Entertainment Week of 1/17/11

Usher has been ordered to rest. Usher has had to cancel dates on his European tour. Usher took ill, and his reps say he is suffering from an upper respiratory infection. At a recent show, Usher was on the stage crying, staggering and he appeared out of it. Hopefully, he will listen to doctor’s orders.

TV One will be returning with a new season of Unsung. This season, which kicks off this summer, will feature Alexander O’Neal and Cherelle, The Spinners, Deniece Williams, Evelyn “Champaign” King, Big Daddy Kane and The Ohio Players.

Bobby Brown is starting to reveal how drug use has affected his life. In a recent interview, he explained why his mouth is crooked. Brown says he was doing heroin back in 2001, and he almost overdosed. He says it was a very scary moment that changed his life forever.

Singer Kenny Lattimore is hard at work on a new project. He recently teamed up with Producer Carvin Haggins for the song What Must I Do.

Congrats to The Queen Of All Media, Wendy Williams! Her talk show has been renewed for a new season.


Diana Ross’ son, Evan Ross, is leading an all-star cast in the movie Mooz-lum. The movie, by Writer/Director Qasim Basir, tells the story of a young man’s struggling to come to terms with his Islamic faith on an American college campus. Evan Ross stars as Tariq Mahdi. The cast also features Danny Glover, Nia Long and Roger Guenveur Smith. Mooz-lum opens in theatres next month.

Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick is a hot get right now, and the big question is who is going to get him first for an interview? Will it be Oprah Winfrey or CNN’S new host Piers Morgan? My bet is on Oprah.

She got her a baller! Singer Monica and Shannon Brown of The L.A. Lakers are married. The two tied the knot 2 months ago, but why are they keeping it quiet? Monica, 30, has a new reality show in the works. They want to keep all the details for the TV audience. Brown, 30, has been with the Lakers since 2009. Monica has two sons, Rodney, 5, and Romelo, 3, from a previous relationship.


Singer Etta James is not doing well, and her family is split over her money. Her husband, Artis Mills, is contesting the power of attorney given to her son, Donto James. In a recent court session, Mills was granted $60,000 of James savings to help with her medical care. Donto James has asked for a third party to oversee the spending of that money. Etta James, 72, is suffering from leukemia and dementia. The legendary singer is known for the hits Something’s Got A Hold On Me, All I Do Is Cry, Stop The Wedding and, her breakthrough, At Last.


A third legendary talk show host is saying goodbye. Regis Philbin is leaving Live With Regis And Kelly. This week, Philbin, who’ll be 80 in August, shocked his audience announcing his retirement from television sometime this summer. Regis joins Larry King and Oprah Winfrey in this season’s TV farewells. Philbin is in the Guinness Book Of World’s Records for the most hours on camera by a television personality. Co-Host Kelly Ripa will continue with the show with a new co-host. No replacement for Regis has been announced.


Get well wishes go out to legendary Songwriter/Producer Nile Rogers. He says he has a very aggressive form of cancer. Rogers, 58, is a founding member of Chic. They enjoyed a string of hits like Everybody Dance, Good Times, Dance, Dance, Dance and Le Freak. Rogers with his partner, the late Bernard Edwards, produced hits for Diana Ross, David Bowie, Sister Sledge, Carly Simon, Madonna and, of course, were famously sampled for The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight.


Is Halle Berry being pressured to become the big screen’s Queen Of Soul? Aretha Franklin has been making the rounds in the media to dispute reports that she has pancreatic cancer and won’t be able to recover from her undisclosed aliment. During one of her interviews, The Queen Of Soul, 68, said she wants to see Halle Berry play her on screen. When asked about this at The Golden Globe Awards, Berry, 44, took the diplomatic route. She said because she can’t sing a lick, she couldn’t do Aretha’s story justice. Critics have seized not only on the singing, but the physical appearance of the two women being a distraction from any movie.


In more Halle news, her babydaddy, Gabriel Aubry, has asked a court to officially declare him the father of two-year old Nahla. This is a move that usually precedes a custody battle, but sources say for now, Aubry, 34, just wants to officially preserve his rights as a father. Berry and Aubry amicably split close to a year ago.

The I.R.S.’ next celebrity battle is with Montel Williams. Williams, 54, has been hit with a $1million federal tax lien. This follows being detained by authorities at the airport when he was caught with marijuana. He uses it for his multiple sclerosis. The former talk show host’s tax lien is in connection to his 2008 and 2009 returns. Uncle Sam doesn’t play Montel, and you can ask Ron Isley and Wesley Snipes!


Lauryn Hill is still playing! At a recent concert she was scheduled to give in Atlanta, she kept the audience waiting three hours. Hill didn’t take the stage until midnight. She also decided to sing new music and skip her hits. This all comes on the heels of her keeping a New York concert audience waiting for four hours before she took the stage. This is not right. People spend their hard earned money and you can’t come out on time or even sing their favorite songs. You don’t have to worry about seeing me in the audience for one of her shows!


