All of them I would support. I would tell them where they go wrong, I'd chastise them when they do s--t, but to be honest with you they have their own life to live.
US: What would you say to Chris Brown if you saw him today?
RF: I would tell Chris, "Don't ever try again, don't even think about it." I'm hurt and disturbed at that scenario.
IT'S OFFICIAL – MIJAC TO PERFORM IN LONDON: Singer says July shows at O2 will be his 'final curtain call'; plus singer sues auction house.
*Pumping his fist and looking ripe for a comeback, Michael Jackson appeared at London's 02 Arena yesterday to announce a series of July concerts at the venue that he says will be his last ever in the city.
[Scroll down to watch clip.]
"Thank you all," he told the enthusiastic crowd assembled at O2. "This is it. I just want to say that these will be my final shows in London. When I say this is it, this really means this is it."
Sporting dark shades and a black embroidered shirt, Jackson stood behind a red podium that read "King of Pop – Michael Jackson – This is It."
He added, "This is the final curtain call. I'll see you in July and I love you. You have to know that."
Jackson did not confirm the number of performances to take place, nor whether he would perform in the U.S. or elsewhere in Europe. However, Billboard.com reported Wednesday that the first 10 O2 dates will begin July
9 and the run will be extended as long as demand dictates. The shows will be promoted by AEG Live, which also put together Prince's record-setting run of 21 sellouts at the O2 that grossed more than $22 million.
His last UK performance was at the 2006 World Music Awards, when he sang a few lines of "We Are the World" before leaving the stage.
In other MiJac news, the King of Pop filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday seeking to stop the planned auction of more than 2,000 of his personal items over five days next month.
The singer's company, MJJ Productions, is suing Julien's Auction House claiming founder Darren Julien promised to send him an inventory of sale items, but that the singer hasn't given permission to move them all.
MJJ Productions authorized the auction house to remove the items from Jackson's Neverland Ranch, according to court documents, but not to sell them without Jackson's permission.
"There was no other intention when we picked up the items" but to put them up for sale, Julien said. He said that Jackson's camp had since requested some items be returned, which the firm honored.
Jackson's suit claims many of the items are "priceless and irreplaceable" and describes the attempt to sell them as "malicious, fraudulent, extreme, outrageous and without any legal justification whatsoever."
Julien said Wednesday night that the lawsuit was a "total surprise to us, because Jackson had been apprised of everything since the day we started. His manager ... has approved everything."
Among the items up for bid are his American Music Award for "Thriller," a velvet cape given to him by his children for Father's Day in 1998, a pair of rhinestone-trimmed socks from 1981 and a basketball signed by Michael Jordan.
Michael Jackson Announces "This Is It" Shows [His entrance is at 4:50] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKaySqh1XPU
TONI BRAXTON IMPOSTER CAUSES RIOT: Real singer threatening to sue South American promoter who scammed concert goers.
*Toni Braxton ran straight to her lawyers after learning that a concert promoter in the Republic of Suriname attempted to pass off an imposter as the real singer during a show over the weekend.
Trina Johnson, the fake Braxton who took the stage, claims her contract specifically stated she was hired to do an "imitation act" and was unaware concert-goers were led to think otherwise.
When fans found out the woman on stage was not the real deal, a mini riot broke out, complete with bottles being thrown at the stage and looting of the venue's bars. Johnson had to be escorted from the area by security guards, according to Caribbean Net News.
Perhaps more upset than the duped fans is Toni Braxton herself, who is reportedly consulting with lawyers to file an official complaint against the promotions company for "victimizing" her fans, reports TMZ.com.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the event hoax, but the promoter, Angel Ventura from Events 4 Suriname, and his assistant have disappeared, fleeing without paying local sponsors, organizations and stage personnel hired for the concert.
Police spokesman Humphrey Naarden says, "This is a clear cut case of fraud."
Braxton's rep tells TMZ: "Toni Braxton is aware of what happened and is obviously displeased with what happened. She regrets that both she and her fans have been victimized by this hoax. Ms. Braxton's attorneys are exploring the legal ramifications."
SASHA AND MALIA GET A SWING SET: Girls come home Wednesday to find mini playground on the south lawn; plus Michelle volunteers at D.C. soup kitchen.
