Entertainment News Week of 12/13/10

You can send your get well wishes to the Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin. Franklin, 68, is battling pancreatic cancer, and you can send cards c/o New Bethel Baptist Church, 2541 W. Philadelphia St., Detroit, Michigan 48206.

2011 is going to be an amazing year for Actress Angela Bassett. She just signed on for the movie This Means War, which is being produced by Will Smith. Bassett will star alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon. Bassett will also be starring in the new ABC cop drama One Police Plaza, and she’s got two other films on the way. The T.D. Jakes’ movie Jumping The Broom with Paula Patton in May and the action movie The Green Lantern in June.

Katherine Jackson is making no friends with the Michael Jackson estate. Mom Katherine’s side deals are causing a lot of problems. Howard Mann is Katherine’s leading advisor, and the Michael Jackson estate wants him to stop making business deals immediately. The estate feels these dealings are robbing Michael’s children of their money. The estate gives Katherine money every month, but she feels it is not enough. She basically supports the entire Jackson family. She and Joe Jackson feel they should control the estate and handle the money. The executors know this would be a disaster because they know if that were the case, the money would be gone.

Halle Berry and Idris Elba have been nominated for awards at the 68TH Annual Golden Globe Awards. Berry is up for Best Actress for her movie about a woman with multiple personality disorder, Frankie And Alice, and Idris is nominated for his role in the miniseries Luther. The Golden Globe Awards air Sunday, January 16th on NBC.

Speaking of Halle, she’s headed to Broadway. She is set to star in the production Mountaintop with Samuel L. Jackson. Her new movie, Frankie And Alice, opens in theatres in February. She also has a new fragrance, Reveal, coming out this winter.

Is New Edition planning a comeback? Ronnie, Bobby, Johnny, Ricky, Ralph and Mike: the guys were spotted in California mapping out a strategy for a comeback.

Don King is mourning the loss of his wife Henrietta. His wife was 87, King is 79, and they were married for 50 years. Mrs. King had stomach cancer. They had three children.

Natalie Cole is back with a new holiday music entitled The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. The 14-song project is filled with holiday classics and is her first since her life saving kidney transplant in May 2009. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year will also be available on DVD.

The latest issue of People features Sandra Bullock on the cover as their Woman Of The Year. Inside, there are the exclusive wedding photos of Nicole Richie and Rocker Joel Madden. Lionel’s daughter got married over the weekend, and Reverend Run officiated the ceremony.

Little Fockers, the third installment of the Ben Stiller/Robert De Niro comedy series, opens in theatres December 22nd. After his run of comedies, I hear De Niro is headed back to drama to once again team up with Director Martin Scorsese for another mob drama. The movie would be based on the book, I Hear You Paint Houses, which is mob slang for contract killing. De Niro is set to play Frank Sheeran, a labor union official who was involved in over 25 mob related deaths. On his deathbed, he admitted his involvement in the disappearance and killing of Union Boss Jimmy Hoffa.

Janet Jackson is planning on a tour for next year, and she wants her fans to help her pick the cities and songs, for more info go to janetjackson.com. Check her out on the new issue of Health magazine. Janet is also teaming up with Barbie to create a Barbie Doll in her likeness called Divinely Barbie.

Whitney Houston is the surprise guest at the BET Celebration Of Gospel. During the taping, Houston stunned the audience by joining Kim Burrell on stage. The show, hosted by Steve Harvey, airs Sunday, January 30th at 8pm on BET.

Speaking of Steve Harvey, his book, Straight Talk No Chaser is in stores. 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, check him out nightly on the Centric network with The Steve Harvey Project. Steve is also going on tour with Kirk Franklin. It’s a gospel and comedy tour which kicks off next March. Harvey is also on the cover of the new issue of Essence magazine and is doing very well with his latest job as the new host of the game show Family Feud.

Chris Tucker is ready to return to the big screen. Tucker is set to sign on for the movie The Rabbit, where he will play a Las Vegas magician who helps people break out of prison. Tucker was last on the big screen in 2007’s Rush Hour III.

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.

Maxwell, Mariah Carey and Ellen DeGeneres are joining the first family for Christmas in Washington. The special airs at 8pm Friday, December 17th on the TNT network.

Keyshia Cole is on the cover of Jet magazine. She talks about being a mommy and her new album.

L’Oreal cosmetics recently unveiled their new ad campaign starring Beyonce.

Funkateer George Clinton is suing The Black Eyed Peas. Apparently, the group sampled Clinton’s 1979 hit Knee Deep, which hit number one back in 1979, and he is suing them in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Clinton has fallen on hard times financially since he sold most of the rights to his music.

Bria Murphy, the 20-year old daughter of Eddie Murphy and his ex-wife Nicole, has been named the new spokesperson for Dark And Lovely. Bria is gorgeous. The new ad campaign kicks off next month.

Justin Bieber is about to embark on a European tour with ten-year old Willow Smith. The two young sensations have had an incredible year. I had a chance to meet Will and Jada’s youngest. She was lovely, very nice and well poised. I love Willow. What a year she has had with Whip My Hair.

