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CHRIS BROWN SAYS 'I AIN'T A MONSTER': Singer records YouTube message; plus, both Brown and Rihanna have booked new movies.

*Chris Brown has made his first public comments about the alleged beating he handed then-girlfriend Rihanna on Feb. 8, which led to his arrest and two felony assault charges.

       In a posting on YouTube, Brown first tells fans that the title of his upcoming album is "Graffiti," and that he'll be releasing the first single sometime in the summer. His homie, rapper Bow Wow, chimes in from off camera, "It's crazy!"

        As Bow Wow comes into frame, Brown tells viewers, "So we ain't goin' nowhere. Everybody that's haters, they just been haters. All my real fans, I love yall. I ain't a monster."

       And with that, he gives the peace sign and walks off. [Click here to view clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHxOzNkKRtI&feature=player_embedded]

       In addition to recording material for "Graffiti," Brown is also set to star in an untitled project that's being described as a "tearjerker," according to a source for the New York Daily News.

       "Chris plays a homeless character," says the source. "It's a real rags-to-riches story and should be good for his image."

       Brown will film for three weeks over the summer in both L.A. and Memphis.

       Rihanna, meanwhile, will spend the summer taking acting lessons while she is working on her new album in New York.

       The singer is preparing for her role in the upcoming movie "Personal Protection," an insider tells the Daily News. "She's not ready, acting-wise, yet, so she's meeting with a coach."

And one more thing about the Kanye/Rihanna romance rumors – a Daily News source denies it once again, stating, "Kanye is all over Rihanna's album - not all over Rihanna!" In addition to working together, the two are longtime pals; they even took in an evening showing of "Star Trek" at the Union Square multiplex last week.

TYSON FAMILY ASKS FOR PRIVACY: 'There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus,' family said in a statement.

       *The family of Mike Tyson released a statement Wednesday expressing sorrow over the death of 4-year-old Exodus Tyson in a bizarre accident, and asking for the media and public to give them room to mourn.

       "There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," the family said in a statement. "We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal."

       Mike Tyson's daughter was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a cord dangling from the console of a treadmill at her Phoenix home, police said.

       "We believe the child was on the treadmill but it was not running at the time. She might have been playing like it was," said Sgt. Andy Hill of the Phoenix Police Department. He said Exodus either slipped or put her head in the loop of a cord hanging under the console and suffocated.

Tyson, who has been living in Las Vegas, flew Monday to Phoenix, where he was seen entering the hospital.

TERRENCE HOWARD TO JUMP THE BROOM: Actor proposes to girlfriend Zulay Henao while filming in Prague.

*On location in Prague shooting the WWII film Red Tails, Terrence Howard took time out to ask for his girlfriend's hand in marriage.

       According to WENN, the actor proposed to Columbian actress Zulay Henao after she jetted over to the Czech Republic for a visit.

        Although he has never confirmed his relationship with Henao, the pair has been spotted together at red carpet events and they were snapped frolicking in the sea together during a December 2007 vacation.

       Howard, 40, started dating Henao after splitting with ex-wife Lori McCommas for the second time in 2005. Howard and McCommas ended their 14-year marriage in 2003, but he wooed her back and they remarried, only to split for good soon after.

       Last year, the actor revealed how he had bought McCommas her childhood home and stalked her in a bid to win her back. But, after their second split, he moved on and found love with Henao, who helped him recover from the death of his beloved mother Anita to cancer last September.

       The couple can be seen together in 2009 movie "Fighting."

T.I. MARRIES TINY BEFORE PRISON: Private ceremony was held in Miami two weeks ago.

*Unconfirmed reports about a private wedding ceremony for T.I. and his longtime girlfriend/babymama Tameka "Tiny" Cottle two weeks ago have been officially confirmed.

"All I am allowed to say is that T.I. and Tiny are officially husband and wife," a source tells Essence.com, revealing that the intimate affair was held in Miami several weeks ago but camouflaged as a couple's getaway before T.I. had to report to jail on Tuesday.

The ceremony was attended by close family members and select members of the rapper's record label Grand Hustle, according to Essence.com.

This is the first marriage for the couple who, has two kids together, and three from T.I.'s previous relationships. Tiny, a member of the former R&B quartet Xscape, suffered a miscarriage in 2007.

On Tuesday, T.I. began serving his 366-day sentence for attempting to buy firearms while a convicted felon.

ANGRY MIJAC FANS PROTEST CONCERT DELAY: Online petition launched to keep start of London shows from being pushed back.

*Fans who had tickets for one of the four postponed dates of Michael Jackson's 50-show summer run at London's O2 arena are behind a new online petition aimed at getting the King of Pop to reconsider the delay.

       Jackson was due to kick off the concerts on July 8, but last week, the opening night of his This Is It tour was pushed to July 13, while three other gigs, previously slated for July 10, 12 and 14, are not be staged until March of 2010.

       In announcing the delay, concert promoters AEG and Jackson's choreographer Kenny Ortega said they needed more time for rehearsals to ensure the shows would be fine-tuned and perfect.

       But what of the fans who already spent money on expensive, non-refundable plane tickets to London? They're not happy.

       "Many of us who had purchased tickets for the opening concerts and have already purchased flight tickets and hotels etc. have received an email informing us of our concerts being rescheduled not two or three weeks but a grand total of 10 months!" the Daily Express quoted the petition as saying.

       "Many of us now are left unable to go or are feeling disappointed in having taken so much effort to get tickets for the opening performances to be put to the very end of the concert run.

