:: Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of January 17th, 2005:
Jamie Foxx opens up in the latest issue of GQ Magazine. The Golden Globe winner says if he gets a chance to be at the Oscars he will be accompanied by his 11 year old daughter. I wonder what his girlfriend, actress Leila Arcieri thinks about this? She likes being on his arm at events. Even though he may not be faithful, she is getting plenty of press. She was glued to him at the Golden Globe Awards. I can't imagine her missing the Oscars. Jamie talks about his infamous nude photos in GQ. Jamie assures us there are no farm animals or men, just women. Jamie says he is proud of the pictures and would like to have them back. The nude photos were taken from his Las Vegas home last year. I'm sure if he is nominated for an Oscar the pictures will suddenly appear. The next stop for Jamie is a date with the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He's up for "Best Actor" and the ceremony takes place in early February.
Actor Anthony Anderson is getting on with his career. Last year was not good for the actor. He was charged with raping an extra on the set of the movie, Hustle and Flow. He was cleared of the charges, but other women stepped forward with stories about the married actor and his reputation took a hit. Anderson is headed to television. Starting in March he will be joining the cast of the F/X series, The Shield. Anderson is going to play a former gang leader and drug dealer.
Boxing promoter Don King is suing the ESPN Sports Network. He claims they aired a television special that portrayed him as a thug and con artist. King has filed a defamation suit and is seeking $2.5 billion.
Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Stephen A. Smith is getting a television show on ESPN2. The show, Quite Frankly, premieres in June. The opinion-personality show will be perfect for Smith who is known for his stylish suits and brash personality. I love him even when I don't agree with him. I respect his opinion and he knows his sports. I look forward to the show.
Singer Brian McKnight, a talk show host? Brian recently revealed in an interview he would like to be a late night talk show host. I had a chance to catch up with McKnight in Atlantic City and he says he has a lot of things in the works. Last year he did some TV work as a correspondent for Extra TV. Brian feels there is a void in late night television and he could fill it. His new album, Gemini, comes out February 8th. McKnight says he's very excited about the project. He has been working on it for a while and he says he can't wait until it comes out. McKnight was quite happy to talk about the project, but his people were very quiet when I inquired about the mysterious brunette who was with him. I will probably be barred from backstage forever, but sources would only say he was no longer married, he's now single. Hmmmmmm? Don't do it!!
Since winning America's Next Top Model where is Eva, "The Diva?" Eva is currently starring in a new ad campaign for Covergirl cosmetics and she recently did a photo shoot for Essence Magazine. Eva is also ready to branch out into acting. She's going to appear as the love interest of Taye Diggs in upcoming episode of the UPN show, Kevin Hill. 
Catwoman with Halle Berry is out on DVD and VHS.
At the movies this week it's Assault on Precinct 13 with Laurence Fishburne, Ethan Hawke and rapper Ja Rule.
Are We There Yet? with Ice Cube and Nia Long.
The movie Ray will be available on DVD and VHS on February 1st.
Will Smith, Eva Mendes and Kevin James team up for the romantic comedy Hitch which opens in theatres on February 11th.
Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett are re-teaming on the big screen. In the 90's they starred in What's Love Got to Do with It? as Ike and Tina Turner. In 2005, Fishburne and Bassett will be starring in the movie Bee which is about a national spelling bee competition that brings a community together.
Alicia Keys will be on hand for Super Bowl 39 in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6th. Alicia will be singing "America The Beautiful" during the pre-game festivities.
Lou Rawls is a dad again. The 69 year old entertainer and his wife Nina are the proud parents of a boy named Aiden. Nina is also Lou's manager and this is his fourth child.
Queen Latifah will be hosting this year's Grammy Awards on February 13th.
The 36th Annual NAACP Image Awards will air March 25th on Fox.
It's going to be a girl for Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker! The baby is due in March and they are getting married in May. They star on the UPN show Second Time Around on UPN.
Songwriter Norman Whitfield has pleaded guilty to tax evasion. The songwriter will be sentenced on April 18th. He was charged with failing to report over $2 million in royalty money. Whitfield is best known for the songs "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," "Carwash," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Just My Imagination," and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."
Do you like celebrity weddings? You say you missed the wedding of Star and Al or rapper Nas and Kelis. Well, mark your calendar for January 27th, for the InStyle celebrity wedding special.
American Idol judge Randy Jackson is starting the Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation. Jackson lost over 100 pounds after he underwent gastric bypass surgery. He says a lot of kids can't go to the gym because they are too young. He says his foundation will provide facilities and programs for kids so they can learn how to stay in shape. Jackson says he's battled obesity his whole life and he wants to reach out and young people with weight problems.
Vivica A. Fox is coming to the WB Network. Vivica will be hosting the reality show, Americas Next Best Actress. The show debuts in March. GEEZUS, MERCY, NOOOOOOOOO!
Singer D'Angelo is in trouble with the law again. He was arrested last week for drunk driving and drug possession. Police found packages in the car that reportedly contained marijuana and cocaine. D'Angelo was scheduled to release a new album this year. Will his new legal problems hold things up?
Singer Ron Isley may be headed to jail. Isley has pleaded not guilty to tax evasion and his trial is slated for March 8th. Isley was charged with five counts of tax evasion and one count of failing to file an income tax return. Isley was also charged with cashing the royalty checks of his late brother O'Kelly. This is not the first time Isley has been in trouble with the IRS. Back in 1997, he filed for bankruptcy and the IRS took his yacht and other possessions. Last year he suffered a stroke and if he is convicted he could face up to 26 years in prison.
Congratulations to producer and songwriter Leon Huff of the legendary Gamble and Huff. Mr. Huff is getting married next month to Regina Bryant. This will be his third marriage.
A soap opera legend passed away over the weekend. Actress Ruth Warrick played the infamous "Aunt Phoebe" for 35 years on All My Children. She died at the age of 88 from pneumonia. She last appeared on All My Children two weeks ago.
My granny still watches the show.
First 'Survivor' Winner Dodged Taxes, Prosecutors Say
Hybrid Mode
