Entertainment 4-1-1 Week of 10/20

Close friends of Soul Train Founder Don Cornelius are worried about his well being. The 72-year old Cornelius just got out of jail for beating up his young wife. Cornelius was charged with felony domestic violence. The past few months have been rocky for the television legend. He sold the license and brand for Soul Train and made millions, but his friends feel he is being taken advantage of. He has appeared out of sorts on many occasions, and he loves to hang out. His young wife, Victoria, has appeared in public numerous times as though she is under the influence of something. Is there a reason why she is always falling down? Cornelius is worth a lot of money, and if convicted, he could wind up in jail and his young wife would walk away with his millions.

Stevie Wonder did not lose his home to the California wildfires. Wonder says he doesn’t know how this rumor got started, but his home is fine. While things are good for him, he says we should keep those who have lost their homes in prayer.

Terrence Howard says he was shocked when he read the news that he was not going to be a part of the new Iron Man II movie. Howard co-starred along with Robert Downey, Jr. in the first installment. Howard was set to star in the sequel as the War Machine’s character played a bigger role. Howard says he was given no explanation, and that promises weren’t kept. Howard is being replaced by Actor Don Cheadle. The Iron Man II movie is due in theatres by 2010.

Why was Katt Williams a no show at the BET Hip Hop Music Awards? BET Execs were left holding the bag when the comic decided not to attend. All the promos were cut and commercials sent out pumping Williams as the host. Rapper T-Pain was called in at the last minute and did the show, but what is up with Williams. By dissing BET, doesn’t he realize that’s not a good career move? You may be hot today, but there’s always tomorrow.

Congrats to actress Lisa Bonet. She is expecting her third child. Bonet is best known for her role as “Denise Huxtable” on The Cosby Show. Bonet has a teenage daughter with Rocker Lenny Kravitz and a 14-month old with Actor Jason Momoa. Bonet is seven months pregnant. She is currently co-staring on the ABC drama Life On Mars.

We remember Levi Stubbs of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops. Stubbs passes away last Friday at the age of 72. He was the distinct lead singer for the group nearly 50 years before a stroke forced him from touring in 2000. Stubbs never went solo and his voice became the group’s calling card among the powerful super groups of Motown. The Tops’ hits include When She Was My Girl, Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got), I Believe In You And Me and the 60’s number one classics I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) and Reach Out I’ll Be There. The group’s original four man line up existed for 43 years and was only altered by death.
Lawrence Payton died in 1997 of liver cancer and Renaldo “Obie” Benson died of lung cancer in 2005. The sole surviving original member, HYPERLINK "http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jbfrxqe5ldte" Abdul "Duke" Fakir, continues to tour with a new line up for The Four Tops. A public viewing is taking place this weekend in Detroit. Funeral services are set for Monday the 27th.

This past week, we also lost Comedian/Actor Rudy Ray Moore. Mr. “Dolemite” died at the age of 81. Singer Dee Dee Warwick also passed away. She was the older sister of Singer Dionne Warwick and niece to Cissy Houston. Warwick was 63-years old. She had been ill and living in a nursing home for some time. Warwick was known for singing with her sister Dionne and doing background vocals for Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.

I have a new guilty pleasure. The Bravo network is the home of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. This show is a riot. It airs on Tuesday nights at 10pm with repeats during the week. These women live the most unbelievable lives, and they have money for days. NeNe, the housewife who’s married to the businessman, is off the hook. If you haven’t checked it out, do so and let me know what you think.

Donald Trump made her a star as the villainess on The Apprentice, and he is going to help her with her new VH-1 dating show. Omarosa says she is having Trump Productions produce her new reality show because she is serious about finding true love.

Sly Stone of the legendary Sly And The Family Stone is marking his 20-year hiatus by supporting the Martin Luther King SCLC Civil Rights Foundation. Stone will be recording new songs for the project.

Director Spike Lee is trying to turn his career around. The acclaimed director has left the William Morris Agency after 15 years. Lee’s career has had many hits and just as many misses. His most recent project was his World War II drama The Miracle At St. Anna. The movie did not do well at the box office, taking in only $7 ½ million. Two years ago, his Denzel Washington-Clive Owen-Jodie Foster movie Inside Man took in over $176 million worldwide. Lee has signed on with Endeavor Management. He’s hoping they will help him get the funding for his next projects, including a movie about the Godfather Of Soul James Brown and Baseball Great Jackie Robinson.

Fans of Toni Braxton are hopping mad that the singer was booted off prematurely from Dancing With The Stars. The judges cited Braxton and her partner for being in a rut, but she as clearly better than her competitors, including Crazy Cloris Leachman and Soap Star Susan Lucci. Leachman’s antics have been the talk of the town, and the 82-year old has a lot of fans. Lucci is clearly drawing from her soap opera base because she is as stiff as a board in some of her routines. Braxton admitted she was disappointed, but she says in the end, her heart condition improved. Look for a new album from Braxton next spring.

The overweight grandmother is back looking for the bad guys. Martin Lawrence is set to reprise his role as “Big Momma” in Big Momma’s House III.

Rapper/Actress Eve is back. Filming starts next spring on the movie Whip It. Drew Barrymore is directing, and Eve is going to play a roller derby queen.

In a recent interview, Mariah Carey revealed what led her to marry young Actor Nick Cannon. Carey says it was Cannon’s intelligence and maturity. In her first marriage, Carey was 20 years younger than Music Mogul Tommy Mottola. She is a decade older than Cannon.

