[Afrochic]

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 19, 2003

Guess whose getting married? Actor/Choreographer Darrin Dewitt Henson. Darrin plays Lem on Soul Food. I’m crushed! I love this man. The lucky lady is the mother of his two sons and they have another one on the way. The wedding is scheduled for September.

Oscar Winner Halle Berry had a rough time last week. Halle broke her arm while filming a scene for her new movie ‘Gothika’. Halle is expected to return to work this week. Halle also had a scare at her rental home. A burglar tried to break into her home while she was there. Halle was naked getting a body massage when the intruder tried to come in. Halle has had to move into a hotel and she has hired extra bodyguards. Meanwhile if you are wondering why she looks different in the movie X-Men 2, its because she requested a more glamorous look for her character as Storm. Halle had to wear a white platinum wig but she hated how she looked in it so the Producers had a special wig made for Halle. The wig costs six thousand dollars but Halle says it’s worth it because now she has the glamorous look she deserves.

A park and recreation center has been named for Singer Barry White. The Park/Recreation Center is located in the South Park Community of Los Angeles. Barry is recovering from a host of ailments including a stroke, Kidney Failure, Heart problems and infection that developed in his lungs and Colon.

Luther Vandross remains in a coma at this time. Luther’s Mom Evangelist Mary Vandross says it’s going to be a slow progress for her son. She says she is thankful for all of the love and support for her son.

The Essence Music Festival is set for the weekend of the 4th of July in New Orleans. Just added Kindred, Musiq, Erykah Badu, Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, and Donnie McClurken.

Cedric the Entertainer will be back for another season on Fox. His show ‘Cedric the Entertainer Presents’ has been renewed for another season. Steve Harvey returns to the WB with a variety show called ‘Big Time’ that will air at 8pm on Thursday’s.
Comedian J Anthony Brown will be joining Holly Robinson Peete for the comedy ‘Like Family’ which will air on Friday’s at 8:30pm. Anthony Anderson and John Amos will star in the comedy ‘All About the Andersons’ Friday’s at 9:30pm.

Monique will be hosting the BET Awards on June 24th. The Godfather of Soul James Brown will be getting a lifetime achievement award and Magic Johnson will be receiving the BET Humanitarian Award.

How about Dr. Phil getting shut out at the Daytime Emmys’. Dr. Phil has the hottest Talk show on TV but he was not the big winner last week. Dr. Phil lost out to Wayne Brady as Best Talk Show Host and he lost the Best Talk Show award to the Wayne Brady Show and The View. Dayuuummmm! Dr. Phil got shut out. According to published reports, Dr. Phil is mad at his mentor Oprah Winfrey. Upon Oprah’s retirement, Dr. Phil was expecting to get her time slot and take over as the King of daytime TV but a couple of weeks ago Oprah changed her mind and she said she would not retire in 2006 but she will retire in 2008. Oprah is getting 280 million dollars for the two extra seasons. (Sidenote: Um Phil, you rode Oprah's a$$ to get where you are right now, you better be glad about the fame you got Country Phil. )

Singer Tamia is back with her new song ‘Officially Missing You’. Tamia has a two-year old daughter with her husband Basketball Star Grant Hill. Mrs. Hill looks fabulous in her new video. She recently lost 55 pounds and she looks hot. Tamia has a new LP coming out in July and she is a new spokesperson for Verizon Wireless.

Singer Mariah Carey will be joined by Ashanti when she brings her ‘Charmbracelet Tour’ to the First Union Center on September 14th. Two former loves of Mariah Carey are talking about their past relationships with her. Rapper Eminem dated Mariah briefly and he says she would talk in a baby voice and leave long gushy voicemails. Eminen says he was not impressed and says she’s crazy. Mariah says Eminen should get over it and stop acting like a girl (OUCH!) Meanwhile, Mariah had a hot and heavy romance with Latin Superstar Luis Muguel. Luis is hoping to break into the US Music market a la Ricky Martin and sources say he is willing to spill the beans about Mariah for publicity. Luis says he has the inside scoop on her 2001 breakdown and her bouts with depression.