News:Soror Star Jones Proposed to @ NBA All-Star Game!

[WenD08]

i loved "Experiment", he sounded really nice on that song. i think Jamie Foxx is multitalented. his comedy is lighweight to me but his singing, piano-playing and acting are great. i think he should do another album

[CrimsonTide4]

Lawrence, Kutcher in Sony Cartoon
Thu Feb 19, 3:23 AM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Gregg Kilday

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Martin Lawrence (news), Ashton Kutcher (news) and Debra Messing (news) will voice characters in "Open Season," Sony Pictures' first computer-animated feature.

Lawrence will voice Boog, a domesticated grizzly bear, who teams up with Elliot (Kutcher), a mule deer, when the two are stranded in the woods during hunting season. Messing will provide the voice of Beth, a forest ranger who rescued Moog as a cub and raised him.


The project is inspired by the work of syndicated cartoonist Steve Moore ("In the Bleachers"), who will serve as an executive produder. "Season" will be directed by Jill Culton, with Anthony Stacchi serving as co-director.


"We just looked at a reel of the first act, and Jill and Tony had totally deconstructed it and cracked the story phenomenally well," said Sony Pictures Digital president Yair Landau, who oversees Sony Pictures Animation. "They have a great story sense, and that accelerated the process. Boog and Elliot are really compelling characters, and we just went after the two actors we wanted."


Sony Animation, which hopes to bring a new picture to the screen every 18 months to two years, is eyeing a 2006 release date for "Open Season."


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lawrence Hoops Comedy Lands Director
Thu Feb 19, 2:15 AM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Chris Gardner

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Steve Carr has been tapped to direct "Rage Control," which stars Martin Lawrence (news) as a legendary college basketball coach who is forced to coach a losing junior varsity team after a public meltdown.

The Fox comedy is gearing up for an April start, sources said. Carr most recently directed "Daddy Day Care" and "Dr. Dolittle 2," both of which topped the $100 million mark.

[litAKAtor]

Originally posted by WenD08
i loved "Experiment", he sounded really nice on that song. i think Jamie Foxx is multitalented. his comedy is lighweight to me but his singing, piano-playing and acting are great. i think he should do another album

Ohmigosh!! I thought i was the only person on the planet who had heard Jamie Fox's albulm!!! It is the BOMB!!! I especially like the track talking about being a canlde in the wind- or something like that. I have not been able to find the cd/tape/albulm anywhere

[litAKAtor]

Originally posted by GRITS
Usher Lets Skeletons Out Of The Closet On Confessions
02.17.2004 10:31 AM EST


Usher
Photo: MTV News
"I've got a lot of things and stuff built in me that I just want to let go of." — Usher


"Yeah!," Usher's collaboration with Lil Jon and Ludacris, wasn't intended to be a proper single from his upcoming album, Confessions. Released to street DJs and mixtapes, the song was just meant to tease the appetites of Usher fans who've waited three years for the singer's fifth studio disc.

But quickly the appreciation for that song has grown — in the clubs, on the radio and in the streets. "It just sort of happened," Usher said recently. "You know, you get Lil Jon on a record — that's crazy. Ludacris? Bring him in. It's lights out, man."

"Yeah!" could be called the first consciously styled "crunk R&B" record. It's an ode both to the distinct grind of Southern rap beats and Usher's own signature soul croon. Even though Usher doesn't want to be known as a hip-hop artist ("Strictly R&B — we're bringin' it back," he boasted), he thinks he could be onto something with this mash-up of genres. "I think you're going to get more R&B/crunk records," he said. "I'm happy that I could be the one to kick it off."

Usher titled his album Confessions because he feels it's his most personal yet. He wrote more songs on this one than on any previous album. "All of us have our Pandora's boxes or skeletons in our closets," he explained. "I let a few of them out, you know. I've got a lot to say. I've got a lot of things and stuff built in me that I just want to let go of."

He was expressing the same sentiment back when he was in the studio (see "Usher To Share His Confessions In March"), and now Usher has the songs to prove it. On the track "Confessions II," he sings, "Got me talking to myself asking how am I going to tell you/ 'Bout the call I got from the girl/ That I was creepin' with, creepin' with/ Says she's three months pregnant and she's keepin' it."

"It wasn't a specific situation that happened in my life right now," he elaborated. "In other words, I wasn't in a relationship and got another girl pregnant — right now. But it is something I can relate to and it's something that has happened to me in the past. As I said, I have a few deep, dark ones that I've kept stowed away in a closet for a minute."

A window into his inner thoughts is also there on "Burn," a song about breakups and letting relationships flame out. Said Usher, "It's unfortunate when you have to let a situation go because it's not working. Although you may want to stay, you've got to let it burn."

His explanation has added resonance, since he just broke up with longtime girlfriend Chilli from TLC. "Yeah, I’m single," he smiled, sheepishly. "We're still friends. It's just something that happens in life."