       "While we have no idea whose fault this is, whether it is the O2, AEG Live or Michael Jackson himself's decision or fault. We the undersigned are asking for the management of the concert to please reconsider this decision."

SONIA SOTOMAYOR – THE MOVIE?: You know it's coming; the Associated Press wonders who will be the star.

*The Associated Press is already trying to figure out who would play would be Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a movie that has yet to be announced – at least not as of press time.

       Their short list includes the obvious – Jennifer Lopez and Rosie Perez, both of whom share Sotomayor's Puerto Rican heritage. But they also threw in African American male actor Tyler Perry, best known for his take-no-prisoners grandma character Madea.

        The following is AP's entire hypothetical list, along with rationales:

• Jennifer Lopez: Jenny From the Block comes from the same part of New York as Sotomayor, and she's already played a real-life, high-profile figure in "Selena," the film the made her a star. This take on Sotomayor's life would likely feature La Lopez in plenty of wardrobe changes, aside from the obligatory black robe, and gratuitous cutaways to her flawless hair and makeup.
• Rosie Perez: Close your eyes and imagine how she would say the following sentence in her distinctively heavy Brooklyn accent: "Thank you, Mr. President, for the most humbling honor of my life." The intentions would be honorable, but unintentional hilarity factor could be high.
• Penny Marshall: A Bronx native and lifelong Yankees fan like Sotomayor, she's already made a baseball movie with the 1992 hit "A League of Their Own." Here, Marshall could streamline the process by directing herself.
• Madonna: She's shown she can play a prominent Latina leader by taking on Eva Peron in "Evita." Plus she can draw on her intimate relationship with Alex Rodriguez to inform the way she plays the Yankee-fan side of Sotomayor's personality. And perhaps she'd add a song or two.
• Roselyn Sanchez: If you wanted to sex it up — perhaps for the TV movie version — you could cast the gorgeous Puerto Rican pageant queen and star of TV's "Without a Trace." There's no reason that dreary old judge's robe couldn't show a little more leg and a lot more cleavage.
• Judge Judy: She clearly knows her way around the bench and she's not exactly shy on camera. As an added bonus, she can keep budget costs by providing her own wardrobe.
• Alyssa Milan This version would focus on how Sotomayor might juggle the constantly evolving demands of managing a fantasy baseball team in between making important judicial decisions. For serious stat geeks only, it would probably air on the MLB Network.
• Tyler Perry: He's made his name by dressing in drag, donning the gray wig, glasses and floral housecoat to play his signature outspoken character. Now, he can turn the highest court in the land into his own slapstick playground with "Madea Goes to Court."
• Demi Lovat The Disney star could play Sotomayor in the early years, with a special guest appearance from the Jonas Brothers, who show up to sing to her when she's feeling sad and lonely.
• Meryl Streep: Because she can do everything.

BURRIS STILL SWEARS HE DIDN'T TRY TO PAY BLAGO: FBI wiretap begs to differ.

       *Roland Burris is back in the headlines after Tuesday's release of a Nov. 13 wiretapped conversation in which the senator offers to "personally do something" for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund.

       He reiterated Wednesday that he never participated in a pay-to-play scheme for his appointment to the Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama.

       "Did I try to buy the seat? Never," Burris told reporters outside his Chicago home. The Democrat said he has been truthful at every step since Blagojevich appointed him to the Senate seat.

       According to transcripts of Burris' wiretapped conversation with the then-governor's brother Robert Blagojevich, who headed his brother's campaign fund, Burris allegedly offered to give the governor's campaign committee a check but worried doing anything more might make it seem like he was "trying to buy an appointment" to the U.S Senate.

       "I mean, so Rob, I'm in a dilemma right now wanting to help the governor," Burris tells Robert Blagojevich in the phone conversation secretly taped by the FBI. "I know I could give him a check," Burris says. "Myself. ... I will personally do something, okay."

       The senator said Wednesday the check would have been for $1,000, an amount he had donated to the Blagojevich campaign in the past.

       "If you look at the transcript you can see what I was saying," Burris told reporters. "I did not know anything about a pay-to-play. I knew if I raised money, it would be a problem."

       On the transcript, Burris had cautioned that "if I put on a fundraiser now ... it has so many negative connotations that Burris is trying to buy an appointment from the governor for the senate seat."

       "God knows No. 1, I wanna help Rod," Burris says in the recording."No. 2, I also wanna, you know, hope I get a consideration to get that appointment."

       The transcript of the wiretapped conversation was released Tuesday after U.S. District Chief Judge James F. Holderman approved making it available to the U.S. Senate ethics committee for its preliminary investigation of Burris's appointment.

ED GORDON INTERVIEWS SPIKE LEE: Director opens up about movies, politics and black stereotypes; likens Tyler Perry shows to Mantan Moreland.

*On this weekend’s "Our World with Black Enterprise," director Spike Lee sits down with host Ed Gordon for a no holds barred interview rife with the artist’s trademark frankness.

       Taped live at the 14th annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, Lee discusses his concern about the image of blacks in the media, and weighs in with his thoughts on contemporaries John Singleton and Tyler Perry. [See details below.]

       "Our World with Black Enterprise" will air its exclusive interview with Spike Lee on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31 on syndicated stations across the country.

Highlights include:

On his films being labeled “controversial”:
I think journalists are lazy—how do you define people with one word? The subject matters we’ve done in my films—I don’t think they are controversial. I don’t think racism is controversial, it’s thought provoking. If you look at how we dealt with that in Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X [etc.]. I don’t think School Daze was controversial. We looked at what I feel are the superficial differences that keep us from being a more unified people. Superficial differences based on skin complexion, hair texture, class—that type of stuff. That’s not controversial.

