Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of December 18th, 2006
The movie Dreamgirls is finally here! Now you can be the judge. Is the movie based on the 1982 Broadway musical worth all the hype? Dreamgirls the movie stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose. The original Broadway production starred Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Holliday and Loretta Devine. The Broadway musical went on to win many awards, including a Tony for Best Musical. It made stars out of Ralph and Jennifer Holliday. The movie is already nominated for seven awards by the Broadcast Film Critics. The nominations include Best Acting Ensemble, Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy) and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson). It’s also going to be a dreamy night at The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The movie has been nominated for Best Musical/Comedy. Jennifer Hudson has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Eddie Murphy for Best Supporting Actor. Beyonce got two nods, one for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy and for the song Listen. The awards air January 15th on NBC. In other Golden Globe news, Will Smith has been nominated for his work in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, and Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin got a Best Song nod for Never Gonna Break My Faith, from the movie Bobby. When you see Dreamgirls, email me and let me know what you think at
pattyj1053@aol.com. I loved the movie, and I hope it brings back musicals to the big screen.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is planning to sit down with Oprah Winfrey next year to talk about her anger management issues. Campbell made headlines this year with her arrests on assault charges. What makes this woman go awry on her foreign help? Can Oprah help her? Oprah is going to help ABC. The reality TV bug has hit “The Mighty O.” She is currently preparing two reality shows for the network. Oprah’s Big Give is about ten people who are given money and resources to help others. The other show is Your Money Or Your Life. It’s a show about different family problems. Every week Oprah is doing something, and now noted trash Biographer Kitty Kelley is looking for some dirt. Kelley has written scandalous bios on Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Former First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Jackie O) and Nancy Reagan. Kelley’s book on Oprah is due out in 2008.
Actor Taye Diggs is suffering from foot in mouth disease. Diggs has some explaining to do after a recent interview with Rolling Out magazine. Diggs career is in the toilet. In the past year, he has had two failed TV shows, UPN’s Kevin Hill and ABC’s Daybreak. Diggs career started out on a high note with Broadway’s Rent, then the movies How Stella Got Her Groove Back with Angela Bassett; The Best Man with Nia Long; and Brown Sugar with Sanaa Lathan. Diggs is married to Broadway Star Idina Menzel. Menzel is White, and they have been married for a while. In the interview with Rolling Out magazine, Diggs got upset when he was asked about his wife. Diggs said he felt offended by the question. He stated if people have a problem with him being married to a White woman, then they should go see a movie with Omar Epps, Denzel Washington, or some of the brothers who have chosen to spend the rest of their lives with the Sisters (OUCH!) Does this man care about his career? Where was his publicist to shut him up? He may have been upset about the line of questioning, and he may be tired of defending his decision to marry a White woman. But, you don’t make a statement like that. Does Diggs have a problem with the Sisters? Is he about to join Wesley Snipes in the What Happened to My Career?! category.
Actress Maia Campbell needs help. The former co-star of In the House has resorted to posing nude to support her drug habit. Campbell is the daughter of the late Author BeBe Moore Campbell. The celebrated author died a few weeks ago. Despite her mother and her success, Maia Campbell is a troubled young woman. The nude photos which have surfaced on the internet are stank nasty. Will her family be able to help her before she kills herself?
Before his untimely death, Singer Gerald Levert was working on a book with his dad, Eddie Levert. The book, entitled I Got Your Back, is coming out on June 12th. The book will detail the special bond they shared as African American men, father and son, Brothers and best friends. A new album of Gerald’s work is also coming out in February. In other Gerald Levert news, Singer Keith Sweat has recorded a song in memory of his late friend. The song, My Friend, was recorded by Sweat right after Gerald’s memorial service in Cleveland. One of the highlights of Gerald’s career was recording with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill as part of the group LSG. Singer Kandie Burress, a former girlfriend of Gerald’s, has also recorded a song for her former love. Burress is a former member of the group Xscape, and she is a Grammy award-winning songwriter. Burress has recorded the song It’s You.
The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is planning a musical production based on her life. The material will be taken from her 1999 autobiography, From These Roots.
Actress Victoria Rowell has played the role of “Drucilla” on the soap opera The Young and The Restless for the past 13 years, but the role she is most proud to pay is that of author. Rowell’s latest book is called The Women Who Raised Me, which details her life being raised by foster parents.
A February 7th court date has been set for Nicole Richie. Richie was arrested last week for driving under the influence and driving the wrong way on the California freeway. Lionel Richie has hired a high powered attorney for his daughter, and she is willing to accept responsibility for her actions. Richie has been getting advice from many of her celebrity friends, including Quincy Jones, who is her godfather, and Actress Vivica A. Fox.
Denzel Washington wants his wife to go to work. After 23 years of marriage and four kids, the Oscar winner wants his wife to resume her singing career. He feels she sacrificed her career for his, so now he wants to step back and support her. Sources say he’s getting Singer Roberta Flack to help him.
Singer Johnny Gill is enjoying fatherhood. He’s gearing up for his first Christmas with his son Isaiah.
