What's the 4-1-1, Week of 11/7/10

At the movies, it’s Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls. The movie is based on the 1975 play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange. I loved this movie adaptation. It was excellent. Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, Tessa Thompson, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad and Kimberly Elise give performances that are going to blow you away. Perry has really grown as a filmmaker, and it shows with this movie. See for yourself and let me know what you think. This film touches on themes of love, longing, violence and betrayal. The cast of For Colored Girls is featured on the new issue of Essence magazine.

Janet Jackson is a standout in this film, and she has a new self esteem book coming out in January called True You.

On Friday the 5th, Tyler will be featured on Oprah with a special show focusing on men who have been the victims of sexual abuse as children. The audience will consist of 200 men telling their stories. A couple of weeks ago, Perry appeared with Oprah and revealed for the first time in detail the abuse he suffered as a child.

In more Tyler news, his newest project will involve The Rock, a.k.a. Actor Dwayne Johnson. In the movie, Take My Wife, Perry plays a divorced man who doesn’t want to pay alimony to his ex-wife so he goes about finding her a new husband. When he finds the perfect suitor for his ex, he realizes he still loves his wife and wants her back.

So how did Mariah Carey get pregnant? The 40-year old singer says with the help of acupuncture. Mariah is expecting her first child with hubby Nick Cannon, and the baby is due in the spring. Mariah’s latest holiday album, Merry Christmas II You, is out and on December 13th she will star in an ABC TV holiday special. Carey is also promoting her line of jewelry, footwear and fragrance on the Home Shopping Network.

Get well wishes go out to The Queen Of Soul, but we can’t help but wonder what’s going on with her? Aretha Franklin was recently released from the hospital. The 68-year old soul music legend is keeping mum on this mystery ailment.

Halle Berry’s latest movie, Frankie And Alice, arrives in theatres in early February. In the movie, Halle plays a woman who suffers from multiple personalities.

Montana Fishburne is responding well to rehab. The 19-year old daughter of Actor Laurence Fishburne made headlines earlier this year when she filmed her first porno movie. In addition to embarrassing her famous father, Fishburne stayed in trouble with the law when she was arrested for attacking her ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend. Fishburne entered rehab for anger management and behavioral issues.

Beyonce’s I Am……World Tour is available on DVD.

Wesley Snipes wants a new tax fraud trial. Snipes says the original jury was biased. He was found guilty of failing to file federal tax returns. He faces a three-year sentence, and he is free on bond while appealing.

Congrats to Omarosa. She’s having a baby. She has been dating Actor Michael Clarke Duncan. The two have been seeing each other for a while, and are very excited about their upcoming arrival.

Actor Idris Elba is notoriously quiet about his love life, but his baby momma is speaking out. Desiree Newberry is a stripper from Miami, and she is the mother of his six-month old son. Newberry says she and Elba lived together shortly after the birth of their son but have since split up.

Robin Thicke says fatherhood is the greatest joy he’s ever known. He says his new album will reflect that. Thicke and his wife, Actress Paula Patton, became parents earlier this year with the birth of their son Julian.

Get ready for the Thriller movie. Yes! The thriller movie is based on The King Of Pop’s epic music video. Kenny Ortega, Jackson’s longtime choreographer, will direct the movie which will feature the character legendary Horror Actor Vincent Price voiced in the video. Kenny Ortega is also the force behind the High School Musical movie franchise. Speaking of Michael Jackson, his videos are coming out on DVD. Michael Jackson’s Visions features over 2 ½ hours worth of classic videos by The King Of Pop. The DVD comes out on November 22nd.

Former Olympic darling Marion Jones has released a book about her life and stay in prison. In the book, On The Right Track, Jones says she wishes she had never lied about her steroid use. Jones lost everything: her medals, her home and her reputation. Jones, 35, says at one point she was put in solitary confinement for fighting a female inmate. She says she feared for her life. Jones was in a federal prison for six months. She’ll be featured in an upcoming installment of ESPN’s documentary series 30 For 30. She is the mother of three kids, and she was recently a member of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

So what’s Oprah going to do when she wraps her show? A movie: she has signed on to do a film with Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock. The Mighty O is wrapping up her 25th and final season of her legendary daytime talker. During the month of November, her special guests will include President George Bush, promoting his new book Decision Points, on November 9th and Barbara Streisand on the 16th.

Charlie Wilson is set to release his third solo CD, Just Charlie, featuring the song You Are.

Gabby Sidibe has signed on for the movie Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. Filming starts in a few weeks.

The new season of Celebrity Apprentice starts in January, and the cast includes Dionne Warwick, Star Jones, LaToya Jackson, Lil’ Jon and NeNe Leakes. NeNe, who is best known for her role as a housewife in The Real Housewives Of Atlanta is finally admitting she had plastic surgery. Her surgery is being played out on the new season of Housewives. NeNe had a nose job, liposuction, a breast lift and she lost 15 pounds.

The Soul Train Awards will air on BET and the Centric network on Sunday, November 28th. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson will be hosting. Special honorees include Ron Isley, who’s getting a lifetime achievement award, and Singer Anita Baker. R Kelly is set to open the show.