On stereotypical images of blacks in the media:
Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is “coonery” and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better.
… I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s "Meet the Browns" and "House of Payne") and I am scratching my head. … We got a black president and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?

On Tyler Perry and what the black consumer (really) wants to see:
We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made Boyz in the Hood], people came out to see it. But when he did Rosewood, nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to Amos n’ Andy.

On the election of a black President:
It was witnessing history. It was like being alive when Jackie Robinson integrated baseball, when Joe Louis knocked out (Max) Schmeling—it was like that. When Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers, every African American in this country was praying for him. When Joe Louis fought and won, black communities—in Detroit, Harlem, Chicago—black communities from all over the world would come out of the house after listening to Joe knock out those guys on the radio … and celebrate. With [President Obama’s victory] it was the same thing!

WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON FALL TV?: Zap2it.com says the upcoming season 'is looking pretty monochromatic.'

*Zap2it.com's Rick Porter has written a piece that examines the presence of African American, Latino and Asian American actors in the upcoming fall television season. His conclusion? "Jeez, this is not a good year for minority actors."

       He wrote the following:

        Running the numbers, it turns out that non-white actors in the fall's new series aren't that underrepresented in comparison to the population as a whole. But lead roles for minority actors are still few and far between, which is probably what triggered my reaction in the first place.

        The 20 new scripted shows on the five broadcast networks this fall have, by my count, 135 regulars (including the voice cast of "The Cleveland Show" on FOX). Of those 135 people, 30 are African-American, Latino, Asian-American or multiracial -- about 22 percent, or not that much different than 2000 census figures that show just under 25 percent of the population as non-white.

        Only a handful of 30 actors, though, have what could plausibly be called a lead role. The core cast of FOX's sitcom "Brothers" is all African-American, with Darryl "Chill" Mitchell and Michael Strahan playing the titular siblings. Derek Luke gets first billing in NBC's medical show "Trauma," LL Cool J shares lead duties with Chris O'Donnell in "NCIS: Los Angeles" and Lindsay Price is one of three leads in ABC's "Eastwick" -- but that's it in terms of starring roles.

        Several other shows, including The CW's "Melrose Place" and "The Beautiful Life," ABC's "Flash Forward," and NBC's "Community," have all done a decent job at casting diverse ensembles. Three of the five regular voice actors on "The Cleveland Show" (though not Mike Henry, who voices the black lead character) are African-American.

        Otherwise, the pickings are pretty slim for minority actors -- again. That doesn't seem like it should be happening in 2009.

BEYONCE ACCOSTED BY FAN IN LONDON: Man sneaks past security and runs right into singer.

*Bodyguards at Beyonce's London concert on Monday night dealt swiftly with a man who managed to squeeze past security and come face to face with the singer while she was backstage.

       Bey is currently in the U.K. playing several dates as part of her I Am ... world tour. While preparing to perform at London's O2 Arena Monday night, a fan somehow got backstage and accosted her as she was walking between her dressing room and the stage.

       A source tells The London Paper, "A man barged through the backstage door just as Beyonce was walking past. He cried out her name with his arms outstretched before security bundled him back out again."

       But the paper reports it was not Beyonce who was the actual target: "He wanted to see (Beyonce's husband) Jay-Z to give him a demo tape."

SUZAN LORI PARKS READIES 'FATHER COMES HOME': Casting complete for Pulitzer Prize-winner's play about slavery, war, freedom and family ties.

*Casting is now complete for the Public LAB series presentation of Suzan-Lori Parks' Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 8 & 9), which begins performances on June 5.

       Parks, a Pulitzer Prize winner for her play, Topdog/Underdog, will head a cast that includes newly-announced actors Nicole Beharie, Seth Gilliam, Patrice Johnson, James McDaniel, Joan MacIntosh, Lucas Papaelias and Frederick Weller.

       According to press notes, "Parks takes the stage to play the role of our guide leading through a multimedia epic tale about slavery, war, freedom, and the difficulty of family ties. Part I tells the story of Penny, a slave, awaiting her husband’s return from the Civil War while resisting her own desire to flee with a band of runaway slaves. Parts 8 & 9, set in present day, follow a Poet-General struggling with the reality of his impending death while he plans his annual celebration for the army troops."

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.
For tickets phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater.org.

DIDDY REACHES MILLION MARK ON TWITTER: Rapper launched all-out campaign to do so amid #unfollowdiddy movement.

*Diddy's Twitter page now has a million followers, thanks to an exhaustive campaign launched by the mogul himself.

Last week, the artist began asking his followers to re-tweet his messages in an attempt to push his number of followers north of the one million mark, where Ashton Kutcher, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama now sit.

After reaching the milestone, Diddy sent a tweet early Wednesday thanking his Tweeps for helping him reach the goal, which came despite a rash – or hash – of hateration.

       Upon hearing of Diddy's attempt at breaking a million, a contingent of Twitter users began a hash tag called #unfollowdiddy, or tweets explaining why folks should not follow the rapper.

       According to Allhiphop.com, the tag has quickly become a trending topic, although it doesn’t appear to be affecting Combs’ Twitter page, which continues to attract thousands of followers.

       Addressing the situation, Diddy wrote: “Life is short! Use your time wisely! Only a fool waste [sic] time on negativity! while your[sic] trying to tear me down I'm already onto my next dream!”