Usher recruited a number of producers to work on Confessions, which drops March 30. Jermaine Dupri, the Neptunes, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have all written songs with him. Other producers include Vidal and Dre, Lil Jon and Rich Harrison.

Word has it (per Chilli on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this week) that the reason for the breakup is Usher's infidelity . .

[Neosoulchild]

Originally posted by litAKAtor
Ohmigosh!! I thought i was the only person on the planet who had heard Jamie Fox's albulm!!! It is the BOMB!!! I especially like the track talking about being a canlde in the wind- or something like that. I have not been able to find the cd/tape/albulm anywhere

Try CDNow.com they may have it.

[NOWorNEVER]

Originally posted by litAKAtor
Ohmigosh!! I thought i was the only person on the planet who had heard Jamie Fox's albulm!!! It is the BOMB!!! I especially like the track talking about being a canlde in the wind- or something like that. I have not been able to find the cd/tape/albulm anywhere

Yeah, it's kinda sad that a lot of people are sleeping on Jamie Foxx's musical talents. A lot of people didn't even know he could blow like that until Kanye West's Slow Jamz came out (the full CD version...not the radio edit).

[lostnfound117]

LeToya Luckett On Beyoncé [02-17]
Here's what LeToya Luckett told Sister2Siter about a recent run-in she had with Beyoncé:
You know what? I ran into Beyoncé about a year ago in The Cheesecake Factory and that was my last time really speaking to her. But it was a really emotional thing for me. We hadn't seen each other in like three years and it was around Christmastime. Every Christmas before, we would see each other and do the whole family/friend thing; and to know that I wasn't going to get to see her the next day kinda messed with me. But it was a good thing because when we hugged and spoke we kinda caught up a little bit. I was able to release some of that that I was holdin gin for a minute, so it was cool. It was a very, very genuine...I don't know. She was very genuine. The hug and everything. At first when we saw each other it was so awkward that we said hello for the first five minutes, back and forth. "Hey." "Hello." "How you doin'?" "Hey." Neither one of us knew what ot say to each other and then finally I just went over to her table and she stood up and we hugged in the middle of the Cheesecake Factory for like, 5, 10 minutes. And it was on pause. Everybody was just staring with their mouths wide open like, oh my god. But it was a beautiful thing. It made my Christmas. It's hard when you, for so many years, have been with a person or around a person and then for that to be taken away from you it's almost like somebody died. And then to never know when you're gonna run back into them again. For me to see her and we talked and hugged or whatever...That was a beautiful thing to me.

[Gina1201]

Originally posted by litAKAtor
Word has it (per Chilli on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this week) that the reason for the breakup is Usher's infidelity . .

Here's a link to a radio show in ATL where Chilli was talking about their relationship:

Chilli Radio Interview

[1sd]

I read in the paper this morning that Diana Ross is supposed to be making wedding plans with ____ Guest (can't remember his first name) who is Liza Minelli's ex-husband.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by 1sd
I read in the paper this morning that Diana Ross is supposed to be making wedding plans with ____ Guest (can't remember his first name) who is Liza Minelli's ex-husband.

Saaaaaay what?!?!?!? David Guest? That geigh looking man!?

[1sd]

Yes...I'll try to find the article. Here ya go...



Posted on Fri, Feb. 20, 2004



Gest, Ross to tie the knot?

Reports say Liza’s soon-to-be-ex and former Supreme are planning a wedding


And you thought the life of David Gest couldn’t get any more weird: The estranged husband of Liza Minnelli is reported to have gotten engaged to Diana Ross, reports Ananova.com.

London’s Daily Express says the pair have become close despite Ross’ being a friend of Minnelli, and that Gest and Ross are already planning a wedding as glamorous as his with Liza.

Ross apparently turned to Gest for comfort after being stopped for drunken driving in Tucson in 2002. She recently served two days in jail for the offense.

Gest said recently he would probably marry within two years. US Weekly magazine editor Janice Min said, “Sources close to us have said it could be Diana Ross.”

Gest and Minnelli are in the middle of a bitter divorce in which they are suing each other for millions of dollars.

[kiml122]

Originally posted by NOWorNEVER
Yeah, it's kinda sad that a lot of people are sleeping on Jamie Foxx's musical talents. A lot of people didn't even know he could blow like that until Kanye West's Slow Jamz came out (the full CD version...not the radio edit).

I didn't buy his CD, but I always knew that he could sing, and very well I might add. He does it ever chance that he gets.

[CrimsonTide4]

P. DIDDY OPENS ARMS TO J.LO: Rap mogul lets her know she can come home.


J. Lo & P. Diddy
(Feb. 19, 2004) *Could it be true? P. Diddy still wants J. Lo? After all the friendly coincidences arriving in the same places and assuring us of their “friendship?”
Combs reportedly started to give her his best game for Valentine’s day by buying her a $720,000 dollar diamond necklace, 7online.com reports.

He wanted to give his former girlfriend a surprise before Valentine's Day so he hid the necklace inside a CD case and sent it to her.