Bishop T.D. Jakes’ new movie, Not Easily Broken, opens in theatres early next year. The movie stars Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson and Jennifer Lewis.

Chef G Garvin has just released a new cooking book. Dining In features 115 new recipes.

Kindred The Family Soul is back with a new album. The Arrival features the hit single “House Of Love,” and is in stores now.

The American Music Awards are set for November 23rd. Jimmy Kimmel is back as host. Alicia Keys is leading the pack with four nominations, and she’ll be performing.

Mary J. Blige is teaming up with the makers of Carol’s Daughter for a new natural fragrance line.

This Thursday, October 23rd, The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk Of Fame will welcome five new inductees celebrating Philadelphia’s musical legacy. This year’s honorees are Billy Paul, the late Tammi Terrell, Dee Dee Sharp, Charlie Grace and Trumpeter Clifford Brown. Each will receive commemorative bronze plaques along the Avenue Of The Arts in Center City. For more information, log onto HYPERLINK "http://www.philadelphiamusicalliance.org" www.philadelphiamusicalliance.org .

The movie, Notorious, based on the life of Rapper Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., is gearing up for its release, which is scheduled for January 16th, 2009. Angela Bassett will be playing Biggie’s mom, Volletta Wallace.

Motown Records is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new box set of songs that the fans have picked. The box set is due December 9th. The 10 disc CD will feature 191 songs from your favorite Motown stars including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells and Martha & The Vandellas, to name a few.

The Whispers are coming out with a holiday DVD. The famed singing group has been performing for over 45 years. Christmas With The Whispers features holiday classic and interviews.

Mark your calendars for November 7th, 8th & 9th. It’s the Philadelphia International Art Expo presented by October Gallery. This is the nation’s largest African American Art Expo. It all takes place at the Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery. Special guests include NBC 10’s Lori Wilson, CN8’s Arthur Fennell, Bern Nadette Stanis & Ralph Carter (“Thelma” & “Michael Evans” from Good Times) Actress Ella Joyce (“Eleanor” from Roc) and Rapper/Actor Ice-T. There is a $10 admission fee that will cover all three days. Quincy Jones is gearing up to release The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey And Passions. The 75-year old music giant is set to release this book on October 28th. Clint Eastwood is doing the foreword for the book, and Dr. Maya Angelou is doing the introduction. Jones is not slowing down. He is also opening a restaurant in Las Vegas. In other Quincy news, he says he will not be working with Michael Jackson on his upcoming album. The Q produced some of Jackson’s biggest selling albums, including Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad. Q says he is too busy with his other projects.

Cedric The Entertainer is headed to Broadway. The stage play American Buffalo, about small time crooks, also stars John Leguizamo. American Buffalo opens on November 17th.

Poet and Author Dr. Maya Angelou is going to be honored along with TV Producer Norman Lear at the 2008 Annual Marian Anderson Awards. The ceremony honoring them is taking place
November 17th at the Kimmel Center. Lear is best known for the TV classics All In The Family, Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude. The award is named after the famed Contralto Marian Anderson, a Philadelphia native. Past honorees include Sidney Poitier, Richard Gere, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Oprah Winfrey and Harry Belafonte. Dr. Angelou and Lear go back a ways back. The doctor is godmother to Lear’s youngest children. Scheduled performers include Harry Belafonte, Kirk Franklin, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ben Vereen.
Sanford & Son, the popular 70’s show, is coming out on DVD. The complete series, 17 discs containing all six seasons, comes out on October 28th. The late Comedian Redd Foxx starred as the grouchy junkman and Demond Wilson played his long-suffering son, Lamont.

Singer Al Jarreau is hard at work on a new Christmas CD, which is coming out this fall. Brian McKnight, Aretha Franklin, Howard Hewett and Ledisi are also releasing holiday projects.

The late Bernie Mac and the late Isaac Hayes make their final screen appearance in the movie Soul Men. Soul Men opens in theatres on November 7th and also stars Samuel L. Jackson.

Beyonce teams up with Oscar Winner Adrian Brody and Jeffrey Wright for the movie Cadillac Records. Beyonce is playing the Legendary Etta James. The movie opens in theatres December 5th.

DJ Doc B is gearing up for the Annual Scorpio Birthday Bash on Saturday, November 1st, 2008. This party is so big, it’s happening in two locations: Pharos’s Night Club, 3401 South Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware hosted by The Hot Boyz of Power 99 Mikey Dredd and Uncle O, and I will be hosting the party at Luxe Lounge, 524 Walnut Street with DJ Mont, DJ Lamaar, Doc B and Cosmic Strictly Skills Kev.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A big scandal is brewing for a top Hollywood Star. He is successful, charismatic and appears to be a loving father and husband. There are rumors that he likes to spend time with male escorts. If the scandal comes out, look for him to turn to religion to quell the controversy.

This young actor signed on a TV series thinking he was going to be the star of the show. Well his co-stars are outshining him by winning awards and acclaim. The Actor is not happy about the situation, but, since he needs the money, he’s staying put.

Sometimes it doesn’t pay to listen to your mother. This singer is trying to downplay his marriage to help salvage his career, but his very pregnant wife isn’t going anywhere. She plans to stay married to the singer despite his mother’s publicity machine.