Entertainment 4-1-1 (week of 12/1/08)

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 2ND, 2008

When the new season of Bravo’s Real Housewives Of Atlanta returns, will it be renamed The BROKE Housewives Of Atlanta? Two of the stars are having serious financial problems. Nene Leakes the breakout star was recently evicted from her 5,000 square-foot, five-bedroom home. The Leakes family had to leave after owing $6,240 in back rent. Dang, I thought they owned the house! With all the fancy designer handbags and bling jewelry, they were renters? Aw dang! Nene is married to a real estate investor, and apparently they rented their home through a corporate deal that went south. So where is Nene living? She won’t say. Maybe these questions will be answered next year during the new season of Atlanta Housewives. Sheree Whitfield, the mean, selfish housewife, is reportedly selling her mansion. She didn’t get as much as she thought in her divorce settlement. Word has it she has also pulled her children out of their private schools. As much as I enjoyed this show, it makes me wonder were these women just frontin’? Tell me what you think.

What a year it has been for Oscar Winner Morgan Freeman. Later this month, he’s getting honored along with Barbra Streisand as part of the Kennedy Center Honors. He’s also getting a divorce from his wife of 24 years. Earlier this year, Freeman almost lost his life when he was involved in a car crash with a woman who wasn’t his wife. The Freeman marriage has been troubled for a while. Morgan has reportedly moved in with another woman who was friends with his wife. Myrna Freeman decided she had had enough: Morgan, Keep Your Blonde! Just Show Me The Money! Myrna Freeman stands to get up to $170 million in a divorce settlement. Freeman has property around the world, and that’s where his wealth derives. If this divorce costs as much as this, guess who’ll be driving miss daisy now?

Speaking of the Kennedy Center Honors, Ne-Yo, Beyonce and Queen Latifah are all scheduled to take part in the festivities, which will air on CBS December 30th.

The hottest actress of the moment has to be Taraji P. Henson. She’s co starring in the Brad Pitt movie The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. The movie opens in theatres on Christmas Day. Henson plays his mom. Henson is also starring in the new Jamie Foxx-T.I. video Just Like Me. Henson is hysterical and she shows off her comedic skills. In addition to these projects, Henson is starring in the new T.D. Jakes’ movie Not Easily Broken with Morris Chestnut and Jennifer Lewis. And, her latest Tyler Perry movie, The Family That Preys, is scheduled for DVD released in early 2009. I had a chance to talk to the beautiful actress, and she was a delight. Her first starring role was in the John Singleton movie Baby Boy, and she says her career has been on a role ever since. Henson is also best known for her role opposite Terrence Howard in the Oscar-nominated film Hustle And Flow.

Chicago police have officially charged William Balfour with the murders of Jennifer Hudson’s family members. Balfour was the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia. Balfour has been in custody since the night after the bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were found. A couple of days later, the 7-year old nephew was found murdered. Did Balfour confess to being at the scene of the crime to his current pregnant girlfriend? Did Balfour have an accomplice? He faces life imprisonment if convicted. In the meantime, the sisters are at odds on what to do with the house where the family was murdered. Jennifer wants the house torn down, but her sister Julia wants to continue living there.

Soul Train Founder Don Cornelius is in a lot of trouble for assaulting his wife, and he could windup in jail. Who is this woman? Friends say the trouble for Cornelius started when he married Viktoria Chapman-Cornelius, a Russian model who is much younger than him. Chapman loves to party, and she and Cornelius hosted wild private parties. What provoked the attack? Cornelius has been ordered to stay away from his young wife. Will the couple divorce? Will she get his money if he goes to jail? Cornelius faces up to five years in jail for assaulting his wife. He also had to turn in his massive gun collection.

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is teaming up with Sean “Diddy” Combs for a new talent show. The Queen and the hip hop mogul will be searching the country for talented R&B and hip hop stars. Unlike most competitions where an audience decides the winner, Franklin and Diddy will pick the winners. Now speaking of the man formerly known as “Puffy,” he wants to be the first black James Bond. He has reportedly spent thousands on an audition tape showing him in exotic locales surrounded by beautiful women.

