Lots and Lots of NEWS

[AKA2D '91]

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RRa and Ashanti's lil sister?

[Steeltrap]

^^
Utterly ridiculous. But I bet that Ashanti's family won't be paid off like some of Rrrapist's other alleged victims.

[CrimsonTide4]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - UPN is adding "Cuts" to its midseason schedule.


The network has picked up the comedy pilot, a spinoff of its sitcom "One on One," with a six-episode series order.

"Cuts," from Paramount Network TV, the Greenblatt Janollari Studio and Daddy's Girl Prods., revolves around Flex's barber brother (Marques Houston) and a corporation heiress (Shannon Elizabeth (news)) managing a barbershop together.

The characters were introduced in an episode of "One on One" last season, which served as a backdoor pilot for the project.

"One on One" creator Eunetta Boone and the show's writer/consulting producer Bennie Richburg penned the pilot, which originally was eyed for fall 2004.

"Cuts" is the third series UPN is prepping for midseason, in addition to the comedy "The Bad Girl's Guide" and the unscripted "The Road to Stardom With Missy Elliott." The network also recently picked up its freshman dramas "Kevin Hill" and "Veronica Mars" for a full season.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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Patti Jackson's News

American Idol winner Ruben Studdard is finally losing weight. Ruben’s weight loss is being documented by Extra TV, the entertainment news show. The diet got off to a rocky start with Ruben almost throwing in the towel. Ruben is trying to lose 200 pounds. At his heaviest he was 355 pounds. He gained 100 pounds since winning the title of American Idol. Ruben was not happy at the start of his diet. He didn’t like his California home that was given to him by Extra. He complained the house didn’t have enough plasma TV’s and that it didn’t have air conditioning. He also hated the diet plan and refused to do it. Ruben wouldn’t pick up his food and he wasn’t exercising. Needless to say the producers of the television show were not happy and the battles started. Ruben and the producers butted heads and the entire idea was almost scrapped. American Idol judge Randy Jackson is serving as Ruben’s “life coach” and he got Ruben to stick with it. Producers came up with a diet plan that Ruben likes. It’s a high protein low carb diet and Ruben is losing weight. He just lost 20 pounds. Rubens new CD, I Need An Angel comes out on November 23rd. The song “I Need An Angel” was written and produced by R. Kelly.


Remember Lisa Lisa from the Cult Jam? Back in the 80’s they had the hits “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” “Head To Toe” and “All Cried Out.” Well, Lisa is expecting her first child and she will be appearing on a VH1 Thanksgiving special, A Very Classic Thanksgiving, a one hour special that will also star MC Hammer and Davey Jones of the Monkees.


The “Father and Son” tour with Eddie and Gerald Levert is coming to the area on Friday, December 10th, at the tower Theatre in Upper Darby and December 11th, at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. Gerald has a new CD, Do I Speak for the World?, coming out on the 29th. It’s a 16 song set that features Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West. Gerald says the show will be a celebration of our roots and music. He says in addition to the O’Jays and Levert classics, they will also be performing tributes to Barry White and Luther Vandross.


Ashanti graces the cover of Vibe Magazine and she has a new album, Concrete Rose, coming out this month. Ashanti is one busy lady. She just signed on as the new spokesperson for Clairol Herbal Essence hair products and she’s branching out in her acting career. In January she makes her big screen debut with Samuel L. Jackson in the movie, Coach Carter, and next May she will be starring in The Muppets of Wizard of OZ on ABC.


Now speaking of Samuel L. Jackson, he’s going to be honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. He’s also one of the voices in the animated hit movie "The Incredibles".


The new Michael Jackson greatest hits package arrives in stores next week. The 4 CD set will include all his classics and four new songs. Last week a New Orleans man made headlines with new accusations against the “King of Pop.” He claims he was molested 20 years ago by Michael. When he filed the criminal lawsuit he stated he forget about the incident until he saw Michael on television last year.


After 23 years of marriage, the Sharptons are calling it quits. The Rev. Al and Kathy Sharpton are going their separate ways. Kathy used to be a backup for James Brown. The Sharptons have two children and they have been living apart since last March. Al has a new television show on Spike TV called, I Hate My Job. Al serves as the host and “life coach” of the show as he helps people find jobs they like. Stephanie Ray (no relation to Lisa Raye) is his co-host. Al recently took Stephanie on a shopping spree and he bought her a $1,000 handbag. Al also escorted actress Robin Givens to P. Diddy’s birthday bash. Is the Reverend dating already, or has he been dating all along? Hmmmmmmm?