*First Daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, were pleasantly surprised Wednesday after returning home from school to discover a new swing set/playhouse sitting on the White House lawn.
They squealed with delight upon seeing it, said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama. With Mom and Dad Barack Obama in tow, "they ran right for it. They were really, really excited. All four of them."
According to the Huffington Post, the president and first lady had the set installed on the south grounds of the White House within sight of the Oval Office, where their father spends plenty of time.
The 100 percent cedar and North American Redwood structure has four swings, including a tire swing, a slide, a fort, a climbing wall and climbing ropes. There's also a picnic table with brass plates etched with the names of all 44 presidents, said McCormick Lelyveld.
The girls played on the set for almost an hour in chilly weather, she said. Their mother went for a swing, too.
The Obamas used their own money to pay for the set, which was made and installed by Rainbow Play Systems
(http://www.rainbowplay.com/index.php/swing-sets/) of Brookings, S.D. The company's Web site says it's the most trusted brand name in wooden swing sets.
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama spent some time Thursday serving food at a D.C. soup kitchen.
After scooping out mushroom risotto, steamed broccoli, apple-carrot muffins, and fresh fruit salad for about 50 guests at Miriam's Kitchen, the first lady urged every American to donate food to local neighborhood shelters – particularly healthy items, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
The visit was part of an ongoing effort by Mrs. Obama to connect with the Washington community and to reach out to various city organizations, according to her office.
DID CHRIS BROWN ORCHESTRATE JET SKI PHOTOS?: Rep denies tipping off photographers to capture joyride.
*Word has it that Chris Brown himself masterminded the photo op that yielded those infamous pictures of him on a jet ski outside of Diddy's Miami Beach mansion, but a rep for the pop star says the rumor is false – "to her knowledge."
Brown was charged Thursday with felony assault and making a criminal threat stemming from an alleged attack on his girlfriend, Rihanna. The charges arrived about a week after the pair met up at the Star Island home of Sean "Diddy" Combs to reconcile. Photographers just happened to be on the scene to capture Brown riding a jet ski with friends on Diddy's property.
A source told the New York Post, "Chris tipped off the photographers. He needs it to be out there that he and Rihanna are back together. His only chance for a career was if she got back together with him, and he wanted people to see them there."
But a spokesperson for the star has brushed off the claim, insisting, "To my knowledge this is not true."
DALLAS COWBOYS CUT TERRELL OWENS: Move follows another failed playoff run and public skirmishes with Romo and Witten.
*The party is apparently over for Terrell Owens in Dallas. ESPN and the Dallas Morning News reported late Wednesday that the Cowboys released the prolific wide receiver following a three-year, drama-filled run.
At press time, an official word from owner Jerry Jones had yet to be announced. However, Dallas Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd said T.O. sent him a text message late Wednesday confirming he was no longer part of America's Team.
"He didn't give me an explanation. He just said, `Wow,'" Hurd told the Associated Press Thursday. "I really didn't believe that he seen that coming."
Hurd said Owens' reaction was "more shock than anger."
"He said it's tough, but it's a business," Hurd said.
Owens, a 13-year NFL veteran, scored 38 touchdowns in just three years with the team but clashed with quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten last season during a disappointing 9-7 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs.
The 35-year-old, six-time Pro Bowler was vocal about his discontent with his role in the offense during a season in which he had 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns, his lowest output with the team.
EDDY CURRY COUNTERSUES FORMER DRIVER: Knicks center fires back at man suing him for sexual harassment.
*New York Knicks center Eddy Curry, the current target of a sexual harassment lawsuit by his former driver, has filed a countersuit claiming the man and his lawyers spread details of confidential settlement discussions.
Curry seeks more than $50,000 in damages from Dave Kuchinsky, his lawyers Leslie Levine and Matthew Blit, and their New York-based firm, Levine and Blit, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court.
According to the Associated Press, Curry claims the attorneys briefed reporters on settlement talks that were supposed to remain private. The leaked details, which included that Kuchinsky's attorneys challenged Curry to take a lie detector test, have "negatively impacted (Curry's) future NBA employment and endorsements," according to the lawsuit.
Kuchinsky sued in U.S. District Court in Manhattan in January, contending Curry owes him $98,000 in back pay and expenses, exposed himself and referred to his Jewish heritage in a derogatory way, calling him a "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK."
