4-1-1- Entertainment for the Week of August 14, 2011

The sad and unexpected death of Televangelist Dr. Zachery Tims is topping this week’s 4-1-1. Tims, 42, was the head of a popular church in central Florida. He and wife Riva had a ministry of thousands. He was well known on the TBN network and the Word network. A couple of years ago, Tims was involved in a scandal with a stripper that led to he and his wife getting divorced. They had four children. Over the weekend, Tims was found dead in a hotel in New York. Drugs were suspected after a powder substance was found in his pockets. Tims was a good minister, but many believe his personal demons took over his life. He often talked about his past drug use and addiction when he was a teen, and it’s so sad to hear his life ending this way.

LisaRaye McCoy says she is not the reason Stacey Dash got fired from the VH1 show Single Ladies. LisaRaye sent the world a message while vacationing in Italy. She says the decision to let Dash go was a network decision. Dash has been very quiet about her firing. Was she a drama queen? Was she late all the time? Was it her fighting with LisaRaye? LisaRaye and the head writer/creator of the show are close friends. Who is going to replace Dash because a replacement is being sought? Queen Latifah serves as the show’s executive producer.

What is CBS doing to Holly Robinson Peete? Is she returning to The Talk? Peete co-hosts the daytime talker with Leah Remini, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen and Sharon Osborne. The show is in an upheaval stage. Sharon Osborne is reportedly leaving. There is a lot of tension with Leah Remini, and, I hear Peete may not resign. What is going on? Peete is great on this show. Julie Chen, who is married to CBS Honcho Les Moonves, reportedly won’t let the ladies talk about major news event without her. Julie wants to be known as the news authority. There have been problems with Remini bringing her mom on the set of the show and not abiding by show rules. But, what is the problem with Peete, and why is she being treated this way?

Who is coming back to Basketball Wives for season four? Shaunie O’Neal, the producer of the show, says the new season will have more balance. She admits the show is heavy handed with all the fighting. Meeka Claxton, the wife of Speedy Claxton, won’t be back. She lost steam after getting slapped by Tami Roman. Royce Reed may not be back. She wants more money, and she is starting to venture out with more projects.

The Michael Jackson tribute concert has run into controversy. The tribute show, scheduled for October in Wales, is being run by Joe Jackson and his cronies. You know Joe is quick to cash in on Michael’s name. The Michael Jackson Estate says it will sue the organizers if they are not told where the proceeds are going.

Did scientology play a part in the split up between Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony? Lopez’s dad has been part of the religion for over twenty years, and she feels it’s okay if her children by Anthony get teachings. Reports say Anthony was not happy with this.

Was Kobe Bryant fighting in church? According to reports out of San Diego, Bryant was in church service with his wife Vanessa when he spotted a man taking a picture. Bryant thought the man was taking a picture of him, so he grabbed the man’s wrists. The man screamed that Bryant hurt him and had to be rushed to the hospital. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Can’t you smell a lawsuit here?

Chris Tucker is on the latest edition of Jet magazine. He talks about being a born again Christian, returning to stand up comedy and wanting to do more dramatic roles. The Friday and Rush Hour star is coming to the Borgata Friday, September 9th in Atlantic City.

Kudos to Ebony and Jet magazines and their increased circulation: their new layouts are amazing.

Sherri Shepherd tied the knot with Lamar Sally over the weekend. The View co-host has her wedding pictures featured in the new issue of Life & Style magazine, and the Style network is featuring her wedding on their cable network September 13th.

Johnny Gill’s latest comeback may have hit a snag. He is being sued by the owner of his new record label Notifi Records after going off on Twitter. He called the owner, Ira Dewitt, a deranged nut. He says she deliberately leaked tracks from his new CD. At 45, Gill was hoping this would be his latest comeback, but many people say this was not a good career move.

President Obama will be at the memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The dedication at the national mall is happening on Sunday, August 28th in Washington, DC. Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Dr. Maya Angelou will also be on hand.

The BET network is airing a 10th anniversary special on the late Singer Aaliyah. Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25th, 2001. She was 22-years old at the time. Patti LaBelle, Missy Elliot, Timbaland and Kelly Rowland are participating in the special.

Who’s going to be on the new season of Dancing With The Stars? The new season kicks off next month, but don’t look for Queen Latifah, who was rumored to be joining the show. Former Boxer Mike Tyson may be signing up. That’s because he did the European version, so don’t be surprised.

The hottest actress of the moment has to be Viola Davis. The 46-year old Oscar nominee is starring in the box office smash The Help. Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, are in the process of adopting a baby, and she is being courted by HBO about starring in a new show.

Get ready for the return of Braxton Family Values. The second season kicks in November on the WE network.

Get ready for season four of Real Housewives Of Atlanta kicking off on the Bravo network in November.

The TV One network is airing the 2011 Essence Music Festival on Labor Day Monday, September 5th.

Joe’s new CD, The Good, The Bad And The Sexy, arrives in stores on September 27th.

Melanie Fiona and Kelly Price have been added to the Kem show Friday, September 16th at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts.

Congrats to Singer Neyo, he and his girlfriend are expecting their second child.

