4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 11TH, 2009

Michael Jackson is back. The King Of Pop is making news about everything. Just to sum up this past week, he was hit with two major lawsuits. One was from Ola Ray, his co-star in the Thriller video. After 26 years, she feels she deserves a share of the royalties from the Thriller video. Jackson ex-publicist and assistant, Raymone Bain, hit him with a lawsuit as well. She is seeking $44 million for unpaid services. Bain claims Jackson stiffed her after years of loyal service. It was Bain who served as his spokesperson during his child molestation trial. Jackson is also dealing with promoters who claim he promised to do a reunion show with his brothers. The promoters claim they will derail his scheduled concerts in London if their contract obligations are not met. Jackson says he never signed an agreement. He has been busy rehearsing and trying to gain weight. Jackson has been told to put on some weight so he can handle his upcoming schedule. He has 50 sold out shows to do in London starting in July. He has been rehearsing with Director/Choreographer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical), who is staging the London shows. I hear Jackson may even do a duet with his 12-year son Prince Michael.

In other Jackson news, get ready for the Jackson brothers reality show. The show is scheduled to air on the A&E network and will star Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy. The show will focus on them as sons, fathers, entertainers and entrepreneurs. Now here is my big question, will the show deal with the tension between Jermaine and Randy? They both have children by the same woman.

Shaquille O’Neal is also doing a reality show for A&E called Love Shaq, which will focus on his family. And, then there’s a new reality show with MC Hammer. Hammertime will show his life after fame and fortune with his wife of 23 years and six kids.

Who leaked the nude pictures of Rihanna? The photos featuring her and ex-boyfriend Chris Brown are quite explicit. Chris Brown says don’t look at him. Meanwhile, Brown’s ex-dancers are speaking out on the issue of Rihanna. They are saying she caused the violent outburst involving Brown earlier this year, and that she was crazy and seeking publicity.

Jamie Foxx will be hosting the 2009 BET Awards. The show airs June 28th on BET. Beyonce is scheduled to perform, and The O’Jays are getting a lifetime achievement award.

Lil’ Kim is ready to tell all. The Price Of Loyalty is the name of the book that will go into detail about what led to her stint in prison a few years ago.

Get for latest Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes To Jail, on DVD when it comes out June 16th.

KeKe Palmer, the star of the Nickelodeon show Tru Jackson, VP, has a hit on her hands. The live action comedy show has been renewed for a second season.

Congrats to Tina Campbell of the gospel duo Mary Mary. She is expecting baby number 4 with her husband.

Teena Marie’s latest CD, Congo Square, arrives in stores on June 9th. Check out Teena Marie this year at The West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival. Teena Marie and The Whispers were just added to the lineup. It all takes place June 19th -21st on Ogontz Avenue between 70th and 74th.

Beyonce is releasing a new video anthology based on her CD I Am….Sasha Fierce. Wal-Mart is carrying it exclusively starting June 16th.

Tyrese says he’s having a problem with a stalker. The woman has targeted Tyrese since his recent divorce telling him now that you’re divorced, you can be mine. Tyrese says the woman is a certified loon, and he needs protection. Tyrese recently divorced Norma Gibson, the mother of his young daughter.

Orlando Jones, Dawnn Lewis, Tichina Arnold and LaChanze have been added to the cast of the revival of The Wiz. Ashanti is starring as “Dorothy.”

Jennifer Hudson is on the new issue of Essence magazine. Hudson recently gave her fiancé a five-carat ring when she proposed to him. For the record, he proposed to her first a few months ago. A summer wedding is planned.

Jada Pinkett Smith is on the cover of the new issue of Ebony magazine. Her new TNT series, Hawthorne, debuts June 16th. In her Ebony interview, Jada talks about her marriage to Will Smith, their children and her career.

Reverend Run has his hands full these days. His 19-year old son Jo-Jo was arrested last weekend for possession of marijuana. To make matters worse, Jo-Jo crashed into a police car trying to get away from the cops. If you have watched the MTV show Run’s House, you know that Jo-Jo is not a bad kid. He is more of a follower than a leader, so I’m sure this did not sit well with his parents or his Uncle Russ.

Aisha Tyler, the popular actress/comedienne, is in line to get a daytime talk show on ABC.

Actor Courtney B. Vance is getting a new show on ABC. It’s a sci-fi drama called Flashforward. Vance is married to Actress Angela Bassett.

Vin Diesel (Fast and Furious) has signed on for the new John Singleton movie Wheelman. The live action movie is based on the videogame.

Is Rapper/Actor Common the new Mr. T? The A-Team movie is finally being made, and it appears Common is playing the role of “B.A. Baracus,” made famous by Mr. T. When Director John Singleton was attached to the project, Ice Cube was rumored to be playing the role. Then there was talk of Tyrese getting the part. When Singleton turned down the project, a new casting search was launched, and it appears the role is going to Common. The A Team movie is based on the hit 80’s TV show which, along with Mr. T, starred George Peppard, Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz.