Curry has denied the accusations and portrayed the lawsuit against him as a desperate ploy for money by Kuchinsky, who was his employee for three years ending last October. His lawsuit also wants a judge to order Kuchinsky and his lawyers not to discuss the case publicly.
HOLLYWOOD TUSSAUDS TO OPEN WITH BEYONCE, FOXX: Artists among first exhibits for newest U.S. venue.
*Wax replicas of Beyonce and Jamie Foxx will be among the first on display at the forthcoming Madame Tussauds Hollywood, which is scheduled to open later this year, reports Variety.
Construction has already begun on the $55 million project, part of the U.S. division of Merlin Entertainments Group.
Los Angeles architect Michael Rotondi was hired to design the 40,000-square-foot building located at Hollywood Blvd. and Orange Drive.
The Hollywood location's grand opening will coincide with the 200th anniversary of Madame Tussauds. Other locations include London, Amsterdam, Las Vegas, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Washington and Berlin.
LIL WAYNE ADDS MORE TOUR DATES: Fresh round of spring shows extend 'I Am Music' trek into early April.
*Lil Wayne will remain on the road a little longer after announcing 15 added dates to his current "I Am Music' tour."
The spring leg launches March 17 in Providence, RI, and will continue on through early April, with a final show April 10 in Hoffman Estates, IL. The full itinerary is listed below.
The hip-hop artist is touring in support of his double-platinum June release, "Tha Carter III," which topped the list of 2008's best-selling albums with nearly 3 million copies sold.
On Tuesday (March 3), an Atlanta judge dismissed felony drug charges against Lil Wayne stemming from an August 2006 arrest in which police found him in a hotel room with Xanax, hydrocodone and marijuana. He still faces charges in Arizona for a January 2008 arrest, as well as a 2007 weapons charge in New York.
Also, the rapper has been hit with a $1.3 million lawsuit by a Rochester, NY, promoter over three shows Wayne cancelled at the Blue Cross Arena for which he received a $100,000 advance.
Below is Lil Wayne's updated tour schedule:
March 2009
17 - Providence, RI - Dunkin' Donuts Center
19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
20 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
21 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
22 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
23 - Oklahoma City, OK - Cox Business Services Convention Center
25 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
27 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion At San Jose
28 - Las Vegas, NV - Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
29 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheater at University CityWalk 30 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena
April 2009
4 - Honolulu, HI - Neal S Blaisdell Arena
6 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center Omaha
10 - Hoffman Estates, IL - Sears Center Arena
STRAHAN PUTS LOJACK ON GIRLFRIEND?: Retired NFL star reportedly found out she was cheating and got paranoid.
*Michael Strahan reportedly installed a tracking device in the car of his girlfriend, Nicole Murphy, after he suspected her of cheating.
Murphy, the ex-wife of comedian Eddie Murphy, is rumored to be creeping with Universal Records A&R exec Demetrius Spencer. Introduced by a mutual friend, Murphy had been "hiding" her affection for Spencer from Strahan "for almost a year," sources told the New York Post.
Using the excuse of "business trips," a source said, Spencer and Murphy would jet off to exotic getaways in the Caribbean and Mexico. For several months, the couple had exchanged flirtatious e-mails, professing their love for each other. In the notes, some of which were obtained by The Post, Murphy told Spencer she planned to come clean to Strahan about their relationship.
Murphy also began to suspect Strahan was checking up on her. There were "too many instances where he knew where she was," said a source.
According to the Post, things came to a head Feb. 20, after Spencer and Murphy took her Range Rover to a luxury dealership in Thousand Oaks, Calif.. Mechanics quickly discovered the tracking apparatus.
"This is the second tracking device he's had put in her car," one source said. "This one was found behind the front dashboard."
Murphy and Spencer went to have lunch while the tracer - which one source said provided up-to-the-minute location status - was removed. Seconds later, Strahan barged into the garage, "yelling and screaming," a source said. Spotting Murphy's car with the tracking device exposed, Strahan walked over, ripped it off the dashboard and stormed out of the shop.
Spencer and Murphy subsequently called it quits, but remain friends, said one source. In her e-mails, Murphy wrote she was reluctant to split with Strahan because he'd grown close to her kids, the Post reports.