       He also sent a link out to a YouTube link to a clip of a popular skit by Katt Williams addressing "haters."

UK'S 'BIG BROTHER' HAS COOLIO TROUBLE: Network fielded gripes about his behavior, show blamed for promoting stereotypes of black men.

       *U.K.'s reality show "Celebrity Big Brother" has been cleared of breaching British broadcast rules after hundreds of viewers complained about Coolio's behavior on the show.

       According to WENN, Network Channel 4 came under fire over footage of the rapper apparently bullying female housemates during the show's run in January.

       Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom received 527 complaints about the program, ranging from allegations about Coolio's behavior to suggestions that producers portrayed the star as a negative stereotype of a black man.

       However, Ofcom found Channel 4 chiefs did not break any guidelines - insisting the rapper played the "villain of the piece," which is to be expected from such a show.

       "Any potentially offensive content that was shown and the manner in which the friction and the arguments were handled and presented by 'Big Brother' on behalf of Channel 4, were adequately justified by the context," read a statement from Ofcom.

Clip of Coolio asking, "Where the chicken at?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj971yoo1Gc

Clip of Coolio bringing a housemate to tears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMkMi-snsPg

NEXT'S RAPHAEL BROWN SAYS HE'S THE VICTIM: Singer responds to restraining order filed against him by ex-girlfriend.

*In response to a restraining order filed last week against Raphael Brown of the 90s R&B group Next by his ex Nikki Giavasis, the singer has filed papers of his own, claiming he is the real victim.

According to TMZ.com, Brown claims Nikki tried to buy his love -- taking him on trips, investing in one of his business projects and splurging on weed because "she was aware that I would lose focus when I was under the influence of marijuana."

       Brown claims that their relationship at some point took an ugly turn and now Nikki won't leave him alone.

       The last sentence of the handwritten document Brown filed with the court states -- "I appreciate your time, I also apologize for my penmenship [sic], my hand is cramping."

AUDRA MCDONALD TO DO '110' IN UTAH: Tony winner joins 2010 summer production at Hale Center Theater Orem.

       *Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will join Will Swenson to star in Hale Center Theater Orem's 2010 summer production of 110 in the Shade, a musical take on N. Richard Nash's play The Rainmaker.

       The play will serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Hale Center Foundation for the Arts and Education, with both McDonald and Swenson donating their time to the effort.

       In a recent interview with the Deseret News, McDonald stated, "I grew up doing community theater, it's very dear to my heart.... I got talking with Will and we just said, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could figure out a way to help support Cody's theater?'"

       The production will run June 28-Aug. 7, 2010, but only the first two weeks will feature McDonald and Swenson. Tickets will go on sale in January 2010 and will range from $80-$100. For more information, visit www.haletheater.org or call the box office at (801) 226-8600.

       Founded by the late Ruth Hale, HCTO is a year-round community theatre in Orem, UT, that has been in operation since 1990.

KIM K READY FOR MARRIAGE, WHENEVER IT HAPPENS: TV star says she has everything but the proposal.

       *Kim Kardashian says she'll be ready to hit the aisle running whenever her boyfriend Reggie Bush pops the question. The socialite and reality TV star even has a ring all picked out and ready for the NFL running back to purchase.

       "It's just easier," she explains to E! Online. "Isn't it easy if someone's like, 'This is exactly what I want.' It'll make your life so easy."

       She's already let sisters Kourtney and Khloe know which baubles she's been eyeing, because she figures Bush will ask them for their help when he decides to get on bended knee.

       "She found one the other day and she was like, 'It's only $20 million,' " Kourtney says.

       Kim promises that's not the real price but says with a laugh, "I exaggerated a bit so that when he went in, he would feel like he's getting a good deal."

       Reggie has already made it clear he would not want cameras for her E! reality show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" to follow them around on their wedding day.

       "Reggie would rather die," Kim says. "He would rather not marry me. He's very private. We're complete opposites."

ITTY BITTY BITS: Kelis' baby shower; Michelle Williams in London's Chicago; Eminem's 'Relapse' sets a record.

*Despite the current divorce proceedings between Nas and Kelis, the two reportedly co-hosted a baby shower for 40 of their closes friends Saturday at New York's Soho House. Among the goodies the "Milkshake" singer received were a Louis Vuitton diaper bag, a Bugaboo stroller, Jordan sweatsuits, baby monitors and lots of baby clothes, reports the New York Post.

*Former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams will make her London stage debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago for a six-week run, July 13-August 13. Chicago opened at London’s Adelphi Theatre in 1997 and transferred to the Cambridge Theatre in 2006. Williams will be the second American to join the Cambridge Theatre production, following Jerry Springer’s run as lawyer Billy Flynn (June 1-July 11).

*Eminem's new CD, "Relapse," sold 608,000 copies in its first week out, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's more than any first week numbers this year. "Relapse" is Eminem's first album in nearly five years and fifth straight No. 1. His last disc, 2004's "Encore," sold 711,000 in its first week — though that was only across four days. It went on to sell 5.1 million copies.

EUR DVD REVIEW: Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Kevin James’ Kiddie Vehicle Comes to DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams

*Paul Blart is a perennial loser. For ten years now he’s been employed as a security guard when he’d really rather be a real cop. But after recently being rejected by the New Jersey State Police Academy because of his hypoglycemia, he’s pretty much resigned himself to making do as a security officer at a suburban mall in West Orange.

Unfortunately, his love life isn’t any better, having been abandoned by his illegal immigrant wife who disappeared as soon as she got her Green Card. Consequently, Paul has to rely on his mom (Shirley Knight) for help with raising his young daughter, Maya (Raini Rodriguez).