Eric Benet’s new movie, Trinity Goodheart, airs on Saturday, August 20th on the Gospel Music Channel.

The 33rd Annual UNCF Evening Of Stars airs on BET September 25th. This year’s guests include Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Marsha Ambrosius, Estelle, Musiq Soulchild and Miquel.

Eddie Murphy is providing the voice for the Hong Kong Phooey Movie. The film is based on the popular cartoon from the 70’s about a dog who becomes a Kung Fu crime fighter. The late Scatman Crothers voiced the TV cartoon character in the 70’s. Murphy is no stranger to animation. He voices the Donkey in the Shrek movies. Murphy’s new movie Tower Heist, with Ben Stiller and Gabourey Sidibe, opens in theatres November 5th.

Singer Tank is looking for new management. He recently got rid of his old new management who weren’t pushing him in the right direction. Tanks sings, acts and writes songs, but his career has never really taken off the way it should. He is currently co-starring with Tisha Campbell-Martin on her new lifetime show The Protector. Martin has been making the tours promoting her show, and showing up at events without her hubby Actor Duane Martin (All Of Us). Hmmmmmm!

Wayne Brady has been tapped to host an ol’ school jam in Las Vegas that Justin Timberlake is putting together. The event is happening in October, and will benefit the Shriners Hospital For Children. Charlie Wilson, The Commodores, Sister Sledge and Earth Wind & Fire are on the bill.

He’s hosted the Academy Awards eight times, and now he wants back in. At 63, Comedian Billy Crystal says he’s getting the itch to host again. He has been the best. Crystal is currently making a film based on his one man play 700 Sundays. The 84th Annual Academy Awards air February 26th, 2012 on ABC.

Sex And The City may be coming back to TV. Are you ready for more of "Carrie" and company? Talks are underway for a revival of the show.

Affion Crockett is on a roll with his Sunday night FOX show. His sketches are hysterical.

Nick Cannon is signing on for more work. In addition to being married to Mariah Carey, being a new dad, hosting a syndicated radio show, being a Nickelodeon programming exec and host of America’s Got Talent, he is joining the cast of the NBC show Up All Night.

Actor Orlando Bloom from the Disney show That’s So Raven was recently arrested for drunk driving. The 23-year old actor was with his pregnant girlfriend, and he was also cited for driving without a license.

Steve Harvey’s Family Feud is coming to NBC-10 starting September 12th and will air at 12noon. NBC-10 will also air a new mid-morning news show at 11am followed by The Ten Show in a new half-hour format at 11:30am. Steve is also coming to town with a new comedy show on Saturday, November 5th at the Liacouras Center.

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is the cover girl for Essence magazine. Her new BET show, Reed Between The Lines, debuts on October 11th with Malcolm Jamal Warner,

Actress Zoe Saldana is the cover girl for the new issue of Ebony magazine. She looks hot. Saldana is an action star in her new movie Columbiana, which opens in theatres August 26th.

Get ready for Tyler Perry’s latest movie Madea’s Big Happy Family on DVD August 30th, and Madea’s Christmas will be out on DVD before Thanksgiving. In more Tyler news, Gabrielle Union is in Perry’s movie Good Deeds, it also stars Thandie Newton, Brian White, Phylicia Rashad, Beverly Johnson and Eddie Cibrian, opens in theatres February 24th. Perry is also teaming up with Lionsgate for his new network. Yes! Tyler TV would take over an existing gospel network and show his TV shows, movies and other Christian themed programming.

Actress Nicole Ari Parker (Mrs. Boris Kodjoe) is coming to Broadway. She will be teaming up with Blair Underwood in the Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. Previews start next spring.

Actor Henry Simmons is returning to TV in the ABC comedy Man Up. Simmons used to play “Detective Jones” on the TV drama NYPD Blue.

Singer Brandy is looking to reinvent her career. She says no more reality TV. After stints on Dancing With The Stars, her VH1 show and America’s Got Talent, nothing has really jumpstarted her career. She is currently filming a documentary about the ups and down of her career and her comeback. Brandy is also working with the show Majors And Minors, which is about mentoring young people. She is also joining the cast of the TV show 90210. In the season 4 opener, she plays a young politician.

Babyface is going on tour and coming to the Keswick Theatre on Saturday, November 26th.

Laurence Fishburne is joining the cast of the new Superman movie Man Of Steel. Fishburne will play “Perry White,” the editor-in-chief of Metropolis’ The Daily Planet. Fishburne recently left CBS’ C.S.I. TV show. He is being replacing by Cheers’ Ted Danson.

Boyz II Men celebrates 20 years with a new album this fall. Twenty is a double CD with 10 new songs and updated versions of their classics including End Of The Road and I’ll Make Love To You. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface and Charlie Wilson helped out on the project. The CD will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart.

The George Lucas movie Red Tails with Terrence Howard opens in theatres January 20, 2012. The movie about the first African American fighter pilots (The Tuskegee Airmen) also stars Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.

The Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin is coming to NBC in a primetime special which airs September 24th. The special will feature music from her new album A Woman Falling Out Of Love. Franklin is very busy these days. She’s also teaming up with the legendary Tony Bennett for his new album Duets. They will be doing a cover of the song How Do You Keep The Music Playing originally done by Patti Austin and James Ingram. Bennett turns 85 in September.

The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards air August 28th on MTV.

Get ready for Jumping The Broom! The Bishop T.D. Jakes-Tracey Edmonds hit movie is out on DVD. The movie stars Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine and Angela Bassett. Speaking of T.D. Jakes, Blair Underwood has joined the cast of Bishop Jakes’ movie On The Seventh Day. The movie also stars Pam Grier and Sharon Leal. Bishop Jakes is on a roll. Besides Jumping The Broom, his other films include Woman Thou Art Loosed with Kimberly Elise and Not Easily Broken with Morris Chestnut.

The VH1 network is gearing up to unveil their new lineup of shows. LaLa Anthony, the wife of Carmelo Anthony has a show LaLa’s Full Court, which debuts August 22nd at 9pm, and season three of The T.O. Show kicks off Monday, August 22nd at 9:30pm.


Wendy Williams returns for a third season of her daytime talk show on September 12th.

The 63rd Annual Emmy Awards air September 18th on FOX. Congrats to Taraji P. Henson, Andre Braugher, Idris Elba, Laurence Fishburne and Alfre Woodard, who have all been nominated for Emmys this year.

Kindred The Family Soul has released a new CD called Love Has No Recession. Raheem DeVaughn, Chuck Brown, Lady Alma and Carol Riddick are featured on the album which is out now.

Singer Lenny Kravitz will be starring in the movie Hunger Games, and his new album, Black And White America, comes out August 30th.

Mary J. Blige is ready to start work on her new film project. Blige will be starring in a movie based on the life of Jazz Great Nina Simone. Mary is also releasing My Life II: The Journey Continues in September. She is also working on a new movie for the lifetime network.

Actress Kerry Washington will be staring in the new Shonda Rhimes produced-TV drama Scandal. Rhimes is known for her TV smashes Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Scandal debuts this fall on ABC.

Speaking of Kevin Hart, his movie documentary, Laugh At My Pain, opens in theatres September 9th. The movie follows Hart on his latest concert tour including his hometown Philly.

Tyrese is gearing up to release a new album. The CD, Open Invitation, comes out November 1st. The Transformer III star is also pushing his latest book, How To Get Out Of Your Own Way. Tyrese has been getting some criticism for his latest music video. In explaining the lack of African American women in his video I Gotta Chick, he says he went with the best not race.

Angela Bassett is also coming to Broadway replacing Halle Berry in the production The Mountaintop. Samuel L. Jackson is starring as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The show opens October 13th. Speaking of Halle Berry, she is returning to TV. The Oscar and Emmy winner will play a college professor in a project called Higher Learning. It is currently being shopped to HBO and Showtime.

Actress Naturi Naughton, who used to sing with the group 3LW, has joined the cast of the NBC-TV show The Playboy Club. The show debuts this fall.


The Bynum Brothers are getting ready to unveil a new venture: Green Soul, 7169 Ogontz Avenue. It’s a new healthy food restaurant.


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



Is the ship sailing away from this Daytime Personality? A few of her co-stars were noticeably absent from her recent nuptials. Is this a sign of a parting of the ways? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Special Events!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boys? The stage play stars Clifton Powell, Leon and Terrell Carter, September 27th- October 2nd at The Merriam Theatre. For more info call 215-893-1999 or Kimmelcenter.org.

Torn Between Two Fathers, A Priest Tyaire production September 17th at the Dupont Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware. For info call 302-762-4776.

Check out who’s coming to town:

August 21st- It’s a celebration for Radio Icon Lady B, Public Enemy, Salt N Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Cash Money and Kenny Gamble. They’re all getting special honors by the city at The Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue.

Wednesday, August 24th- The O’Jays, The Four Tops and The Stylistics at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue.

Thursday, August 25th- Rachelle Ferrell and Angela Winbush at The Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue.

Saturday, August 27th- Boney James at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.

September 3rd- Atlantic City Comedy Festival starring Mike Epps, Sommore, Sheryl Underwood, Bruce-Bruce and Arnez J at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For more info contact ticketmaster.com.
Sunday, September 4th- Frankie Beverly & Maze and DJ Kool at The Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue.
Sunday, September 4th- Chrisette Michele at the House Of Blues in Atlantic City.
Friday, September 9th - Chris Tucker Comedy Show at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City.
Friday, September 16th- Kem with Melanie Fiona and Kelly Price at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue.
Saturday, September 17th- Boyz II Men at Temple University’s Performing Arts Center on 1837 North Broad Street.
Saturday, September 24th- Sinbad at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.

Sunday, October 9th- Wanda Sykes at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.
Saturday, October 22nd – Ledisi at Temple University’s Performing Arts Center on 1837 North Broad Street.
Sunday, October 23rd – George Benson in concert at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.
Saturday, November 26th- Babyface in concert at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.
April 10th, 2012- Cirque De Soleil Show featuring the music of Michael Jackson at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).

**Pattys Page