FANTASIA CONFIRMED FOR D.C. 'PURPLE' RUN: 'Idol' winner will return to Celie role for five-week Kennedy Center engagement.
*It's official, "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino will return to the role of Celie when the national tour of The Color Purple arrives at the Kennedy Center in June.
Barrino, who earned a Theatre World Award for making her critically acclaimed Broadway debut in the musical, will join the road cast for its five-week engagement in Washington, D.C., June 30-Aug. 2.
The cast of The Color Purple national tour currently features Kenita R. Miller (Celie), Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields (Sofia), Angela Robinson (Shug Avery), Rufus Bonds, Jr. (Mister), Stu James (Harpo), LaToya London (Nettie), Stephanie St. James (Squeak), as well as Lynette DuPree, Kimberly Ann Harris, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Adam Wade, Carol Dennis, Brian Harlan Brooks, Darius Crenshaw, Quentin Earl Darrington, Lesly Terrell Donald, Anika Ellis, Doug Eskew, André Garner, Stephanie Guiland-Brown, LaTrisa A. Harper, Phyre Hawkins, Dameka Hayes, LaTonya Holmes, Chauncey Jenkins, Grasan Kingsberry, Reva Rice, Horace V. Rogers, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden and Hollie E. Wright.
Tickets for the Kennedy Center engagement are currently on sale by phoning (800) 444-1324 or by visiting KennedyCenter. For further information visit www.colorpurple.com.
NAS GRANTS WISH OF AILING 13-YEAR-OLD: Rapper was to meet Pennsylvania native last night through Make-A-Wish.
*Nas is teaming with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill the dream of a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with Duchenne, a form of muscular dystrophy that normally kills patients by their 20s.
According to Pennsylvania's Patriot News, Hicks' ultimate wish is to meet the Queens rapper. The child’s grandfather, Milton Watson, informed the newspaper that Darnell is expected to undergo surgery this spring to correct a worsening scoliosis condition.
Hicks, of Susquehanna Township of Pennsylvania, was diagnosed with Duchenne at age 2. He has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of 10, but still fought last year to be allowed participation in his middle school choir.
Through Make-A-Wish, Hicks was to be flown out yesterday (March 5) to Los Angeles, where he’ll attend his favorite rapper’s concert and meet him backstage. Also, Hicks' trip includes stops at Universal Studios and Disneyland.
EMINEM PROMISES TO 'RELAPSE' IN MAY: Interscope finally sets a firm release date for rapper's next album.
*Eminem's label Interscope released a statement Thursday proclaiming May 19th as the release date for his upcoming album, "Relapse," with a single and video set to premiere on April 7.
A second 2009 release, "Relapse 2," has yet to set a street date, however, Em said in the statement that he's currently recording tracks for the album to drop in the second half of this year.
"A lot of people were expecting 'Relapse' to drop last year," Eminem said in the press release. "I was one of them. Then Dre and I went back in the studio in September for a few days, and that turned into six months. We were on such a roll; we wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dre. Putting out 'Relapse 2' will let everyone get all of the best stuff."
Last year, Em dropped a freestyle called "I'm Having a Relapse" while promoting his autobiography, "Eminem: The Way I Am." In January, the Detroit native released "Crack a Bottle," which has already reached No. 1 on Billboard. The video for that hit should drop soon, MTV reports.
TYRESE GETS CAREER ADVICE FROM WILL SMITH: Plus, Smith seeks original Karate Kid to advise Jaden for remake.
*Tyrese Gibson says he will forgo his music roots and focus entirely on his acting career after getting some advice from fellow artist-turned actor Will Smith.
"Black Ty" told WENN, "I had one of the heaviest and deepest conversations with Will Smith and he said to me, 'Tyrese, you are 29 years old, and I just turned 40... If you take this acting thing serious for the next three years it's gonna change your life forever.' So I shut down everything on the music side and I lost about forty six pounds training with Will Smith and his trainer Darrel Forster, and it's just pure film focus now man.
"Everyone in music is trying to transition into Hollywood. I figure I'm here with Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg and all the other A-listers, I can't take the situation for granted anymore, and keep doing movies and music and music and movies... going back and forth. So I just cleared out everything that's got to do with music. I'll totally focus on acting and see how far this takes me."
Meanwhile, Smith has reached out to "The Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio and requested that he advise son Jaden on portraying the lead role in an upcoming remake.