Tavis Smiley is coming out with a new documentary called Stand. Stand arrives in stores on May 25th. The stand documentary is a road trip featuring Smiley and ten of his friends, including Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and BeBe Winans, to name a few.

Nick Cannon, stop while you’re ahead! Cannon is participating in a public feud with Rapper Eminem, who may or may have not dated his wife, Singer Mariah Carey. Cannon will be hosting the NBC talent show America’s Got Talent. He should be concentrating on this, and not feuding with a rapper who has a new album to sell. In a series of interviews, Eminem has said some horrible things about what he supposedly did to Carey. He is probably lying to sell that new album. The past is the past! Whether he dated your wife or not, if you and Mariah are happy, go live your life. You don’t have to justify anything. Let Eminem talk his trash. He needs to rebuild his career. You’ve got Mariah Carey, her money and a new show. Don’t stoop to Eminem’s level.

Comedienne Wanda Sykes shook up a lot of people with her recent hosting stint at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. Did Sykes go too far with some of her comments? She has a new talk show debuting in the fall on the Fox network, and she recently came out of the closet. Will this hurt her chances to launch the next phase of her career? Sykes is best known for her TV work with Chris Rock, The New Adventures Of Old Christine and The Wanda Sykes Show.

Ginuwine is trying to jump start his career. He has a hot new song out called Last Chance, and he is hoping this is the breakout song he’s been waiting for. In the meantime, he is suing his former business manager. Ginuwine says his former manager ripped him off for $400,000.

Congrats to Maya Rudolph. The former Saturday Night Live star is expecting her second child. Rudolph is also the daughter of the late Singer Minnie Riperton.

Get ready for the Neely’s. Pat and Gina Neely, from the Food Network show Down Home With The Neelys, have a new cookbook out filled with delicious recipes. Down Home With The Neelys is available in bookstores now.

Essence magazine is joining forces with the CNN network to report weekly on issues important to African Americans.

Check out who’s coming to Good Morning America: Lionel Richie on May 29th, John Legend on June 5th, Jamie Foxx on June 19th and Queen Latifah on July 10th.

Singer Will Downing is marking his 20th anniversary in the music business with a new release called Classique. The album, his 14th, arrives in stores on June 16th. The new CD will feature Downing recording some classics including David Ruffin’s Statue Of A Fool and Barry White’s I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More. Downing says he’s excited about the project, and his health has been progressing since being diagnosed with the muscle disorder Polymyositis.

Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson will be appearing in a new ABC money special called Unbroke. Unbroke is everything you need to know about money, credit cards, mortgages, the stock market and investing. The special airs May 29th on ABC.

Gladys Knight is coming out with a jewelry line. The singer/actress and business woman is exited about her new venture. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line will be sold at major department stores and through The Home Shopping Network. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line debuts in December. Also check her out in the new Tyler Perry Madea movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which opens in theatres in September.

Ruben Studdard wants his fans back. Twenty million people voted him as their American Idol, and now he wants them to buy his new CD. Love Is will be a collection of romantic ballads. The CD is due out May 19th. Love Is will be Studdard’s fourth CD and features production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Studdard does some remakes, including Michael Jackson’s I Can’t Help It and Al Green’s For The Good Times.

The Norman Lear Collection, a boxed DVD set, is coming out on June 9th. Norman Lear is the famed producer behind the TV classics The Jeffersons, Good Times, All In The Family, Maude and Sanford & Son to name a few. The first seasons of those and other Lear classics will be included in the set.

Denzel Washington’s new movie, with John Travolta and James Gandolfini, The Taking Of Pelham 1, 2, 3 hits theatres on June 12th. We have the exclusive trailer on our website at wdasfm.com. Just go to Patty’s Page and check it out. Let me know what you think. I can’t wait to see it. It’s a remake of the 70’s action thriller with Walter Matthau about a trio of bad guys who take a New York subway care hostage.

The Bynum Brothers are back with a new venture. They own Warmdaddy’s on Columbus Boulevard and had the old Zanzibar Blue in Center City. Their latest project is called RELISH at 7152 Ogontz Avenue. It replaces Sadiki’s. RELISH features live jazz music Thursday through Sunday. For more info go to relishphiladelphia.com or call 215-276-0170.

The Wendy Williams talk show is set to debut this July. The show is going nationwide, and will be seen locally on FOX 29.

The 15th Annual Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in New Orleans. Beyonce, John Legend, Eric Benet, Robin Thicke, Anita Baker, Bill Cosby and Maxwell are all on the bill. There will also be seminars featuring Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Roland Martin. Plus, there’ll be an all-star tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When this female Singer first came on the scene, she was the talk of the town. She was stylish, fun and fearless. Then she decided to change her style, her choice in men and her management team. Her latest album flopped. Maybe she should call up her old management to get her career back on track.

When these two media Superstars hooked up, many thought it was a match made in heaven. He was going to be her next big star, but there was one big problem. One media star has a troubled past and it is coming back to haunt him. Now the other media star won’t have anything to do with him.