And because he’s overweight, clumsy and the butt of every joke among his friends and co-workers, he has lost all of his confidence when it comes to the opposite sex. So, although the tongue-tied nerd has a secret crush on Amy (Jayma Mays), a cute cosmetic clerk whose kiosk he regularly passes while patrolling the mall on his trusty, two-wheeled Segway, he can’t summon up the nerve to share his feelings with her.

The plot thickens one fateful evening while Paul is slacking off on the job, playing games in a video arcade when a gang of crooks hatch a plan to rob all the stores he’s been sworn to protect. Since Amy just happens to be among the hostages herded into a bank, this sets up a sort of obvious opportunity for him to be the hero and get the girl.

About ten times funnier than the similarly-themed Observe & Report, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a silly, slapstick adventure aimed more at kids than adults. Still, despite the PG rating, the violent scenes are apt to frighten tykes under the age of five. Otherwise, this flick doles out an hour and a half of nearly non-stop, infantile hilarity, all of which leads to a predictably-sweet resolution that you have to wait for the closing credits to see.

A babysitter’s delight!

Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG for violence, mild epithets, and crude and suggestive humor.
Running time: 91 minutes
Studi Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes, stunt featurette and more.

To see a trailer for Paul Blart: Mall Cop, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoecLKanpIs

EUR THEATER REVIEW: In the Red and Brown Water
Innovative Play Explores the State of African-American Emotional Relationships
Theater Review by Kam Williams

*In the Red and Brown Water is the initial offering in a trilogy written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a 2007 graduate of the Yale School of Drama.

Judging from the splash his imaginative tale is making en route to opening in Manhattan in the near future, the promising young playwright has a very bright future ahead of himself indeed.

Before I even start to talk a little about the plot, I am compelled to discuss the highly-stylized stage device Mr. McCraney employs here, namely, having each of the nine cast members mention what he or she is feeling or about to do prior to speaking or moving. For instance, a character named Joe might announce to the audience, “Joe is hungry” just before reaching for something to eat. You get the idea.

This breaking of the fourth wall is a risky trick which could easily backfire, but McCraney has a way with words and is fortunate to have assembled a gifted cast capable of convincingly executing his unorthodox vision.

The story is set in the “distant present” (cute) in the mythical City of San Pere, Louisiana where an enveloping tale is about to be spun around a recent high school grad named Oya (Kianne’ Muschett). At the point of departure, we find the talented track star torn between attending an out-of-town college and sticking around to care for her terminally-ill single-mom (Heather Alicia-Simms).

Besides that pressing life-and-death issue, the duty-bound daughter also has to deal with the equally-urgent romantic overtures of Shango (Samuel Ray Gates), a jive player who’s not the type to stick around post-conquest. Oya has a more ardent admirer in Ogun (Marc Damon Johnson), but nice guys never seem to inspire reciprocal passion in a girl attracted to danger.

Since it would be unfair for me to divulge further any of the amusing developments, suffice to say that getting there is both delightful and thought-provoking every step of the way as I addresses a variety of universal themes but in a distinctly African-American fashion. Besides the aforementioned leads, kudos are in order for fellow cast members Alano Miller, Marc Damon Johnson, Nikiya Mathis, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Brian Tyree Henry, and Barnaby Carpenter. Ditto for In the Red and Brown Water’s daring director Tina Landau and its imaginative costume designer Karen Perry, since the minimalist set sans props make the characters’ outfits of that much more significance.

What a refreshing, rare treat it was for this film critic to see thespians perform in the flesh as opposed to on celluloid, especially when the company was comprised of such an impressive group from top to bottom. So, you can be sure I’m headed back to the theater to catch the second and third installments of McCraney’s inspired, innovative triskelion, which together he’s dubbed The Brother/Sister Plays.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated, with profanity, sexuality and ethnic slurs.
Venue: McCarter Theater, Princeton, NJ

To purchase tickets for In the Red and Brown Water, or the entire trilogy, call (609) 258-ARTS, or visit: http://ticketing.mccarter.org/ticketing/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=4187&

JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: The Right-Wing Tango

*Quiet as its kept Hollywood is filled with conservatives. I am not speaking of republicans. You can turn over any rock and find an Arlen Specter waiting to crawl out. I am talking about real dyed in the wool constitution loving, God-fearing conservatives.

I meet them all the time: at auditions, on film sets, at parties. Generally speaking they are rather reserved. We engage in what I call the right-wing tango for a bit, dancing around each other giving vague answers to questions until one of us finally gives the secret password. Following the discovery of shared ideology there is usually a great deal of back slapping and genuine excitement at finding a brother in arms.

Part of this reserve is innate. By nature conservatives are generally not given to loud talking and frenetic displays. After all one of the hallmarks of conservatism is a desire to live ones life the best way one can without interference or hindrance from our neighbors or the state. Miki Grant may not have intended to, but in her 1972 Broadway musical “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t cope” she gave voice to the conservative mantra when she wrote, “all I need is less fat back, more greenback and YOU [government] off my back!”

There is, however, a part of this reserve that is learned behavior and has become necessary because the Hollywood left, so tolerant and loving of diversity that they have embraced cop killers, child molesters and Marxist dictators are not so tolerant of conservatives.

A brief conversation with any show business industry conservative is to be regaled with stories of lost friendships and business associations and being professionally ostracized -- scripts that go unread and phone calls that go unreturned; Liberal berating for so much as hinting at conservative sympathies and leftist inattentiveness to courtesy and decorum. I can personally attest to having experienced all of the above at some time or another, which makes me about average among Hollywood conservatives.