The "Men In Black" star is producing the movie and wants his 10-year-old son to hear from the actor who originated the role in the 1980s.
Macchio tells E! News: "It was very cool. He called and said, 'Would you mind getting on the phone with my son?' I felt like Yoda to young Skywalker. (Jaden was) adorable and completely respectful and excited. I just told him to have fun. That was my advice."
ITTY BITTY BITS: Shonda Rhimes' 'Box'; 'Inked Baby' opening; Terry Lyne Carrington album; Kim K hosts Simmons event;
*Shonda Rhimes' new Washington-set drama "Inside the Box" just landed its lead. British actress Indira Varma will star in the ABC pilot as a hard-working producer at a network news bureau. It's her third series regular role on American TV, following HBO's "Rome" and CBS' short-lived "3 Lbs." Per The Hollywood Reporter, Varma's character, Catherine, is "fast-talking, whip-smart and wound a little too tight." In the pilot, she will get passed over for a promotion she believes she deserves. The show's cast also includes Jason George ("Eli Stone").
*The world premiere of Christina Anderson's Inked Baby, starring Tony Award winner LaChanze, is currently in previews at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater Off-Broadway (416 West 42nd St.). Stuck for money and unable to conceive, Gloria (LaChanze) enlists the aid of her sister (Angela Lewis) to make the child that she and her husband (Damon Gupton) can't. As they uneasily await the baby's arrival, a mysterious contamination spreads outside. But consumed by their own struggles, is anyone paying attention? The play opens March 23 and ends April 5. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online via TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 or at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street.
*E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records) is set to release Terri Lyne Carrington's new album, "More to Say... (Real Life Story: NextGen)," on May 5. The set encompasses a broad range of musical styles, including funk, silky smooth R&B, Neo-Soul, Latin, and classic jazz. Carrington executive produced, arranged and wrote or co-wrote most of the 15 tracks. Guests include George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Patrice Rushen, Jimmy Haslip, Gregoire Maret, Christian McBride, Danilo Perez, Dwight Sills, Chuck Loeb, Walter Beasley, Anthony Wilson, Robert Irving III and Terri Lyne's saxophonist father, Sonny Carrington, on her original, "Papa San."
*Kim Kardashian is scheduled to host Russell Simmons', Danny Simmons' and Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation's Second Annual Art For Life Miami Beach Benefit on Saturday, March 14 at the Fontainebleau. The event will honor Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the Rubell Family Collection and Chairman of the Fontainebleau Resorts, and Jeffery Soffer for their work in supporting youth arts education and improving the lives of others. Wyclef Jean and Dwayne Johnson are among the celebs scheduled to appear. Proceeds will go to the Miami Dade County community via art program grants servicing disadvantaged youth. To purchase a table for a party of 10, pricing ranges from $7,500 to $15,000. Individual tickets range from $500 to $1,000. Each ticket includes admission to 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, 8 p.m. dinner, program and live auction, followed by dancing from 10 p.m. to midnight.
BLACK RNC MEMBER WANTS STEELE OUTSTED: Committeewoman tired of chairman's 'bling' slang and other 'language trying to be cool.'
*His chair as head of the Republican National Committee is not even warm yet, and already Michael Steele is being pressured to resign.
The latest call comes from RNC member, Dr. Ada Fisher, North Carolina's national committeewoman and one of three black members of the national committee, reports TheHill.com. In an e-mail to fellow RNC members obtained by The Hill, Fisher said Steele is "eroding confidence" in the GOP and that members of his transition team should encourage him to step aside.
Fisher added Steele's personal e-mail address to the e-mail.
"I don't want to hear anymore [sic] language trying to be cool about the bling in the stimulus package or appealing to D.L. Hughley and blacks in a way that isn't going to win us any votes and makes us frankly appear to many blacks as quite foolish," Fisher wrote.
Fisher backed South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, whom Steele edged out in the final round of voting to win the chairmanship in late January. She has voiced repeated opposition to Steele, sending dozens of e-mails to committee members even after Steele won election slamming him for any number of chips that have fallen awry.