Is Mariah Carey having money problems? Sources say her excessive spending is out of control and she recently went through $28 million. Friends say Mariah goes through money like water. She has several homes and she spends a fortune to look good. She pays her hairdresser and makeup artist $8,000 a day to keep her looking good. Mariah is a songwriter and she wrote many of her songs, so she always has money coming in. Mariah has a new album coming out in March and she’s being managed by Benny Medina. He’s the man who made J-Lo a star.


The Fugees are serious about their reunion. Yes Lauryn, Pras and Wyclef are getting back together. In addition to a new album they are also going on tour.


Star Jones big wedding to investment banker Al Reynolds takes place on November 13th, and she will be officially changing her name to Star Reynolds. Check out Star and Al on the cover of the new Ebony Magazine. In the article she talks about her man and the rumors.


LL Cool J is set to host the Vibe Awards on November 15th. LL has been battling a stomach ailment. Last year he had his appendix removed .He is on medication and under a doctor’s care. He is also nurturing his wife, Simone, who is also battling medical problems.


The life story of Donnie McClurken is coming out on DVD. From Darkness to Light, arrives in stores November 23rd. The DVD tells the life story and struggles Donnie battled. A lot of Donnie’s family and friends were interviewed.


The new Destiny’s Child album, Destiny Fulfilled, comes out on the 15th.


What is like being the “Ultimate Baby Momma?” I hear it’s very lonely if you’re Kim Porter. Kim is the mother of P. Diddy’s youngest son. She also has an older child by singer Al B. Sure. Kim has been dating P. Diddy for years and he’s been cheating on her for years. Why does she put up with? Why doesn’t he just leave her if he’s going to cheat? Well, it’s like the old song “It’s Cheaper to Keep Her,” so he gives her tons of money to raise their son. Kim likes the money and the bling, bling. She knows she will never get this anywhere else, so she puts up with the cheating and humiliation. At P. Diddy’s party last week Kim was complaining how lonely she is and how he always neglects her. After their photo ops, Diddy ditched Kim and went chasing after Mariah Carey. How long is this relationship going to last?


The Broadway musical Rent is coming to the big screen. Actress Rosario Dawson will be starring. Rosario is one busy actress. She is co-starring in the new Oliver Stone movie, Alexander, with Colin Ferrell. I hear there love scenes in the movie are the talk of the town.


The UPN show Kevin Hill has been picked up for a full season. The news is not so good for the Boris Kodjoe/Nicole Ari Parker show, Second Time Around. The show is struggling in the ratings.


Diana Ross says there will never be another Supremes reunion! In a recent interview Diana says she tried it and she will never do it again. She also stated she was tired of people harassing her about it. Okay, I admit I am one of those people. I would love for Diana to re-team with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, even if it was just for one night.


Congratulations to singer Alicia Keys. She was recently honored by Glamour Magazine as one of their “Women of the Year.”


Ed Gordon the former host of BET Nightly News has landed on his feet. He is now a correspondent for 60 Minutes Wednesday.

[AKA2D '91]

Sam Jackson's film Coach Carter reminds me of "Lean On Me".

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4 (in part)
Star Jones big wedding to investment banker Al Reynolds takes place on November 13th, and she will be officially changing her name to Star Reynolds. Check out Star and Al on the cover of the new Ebony Magazine. In the article she talks about her man and the rumors.

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/33806.htm, plus this picture of ol' BigGayHawaiianSilky Al and my soror. In a perverse way, I'm looking forward to this wedding...

[btb87]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
plus this picture of ol' BigGayHawaiianSilky Al and my soror.

Soror, oh my goodness, I'm SO glad I hadn't started drinking then. That was TOO funny. . .

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4

Ashanti .....will be starring in The Muppets of Wizard of OZ on ABC.

Cool, I wonder which muppet she will play.

[HeartbrAKA]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
Cool, I wonder which muppet she will play.

_________FLATLINES________

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
Cool, I wonder which muppet she will play.

There is an extra special place in hell for you. EXTRA SPECIAL maybe with pink flames instead of blue.