He reportedly wants her back for good, now that Ben is no longer a threat.

In other "Diddy" news, Sean Combs was in a Detroit courtroom yesterday to testify that he did not instruct his handlers to rough up a radio and cable-television host during a 1999 interview.

Roger Mills says he interviewed P. Diddy during the rap mogul's promotional tour for the album "Forever" and that he was beat down by Comb's bodyguards after asking whether Combs had anything to do with the death of rapper Notorious B.I.G. Mills' suit seeks an undisclosed amount as compensation for the attack

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
P. DIDDY OPENS ARMS TO J.LO: Rap mogul lets her know she can come home.


J. Lo & P. Diddy
(Feb. 19, 2004) *Could it be true? P. Diddy still wants J. Lo? After all the friendly coincidences arriving in the same places and assuring us of their “friendship?”
Combs reportedly started to give her his best game for Valentine’s day by buying her a $720,000 dollar diamond necklace, 7online.com reports.

He wanted to give his former girlfriend a surprise before Valentine's Day so he hid the necklace inside a CD case and sent it to her.

He reportedly wants her back for good, now that Ben is no longer a threat.

In other "Diddy" news, Sean Combs was in a Detroit courtroom yesterday to testify that he did not instruct his handlers to rough up a radio and cable-television host during a 1999 interview.

Roger Mills says he interviewed P. Diddy during the rap mogul's promotional tour for the album "Forever" and that he was beat down by Comb's bodyguards after asking whether Combs had anything to do with the death of rapper Notorious B.I.G. Mills' suit seeks an undisclosed amount as compensation for the attack

Did I miss something or is Puffy and Kim no longer together? If they are, Puffy ain't ish!

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Did I miss something or is Puffy and Kim no longer together? If they are, Puffy ain't ish!

He was with Kim at the All Star game this past weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More news from EURweb.com

Celeb Lover's Lane: Lover’s Lane: I’ve been breaking stories week after week in this very column about who’s dating whom in the entertainment industry. It’s funny how these stories pop up in other reports and on various radio shows, and people act like it’s their exclusive news. Nonetheless, let’s recap a few relationships that were revealed here first before telling you about a couple more.

I broke news here that Ashanti is dating Nelly; Murphy Lee is dating Christina Milian; Q-Tip is dating Tatum O’Neal; and B2K’s Lil’ Fizz is dating “My Wife & Kids” actress Jennifer Freeman. Speaking of Jennifer… Last week a New York radio station erroneously reported that Jennifer is dating Marques Houston, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I actually had dinner with Jennifer and Lil’ Fizz and know for a fact that the two are a couple.

* As far as new couples are concerned, I’m telling you here first that singer Monica is dating G-Unit rapper Young Buck. The two have been dating for about a month and hooked up after Young Buck called Monica’s label, J Records, and left a message for the singer to call him. Well she did and the two have been inseparable ever since. Young Buck is also the leading man in Monica’s new video for her next single “U Should've Known Betta.” Nope, Monica is not releasing a new CD. This single is featured on her current certified gold album “After The Storm,” which was released on June 17, 2003. J Records is apparently attempting to get a little more mileage out of the disc. (Wouldn’t it be a nice package if Monica went out on tour with Ruben Studdard? Just thought I’d put it out there.)

* “All Of Us” actress Elise Neal, who also starred on “The Hughleys,” is dating football player Matthew Hatchette of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Elise previously dated film director F. Gary Gray (“Set It Off”/“Italian Job“).

* Star Jones got engaged at the NBA All-star game on Sunday night. Her boyfriend Al Reynolds popped the question in the fourth quarter and presented Star with a four-carat diamond ring, while folks like Denzel Washington and producer Jimmy Jam looked on. Star had suspected that Al would propose over the weekend because last Thursday he asked her parents for “The View” host’s hand in marriage. The couple has been dating for four months. Al, a thirty-something Wall Street banker, is apparently a millionaire. Congratulations to the happy couple.

* Which one is it? My sources spotted rapper Chingy with the adorable actress Meagan Goode at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills during All-Star Weekend. I thought the hip-hop star was seeing suddenly sexy former “Cosby” kid Keisha Knight Pulliam. Hmmm. Chingy, you pimp, call me and let me know how it’s really going down.



~ First-time Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin is apparently planning to star in a feature film. Donnie, who had a cameo in “The Fighting Temptations,” is slated to star in a 20th Century Fox film with his buddy and gospel cohort Kirk Franklin. The film is scheduled to begin shooting this year. Donnie also has three songs on the movie soundtrack for Tom Hanks’ upcoming film, "The Lady Killer." The film and soundtrack are set for a March 2004 release.

~ Everybody and their momma were shooting music videos last week in Los Angeles. In addition to Monica shooting “U Should've Known Betta,” Mary J. Blige shot the video for her next single “It’s A Wrap.” Outkast shot a video for the upcoming single “Roses,” and Beyonce is rumored to have had a whorehouse theme for her video to “Naughty Girl,” which was shot last week as well.