Fisher’s call for Steele’s resignation comes amid growing frustration in the GOP that the new chairman’s repeated gaffes are hurting the party. Steele appeared over the weekend on Hughley's CNN show, where he fought back against the assertion that radio host Rush Limbaugh was the "de facto leader" of the Republican Party. Steele said he himself was the de facto leader and called Limbaugh an entertainer whose program's content was "incendiary" and "ugly."
On Monday, Limbaugh shot back, saying on his show that Steele was not the leader of the party and that many conservatives would "hang up" when Steele's RNC came calling for contributions.
Calling the Limbaugh-Steele clash a "Republican Horror Show," Fisher expressed what some other GOP strategists have until now only said privately: "I have never seen such ineptness in our GOP leadership," Fisher wrote. "And I thought we handled the 2008 elections very poorly."
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening March 6, 2009
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Watchmen (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity and graphic violence) Sci-fi thriller, based on the graphic comic book series of the same name, about a group of vigilantes determined to avenge the murder of a crime-fighting superhero. Ensemble cast includes Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
12 (PG-13 for violence, mature themes, disturbing images, brief sexuality, drug references and smoking) Russian remake of the Sidney Lumet classic 12 Angry Men revolves around the deliberations of a jury deciding the fate of a teenager (Apti Magamayev) on trial for the murder of his stepfather. (In Russian and Chechen with subtitles)
Everlasting Moments (Unrated) Costume drama, set in Sweden in the early 20th C., about a working-class woman (Maria Heiskanen) whose life is changed forever when she wins a camera in the lottery. (In Swedish and Finnish with
subtitles)
Fados (Unrated) Concert flick featuring an historical tribute to Fado, a melancholy musical genre traced back to Lisbon in the 1820s blending elements of African, Arab, Portuguese and Brazilian traditions. (In Portuguese with subtitles)
The Horsemen (R for profanity, sexuality, grisly images and disturbing content) Crime thriller about a recently-widowed police detective (Dennis Quaid) who uncovers a terrifying link between himself and the quartet of serial killers suspected in a string of Biblically-themed slayings.
New York City Serenade (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Buddy comedy about a down-and-out drummer (Chris Klein) who accompanies his just-jilted best friend (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) to a film festival where the aspiring director has been invited to show his low-budget flick. Cast includes Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Ben Schwartz and Christopher DeBlasio.
Phoebe in Wonderland (PG-13 for mature themes and brief profanity) Elle Fanning stars in this modern fairy tale about a young girl with Tourette's Syndrome who finds a constructive way to channel her destructive, obsessive-compulsive urges with the help of a drama teacher (Patricia Clarkson) who casts her in a school production as Alice in Wonderland.
Reunion (Unrated) Ivy League drama about members of a Yale University secret society who get back together for an eventful weekend a decade after the death of the wife of a member (Jake Cullen). Cast includes Christopher McDonald, Sam Coppola and Zoe McLellan.
Sherman's Way (Unrated) Wine country misadventure about a just-dumped, Yale law student (Michael Shulman) who befriends an eccentric, 50 year-old (James LeGros) before embarking on an eventful road trip together across Napa Valley in a red roaster. With M. Emmet Walsh, Brooke Nevin and Donna Murphy.
Tokyo! (Unrated) Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Bong Joon-Ho direct the three separate strands of this curious homage to Tokyo, a triskelion offering distinctly different perspectives of life inside the teeming city that could. (In Japanese and French with subtitles)
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” - by Mark Twain
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
March 6: Singer Mary Wilson of The Supremes is 65. Actor D.L. Hughley ("The Hughleys") is 45. Actress Yvette Wilson ("The Parkers") is 45. Rapper Beanie Sigel is 35. Rapper Bubba Sparxxx is 32.
March 7: Guitarist Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers is 57. Comedian Wanda Sykes is 45. Singer Taylor Dayne is 44.
March 8: Actor Boris Kodjoe is 36.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Afro Sugar is an "overdue tribute to the diverse collective beauty of women of African decent." Visit it here www.AfroSugar.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Mar. 6, 1857: On March 6, 1857, the Dred Scott decision of the Supreme Court denied blacks U.S. citizenship and denied the power of Congress to restrict slavery in any federal territory.
Mar. 7, 1942: First cadets graduated from flying school at Tuskegee.
Mar. 8, 1945: Phyllis Mae Daley, first of four African American Navy nurses to serve active duty in WW II receives her commission as an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