[aurora_borealis]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
Cool, I wonder which muppet she will play.

She is way more Fraggle than Muppet


Her boy Ja Rule sounds like Cookie Monster though.

[HeartbrAKA]

Originally posted by aurora_borealis
She is way more Fraggle than Muppet


Her boy Ja Rule sounds like Cookie Monster though.

.... I always thought that Solange Knowles (pre baby)looked more like a Fraggle than Ashanti


<----used to love fraggle rock!

[TheEpitome1920]

I heard that Ashanti's family was on a radio station saying that the lil' sister has never met Rra. Anyone in NY hear this?

[AngelicWings21]

Originally posted by HeartbrAKA
.... I always thought that Solange Knowles (pre baby)looked more like a Fraggle than Ashanti


<----used to love fraggle rock!

LLLLLLLLLLMAO....@Solange Knowles...LAWD...LMAO...LMAO...

[strivingsf]

I heard on Hot97 with Ms. Info that Ashanti and Family (sister, mother) never met R Kelly and are not planning to sue.

The Drama continues.....................

[TheEpitome1920]

From the get-go, Destiny's Child seemed to exist for the sole purpose of launching the career of one Beyone Knowles. Beyonce is the member who got a crack at writing and producing songs for their 2001 album, Survivor; she graced the most magazine covers, gave the most interviews and generally soaked up the biggest share of the spotlight.
When the girls -- Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams -- went off to do solo projects, it quickly became apparent that Beyonce hadn't simply been handed the spotlight -- she'd been the Child who most deserved it. While Rowland made a respectable impression on the charts with her Nelly duet, "Dilemma," and Williams churned out a couple of gospel albums, Beyonce sold 4 million copies of her debut, Dangerously in Love, starred in the third Austin Powers movie and won five Grammy Awards. In the past two years, Jay-Z's flaxen-haired lady friend has become a franchise unto herself and ostensibly has outgrown her childhood group. So perhaps it's admirable that this superstar diva isn't leaving her homegirls in the lurch. But, more than anything else, the new Destiny's Child album makes one ask: Why bother?

On Destiny Fulfilled, the trio does its best to justify its existence and succeed about half the time. The girls brought back "Say My Name" producer Rodney Jerkins for the sweat-soaked first single, "Lose My Breath," a percussive sex romp where they pant in time to a marching-band beat. That opening number is followed by "Soldier," a herky-jerky ode to gangsta love. "If your status ain't hood/I ain't checking for them," the girls harmonize during the chorus. "Better be street if he looking at me. . . ./Known to carry big things, if you know what I mean." To prove they're serious, they have rappers T.I. and Lil' Wayne drop rhymes glorifying the profound love between a thug and a thugette. It's a hot track, even if the message feels affected coming from these church girls.

But after kicking off on a high note, the album slumps into an endless string of overwrought R&B ballads where the only saving grace is that -- damn! -- these ladies can harmonize like nobody's business. Jerkins should hang his head in shame for having a hand in the maudlin "Cater 2 U," a saccharine tune about how low Knowles, Rowland and Williams will stoop to prove their devotion to their man. In her verse, Beyonce offers to brush her man's hair, put his do-rag on, rub his feet and give him a manicure. Rowland, meanwhile, promises to "keep my figure right," "keep my hair fixed" and, most important, if her man should come home late and she's asleep, all he's gotta do is tap her on the shoulder and "I'll roll over." Since when did these independent women become so craven?

The trend continues in "T-Shirt," another low-key R&B number about how awesome it is to sleep in your man's T-shirt. With the exception of the bumping "Through With Love," even the done-me-wrong songs muster only a smidgen of genuine anger, instead delivering the message that, yeah, you hurt me bad, but I'll get over it. The formula works out nicely on "Is She the Reason," where producer 9th Wonder lays a powerful beat alongside a trumpet-laden sample from Melba Moore's groovy "I Don't Know No One Else to Turn To."

In all but a couple of songs, the verses are divided into three sections, with Beyonce leading things off, followed by Rowland, then Williams; during the choruses, their voices combine into perfectly groomed harmonies. The design of the songs serves to highlight what we already know: that Beyonce is the powerhouse of the trio. And, despite a handful of strong cuts, Destiny Fulfilled sounds like the kind of album you make when you're saving your best material for your next solo album. Which, in Beyonce's case, better come soon.