[UpPinkies]

Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of December 20th, 2004


At the movies this week it’s the big screen version of the animated comedy series Fat Albert. The movie stars Keenan Thompson as “Fat Albert.” The movie also stars Kyla Pratt (One on One) and Bill Cosby.


Is the romance still on between Usher and Naomi Campbell? I hear there’s a problem in paradise. The two have been dating for a short time and the cracks are already showing. I hear the two are not seeing each other right now and it’s all because Usher’s people can’t control Naomi. Naomi is a free spirit who does as she pleases, but Usher’s people just want her to show up at events look pretty, be quiet and smile. Naomi is very bored. She gets paid to do this for a living. Why does she have to do this in a relationship? Maybe this was just a publicity stunt that wore itself out. In other Usher news, his security guards are being sued by a longtime Usher fan. Brandon Woodward says he was in Las Vegas this past September attending an Usher concert. Woodward says when he approached Usher, his security goons grabbed him and pulled his pants so far up his backside that he bled. Witnesses at the scene say this was not the case. Police say Woodward was belligerent with the security and he was arrested at the scene. Woodward says this incident will not stop him from being an Usher fan.


Dennis Rodman is ready to take it off! The former basketball star will be representing PETA in their “I’d Rather Be Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign. Yes, Rodman will be nude.


Vanessa Williams is releasing a new CD of classic soul songs next year. The CD, Everlasting Love, arrives in stores in February. Vanessa will be teaming up with George Benson for the Syreeta/Billy Preston Classic “With You I’m Born Again.” She is also redoing my favorite song from the Fifth Dimension, “One Less Bell to Answer” and The Jackson’s “Never Can Say Goodbye.”


CBS’s loss is Comedy Central gains. A couple of weeks ago fans of comedian D. L. Hughley were shocked when he wasn’t chosen as the new host of the Later Tonight talk show on CBS. Hughley had been auditioning for weeks and he was clearly a fan favorite, but another man was chosen. At first he was disappointed, but then he got a call from Comedy Central to do a late night talk show for them. The new show is scheduled to start next fall and he is doing a comedy special for Comedy Central in February called Shocked and Appalled. We are going to wait awhile for new episodes of Dave Chappelle’s comedy show. New episodes of The Chappelle Show won’t be available until early May. Why the delay? Dave has been sick with the flu and he couldn’t work, plus it took them awhile to hammer out his new contract where he is getting an estimated $50 million.


Singer Roberta Flack is starting a school in Harlem. The Grammy Award winning singer hopes to open the Roberta Flack School of Music next fall.


Congratulations to Miss Jones, a.k.a. Jonezy in the AM, a.k.a. Tarsha Jones. Jonezy is a brand new mom. Last week she gave birth to a 6 lb baby boy named Jalen. Jonezy used to do mornings here in Philly. She is now working at Hot 97 in New York.


Vivica A. Fox is still hung up on rapper Fifty Cent. Vivica opens up in the new issue of Essence Magazine. The two dated for a while, and then the relationship ended bitterly. Vivica says it still hurts because she adored him. She thought he was amazing. She admits he betrayed her, but she says the door is still open and that her number hasn’t changed. Did he turn her out or what?


Producer Jermaine Dupri says he will be producing his lady’s next album. The lady in question is Janet Jackson and Dupri says he will take her back to the days of “Control” and “Nasty.” In a recent interview Dupri blasts today’s young singers he says they are sloppy and they have nothing on Janet. He says he will also enlist the help of Dr. Dre. I guess this leaves out Janet’s longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.


Will mistletoe be on hand mid court at the Staple Center on Christmas Day? Kobe Bryant says he owes Shaquille O’Neal a big apology. The former teammates will meet up on Christmas Day as the Lakers take on Shaq’s new team, the Miami Heat. This is Shaq’s first meeting with the Lakers since he was let go from the team. Did Kobe push him out so he could be the team leader? Why did Kobe spread lies about Shaq to investigators during his rape investigation? Kobe admits that was a mistake and now he wants to apologize. Will Shaq accept? Can they kiss and make up?


Alicia Keys is developing an animated series for the Disney Channel. The cartoon will debut in 2006 and will feature Alicia as a girl detective.


The money has stopped for Debbie Rowe! Rowe is the former ex-wife of Michael Jackson and the mother of his two oldest kids-- Prince Michael and Paris Katherine. Rowe was expecting a check for one million dollars in October. This was part of her annual alimony payment. Michael has refused to send the money, claiming Rowe violated their divorce confidentiality agreement. Michael is citing an interview she did earlier this year with Entertainment Tonight. Rowe is livid! She sold her kids to this man and she wants her money. Michael’s child molestation trial is only weeks away and Rowe is planning to testify against him. She also wants custody of her kids.


Whitney Houston rear ended a city bus last week in Georgia. The pop sensation is fine and no one was hurt. Houston was driving her Porsche and she got a citation for failing to yield.


The “Godfather of Soul” is ready to tell all! Now that he has undergone successful cancer surgery, Brown wants to tell the story about his life. The 71 year old entertainer had prostate cancer surgery last week and he is doing fine. He is currently in semi-retirement and resting. What will he talk about in his book? What will he reveal? Will he talk about the mysterious circumstances involving the death of his wife Adrienne? Is his current wife still married to another man? Did he really beat her with a metal chair? Why is he feuding with his daughters? Will he tell the real story of James Brown?


Mariah Carey is coming out with a new line of underwear. Mariah’s “Kiss Kiss” is due out next year.


Drugs were involved in the death of rapper O.D.B. He died last month after collapsing at a recording studio. The official autopsy reveals the rapper died of an accidental overdose involving cocaine and a prescription painkiller called Tramadol.


Dionne Warwick is working on a new album of duets. The album, My Friends and Me, features Dionne with Patti LaBelle, George Benson, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.


Upcoming movies for 2005 include
1. Coach Carter with Samuel L Jackson and Ashanti: Jan. 14th
2. Are We There Yet? with Ice Cube, Nia Long and Jay Mohr: Jan. 21st
3. Diary of a Mad Black Woman with Kimberly Elise, Tyler Perry and Shemar Moore: February 25th


Is actress Micheal Michelle a home wrecker? The actress co-stars with Taye Diggs on his UPN show Kevin Hill and she is expecting her first child. The baby’s daddy is New York Restaurateur Jimmy Rodriguez. Rodriguez is married and his wife of 20 years Elaine recently filed for divorce. Elaine says she has put up with her husband’s cheating for years, but this upcoming baby with Michael Michelle was the last straw. Apparently Michelle likes married men. Years ago she was involved with singer Melba Moore’s husband and she broke up that marriage. Melba Moore lost her fortune during that marriage and had to go on welfare. Thank goodness the singer is back on her feet she is currently promoting a new gospel CD.


Star Jones-Reynolds is being sued by her gardener. The gardener claims he did work on her New York apartment and she stiffed him. He is suing her for almost $8,000. In his court claim the gardener says he spruced up her rooftop garden and she promised him credit for his work with a feature in the Architectural Digest magazine. Well, the article never happened and when he asked for his money she told him she would give him an autographed picture of herself. Star claims his work led to leaks in her apartment and that’s why she didn’t pay him.