The new face of Dark And Lovely is Bria Murphy. The 20-year old was thrown a lavish party this week to introduce her as the new star of the company’s print and television ads. Murphy is following in her family’s show business tradition. She’s the daughter of Comedian/Actor Eddie Murphy and his ex-wife Model Nicole Murphy.


WDAS’ Afternoon Drive Host Michael Baisden has a new documentary called Do Women Know Want They Want. The documentary explores the topics of sex, monogamy, cheating, marriage, interracial relationships, girlfriends and even open relationships to ask women what they really want and do they even know? The DVD hits shelves on Valentine’s Day.


Dionne & Friends are back. In 1986, Dionne, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John released the hit That’s What Friends Are For to raise money in the fight against AIDS. The four legends will reunite again for the 25th anniversary of the song and AmFar’s 25th Black Tie Event in New York on February 9th. AmFar honors those who have made major contributions in the fight against AIDS. In more Dionne news, she’ll be on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice on March 6th. Warwick will join The Real Housewives Of Atlanta’s NeNe Leakes, Star Jones and LaToya Jackson, to name a few.


Kevin Hart is known for his on the edge brand of stand up comedy, and now, so is his soon to be ex-wife. There’s a video of Torrei Hart doing stand up comedy in a club as the angry black woman. The video has gone viral, and has a not so nice look at marriage and men. This video surfaced just after pictures of Kevin, out and about with a new lady, were published. The Harts have been married eight years and have two children, Heaven, 5, and Hendrix, 3.


The 2011 BET Honors will air on the network on February 21st. This year’s honorees are Actress Cicely Tyson, Supermodel Iman, Music Legend Herbie Hancock, Johnson Publishing’s Linda Johnson-Rice and Actor/Comedian/Singer Jamie Foxx, who’s on this week’s cover of Jet magazine. Actress Gabrielle Union returns as host and she’s currently shooting down rumors she’s pregnant. Union says she doesn’t see babies in her future for a few years after she’s married.


Speaking of BET, the cable network struck gold last week when the premiere of The Game made history. With almost eight million viewers, The Game is second only to The BET Awards as the highest rated show ever on the network. VH1 is also getting in on the act with the two-hour premiere of its new series Single Ladies. The show stars LisaRaye and Stacey Dash and is executive produced by Queen Latifah. Latifah also produces Let’s Stay Together, which follows The Game Tuesday nights on BET. Single Ladies, a show about three friends’ love lives and careers in Atlanta, premieres on VH1 May 30th.


Mike Tyson’s reality series, Taking On Tyson, kicks off March 6th on the Animal Planet. The six episode series is all bout his love for birds.


This Mother’s Day, it’s a tribute to The Lady T. On Saturday, May 7th, The Mother’s Day Weekend Music Festival & Tribute To The Late Teena Marie is happening in Atlantic City. The Whispers, Keith Sweat and Charlie Wilson will take the stage at The Boardwalk Hall. Teena had been friends and toured with all these performers for many years before her death. For tickets and info call 1-800-736-1420.

Mo’Nique, who won an Academy Award last year for her role in Precious, will be hand to announce the new nominees for this year’s Oscars. The announcements will be made on January 25th.


Singer Angela Bofill is battling back after two major strokes. Bofill is hitting the road in The Angela Bofill Experience. The show is coming to the Keswick Theatre in Glenside on January 29th. The show will feature Vocalist Maysa.


Flavor Flav is coming out with a memoir this year. The popular reality show star says he’s going to cover it all, from his early career with the rap group Public Enemy to his stints in rehab and jail. The book, Icon, comes out in March.


Congratulations to Chaka Khan she’s going to be honored at Annual UNCF telethon, An Evening Of Stars. The show airs in syndication and BET the weekend of January 29th.


Congrats to Actress Tia Mowry. She’s pregnant. Mowry is married to Cory Hardrict, and she is due this summer. Mowry starred in the popular show Sister Sister with her twin Tamera Mowry. Tia is now one of the stars of The Game on BET, where she plays “Melanie.” Tia is also doing a reality show with her sister on the Style network called Take 2.


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. 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. He is also doing well as the new host of Family Feud.


Dr. Conrad Murray is no longer allowed to practice medicine. A judge has suspended his medical license in light of his upcoming trail for manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. Murray was Jackson’s personal physician at the time of his death, and a lot of people hold Murray responsible for giving The King Of Pop that fatal dose of propofol that killed him. Dr. Murray cannot practice medicine in California, Texas and Nevada where he has medical practices. Dr. Murray needs to practice to make money. He can’t pay his legal team or his bills if he can’t work.


Speaking of The King Of Pop, his 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.