To be certain there are those in this town that couldn’t care less what others think, have the courage of their convictions and let their thoughts be known on any number of issues. Some of these people are well-known in the industry, with money and power; others are, well, struggling to make ends meet. There are also many others with fame fortune and influence that are content to stay in the shadows doing the dance too fearful to utter a sound.

I understand that most folks have little interest in activism, but all of us desire (and ought to demand) the freedom to be comfortable in the expression of our quite reasonable attitudes about our country and our faith. That is true even among the glitter and glamour of Hollywood. The question then for Conservatives in this town is can we afford to remain silent in the face of repugnant liberalism? There is a conversation taking place about the direction this nation is going to take: are we going to abandon free market capitalism for European soft socialism? Are we going to sacrifice our freedoms in order to save the planet from carbon dioxide? Are we going to banish Christianity from our public square? Are we going to tear down all of our social institutions and rebuild them with post modernist cement? These questions and others are confronting our republic and we in Hollywood occupy a unique platform from which to influence the discussion.

It isn’t necessary for everyone to pick up a placard and take to the streets. It is however, essential that we speak up if only to defend our good names from accusations of bigotry and ignorance. The excuse for standing silently by while the left runs roughshod over our culture is wearing thin ESPECIALLY when that excuse comes from those fortunate enough to be enjoying the generous fruits borne of labor in the Hollywood vineyards. What is there to fear? Unemployment? Unpopularity? Most of us familiar with the daily grind of show business life are used to periods of unemployment; unemployment is part of the job as is the sound of crickets clapping.

It is worth remembering that the declaration of Independence -the keystone document of our republic-was a very public document. The signatories were mostly wealthy men that pledged their “lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.” John Hancock is rumored to have said that he was signing his name in large script so King George could read it without putting on his spectacles. Are the convictions of the Hollywood beau monde so easily purchased? Has sacred honor suddenly become cheap?

There is strength in numbers and there are many more of us in Hollywood than most imagine or the left ever feared.

And for whatever it’s worth consider my name writ large. Far be it from me to demand that anyone in this town be forced to put on spectacles.

Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.

ROBERTSON TREATMENT SYNDICATED COLUMN (RTSC) America’s Premiere Urban Lifestyle Column - Volume 14, Edition 4 – Taking a look at Toronto’s Rich African Heritage

*I’ve always thought of Toronto as the perfect prototype for what cities in the future will look like. Complete with its very own space needle towering at the city center, Toronto shimmers against Lake Ontario like a prized conurbation. Although I have made several visits on business, I had never become acquainted with its personality, especially, its rich African link.

Getting There

An international gateway, Toronto is serviced by most major carriers, including Delta, United, and American and of course, Air Canada. I flew up on Delta Airlines, which offers regular service to Toronto from its Atlanta hub. After you clear customs a variety of ground transportation options are available for reaching the city center (which is approximately 30 minutes by car in clear traffic).

Accommodations

As you would expect, Toronto offers a wide-array of accommodations to suit every budget. I stayed at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency centrally located on King St. The property immediately scored high marks starting with its breezy lobby layout and highly professional and courteous staff who handled my checked-in with speed and efficiency. The rooms at the Hyatt are another delight – spacious and well-appointed – with great added value features like a 42” plasma TV, ultra-comfortable beds and city views.

Well suited for business and leisure travelers, the Hyatt’s lobby is anchored by a Starbucks and the very chic Mix Lounge. It also boasts excellent gathering areas, most notably the King Street Social Kitchen and adjacent bar, which benefits from a design scheme that promotes mingling and interactivity. For hosting private or business activities, the Hyatt has a well-appointed VIP floor complete with a private concierge and a sweeping outdoor terrace with spectacular views. The hotel also has an exercise fitness facility outfitted with the latest equipment.

City Tour

Interesting Fact: The name Toronto is a derivative of the Iroquois word tkaronto, which refers to the tree saplings planted by the Huron Indian tribe to corral fish. Although for a brief period (1793 – 1834), the city was renamed York, it later reverted back to Toronto to avoid any confusion with its U.S. neighbor.

To explore the city my tour guide Richard Simms (owner of Muddy York Tours) took me on an amazing walking tour through several communities that make up central Toronto. Although I had visited the city many times I must admit to not really having a perspective on the city and no knowledge of its rich character and history. All of that changed with Simms who displayed an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the streets and places leaving me with a distinct and lasting impression of Toronto.

Walking along King St., he piqued my interest by reminding me that the street was named in honor of 19th century British monarch King George III, whose wife Queen Charlotte was of African descent. I thought that was a very interesting fact considering the purpose of my tour.

Making are way through the city’s historic core we soon arrived at are first stop - the first Baptist church in Toronto established in 1826 by a group of former slaves. We then walked on through Chinatown to Kensington Market, a multicultural community that is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Home to an eclectic array of funky shops, cafes and food courts, Kensington Market is the perfect place for people watching.

After so much exercise we were looking for a horn of plenty, so we ended are day at a cool Ethiopian restaurant called Dukem in the Greek town section of the city. There we dined on a sumptuous meal of kitfo (minced beef, traditionally served as tartar), doro wot (chicken stew), zilzil tibs (sauteed cubes of lamb), and the vegetarian combo. It’s was heaven…

More Culinary Delights

With its culturally diverse population and cosmopolitan veneer it’s no surprise that Toronto scores high in epicurean offerings. Besides the best Chinese Fast Food this side of Asia, I was fortunate enough to sample the menus of two of the city’s most venerable restaurants.

