4-1-1 Week of 11/3/08

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3rd, 2008

What will the future hold for Jennifer Hudson? Hudson buried her family, her mother, her brother and her nephew, this past week. They were tragically murdered, and no one has been charged in connection with their deaths. According to sources, Hudson plans to stay close to fiancé David “Punk” Otunga as she tries to put the pieces of her life back together. She is staying close to family and leaning on them for support. As she deals with her loss, there are many unanswered questions. Did the gun involved in the shooting belong to her brother? Were drugs involved? In 2001, her brother and sister were arrested for drug dealing, but the charge was dropped because of an illegal search. Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s sister, is also feeling the heat because her ex-husband remains the prime suspect. Did he murder her family? During this time of tragedy, Hudson realized she is not alone. She is currently planning to start a foundation that will help families of murder victims. The Hudson-King Foundation is named in honor of her slain family members. The foundation will care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to violent crimes. They will provide food and shelter, clothing and grief counseling. Hudson’s American Idol family have been there for her including Fantasia, who was on hand to sing at the funeral services.

How can Janet Jackson pick up the pieces of her broken career? She has cancelled the remaining dates on her Rock Witchu Tour. Low ticket sales did her in. There were stories of her being sick, but the truth is it was heartbreaking for her to realize that she was no longer selling out concert venues. Ever since the Superbowl fiasco, her career has gone downhill, and her relationship with Producer Jermaine Durpi has not done her any good. She may love him, but his career advice sucks. What will it take to get her back with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis? Janet fans are very upset with her. They feel she let them down when she cancelled her tour.

Speaking of the Jacksons, the answer is: Thanks, But No Thanks! Michael Jackson says he wishes his brothers well, but he has no plans to join them on a reunion tour. Last week, Jermaine Jackson announced plans for a Jackson reunion tour, but Michael says he wants no part of it. When Michael plots his comeback, he wants the entire spotlight to be on him and not his brothers. The other brothers really need Michael to go on tour with them so they can make money, but Michael won’t budge.

What will be left of the estate of James Brown? Well after two years of fighting… not much. Once the dust settles after the lawsuits and DNA tests, his children may not be left with anything. What happened to all that money? Unpaid debts and inadequate accounting have dried up the estate. Now, future earnings will have to come from movies, royalties and the sale of his likeness. All of the Brown children are still not happy with the DNA testing. Terry Brown feels there should be more DNA testing to see who is lying and who is telling the truth about who their father is. He feels if James Brown is not their father, they shouldn’t get any money.

Chilli from TLC is looking for a man! The Grammy award winning- artist and former girlfriend of Usher is turning to VH1 to find her new love. Chilli, 38, is ready for a new shot at love via her new dating show.

Lionel Richie is getting ready to release his new CD next year. Richie will be teaming up with Singer/Songwriter Ne-Yo for his next CD entitled Just Go.

Will there ever be a Tony! Toni! Tone! reunion. According to group founder Raphael Saadiq, don’t count on it. In the 90’s, the group was best known for the hits It Never Rains In Southern California and Whatever You Want. Saadiq says there will be no reunion. He’s currently on tour with John Legend. Saadiq is promoting his latest CD, The Way I See It, featuring the hit single, Love That Girl.

Rapper/Actor Ice Cube has just signed a deal with NBC. He’s going to produce a comedy cop show for the network.

The reunion of LABELLE has a lot of their fans excited. Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx are back with a new CD, Back To Now. They also have a new DVD based on the album, which features an inside look at their recording sessions and reunion after 30 years.

Music Industry Vet Jheryl Busby has died. In the 90’s, Busby headed up Motown Records, and he was instrumental in the careers of Boyz II Men and Johnny Gill. Busby was 59.

At the movies this week, the late Bernie Mac and the late Isaac Hayes make their final screen appearances in the movie Soul Men, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson.

Musiq (Soulchild) returns with his latest CD, On My Radio, on December 9th. The CD features his hit duet with Mary J. Blige, If U Leave.

Lee Daniels latest movie with Mariah Carey, Tennessee, opens in theatres December 19th
Sinbad and Yolanda Adams will be hosting the 21st Annual Stellar Awards. Gospel Sensation Marvin Sapp is leading the pack with nine nominations including song and male vocal. The show is taking place January 17th.

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.

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.

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.

All this weekend 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), Dancer/Actor Darrin Dewitt Henson and Rapper/Actor Ice-T. There is a $10 admission fee that will cover all three days.

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.
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.

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

This Actor is going to find out the hard way it doesn’t pay to be rude and disrespectful to your peers. He may be good looking, but his bad attitude and weird behavior is ruining is career.
Were they really tears of joy when this well known figure cried in public at a major event? Or, was it just another publicity stunt?