Is LaToya Jackson’s new reality show racist? Jackson is set to star in the CBS show Armed and Dangerous. The show is about celebrities who are in training to be cops. The show is primarily filmed in poor black neighborhoods, and people feel the show is taking advantage of low income residents.
A few weeks ago, Chris Rock filed for divorce from his wife Malaak. They are the parents of two toddlers. It was a shocking move, and then suddenly they reconciled. So how are things going for the Rocks? Sources say there is still trouble is paradise. Malaak has put up with Chris’ cheating for years, and if he leaves her, it will cost him a lot of money.
The Sopranos return to HBO for a final season in April.
Singer Mariah Carey wants to write a lifestyle book that may be published by late next year.
Get ready for more Janet Jackson. She’s planning a tour for next year, a new calendar full of sexy photos, and she’s going to start the year gracing the cover of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Janet continues to show off her body, and she appears shockingly thin on the Harper’s Bazaar cover.
Actor Terrence Howard is gearing up for the release of his new movie Pride. The movie is about a Philadelphia schoolteacher, Jim Ellis, who founded a swim team in the 70’ s in one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods. The movie also stars Bernie Mac and Kimberly Elise.
Tyler Perry’s latest movie, Daddy’s Little Girl, opens in theatres on February 14th (Valentine’s Day). The movie is a love story about a blue collar worker with three daughters who falls in love with a rich, high powered attorney. The movie stars Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba and Louis Gossett, Jr. The soundtrack to the movie comes out next month, and it features songs by Brian McKnight, Beyonce, R Kelly, Anthony Hamilton, Yolanda Adams, Musiq and, for the first time ever, The Houston Family (Whitney, Cissy and Dionne Warwick).
Smokey Robinson, Country Star Dolly Parton and Director Steven Spielberg are among those being celebrated with The Kennedy Center Honors. The show airs on December 26th on CBS.
Actor Mike Evans has died. Evans first played “Lionel Jefferson” on the 70’s Norman Lear TV classic All In The Family and then on the hit spinoff The Jeffersons. He also co-created another Norman Lear classic, Good Times.
Singer Walter Ward has also died. He was the lead singer of the group The Olympics. The Olympics were best known for their hit Mine Exclusively.
Comedian Katt Williams has pleaded no contest to gun charges. A few weeks ago, the 35-year old Actor/Comedian tried to board a plane with a gun. Williams will have to pay restitution, and he now has three years probation.
The life story of Rick James is coming to the big screen. Filming should start next summer. There’s no word on who will play Rick James, or his protégé, Teena Marie.
Another big screen life story is that of Richard Pryor. The movie will be based on the memoir written by his daughter, Rain Pryor. Mike Epps will star as the comic genius.
American Idol returns to Fox on January 16th. Sources say a midseason shocker is expected to happen. What will be the Idol shocker?
“Jack Bauer” returns with 24 on Fox on January 14th. Regina King joins Kiefer Sutherland for the new season.
BET’s Celebration of Gospel will air on January 28th. WDAS morning man Steve Harvey will be hosting with special guests Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Faith Evans and Smokie Norful.
Singer Angela Bofill continues to make progress following a stroke she suffered earlier this year. In January, the singer was felled by a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side. Bofill didn’t have any medical insurance. She has been undergoing rehab, and she is learning to talk again.
Actress Kim Fields (“Tootie” on The Facts of Life and “Regine” on Living Single) is expecting her first child. The 37-year old actress has been dating Broadway Actor Christopher Morgan, and she says they are excited about their first child.
Star Jones-Reynolds says she’s a changed woman. Back in June, Jones-Reynolds abruptly left the TV show, The View. She left because she knew she was being fired. Jones-Reynolds says she is learning from her mistakes. She admits she enjoyed celebrity more than she should have. She says she believed the hype. Jones-Reynolds is currently putting together a show for TV One and doing work as a radio talk show host.
Former American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard has lost close to 100 pounds through diet and exercise, and now the 28-year old velvet teddy bear wants the state of Alabama to lose weight with him. Alabama is his home state, and he wants the state to lose 10 million pounds. He’s urging the 25 percent of people who are overweight in Alabama to lose 10 pounds each.
Patti LaBelle has the number one gospel album in the country, The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle. She’s happy with the success of the album, but she’s disappointed she had to cancel her church tour. LaBelle said the concert promoters made a lot of false promises, and she couldn’t afford to mess up her reputation with other people’s foolishness.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The powerhouse parents of a talented Singer are making themselves look like fools as they push their daughter to the top. When the couple agreed to let their daughter star in a blockbuster movie, they never researched the role their daughter took. The daughter would end up playing a role that was overshadowed by a supporting character. In the end, the supporting character and lesser known singer would win all the critical and popular praise. When the parents realized their precious daughter was being overshadowed, they tried to get the movie re-edited. This was their daughter’s chance at winning an Oscar, and now it was all being ruined by the lesser known Singer. The parents are also having problems with their youngest daughter, who has been pushed aside as they push the oldest child’s career. The younger daughter has been acting out and hanging with rappers. She’s not even 19, but she is already a divorcee with a young child.
(The Knowles')
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