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Oscar nominee Terrence Howard was honored last week at the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters' (NABOB) 22nd Annual Communications Awards Dinner at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C., where he was presented an Entertainer of the Year Award. Backstage I caught up with Howard, who told me that the look of shock on his face when rap collective Three 6 Mafia won the Academy Award for Best Original Song was definitely authentic.

I asked what was going through his mind when Queen Latifah the winner. "It's hard out here for a pimp," Howard laughed. "No honestly, I was very surprised. I was extremely surprised! I thought 'In the Deep' would win from 'Crash.'"

Howard confessed, however, that he wasn't happy about Three 6 Mafia's overall performance during the Oscar broadcast. "Just seeing the way they performed, it kind of broke my heart though. Not the way Three 6 Mafia did it, but everything I tried to escape in my portrayal of that role, it seems that they went right to the stereotype that I wanted to assassinate. The people who had choreographed it apparently hadn't seen the film," he said.

Why didn't Howard perform the song himself on the award show, since he is who actually performs the track in the film? "Because the people who had choreographed it hadn't seen the film," he answered.

The 'Hustle & Flow' star also cleared up the report that he had decided once again to attempt to win his wife Lori back following this year's Oscar ceremony. "No, no, no. I'm divorced and me and her are friends," said Howard, who wouldn't elaborate on whether he was still seeing Marc Anthony's ex, Dayanna Torres.


Star Turn

Now that Alicia Keys has caught the acting bug following her starring role as an assassin in the forthcoming film, 'Smoking Aces,' could the New York-bred star be contemplating marrying her music and acting skills on Broadway? The nine-time Grammy winning singer admitted backstage at the NABOB ceremony, where she was receiving an Entertainer of the Year Award, that she would love to follow in the footsteps of her mother Terri Augello and take a turn on the Great White Way. "Absolutely, I would love to do Broadway," said Keys.

Which production is Keys eyeing? "'The Color Purple," she said.


Scared Silly

Steve Harvey was making light of his recent divorce from wife Mary Lee while hosting NABOB's recent Communications Awards Dinner. The 'King of Comedy,' and host of the nationally syndicated 'Steve Harvey Morning Show' on radio, said he was extremely impressed with his ex-wife's divorce attorney.

"I was sitting in court looking at him like, 'Jesus, where did she get him from?' His portrayal of me was outstanding," Harvey said. "He got up and said, 'He's never home! He's not there! She feels abandoned! The children don't know him!' How did he know all of this? Was he there? I just started giving away stuff in the courtroom."

The comic, who next stars in the standup comedy film 'Don't Trip...He Ain't Through with Me Yet,' admitted that his divorce now has him petrified about dating again. "I ain't looking for nobody right now. I took such a hit that I'm scared!" he exclaimed. "But I kept the ranch though. You want to go fishing?"


Buzzworthy

Singer-actor Tyrese Gibson has apparently signed with Violator Management's Chris Lighty for music representation. Gibson is rumored to have parted with his previous management team for not supporting his desire to record a double CD-one R&B and one rap, under the alias Black Ty. Sources also claim the star of the upcoming film 'Waist Deep' is interested in leaving Clive Davis's J Records and is in talks with Interscope Records.

Coko of SWV has inked a solo recording contract with Armetis Records to record her debut gospel record for their gospel division, Artemis Gospel. Coko has recently appeared on gospel recordings by Brent Jones & TP Mobb ('Midnight'), Youthful Praise ('Up There') and Eric McDaniels & The Lord's Church Choir ('Some How, Some Way'). In addition to recording her first gospel CD, Coko will continue to perform dates with her recently reunited R&B trio SWV. Speaking of Artemis Gospel, the label has also signed producer Tommy Sims (CeCe Winans, Wynonna Judd) to a recording contract. Sims also released a solo gospel album, 'Peace & Love', on Universal Records in 2000. Artemis Gospel is also home to Rizen, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Youthful Praise and Evelyn Turrentine-Agee.

Mekhi Phifer ('E.R.'), Steve Harris ('The Practice'), Anthony Anderson ('Hustle & Flow') and NBA players Corey Maggette and Chris Mills are among the celebrities slated to participate in The Urban Health Institute's First Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament and Casino Night at the Playboy Mansion on March 25. Sponsored by PokerHost.com, all proceeds from the tournament will go to fund health events and medical endeavors for The Urban Health Institute.

Kim Burrell, Mary Mary, Veda Brown of BlackGospelPromo.com, BET personality Gerard Henry, playwright David E. Talbert, Neily Dickerson of the ND Co., singer-TV host Lexi and Kierra "KiKi" Sheard are among those included in Gospel Today magazine's Top 25 Under 40 list. Actress Cee Cee Michaela, who starred in Mo'Nique's 'Hair Show' and as "Yvonne" on UPN's 'Girlfriends,' graces the cover of the issue.

Can't Say Names ...

Sources say that a script floating around in Hollywood is remarkably similar to the real-life infidelity of a powerful A-List multi-genre star. Said entertainer, whose recent television project has been an uber-success, has written a film that is eerily similar to an alleged extramarital affair he had. Now Hollywood insiders wonder how his wife will react when she realizes that the script is based on their marriage. Chris Rock or Babyface

BV Scene

Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis at the Pico Blvd. location of Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles ... Lil' Jon performing an impromptu set for nearly an hour at the Las Vegas club Tao, located inside The Venetian...'One Life To Live' stars Tika Sumpter, Kamar de los Reyes, Ilene Kristen, Erika Slezak and Catherine Hickland at the Barnes & Noble in New York City's Lincoln Triangle area for a cast CD signing for Hurricane Disaster Relief...'Hustle & Flow' star DJ Qualls driving down Hayden Ave. in Culver City, Calif. in a black Mercedes Benz ... LL Cool J, Daddy Yankee, Lil' Wayne and The All American Rejects among those on hand for MTV's Spring Break taping at the Summit Resort in Panama City Beach, Fla. ... MTV's La La Vasquez, Keenyah Hill ('America's Next Top Model'), Hillary Weston, Kevin Liles and BET's Stephen Hill, Debra Lee, Reginald Hudlin and Kelly G at Jay-Z's 40-40 Club in New York City for the premiere of Lil Kim's 'Countdown to Lockdown.'