[CrimsonTide4]

And the Dreamgirls role of "Effie" goes to…. Jennifer Hudson! Say What! The role of "Effie" in the movie version of Dreamgirls has finally been cast. Jennifer Hudson was an American Idol contestant during season number three. She lost out to Fantasia, but she was a fan favorite. Jennifer now has the role of a lifetime, and she has started rehearsals. Dreamgirls, the movie, arrives in theatres December 2006. Filming starts in January. The movie will star Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover and Omarion. American Idol Winner Fantasia was up for the role, and she even had a couple of Oscar winners (Denzel Washington & Jamie Foxx) in her corner. But, in the end, producers decided that Jennifer Hudson was the perfect person for the role made famous by Jennifer Holliday. I thought Fantasia had a lock on this part. Was the controversy over her reading a factor? First, she said she couldn't read. Then, she said she could read, but that she just wasn't a good reader. Did this admission hurt her chances for the role?

K-Fed is acting up again. K-Fed (Kevin Federline) is the husband of Pop Star Britney Spears, and he's the baby daddy to Actress Shar Jackson. Shar is best known as "Neicy" from the Moesha show, and she has two kids by Federline. Britney just had a son by K-Fed, and she's upset that he spends a lot of time with his baby momma, Shar. Federline dumped Shar when she was seven months pregnant with their second child. Shar is writing a book, and she's claiming that she and Federline were still fooling around after he married Britney. Is Federline having his cake and eating it too? Is he still messing around with his baby momma? Did Britney make a big mistake by marrying a man who doesn't work and sponges off of her?

Don't look for Mary J. Blige on the cover of any future issues of Vibe magazine. Mary is on the latest cover, and she blasted them for the awful cover. It looks bad. I was surprised that Vibe would allow this cover to run. It's not flattering at all. Mary says she was disgusted by the cover. Vibe has responded, and they claim they meant no harm. They feel Mary should talk to her hairstylist. Mary has appeared on the cover of Vibe seven times.

Actor Page Kennedy says he's no flasher. Kennedy was fired from the hit ABC show Desperate Housewives for improper conduct. Sources say he was exposing himself to women on the set. Kennedy played the character "Caleb," the mystery guy who was locked in the basement by Alfre Woodard. Kennedy says he did nothing improper. He says producers wanted to recast the role because they wanted the story to go in another direction.

Bernie Mac and his production company, MC Banner Productions, are developing a new sitcom for the FOX network. It's slated to be a black version of All In The Family. Back in the 70's, Actor Carroll O'Connor made "Archie Bunker" a household name. This show led to the spin-offs of Maude & The Jeffersons. Good Times was a spin-off of Maude. Bernie will not star, just produce the updated show.

Shaquille O'Neal is teaming up with Payless Shoes for his signature line, Dunkman's Athletic Shoe. The Miami Heat center signed a five year deal.

There will be a Rush Hour III with Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan and Brett Ratner directing. A deal was just signed.

At the movies this week, it's Usher with In The Mix, and Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin and Taye Diggs star in the movie musical Rent. It's based on the Broadway show.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards air on February 8th live from Los Angeles on CBS.

Actor Terrence Howard is featured in the latest issue of People magazine as one of the sexiest guys around. Howard says there will be a sequel to his hit movie Hustle & Flow. He says the movie will follow "D-Jay" as he goes from pimp to Hip Hop Star.

Is Christina Milian dating Oscar Winner Jamie Foxx? The two were spotted kissing and cuddling. What happened to Nick Cannon? She was supposed to be dating him.

Actress Dawnn Lewis is making headlines with her marital problems. Lewis is best known for her role as "Jaleesa" on the TV show A Different World. She's married to former NBA Player Johnny Newman, and she recently had him arrested for assaulting her. She has an order of protection against him.

A nephew of Rosa Parks is contesting her will. When the Civil Rights Icon died, she left everything she had to a retired judge and her longtime caregiver. Parks had no children. The nephew, her brother's son, feels he is being left out, and a hearing is taking place in early January.

Vivica A. Fox is proud to announcer her new magazine Jolie. Fox is the Editor at Large of the publication, which is a new women's lifestyles magazine. The magazine is due out on the 29th, and Fox is on the cover. The magazine is being touted as the ultimate beauty guide for women of color.

Look for all six members of New Edition in 2006? Yes, Ralph, Ricky, Ronnie, Michael, Johnny and Bobby Brown! An album and tour is in the works.

UTFO is getting back together. Back in the 80's, they had the hit "Roxanne, Roxanne." The group consisted of the Kangol Kid, MixMaster Ice, Doctor Ice and the Educated Rapper.

The Billboard Music Awards air on FOX December 6th. Kanye West is getting the Artist Achievement Award. R. Kelly is scheduled to perform.

Actor Blair Underwood has a new children's book out called Before I Got Here: The Wondrous Things We Hear When We Listen To The Souls Of Our Children. The book is about children in their own words, and proceeds will benefit Underwood's organization for children with AIDS in Africa.

Despite her wacky appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Author Terry McMillan is vowing to go on with her life. McMillan and her ex-husband, Jonathan Plummer, shocked everyone with their marital split and the announcement he was gay. They recently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show together, and Terry's behavior was a riot. I couldn't stop laughing at the eyes rolling, head rolling around and weird facial expressions. Terry says she won't end up in a rocking chair by herself.

Nicole Richie will be starring in the new ad campaign for Jimmy Choo Shoes.

Talk Show Host Tyra Banks has found true love. After years of the dating go round with Basketball's Chris Webber and Director John Singleton, Tyra has found her love match with an Italian entrepreneur. 33 year-old Giancarlo Marcaccini is a former basketball star, and he currently runs an ice cream business.