The UPN Network seems to have more drama on their sitcoms than they do on their actual dramas. BV Buzz broke news on June 20 that Elise Neal would not be returning to the Will Smith-produced 'All of Us' and that Flex Alexander was being fazed out of the show he co-created, 'One on One.' Now we've learned that 'One on One,' which is returning for its fifth season, has fired series regulars Sicily Sewell (Spirit) and Kelly Perine (Duane) and rumor has it that the intentions are to replace their characters with new white ones. Even worse, the two actors were only nine episodes away from syndication!
BV Buzz was able to track down Sewell, who was extremely disappointed by what transpired. "After the upfronts in May (when television networks announce their fall lineup), I assumed when they decided to pick up the show for another season, they'd be picking us all up," she explained. "Apparently not!"
Sewell says she and Perine received word about a month after the upfronts that UPN would not be "renewing their option" to return to the series. "We were told they were taking the show in a different direction," she said.
The timing of the ambush firing shocked Sewell who anticipated making it to the sitcom's fifth, and likely final, season, since the actress had weathered several other situations that arose during her tenure on the show. "At one point they told me to come down on my weight. It was basically, lose weight or that's your job," she confessed. Executives for the show even complained about Sewell's ample breasts. "I was told that people in high school didn't have a chest like mine. I can't help it that I have big breasts," she concluded.
The actress says she's not bitter about the termination and will certainly miss the camaraderie of working with her co-star Kyla Pratt. "We talked every day. We were together every day. Since I was 15 years old, this was all I knew. This was my family away from home, and it's going to be weird not talking to them everyday," shared Sewell.
Her plans now? Sewell stars next in the upcoming Lifetime original movie 'No More Victims' alongside Ernie Hudson ('Oz'), Edwin Hodge ('Jack & Bobby') and Jami Gertz ('Jersey Girl'). That movie is slated for August.
BV Buzz contacted UPN's Joanna Massey, senior vice president of Media Relations, for comment. "There is absolutely no truth to the assertion regarding casting on 'One on One.' As announced in May, UPN is changing the direction of 'One on One' to focus on Kyla Pratt and Robert Ri'chard's characters. Several new series regulars will be hired; however, no casting decisions have been made at this time," she said via e-mail.
It is suspected that the firings also back up a theory we reported in the BV Buzz on June 20 about UPN shows being forced to cut back on expenses since neither Sewell nor Perine will earn revenue from the sitcom's syndication. To that claim, Massey offered, "The changes in the direction of the show were made for creative reasons. No other factors were considered."
Omarosa Fires Husband?
It's confirmed that the 'Queen of Reality TV' Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth has separated from her husband Aaron Stallworth. The couple had been married for 5 years and owns homes in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles following Omarosa's success on 'The Apprentice.'
"Aaron and I are still very close. He's my college sweetheart and will always be the love of my life. Instead of growing apart, we're just growing up, which is causing us to go in different directions," Manigault-Stallworth told us.
Several months after the split, Manigault-Stallworth has been seen with Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan, who has also been connected to actress Shar Jackson (also known as Britney Spears' husband, Kevin Federline's baby's mother). Coincidentally, Dr. Ryan famously gave a face lift to Omarosa's 'Surreal Life' nemesis, Janice Dickinson.
Most recently, Manigault-Stallworth has been rumored to be dating Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Michael E. Misick. It was recently reported that the reality show star was shipwrecked with actress Jasmine Guy ('A Different World') on the private yacht of the Chief Minister for more than four hours after hitting a sand dune. When asked about a romance with Misick, she opted to play coy. "I'll never tell," she giggled.
Model Pick
Supermodel Shakara Ledard has modeled for everyone from L'Oreal to Liz Claiborne, but now she's looking for that ideal person to be the face of her own fashion line. Ledard says actress Thandie Newton ('Crash') would be an ideal candidate for her upcoming fashion line, ROXS.
"She could really be the perfect template for the woman I would want to see in my clothing. She's very classic and beautiful, always quite sophisticated," explained Ledard.
What type of makeover would the Sports Illustrated model give Newton? "I would love to put her in a wicked mohawk afro and totally turn her out and rock her out completely. I think she could totally carry it off," she shared.
Ledard's clothing brand is slated to hit stores this time next year. "It's edgy women's contemporary. Its very rock 'n' roll with very beautiful fabrics and incredible details," she said of the fashion line.
Baby on Board
Congratulations are apparently in order for former B2K singer J-Boog (real name is Jarrell Houston). The 20-year-old 'You Got Served' star is about to be a dad. A source close to the singer says it is expected that his longtime girlfriend will give birth to the couple's first child sometime before September... Remember Dreamworks Records artist Jerzee Monet? Even if you don't, the singer, who released the 2002 album 'Love & War,' is eight months pregnant with her second child. Monet, who had a pseudo-hit 'Most High' featuring DMX, already has a daughter and is expecting a son this time.
Can't Say Names ...
Can't Say Names
... Hollywood insiders are buzzing with rumors that a multimedia mogul is allegedly penning a book about being "a bisexual father in the entertainment industry." "It's all the talk in Los Angeles," said an industry source. "Apparently he's really going to write this book." Rumors about said manager/record executive/producer/director's sexuality have followed him for years, but notable industry types feel a book like this could be detrimental to his business.
Buzzworthy
... Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom kicked off his new nonprofit organization Cathy Kids Foundation with a celebrity basketball tournament. Donald Faison ('Scrubs'), James Lafferty ('One Tree Hill'), James Lesure ('Las Vegas'), Roger Cross ('24'), Robert Ri'chard ('One on One') and R&B singer Tank are among those who played in the game. Among the others who came out to support the notable cause were rapper Chingy, television-radio talent Egypt, Victor Williams ('The Kings of Queens'), producer Swizz Beats, rapper-turned-comic Christopher "Kid" Reid, singer Mashonda and radio personality Ed Lover. ... Paula Jai Parker recently got married. The actress wed Forrest Martin, a Memphis, Tennessee native who worked as an intern/production assistant on the film 'Hustle & Flow.' The couple now resides in Los Angeles.
... Rapper Fat Joe recently partied with an ultimate fan courtesy of Complex magazine and Bacardi. The two companies teamed up to offer one lucky guy and a guest a chance to fly to Miami to meet the rapper. A Charlotte, North Carolina entrepreneur named Marques Black beat out more than 2,500 other entrants and won the three-day trip to meet Fat Joe, $350 spending money and a bunch of other goodies from Bacardi. Look for the outing to be featured in the August/September issue of Complex.
... R&B diva Kelly Price, gospel executive Max Siegel and Christian music writer Andy Argyrakis are the three judges for the Gospel Music Channel's upcoming reality contest, Gospel Dream 2005. The show -- think gospel 'American Idol' -- will be hosted by comedian Jonathan Slocumb and is responsible for launching the career of the incomparable gospel sensation, Benita Washington. Auditions will take place in leading gospel markets like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Memphis, with the actual series premiere airing on Oct. 5.
... Singer Marc Dorsey is readying his comeback. The R&B crooner released an album called 'Crave' in 1999, which featured the single 'If You Really Wanna Know,' and appeared on soundtracks for movies such as 'Crooklyn,' 'Clockers' and 'Get On The Bus.' Now Dorsey has launched a website,
www.MarcDorsey.com that will showcase some of the new music he is working on in addition to listing upcoming performance dates.
Hybrid Mode