Rapper Doug E. Fresh is having money problems despite opening a club and restaurant in New York. He owes the I.R.S. over $2 million.

NeNe Leakes of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta has filed divorce papers to end her marriage. Leakes, who’s set to appear on the new season Celebrity Apprentice, wants out of her marriage to Greg Leakes. He’s her real estate hubby who has fallen on hard times.

Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame has lined up Lionel Richie and Vanessa Williams for her new show, Who Do You Think You Are, which traces a person’s roots. The new season kicks of next month.

Actor Don Cheadle has signed on to star and be the executive producer of a new Showtime TV series called House Of Lies.

The new inductees into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have been announced. Singer Darlene Love, Neil Diamond, Dr. John and the Alice Cooper Band all made this year’s cut. The big story is actually the ones who were turned away including Bon Jovi, LL Cool J, The J Geils Band, The Beastie Boys and Donna Summer.

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.

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.

Dr. J’s Utah house is in foreclosure. Julius Erving has been trying to sell that house for over a year. The asking price is over $2 million, and he owes more than it is worth.

Al Roker from The Today Show and Shaun Robinson from Access Hollywood will be hosting the 122nd Annual Tournament Of Roses Parade live from Pasadena, California Saturday, January 1st on NBC.

The 4th season of Kimora Lee Simmons’ Life In The Fast Lane kicks off January 9th on the Style Channel.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards take place February 13th. Kem, Sade, Fantasia, Jaheim, Usher and El DeBarge are all up for awards.

Ne-Yo is known for his singing and dancing. Now he’s ready to put his acing hat on. The singer/songwriter is scheduled to appear on CSI: New York as a hit man.

D.L. Hughley is returning to TV in a new sitcom for the TBS network called Rabbit Factory.

Mike Tyson has been selected for the Boxing Hall Of Fame.

The new season of American Idol, with new Judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler alongside the returning Randy Jackson, kicks off Wednesday, January 19th. The new nights for American Idol will be Wednesday and Thursday with Thursday being the new elimination night. Congrats to Lopez, she recently joined Denzel Washington as a national spokesperson for The Boys And Girls Club Of America.

Get ready for the return of Jamie Foxx. His new CD, Best Night Of My Life, arrives in stores Dec. 21st. Foxx also has two movies lined up for next year: Horrible Bosses with Jennifer Aniston and Skank Robbers with Martin Lawrence in their female characters "Wanda" and "Sheneneh."

The movie Takers arrives on DVD January 18th. The movie stars Idris Elba, Rapper/Actor T.I., Paul Walker, Matt Dillon and Chris Brown.

The King Of Pop’s videos are out on DVD. Michael Jackson’s Visions features over 2 ½ hours worth of classic videos. Also, get ready for the Cirque De Soleil Show coming to the Wells Fargo Center on April 10th, 2012. Michael’s music is also going to be featured in a special episode of the FOX show Glee. Glee has a special after the Superbowl episode on February 6th where the cast will be doing the music from the Thriller album. The Superbowl for 2011 will air on FOX and the special halftime guests will be The Black Eyed Peas.

Jennifer Hudson’s latest movie based on the life of Winnie Mandela hits theatres next year. Hudson will play Winnie and Terrence Howard will play former South African President Nelson Mandela.

The 4th season of The Game kicks off January 11th on BET.

Queen Latifah is hosting the People’s Choice Awards on January 5th.


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

This Male Model has a baby by an Oscar Winner. This woman is very powerful. She recently made him break up with a Reality Star. He was so afraid that he dumped the reality star.

Check out who’s coming to town:

This Saturday, December 18th –Comedy Show with Kevin Hart at the Tower Theatre.

This Sunday, December 19th- Brian McKnight at the Keswick Theatre with The WDAS Holiday Show.

Saturday, January 1st - The O’Jays in concert at the Hilton in Atlantic City.

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’ own Mimi Brown at The Arts Bank Theatre 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.

Saturday, January 29th –Lauryn Hill in concert at The House Of Blues in Atlantic City.

Friday, February 4th-Comedy show with Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake and Turae at the Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery.

February 8th-13th The David E. Talbert stage play What My Husband Doesn’t Know at the Merriam Theatre, Broad and Spruce.

Friday, February 12th – Funk Show starring Cameo, War, Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players, Con Funk Shun and The Dazz Band at the Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery.

Friday, February 18th- Salt N Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Doug E. Fresh,, Kool Moe Dee, and Kurtis Blow at the Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery.

Saturday, February 19th- George Clinton at the Keswick Theatre.

Sunday, June 19th – Sade in concert at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).

April 10th 2012- Cirque De Soleil Show featuring the music of Michael Jackson at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).

If you would like more info please email me at pattyj1053@aol.com or check me out with my Midday reports at 10:35, 12:35 and 2:35 pm during the day.

**received from WDAS**