President Obama will salute the icons at the December 28th Kennedy Center Honors for Oprah Winfrey, Sir Paul McCartney, Choreographer/Dancer Bill T. Jones and Country Legend Merle Haggard.

Queen Latifah is developing a new series for the VH1 network. The show, Single Ladies, is an hour-long comedy/drama that launches next July. The show will star Stacey Dash, LisaRaye McCoy.

The Fightin’ Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins is going to be the Honorary Chairperson at this year’s Philly’s Men Are Cooking taking place Saturday, November 27th at The National Constitution Center, 5th and Arch Streets.

On Sunday, November 7th, the BET network presents Black Girls Rock. Nia Long hosts the special honoring Iyanla Van Zandt, Ruby Dee, Raven-Symoné and Missy Elliot. Scheduled performers include Jill Scott, Fantasia, Monica and Keyshia Cole. Now speaking of Iyanla, she has a new book coming out called Peace From Broken Pieces: How To Get Through What You’re Going Through. Over the past few years, she has suffered some great losses including the death of her daughter, the demise of her marriage, and the loss of her home.

Natalie Cole is writing her second memoir. Cole, 60, will talk about her battle with Hepatitis C and the death of her sister from cancer on the day of her kidney transplant. Love Brought Me Back: A Journey Of Loss And Gain arrives in bookstores November 9th.

In more music news, it’s Eric Benet and El DeBarge. Eric’s new CD is Lost In Time, and features Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi and Eddie Levert. El’s latest CD is Second Chance. Both CD’s are due out November 30th.

Tracey Morgan’s HBO special, Black And Blue, airs on Saturday, November 13th.

The nominees for the 2011 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have been announced. The nominees are The Beasties Boys, LL Cool J, Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, The J Geils Band, Donna Summer, Joe Tex, Chic, Darlene Love and Dr. John. The final list of nominees comes out in December. The 25th annual induction ceremony takes place March 14th in New York.

Congrats to Chaka Khan! Khan is being honored at the 32nd Annual UNCF telethon, An Evening Of Stars. The show airs in syndication January 2011.

Today Show Weatherman Al Roker had a new book coming out on November 23rd called The Midnight Show Murders.

Denzel Washington’s new movie, Unstoppable, arrives in theatres November 12th.

Whoopi Goldberg is headed to Broadway. The Oscar winner will open the musical version of Sister Act as star and producer on April 20th, 2011. Sister Act was a hit as a musical when Goldberg first reprised her role as Mother Superior during a run in London last year. Producers are looking for the same success on the Great White Way. The musical is based on the hit movie that starred Goldberg in 1992.

The TV show The Game is returning. Filming on a new season started this week. The show debuts on the BET network in January.

The Men Of Soul are coming to Philly. Friday, November 12th at the Tower Theatre, it’s Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson, Peabo Bryson and Howard Hewett. Tickets go on sale September 18th.

Patti LaBelle is on Broadway. She is playing the mother of the lead character in the musical Fela! LaBelle will be in the production through the first of the year.

Sherri Shepherd has been named the new host of the Newlywed Game. The new revival of the classic series kicks off this November airing weeknights at 6pm on the Game Show Network.

I will be celebrating my birthday with Doc B and Power 99’s Shamara. It’s the Scorpio Birthday Bash Saturday, November 6th At the Polidoro Italian Grill 129 N Dupont Highway in New Castle, Delaware.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Oscar Winner is feeling out of the loop with her other peers. Her hawty attitude has turned a lot of people off, and they have no desire to work with her.

Check out who’s coming to town:

This Saturday, November 6th- Fantasia, Kandi Burruss & Eric Benet at the Tower Theatre, 69th Street in Upper Darby.
November 10-14th - Je’Caryous Johnson presents his new stage production It’s Cheaper To Keep Her with Vivica A. Fox and Brian McKnight at The Merriam Theatre.
November 11th - Fox Chase Cancer Center presents Comedy For The Cure starring Charlie Murphy at The Keswick Theatre in Glenside. Murphy is promoting his new CD, I Will Not Apologize.
November 12th- The Men Of Soul with Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson & Howard Hewett at the Tower Theatre 69th Street in Upper Darby.
November 20th- Patti LaBelle in concert at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City.
November 20th – Earth, Wind & Fire at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
November 24th – Cedric The Entertainer in a comedy show at The House Of Blues in Atlantic City.
November 26th-Doc B ENT & Big B Events Present The Annual with El DeBarge happening at The Chase Center, 815 Justison Street in Wilmington, Delaware. I will be hosting along with Shamara of Power 99.
December 3rd- Will Downing & Angela Winbush at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.
December 11th - Mint Condition & Eric Darius at the Keswick Theatre.
December 16th – Usher in concert at The Wells Fargo Center.
Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th - It’s the Rick Watson stage production There’s A Wright And Wrong Way To Love Somebody starring WDAS’s own Mimi Brown at The Arts Bank on The Avenue Of The Arts, 601 South Broad Street. The romance comedy/drama is written, produced and directed by Rick Watson. For more info call 215-869-3509.
Sunday, June 19th – Sade in concert at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).

Credits due to: Pattys Page