This 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. Plus, 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 Green Lantern in June.


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


The 42nd annual NAACP Image Awards will air March 4th on FOX. Tyler Perry is leading in the nominations with his movies For Colored Girls and Why Did I Get Married Too? He also has nominations for his TV shows House Of Payne and Meet The Browns. Other movies nominated include Book Of Eli and Just Wright. Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Jaden Smith, Halle Berry and Queen Latifah are all nominated for awards. Ice Cube’s TV show Are We There Yet? is also nominated in the TV category.


Speaking of Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls, the movie is gearing up for a DVD release of February 8th. The critically acclaimed movie stars Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose and Thandie Newton.


And speaking of Janet Jackson, she is releasing a new book. True You: A Journey To Loving And Finding Yourself comes out February 8th. It’s part Biography, part self help. Janet is also planning a spring tour that will bring her to Atlantic City at the Borgata March 25th and 26th.


Regina King is the cover girl for the new issue of Essence magazine. King looks amazing as she talks about the return of her TNT TV drama Southland and her romance with Actor Malcolm Jamal Warner (“Theo” from The Cosby Show).


Ebony magazine is celebrating black love with three amazing covers: The President & First Lady, Jay-Z & Beyonce and Boris Kodjoe & Nicole Ari Parker.


Get ready for a second season of Lisa Raye: The Real McCoy. The popular actress returns with her reality show later this year on TV One.


The Dell Music Center at 33rd and Ridge is returning this summer with a hot lineup and a new night of entertainment. No more Monday nights! The new night of entertainment at the Dell will be Thursdays. Go to MyDellEast.com for more information.


Actor Laurence Fishburne is coming to HBO in the story of Thurgood Marshall. Marshall was a civil rights lawyer and first African American supreme court justice. The movie on his life, based on the Broadway play Fishburne starred in, will air during Black History Month on February 24th.


Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker debuts his Criminal Minds TV spinoff, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior on February 16th.


Raphael Saadiq has a new project coming out this March. Stone Rollin is the follow up to his soulful 2008 release The Way I See It.


Chef Aaron McCargo, the host of Big Daddy’s House on the Food Network, has a new time slot, Friday mornings at 9:30am and Saturday mornings at 8am. McCargo is also getting ready to release his first cookbook. Simply Done Well Done arrives in bookstores this April.


Russell Simmons, the 53-year old co-founder of Def Jam Records, is back with a new book that’s really good. Super Rich: A Guide To Having It All is a book about leading a better life through an enlightened state of mind. How do we do that? We do that by taking stock of ourselves. Simmons says people must accept that happiness is up to you, just two of the major theories that he discusses.


Poet and Author Dr. Maya Angelou also has a new book out. Great Food All Day Long features recipes and writings from the 82-year old icon. Angelou says it’s stories about food, friends and family.


The Reverend Al Sharpton is ready to tell all. Sharpton has led a colorful life from politics to the streets. In his book, Sharpton says he will talk about his failed marriage and the drama that unfolded with the families of James Brown and Michael Jackson following their deaths.


Are you a talented singer or musician? Well get ready for the Rising Star Talent search. The winner will get cash and a chance to perform at the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival this summer. Auditions kick off at Relish, 7152 Ogontz Avenue. WDAS’ own Mimi Brown will be hosting. To register call 215-922-5455.


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


A Pro Baller is declaring himself a changed man because he met the right Woman who offered a dash of reality. Problem is that woman isn’t the Babymomma of his three children with whom he had a long time relationship with that never resulted in marriage.


This Actor is slowly explaining his actions for an abrupt breakup with his Girlfriend. It seems the two no longer live together after she gave birth to a child. When the tabloids starting to pick up the story, he declared….. via the social networks…..The Kid Is Not My Son!


Check out who’s coming to town:


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

Saturday January 29th- Experience the life and music of Angela Bofill at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. Angela Bofill and Singer Maysa and the original Angela Bofill band.

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

Saturday, February 5th-The Seriously Funny Tour with Kevin Hart at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington DE.

February 8th-13th The David E. Talbert stage play What My Husband Doesn’t Know, at the Merriam Theatre, Broad and Spruce, starring Michelle Williams, Brian White, Ann Nesby and Clifton Davis.

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.

Saturday, February 13th- Dave Koz at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.

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.

Friday, February 25th- El DeBarge and Kem in concert at the Tower Theatre, 69th Street in Upper Darby.

February 27th- Marvin Sapp in concert at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington Delaware.

Friday and Saturday, March 25th -26th - Janet Jackson in concert at The Borgata Casino in Atlantic City.

Saturday, May 7th – Mother’s Day Weekend Music Festival & Tribute To The Late Teena Marie starring The Whispers, Keith Sweat and Charlie Wilson at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and info call 1-800-736-1420.

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).