4-1-1 Entertainment for the Week (3/10/08)

MY COMMENTS ARE IN PURPLE...

Bishop Thomas Weeks finally fesses up! Bishop Weeks pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault for beating Prophetess Juanita Bynum. Weeks apologized to his wife in court for beating her up in an Atlanta parking lot last August. Weeks stated he grabbed Bynum, threw her to the ground and kicked her. Weeks has been sentenced to three years probation, and he must undergo violence and anger counseling. He must also do 200 hours of community service, and it can't be church related. (why did he lie about this?)

Reps for Star Jones are denying reports that she has kicked her hubby of 3 ½ years to the curb. Where's Al? Over the past few weeks, Al Reynolds has been out of sight. Sources say he is in Miami. Late last year, Star Jones lost her Court TV show, and she has been trying to find steady work. In the meantime, her hubby, Al, has yet to find a job because he stopped working when he met her. There has been a lot of tension in the Jones-Reynolds household because someone has to get a job, and Star feels it's about time Al started pulling his weight. Has Al been using Star? Has she finally seen the light, or is she still paying the bills and standing by her man? (He needs a job!!!)

The soundtrack for Tyler Perry's Meets The Browns comes out on the 18th. The soundtrack will feature the music of Jill Scott, Musiq, Kelly Rowland, Brandy and Chaka Khan. The movie, starring Angela Bassett and Rick Fox, opens in theatres on the 21st. (Can't wait to see this one...I love me some Angela!)

Speaking of Angela, she's on a roll. In addition to starring in Meet The Browns, she has signed on for the new bio pic about the late rap icon The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls). Bassett will play Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace, in the movie about Biggie. Brooklyn Rapper Jamal Woolard will play Biggie, and Derek Luke will play P Diddy.

Beyonce is taking a break from recording to concentrate on her acting career. Filming has already started on Cadillac Records. Beyonce is playing the legendary Etta James in the movie about the start of Chess Records. Beyonce has also signed on for the movie Obsessed. Beyonce will star along with Actor Idris Elba in a movie about a married man who is dealing with a female stalker. Beyonce will play Elba's wife.

Singer India.Arie is headed to Broadway. Arie will be starring in the Ntozake Shange classic For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enough. The production originally debuted in 1977. Previews start in July, and it officially opens on Broadway August 2nd. The stage play looks at the experience of being a black woman in America through the eyes of seven characters.

Kelly Rowland opens up about her bigger boobs in the latest issue of People magazine. Rowland admits she has wanted bigger breasts since she was 17-years old. (wow....)

The I.R.S. is investigating Gospel Great Yolanda Adams. The 46-year old Adams failed to show up at a Houston court to answer questions about her finances over the past six years. (Why aren't celebrities staying up on this mess! They aren't exempt!)

Janet Jackson is currently planning her upcoming tour. In addition to dates in the states, Jackson is planning on touring the world including Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. Jackson is also planning on releasing a book about her weight struggles. (Hmmm...so why did she cancel her appearance on SNL for this Saturday? Is it because her album is another bust!? So now they have Mariah...)

Oprah Winfrey is in talks with Steven Spielberg to recreate The Color Purple movie. The 1985 version starred Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah wants the new movie to star Fantasia, who played the role of "Celie"on Broadway. (Big Give...didn't do too well)

Lionel Richie will be honored at ASCAP's annual awards. Richie is getting the Golden Note Award on April 9th. This award is given to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved great career milestones. Past winners include Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Jermaine Dupri.

Congratulations to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The songwriting and producing team were recently inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Gamble and Huff were the architects of The Sound Of Philadelphia, and they talk about their incredible career on our website. I had a chance to talk to them along with Butter, and you can watch our videotaped interview on our website at WDASFM.COM. You can find it on the homepage.

Basketball Star LeBron James a cover guy? YES! The Cleveland Cavaliers star will be on the cover of an upcoming edition of Vogue magazine's shape issue.

