Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of July 3rd, 2006
The search is on for a replacement for Star Jones Reynolds on the ABC talk show The View. Who will take the place of Star? Mrs. Reynolds was bounced from the talker last week, but not before she engineered her own sendoff. Star knew the end was coming, so she decided to make the announcement of her departure without consulting Head Honcho Barbara Walters. Barbara was livid when Star revealed the truth about ABC getting rid of her. Star told all ABC had been planning to get rid of her for months, and they expected her to go along and play nice. But, Star said not so fast. She went out with a blast telling all on CNN, The Today Show and opening up to leading journalists. Star came off smelling like a rose, and Barbara Walters, the Dean of TV, came off looking like a fool. Walters, 74, suffered an embarrassing week. She claims she was only trying to protect Star, but maybe she should have listened to her bosses at ABC and given Star the ax months ago. Barbara was so upset about the events of the week that she had to leave the country. She feels she damaged her credibility by trying to protect Star. Star’s popularity had gone down in viewer opinion polls. Viewers were turned off by everything from Star’s wedding, her husband, freebies, on-air plugs to her weight loss. Star has apologized for her wedding excesses and her behavior. Star is preparing for her next chapter after doing stints at Court TV, E! Entertainment and ABC. Star is headed to HGTV doing a guest spot on their weekly show. As ABC searches for Star’s replacement, everyone is wondering: who it will be? Singer Brandy is trying out for the spot, but she’s too young with no fire. Singer/Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (my pick) also wants the job. Will ABC give her a shot? Not only is Sheryl beautiful, but she is smart and can hold her own. She’s a strong woman and a seasoned professional. If ABC wants The View to grow, they should get a woman like Sheryl Lee Ralph. The Senator’s wife would be perfect. I can see her going head to head with Rosie O’Donnell now. ABC is under a lot of pressure to make the right decision. A lot of people are not thrilled about the addition of Rosie O’Donnell, and are vowing not watch the show anymore.
Bobby Brown showed his behind over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Bobby was appearing at the Essence Music Festival in Houston, and ruined the planned reunion with his former bandmates, New Edition. When he wasn’t running around on stage, he was taking off his clothes and talking about his sex life with Whitney Houston. His raunchy dance moves turned a lot of people off, and he was booed off the stage. The guys in New Edition could not believe how Bobby was acting. Their performance was supposed to be the highlight of the music festival, but Bobby made them look like fools. Now all chances of a reunion are off. Bobby is a mess, and he needs intervention. The drugs and booze have turned him into a wild man. He is not with Whitney. She is reportedly getting herself together, and now it’s time for Bobby to do the same.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell has a lot of pull in the Arab country of Dubai. She has many friends over there, and she has dated one of their princes. Naomi’s good friend Producer Dallas Austin got into a lot of trouble when he tried to smuggle drugs into Dubai. Austin was on his way to a party for Campbell when he was busted with the cocaine. He was arrested and held in the country for over a month, while she pulled strings to get him out. Austin is a Grammy award-winning producer who has worked with Madonna, Michael Jackson, and TLC, to name a few. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was later pardoned by the country, and sent home to the states. Austin should be thankful for his friends. What he did was foolish. There are American citizens being detained everyday for drug smuggling, and they are serving harsh sentences. Let’s hope Dallas Austin has learned his lesson.