This was not a good week for Cedric The Entertainer. His first attempt at Broadway failed. His stage play with John Leguizamo, American Buffalo, opened and closed the same week. In a weak The weak economy, Broadway’s box office has been hit hard.

Gabrielle Union has just signed a TV deal with NBC. Union is in a development deal to play a detective. She is no stranger to TV despite her big screen success. Back in 2005, she co-starred in the ABC Nightstalker show and last year she was in Ugly Betty. Union is best known for her big screen movies including Bring It On, Daddy’s Little Girls, Deliver Us From Eva and Bad Boys II.

Speaking of our girl Gabby and the movies, this week, she and Beyonce team up with Oscar Winner Adrian Brody and Jeffrey Wright for the movie Cadillac Records. Beyonce is playing the Legendary Etta James.

Actor Courtney B. Vance has also signed a TV deal but with ABC for the new series Flash Forward. Vance was recently on the hit NBC show ER with his wife Angela Bassett.

Mike Tyson in trouble again? YES! Tyson ran his car into a friend’s gate on Thanksgiving. Tyson’s Escalade tore the gate down in Las Vegas. He got a ticket from police. What a way to greet guests for the holidays.

The January editions of Essence and Ebony magazines will be collectors’ editions. President Elect Barack Obama will be on the cover of Ebony. This is his first print interview since being elected as the first African American President Of The United States. This issue will also feature never before seen photos. Michelle Obama graces the new issue of Essence. Our future first lady looks fabulous. These issues are on newsstands this week.

Tyler Perry has given up his fighting with the unions. He will now be employing union workers. Perry caught a lot of flak after he fired several non union workers. The situation actually got messy with protests and picketing outside his Atlanta studios. Perry recently signed deals with various unions including Writers Guild (WGA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Teamsters unions.

After 29 years, get ready for more FAME. The 1980 hit movie with Irene Cara is being remade with Debbie Allen, who will act as the principal of the performing arts school. The cast will also include Actors Charles S. Dutton and Kelsey Grammer. The movie is due out next September.
Another familiar story returning to the big screen in the form of a sequel is Beverly Hills Cop IV. Director Brett Ratner says his version, with Eddie Murphy investigating the death of his partner, will open in theatres in 2010.

Is singer Ciara set to become a Victoria Secret model? The popular singer is being courted to become the newest spokesperson.

Congrats to the McNabb family. Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb and his wife Roxie are the proud parents of twins. The boy and girl were born this week. The McNabbs also have a four year-old daughter.

The 15th Annual Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in New Orleans. Beyonce is the first musical guest announced. There will also be seminars featuring Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Roland Martin. Plus, there’ll be an all star tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes.

We will certainly miss the TV presence of CBS 3 News Anchor Angela Russell. She anchored the 4pm newscast. Her contract was not renewed, and she will be leaving the station.

Will Smith has been named one of the Most Fascinating People Of 2008. The Barbara Walters Special airs December 4th on ABC. Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, Tina Fey, and Michael Phelps are also featured.

Toni Braxton will continue with Dancing With The Stars, but not on the small screen. Braxton has joined the touring company, and their Philadelphia stop will be in February.

The new season of American Idol: Season Number 8 kicks off January 13-14th.

For its 50th anniversary, Motown Records is releasing 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.

Queen Latifah will be hosting the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards to be held January 7th on CBS.

The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards will take place on February 12th.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

He’s an NBA Superstar who most likely will never win a championship. Now that he’s in a new city, he’s back to his old bad habits of missing practice and cheating on his wife.

Is this Pop Diva really pregnant, or is this just another publicity stunt for her stalled career? P.S. …..if she really is pregnant, this won’t be her first child. Hmmmmmmm!

This woman is so desperate to hang on to a faded Singer that she will go along with his lame publicity stunts. This Singer is still in love with his ex-wife, and needs her to help his stalled career. At the moment, he is using his current girlfriend to help him get back with his ex.