First up was the Cajun/Creole restaurant N’awlins Jazz Bar and Dining (299 King St. West), which was conveniently located right across from my hotel. I went there on a Friday evening and enjoyed a fantastic meal of escargot, salad and a steak that was cooked to perfection. The atmosphere in the place was pumping with various tables comingling while quite storm jazz filled the air. I had a great time.

The next night I had dinner at the equally impressive Harlem Restaurant (67 Richmond Street East), where I enjoyed a sampling of eclectic menu offerings like Bourbon Baby Back Ribs, Avocado Hummus & Spiced Walnut Pate and Pork Hocks (yes, I said pork). Needless to say I was in food heaven – the Harlem Restaurant is a MUST for every visitor to Toronto.

Culture

Toronto is home to a plethora of cultures representing every continent on the planet. The city has long been home to people of African origins that includes Black slaves who sought refuge in the city during the 1800s, and Blacks from the Caribbean and African countries who are members of the British Commonwealth. Although Toronto unlike most U.S. cities doesn’t have a “black” district, (the Black population is spread throughout the city), the cultural imprint of this population is prominently displayed.

Of course the Caribana Festival (held each August) is perhaps the most well-known, drawing over a million people each year. However, since 1979 Black History Month has also been celebrated in Toronto, which in 1995 led the entire nation in celebrations that mark the achievements and value brought to Canada by its countrymen of African descent.

Gil L. Robertson IV

BEST BETS – MUSIC

Just As I Am – LaKisha Jones (Elite Music, LLC)

Pop/R&B singer LaKisha Jones exceeds every expectation with the release of her debut CD. Featuring great new music like the luminous “Just As I Am,” the resonating “Nothing” and the stand-out “Beautiful Girl, her debut will remind fans both old and new why she was such a joy to watch on American Idol. Visit: www.lakishajones.com Grade: B+

BEST BETS – BOOKS

Dear Success Seeker by Michel R. Wright, PH.D.

This collection brings together eighty-three original pieces from a wide cross-section of women who share their intimate stories of the challenges and triumphs, adventures and mishaps they faced on their road to success. Covering a variety of circumstances, this book offers invaluable advice for success and should prove to be a very useful resource for readers regardless of gender.

Grade B

AUTOMOTIVE SPIN

2009 CHALLENGER R/T

The 2009 Dodge Challenger is the ultimate road warrior that immediately commands respect and adoration. With its bold, flashy good looks, the Challenger draws attention from other drivers and pedestrians alike. This ride handles the road with authority and will inspire confidence for its driver.

Wow Factor: The Challenger harkens back to the glory days of the 1960s with its classic muscle-car looks and classic muscle-car power. This ride’s retro-style exterior is another big crowd pleaser. In nearly a decade of test driving cars, I have never received the level of near frenzied compliments like I did with this ride. Driving this car is simply an amazing experience.

Ride: What’s key to the Challenger’s performance is its powerful 5.7-liter Hemi engine that’s able to produce 370 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Another key performance attribute is –speed transmission that shifts seamlessly to manage a variety of road conditions. For such a bulky car, the Challenger is very agile and is able to maneuver well on surface streets and highways.

Comfort: The Challenger’s interior is comfortable, supportive, and spacious. Starting with large bucket seats that provides excellent back support and leg room, to the very accessible gauges and control, the Challenger’s interior is design to maximize driver control and comfort. It also should be note that Challenger has more than adequate trunk space for road trips with the family.

Spin Control: Earning high marks in virtually every scoring category, Dodge’s Challenger is the perfect car for muscle driving enthusiast. With its sporty design, solid performance and affordable price (sticker price begins in the mid-20s), this ride is destine to gain a sizeable following.

Grade: A

Visit www.robertsontreatment.com

GLENN'S STRATEGIES FOR WELL-BEING: More on Women and Calcium

*Osteo is another term for bones. Porosis is another terms for porous. Consequently combining the two terms results in the medical term or condition known as osteoporosis, or ‘porous bones.’ This results in a fragile bone condition, which is basically a severe reduction in bone density.

When bone loss occurs, this produces the dreaded bone disease known as osteoporosis, which afflicts both women and men in their later years. Basically, as the bone loses its ability to repair itself, this results in a skeletal system that will begin to thin. Also, it happens when there isn’t enough calcium. As calcium from bone is released into the bloodstream, this calcium is needed more by the body in other areas in order to help maintain healthy nerves and a normal heartbeat.

When a person is young, there is much collagen in the bone, and so the bone remains pliable. But as a person ages, less of the collagen is present, and the bones consequently become more brittle.

Bones are in a constant state of change, while one set of bone cells build new bone tissue, another set of cells breaks bone down. During the growth periods of your teens, the bone-building cells dominate, but as you approach your thirties the cells responsible for bone breakdown start to gain ground which means you begin to lose around .5 percent of your bone mass ever year.

Throughout a lifetime, women lose up to 45-50% and men, 20-30% of bone mass (around 300 mg calcium per day). Our ability to absorb calcium decreases with age; growing children can absorb as much as 75% of dietary calcium while adults absorb around 15%, that's why they need to increase calcium intake through diet or supplements.

For years, women have been told to “bone up” on calcium to prevent osteoporosis, but now this so-called miracle mineral is also being touted for its potential to promote weight loss, relieve depression and anxiety associated with premenstrual syndrome, control high blood pressure, and ward off strokes.