The pressure is on for Producer Jermaine Dupri. He is the Executive Producer of Janet Jackson’s latest album, and he is dating Janet. Janet needs a hit album in the worst way. Can Jermaine work his magic they way he did with Mariah Carey? Janet is looking for a major comeback after the Superbowl wardrobe malfunction. Janet’s career took a hit. Now she is looking to Jermaine to get her back on top. Can he do it? Response has been lukewarm for the first single off of the new album 20 Years Old. The single Call Me features Rapper Nelly, and Jermaine is planning for Janet to duet with Mariah Carey as well. If this album fails, will his relationship with Janet survive? Will the love still be strong? Let me know what you think? Email me
pattyj1053@aol.com
In addition to being sold, Vibe magazine is undergoing another round of changes. Mimi Valdes, the editor in chief of Vibe, has been let go with her staff. During the Valdes’ reign, the magazine suffered their lowest sales. Valdes took a lot of heat when she put out an issue of Vibe featuring an awful photo of Mary J. Blige. The photo cover was horrendous. It made you think, who in their right mind would approve of this? Mary did not take this lying down, and she tore into Valdes for the poor cover choice. Vibe magazine has been a disappointment for months. I like Vibe Vixen, but Vibe has been hard to read for a while now. I am glad to see the change. When Quincy Jones started Vibe years ago, it held a lot of promise. Now, maybe it can happen. I hear Former Editor in Chief Danyel Smith may be coaxed into returning.
Actress Stacy Dash (Clueless) is about to take it off for Playboy magazine. The 40-year old beauty will be doing a six page pictorial for the August edition. Dash looks fabulous. She has a pre-teen child by Singer Christopher Williams, and she is looking to revive her acting career.
Former American Idol Winner Fantasia stunned the viewing audience in the Philadelphia area when she appeared at Fourth of July festivities. Fantasia looked a hot mess. I really like her, but she needs the help of a stylist. She’s a very nice girl, but that is no excuse to go stage with no bra, shorts up the butt and no shoes. Okay, she took her shoes off when she got excited. I could not believe my eyes. Who and where was her stylist? It was very hot that night, and she sweating all over the place. If she had makeup on, it came off. I felt bad for her. Fantasia’s career will never last if she is allowed to go on stage looking a mess.
Last year Kanye West and Jamie Foxx had the biggest record of the year with Golddigger. Fast forward to this year and the two can’t even be in the same room. Last week at the BET Awards, Kanye tried to make amends. But, at this point, the egos are so bad between the men it’s almost at the point of no return. What’s the beef? The two superstars have egos that are out of control. One feels he’s better because he’s an Oscar winner. The other feels he’s the better man because he is an award winning producer and artist.
Actor Larenz Tate has signed on for the new CBS TV show Waterfront. Tate will play a politician.
Michael Jackson is planning to re-launch his musical career in Europe. He recently hired Entertainment Lawyer Londell McMillan to oversee his business and legal dealings. McMillan’s other clients include Rapper Lil’ Kim, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Chaka Khan. He is also the rumored boyfriend of Tracey Edmonds, the ex-wife of Babyface.
Jennifer Lopez has finally silenced her first husband. J-Lo’s first husband was threatening to write a tell-all book detailing how she cheated on him, and how her mother was a racist with a gambling problem. J-Lo has tried to help her first husband get on his feet, but he always came back wanting more from her. The tell-all book was the final straw, and she took him to court and won an injunction.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
This Singing Superstar is enjoying a career resurgence. She has an amazing voice. Many people had counted her out after her nervous breakdown, but now she is back on top. She owes a lot to her Producer because he helped her create a smash. Now it’s payback time. He wants her to work with his girlfriend. His girlfriend is gorgeous and can dance, but she is no singer. The Producer’s girlfriend needs a hit, and he will do anything to make this relationship last. The Singing Superstar feels insulted. She doesn’t respect non-singers and Video girls who need a lot of technical help. She is going to help her Producer friend, but she is doing it begrudgingly.
This Soul Music Veteran believes it okay to beat up women. He feels women should be kept in line. In a recent interview, he stated this, and the interviewer was in shock. He couldn’t believe his ears that this Soul Legend feels it’s okay to beat women.
Cedric The Entertainer is coming to HBO. Cedric’s comedy special featuring his sexy dancers, “The Cedibles,” will air July 15th on HBO.
The countdown is on. Unity Day 2006 is happening Sunday, August 20th on the Ben Franklin Parkway.