Love Alive
I flew to Miami recently to see David E. Talbert's 12th touring production, 'Love in the Nick of Tyme,' which played the James L. Knight Center. The show stars Morris Chestnut, singer Terry Dexter, R&B crooner Avant, 'American Idol' finalist Trenyce and actress Ellia English ('The Jamie Foxx Show'), among others, and features all new music written by Vivian Green.
Talbert, who has earned 24 NAACP Image Award nominations for his 11 plays, is returning to his first love after writing several bestselling books ('Baggage Claim,' 'Love on the Dotted Line,' and Love Don't Live Here No More' with Snoop Dogg); a television special ('Unpredictable: A Musical Journey') and recording several of his other plays for DVD.
But the return to the road has been fulfilling for Talbert, who had got quite comfortable living in Hollywood. "It's the best thing ever! I forgot how much I loved coming out on stage. Because you know I am a frustrated preacher and a standup comedian as well? So you give me a microphone and an audience and it's hard to get me off stage! Now it's going to be hard to get me back off the road," Talbert told me.
For Chestnut-who has starred in films like 'Two Can Play That Game,' 'The Brothers,' and 'The Best Man'-this is his first time on the road in a touring play. "It's definitely different. It's much more of a grind than I thought it would be, but I've welcomed the challenge. People had been approaching me for years to do one, but I never wanted to do one. Then David came to me and I just felt like it was the right time, the right script and he was the right person for me to do one with," shared the happily married father of two.
The 38-year-old actor believes that the reason so many of his Hollywood peers are taking to life on the road, is a combination of the limited work for African-American actors in the business and the direct connection to the consumer. "I think it's an opportunity for to give your fans an opportunity to see you up-close and personal. I think it offers you a chance to hone your skills and be able to work regularly. Some of us, knock on wood, like myself have been able to work regularly, but there's not really a lot of jobs out there. So it gives an opportunity to keep perfecting our craft and to get better because we call can get better," added Chestnut.
Legend has it that Chestnut signed on for 'Love in the Nick of Tyme' after losing a card game to Talbert at a party. Both have a different recollection of the tale.
"I don't know who told you that lie," Chestnut said laughing. "David Talbert couldn't beat me in spades if his life depended on it!"
But the director/producer sees things differently. "Well you see, the thing about actors is that they're delusional because they're used to going in to character. But if you get him out of character he'll tell you the truth. I am the spades champion. See, I'm east coast and he's west coast, so if it was dominos, he would have won," he offered.
Nonetheless, 'Love in the Nick of Tyme' currently has dates scheduled through late May in cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Talbert is certain this is the one production of his that you don't want to miss. "Its my most magical production ever," he closed.
For more details visit
www.DavidETalbert.com
Being Blogger-like
BET's 'Celebration of Gospel' made its mark in the television ratings history books. The annual gospel television broadcast landed 2.5 million viewers when it premiered on Jan. 28, making it the number one Religious/Gospel Program in television history; the highest rated weekend telecast in BET history; and among the Top 25 of all BET broadcasts ever. Yours truly attended the show and I promise you that what you see on television is nothing compared to what you experience live. BET edits the hell out of the near-four hour taping, sometimes opting to loose some of the finer moments and dwelling on not-so-stellar ones. For example, most in attendance felt as though one of the four highlights during the show was definitely the performance of "Endow Me" by Coko and featuring Fantasia, Lil Mo and Kierra "KiKi" Sheard. But the way the seven minute-plus performance was cut down, you would have never thought it was Coko's song. That's just one example! (Though I thought just about everyone was good, my other highlights included Ty Tribbett, The Caravans and Kelly Price.) And don't get me wrong, I think this year's 'Celebration of Gospel' was fantastic and most of what you see on television mirrors the live experience, but some of the choices made just make you scratch your head. One more thing, and let me be clear that this is in no way a personal dis to anyone, but there are plenty of talented musicians with musical director experience who have church sensibilities and would be perfect for this show. Translation: BET should hire someone who doesn't have to read gospel from sheet music and already knows the songs! (BET, I have the telephone numbers of Joe Wilson, Donald Lawrence, Warryn Campbell, Brent Jones and several others who fit the bill.) Furthermore, shouting music should not sound like the theme music from the circus.
I have a new level of respect for Usher. Despite criticism from myself and other media outlets when he initially hooked up with the then-married with children former stylist Tameka Foster and snuck off on a romantic vacation to St. Bart's with her, I have to say that its admirable that he's actually gone public with their romance. Most were calling Usher a home wrecker and clearly that seemed to be the case then, but Foster is now divorced and the two seem madly in love. (If it works for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, why shouldn't it work for them?) I've known that Foster was quietly in the picture long before those beachfront pictures of them surfaced more than a year ago. It was her and not the model, Eishia Brightwell that actually took the infamous subway ride with the singer in New York City. (I worked on this story for the New York Daily News in July 2004). But the two aren't taking the train anymore, but instead walking the red carpet at events like the recent Trumpet Awards and at Tao Las Vegas' New Year's Eve celebration.
Can someone please tell Smokey Robinson that 'Dreamgirls' is not a documentary! The film is "loosely based" on The Supremes and the Motown experience and if he had the gripes that he shared on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" show and then on 'Access Hollywood,' then why didn't he take that up 25 years ago when 'Dreamgirls' was on Broadway? See details on Robinson's rant in my colleague Karu F. Daniels' BV Newswire Blog.
Buzzworthy
This whole Brandy Norwood car accident situation has been something else! You can read the details in BV Newswire Blog. I'm glad the former 'Moesha' star and 'America's Got Talent' judge is trying to get a handle on things by hiring the crisis publicist Allan Mayer of 42 West, who also is helping 'Grey's Anatomy' star Isaiah Washington rebuild his image. 'Page Six' of the New York Post broke news last week that she terminated her other publicist Courtney Barnes.
Comics Alex Thomas, Pierre, Rodney Perry and Shang star in an upcoming comedy film, 'Cut' N' Up.' The movie, described as a cross between 'Kings of Comedy' and 'Barbershop,' is being produced by Cecil Chambers and directed by Mark Harris.
Can't Say Names…
Sources say that an R&B singer, who has made recent forays in to inspirational music, was thrown out of a Kansas City hotel for smoking marijuana in his room. While an entertainer smoking weed isn't shocking to most, the fact that said singer has focused his recent endeavors on performing gospel dates-he was performing at a church the night he got the boot-could raise some eyebrows in the Christian community.
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about the whole Anna Nicole thing in the media? Day before yesterday they all had not one good thing to say about the woman and what a trainwreck she was. THey mocked her relentlessly, as did most folks (think back- you can't tell me you never said something about what a dip the woman was).
Don't get me wrong, I still like B. Kudos to Jennifer!!!! 
Hybrid Mode