As new evidence points to the elevated role of calcium in preventing disease, it makes sense to get enough of this vital nutrient each day, especially as mid-life approaches. Experts say there is literally no body system that doesn't benefit from a healthy dose.

Here's how the evidence it stacks up:

When looking at mid-life weight gain women with the highest calcium intakes don’t gain weight and those with the lowest do.

Because calcium plays a key role in metabolic disorders linked to obesity and insulin resistance, a diet low in calcium literally stockpiles fat cells while higher calcium diets depletes them. A high calcium diet released a hormone which sends signals that are read by the body's fat cells to lose weight.

Calcium supplementation can relieve the physical and emotional toll of PMS by almost 50%. Women on the high calcium diet are less irritable, weepy, and depressed and averted backaches, cramping, and bloating.

In some people, an increase in calcium consumption can help control blood pressure without anti-hypertensive medication. A high-calcium regimen reduces levels of total cholesterol by and slashes "bad" LDL cholesterol by 11 percent. So-called "good" HDL cholesterol levels remain unchanged.

A 1999 Harvard study reported that calcium supplementation protects against stroke in middle-aged women. Women taking at least 400 mg of calcium supplements had a 12% lower risk of ischemic stroke (the type caused by plaque buildup in blood vessel walls). Dietary calcium, especially in dairy foods, reportedly reduced stroke risk, along with potassium.

Osteoporosis strikes more than seven million Americans, mostly Asian and white women, with another 17 million at serious risk of developing fragile bones that easily collapse, a crippling curving of the spine, and hip fractures. Research shows that boosting calcium intake can halt bone loss, especially when combined with vitamin D, which enhances its absorption.

Calcium may protect against growths that become malignant in those prone to colorectal cancer. Dr. Martin Lipkin, a professor of medicine at Cornell University, who first discovered the link between calcium and colorectal cancer, stresses that both calcium-rich foods and calcium supplements will produce the same beneficial effects.

Osteoporosis is due to several causes. Basically if the body is inefficient in its calcium absorption, this will result in bone loss. The lack of certain vitamins and minerals will also contribute to bone loss. Among these are Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K. The right balance of magnesium and phosphorus can also affect the proper formation of bone density. Even chlorinated water can encourage calcium loss in the body.

Phosphorous found in most soft drinks will affect the calcium/phosphorous balance in the body and may have an adverse effect on calcium absorption. This is one reason why it would be wise to limit the consumption of these drinks, especially if signs of osteoporosis are present.

Osteoporosis is preventable, and if already present can be slowed down to some degree by incorporating the proper diet and eating habits. A supplemental regime of vitamins and minerals, and a regular exercise program that involves some form of weight bearing exercise such as walking or weight lifting.

Going outside every day when possible and thereby getting enough sunshine ensures that Vitamin D from the sunlight is taken into the body as this also will help in the absorption of calcium by the body.

If you have osteoporosis, there are many medications on the market that help to prevent further bone loss and can actually help to rebuild bone mass. Your doctor can guide you through the choices available. The main thing to remember is that prevention is the ideal course of action to fight osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises, a good diet, and calcium intake of about 1500 mg a day go a long way in helping your bones, regardless of whether you have or have had hyperthyroidism.

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one.

Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible!

This column is intended for informational purposes only. Please see your doctor if you have a medical condition that requires medical attention.

Glenn Ellis lectures, and is an active media contributor nationally and internationally on health related topics, including health education and health promotion. He is the author of, “Which Doctor?”.

For more good health information, visit: www.glennellis.com

BETWEEN THE LINES: President Obama’s Pick of Sonia Sotomayor To The U.S. Supreme Court: A “Safe” or Visionary One?

Anthony Asadullah Samad

*President Barack Obama has made his imprint on the history of the federal judiciary with the nomination of the first Latina to the United States Supreme Court. Federal Appeals Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, was at the top of the President’s “short list” from the time Associate Justice David Souter announced his retirement. There had been a very heavy lobby to appoint a Latino, and the feminist lobby suggested that the court was going backward instead of forward after baby Bush didn’t replace retired justice Sandra Day O’Conner with a woman. Justice Ruth Gingsberg has also signaled that she doesn’t appreciate being odd woman out in the nation’s highest and most exclusive grumpy old male’s club. Supreme Court picks usually come with a lot of scrutiny for the nominee and political grief for the President. Criticism will not be avoided. However, Justice Sotomayor represented a “two-fer” for President Obama and had the potential to quail criticism from two significant stakeholder groups, women and Latinos. He couldn’t have made a safer pick in the selection of Sotomayor.

Safe usually means “status quo” went it comes to judiciary selections. This month celebrates the 55th anniversary of the Brown decision, the last time this country engaged a major culture shift stemming out of the courts. Since that time, this country has engaged in a 50 year battle to avoid what pundits called “judicial activism,” courts that seek to interpret the law based on contemporary cultural interpretation—not “original intent” of the law or even legal precedence. Original intent theorists offer judicial views based on how the law was interpreted when originally wrote—no matter when it was written. So laws formulated when the Constitution was ratified over 220 years ago offer opinions that excluded ethnic minorities and women, and affirmed cultural norms as slavery and segregation as legal. Former California Governor Earl Warren changed the whole temperament of a right leaning high Court in 1952 when he was appointed Chief Justice in the midst of the most controversial case of the twentieth century, a case to desegregate public schools. In the aftermath of the Brown decision came a ten year massive resistance movement, attempts to repeal the decision, attempts to impeach the Chief Justice an

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