Whats the 4-1-1!? Week of 11/8/10

The Steve Harvey Project kicks off the 15th on BET’s Centric network. The show will air weeknights at 9pm and feature Steve, Nephew Tommy, Shirley Strawberry and Carla Ferrell. Harvey’s latest book, Straight Talk No Chaser, arrives in bookstores December 7th. It’s a follow up to the book Act Like A Lady Think Like A Man. Steve will be in Philly Tuesday, January 18th at the Borders Bookstore on Broad and Chestnut Streets. Also look for Harvey as he presents Ron Isley with a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Soul Train Awards.

Speaking of The Soul Train Awards, they’ll air on BET and the Centric network on Sunday, November 28th. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson will be hosting. Another special honoree is Singer Anita Baker. R Kelly is set to open the show, and his new CD, Love Letters, arrives in stores December 11th.

Faith Evans is on the cover of the new issue of Jet magazine. Evans will be playing former Supreme Florence Ballad in a movie based on the late singer’s life and she has a new album out called Something About Faith.

At the movies, it’s Denzel Washington’s new movie Unstoppable with Rosario Dawson.

Is the Tyler Perry film For Colored Girls a man-bashing movie? The movie, based on the stage play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange, did well at the box office taking in over $20 million, but a lot of men claim they felt insulted that there was only one positive male character. I loved the movie. I thought the performances were outstanding, and I didn’t feel it was a male-bashing movie. This is a woman’s movie. It tells a woman’s story of hope, abandonment, survival, struggle, abortion, rape and depression. I’m sure if the shoe was on the other foot and I was a man, I may have felt the same way. But, I don’t think male-bashing is the intended theme. What do you think? Let me know at Pattyjackson@clearchannel.com or Tweet me @mspattyjackson.

In more Tyler Perry 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.

Iyanla Van Zandt is back with a new book Peace From Broken Pieces: How To Get Through What You’re Going Through. For the first time, Iyanla opens up about the past few years in which she lost her daughter, her home, her marriage and her short-lived talk show. She reveals how she hurt Oprah Winfrey and had to apologize for turning her back on Oprah. Today, she is the proud grandmother of 8, and in the book, she talks about how she refused to be defeated in the face of adversity. I loved this book, and I enjoyed hearing Iyanla talk about her journey when I had a chance to interview her. The book arrives in stores November 15th.

Congrats to Singer Anthony Hamilton and his wife Tarsha. They are the proud parents of twin boys.

Essence magazine is on the hunt for a new editor-in-chief. Angela Burt-Murray has left the magazine after five years. She has relocated to Atlanta to be with her family. What was behind Burt-Murray’s decision to leave the magazine? Could it have been her own decisions over the summer? She was heavily criticized when she hired a white woman to hold the position of fashion director. Sheryl Tucker, who served as the editor-at-large for Time magazine, will fill the position as interim editor-in-chief of Essence. The new issue of Essence magazine features the cast of Tyler Perry’s movie For Colored Girls.

T.D. Jakes’ new movie arrives in theatres just in time for Mother’s Day. Jumping The Broom stars Paula Patton, Angela Bassett, Laz Alonso, Mike Epps, Loretta Devine and Meagan Good.

Get ready for Beyonce this Thanksgiving. On November 25th at 9:30pm on ABC, it’s Beyonce featuring concert footage from her I Am…. World Tour. Special guests include Jay-Z and Kanye West. The DVD arrives November 26th at Wal-Mart. The deluxe edition concert DVD, featuring a live audio CD, exclusive documentary and a 40-page color booklet, comes out on November 30th.

Sound Of Philly Legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff have a new honor. On November 17th, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers will have the block of South Broad Street (between Spruce & Pine Sts.) that’s home to their Philadelphia International Records label renamed after them. Gamble & Huff Walk will be dedicated on Wednesday, November 17th in a noon time ceremony. The honor kicks off a two-year celebration for the songwriters/producers who’ve worked with The O’Jays, Lou Rawls, The Jacksons, Jerry Butler, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, The Jones Girls, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes and Phyllis Hyman. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of their famed Philly International label, and 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the Gamble & Huff songwriting partnership, which includes the songs Me & Mrs. Jones, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine and Love Train.

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien has written her memoir. In the book, The Next Big Story, O’Brien talks about her rise in the broadcasting world and the challenges she has faced, including a run in with the Rev. Jesse Jackson who implied she wasn’t black enough.

Will Ice Cube be the next “Dirty Harry?” The Dirty Harry character was made famous by Actor Clint Eastwood in five films from 1971-1988. Now, Ice Cube has teamed up with New Line Cinema to play a character loosely based on Dirty Harry. In the movie, which they hope to turn into a franchise, Ice Cube will play a plainclothes detective who is quick on the trigger.

Mariah Carey 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. Aretha Franklin is following doctor’s orders and cancelled her concerts and appearances for the next 6 months. 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.

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.

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. Also get ready for the Cirque De Soleil Show coming to the Wells Fargo Center on April 10th, 2012.

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.

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. Speaking of Dionne, she has a new book about her life called My Life As I See It. In the book, she talks about her cousin Whitney Houston, her musical days with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and how she got involved with the Psychic Network.

Supermodel Iman graces the new issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

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.

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.

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 this Saturday.

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.

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 this Friday at the Tower Theatre. It’s Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson, Peabo Bryson and Howard Hewett.

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.

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

This sexy Actor with the British accent is going to have to be more careful with his public image. He recently had a baby with a young woman and promptly dumped her.

Check out who’s coming to town:

Now running until Sunday, November 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.
This Friday, November 12th- The Men Of Soul with Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson 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 & Lalah Hathaway 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.