Now that the writers' strike is over, get ready for the '24' TV movie. The two-hour movie will be a prequel to the seventh season, which kicks off in January 2008. The 2007-2008 season was deep-sixed due to the writers strike, and Kiefer Sutherland's 48-day jail sentence. Sutherland plays the show's star "Jack Bauer."

Former Olympic Darling Marion Jones has started her six month jail term. Jones is serving jail time for lying to investigators about using steroids, and her role in a check fraud scam. Jones is in a Texas facility. During the 2000 games, Jones was the most famous female athlete in the world.
(Is she the only who actually had to serve time? What about the other ones? Dang Marion! And Barry!!)

Regina Belle will be releasing her first gospel album this spring. The album, Love Forever Shines, features the lead single God Is Good. Belle is due in Philadelphia on May 13th. She's doing two appearances, one at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and the other at Sharon Baptist Church.

When will Kimora Lee Simmons reveal all? Sources say Simmons is expecting a baby with boyfriend Actor Dijmon Hounsou. Simmons has two daughters with ex-husband, Record Mogul Russell Simmons. (Wow...should be interesting)

Erykah Badu is the April cover girl for Essence magazine. Badu talks about her new album Amerykah and her children. Badu also reflects on past loves Andre 3000, Rapper Common and Rapper The D.O.C. When asked >about the new man in her life, Badu clams up saying she doesn't want to talk about her new love, but she is very happy. (Glad she is back)

Jill Scott is coming to HBO with a new series. Scott will be starring >in the TV series The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Scott filmed the >pilot in Africa with Actor Idris Elba. 13 episodes have been ordered. Anika Noni Rose will be co-starring with Scott. Rose is currently starring with Terrence Howard (Yummo) in the Broadway revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. She's best known for her work in the movie Dreamgirls. (Love me some Jill!)

That's So Raven Star Raven Symone is gearing up for a 55-city tour. Raven is planning a pajama themed party where concert goers can bring their PJ's. She will be at the Liacouras Center this spring.

Alicia Keys recently wrapped up work on her new movie with Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson. The movie, The Secret Life Of Bees, may be released this year. In the meantime, Keys is about to go on tour with Ne-Yo and American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks.

Hot new couples:
Actress Nia Long, 37, and Actor Kevin Philips, 24. Go Nia! Rockin' the young set! Friends of Long says this is the happiest she has been in years.

Singer Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child has been spending a lot of quality time with Actor Henry Simmons (NYPD Blue).

Look for a new album from Singer John Legend this summer.

MTV is gearing up for a new reality show featuring the kids of celebrities. Some of the offspring include Al B. Sure, Jr., Bobby Brown's oldest son and MC Hammer's daughter. The show, Rock The Cradle, debuts April 3rd. (Dang! Anyone down to do a reality show? Seems that anyone can do one these days...)

The TV version of A Raisin In The Sun with Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Lathan and Audra McDonald is coming out on DVD May 6th. (Boo...on P.Diddy)

Harrison Ford returns as "Indiana Jones" in the new movie, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Despite being in his 60's, Ford can still do the wild stunts. The movie opens in theatres May 22nd.

Actor Laurence Fishburne is headed to Broadway. Fishburne will be starring in a one man show based on the life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Previews start April 12th.

Mariah Carey's new album, E=MC2, arrives in stores April 15th. The lead single is a song called Touch My Body.

Will Smith's I Am Legend is coming out on DVD April 8th.

Upcoming TV and Film Events:

Get ready for Sex And The City, the movie. The movie opens in theatres May 30th.

WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friends of this female producer are shocked by her alarming weight loss. Since her public breakup with a Hollywood A-lister, she has refused to eat and she is starting to look anorexic. The producer's ex-husband is also worried about her. He wants her to get her life back on track andconcentrate on their kids. He feels she has not been setting a good example for their sons. (WHO IS THIS!!)