celebrity report........9-23-08

Longtime Michael Jackson confidante Bob Jones has died. The 70-year old Jones suffered a heart attack last weekend. For years, Jones worked at Motown Records in their P.R. department. While at Motown, Jones became friends with Jackson, and he later went on to work exclusively for him. When there was a Michael Jackson scandal, Jones was there to cover for Jackson. Jones was there during the marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe. He was there when Jackson wanted to buy the elephant man's bones. He was there when Jackson wanted to sleep in hyper baric chambers. He was there during the first allegations of child abuse that almost ruined Jackson's career. A few years ago, Jackson and Jones had a falling out, and Jones was let go. He was fired with no warning and no severance. Jones was devastated. For years he stood by Jackson, and this was how he was paid back. Jones wrote a scathing book about Jackson called The Man Behind The Mask, but it was not a bestseller.
In other Jackson news, Janet Jackson needs a new recording home. After one album, she has been dropped from Island Def Jam Records. Poor album sales were to blame but also poor promotion. Janet needs Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Keep Producer Jermaine Dupri as your boyfriend, but go back to the men who produced your hits. Janet is currently in need of a new recording home.
Mariah Carey has taken hold of her career and is fighting off rumors that she may be pregnant. Is Carey expecting a baby with her hubby Nick Cannon? Will her new husband become her new manager now that Benny Medina is out? Carey has a new movie, Tennessee, coming out later this year. She has been getting rave reviews for the Lee Daniels produced movie. In Tennessee, Carey plays a waitress.
Tyler Perry is tired of playing the popular character "Madea," and he is currently planning the character's exit. Perry wants to show the world there is so much more to him than "Madea." He doesn't want to get stereotyped with the character, plus it's hurting his love life. He feels he can't connect to the ladies because of his "Madea" character. In a recent interview with Conan O'Brien, he says the ladies prefer his football player friends. Perry is currently at work on his latest movie, Madea Goes To Jail, which hits theatres next January. He also says he will do one final stage production featuring the popular character "Grandmom."
Bishop Thomas Weeks is proving there is life after Prophetess Juanita Bynum. Despite his troubled marriage to Bynum, Weeks says he is ready to do it again. Weeks is looking for wife number three, and he is advertising on his website: bishopweeks.com. Bishop Weeks is looking for a woman who is ready to have babies, a woman who is sensuous and…. she can't be ugly! Weeks' marriage to Bynum ended after five years following a stormy confrontation that left Bynum battered and bruised. Weeks is currently on probation for attacking his wife. He also had to serve 200 hours of community service and attend anger management classes.
Is Pop Singer George Michael a crack addict? The popular 80's singer has not met a bathroom he didn't like. Last week, he was arrested in a London bathroom, and he had in his possession vials of crack cocaine. George has apologized for the incident. For years, he has battled drug abuse. In the 90's, he was arrested in a Beverly Hills bathroom after soliciting a male police officer.


At the movies this week, it's the Spike Lee joint Miracle At St. Anna. The movie stars Derek Luke, Laz Alonso and Kerry Washington.
Singer Natalie Cole had to be hospitalized last week. She reluctantly suspended her promo tour for her new album, Still Unforgettable, after doctors ordered her to slow down. She is suffering from the effects of the chemo as she battles Hepatitis C. She has lost a lot of weight and her hair. Once she leaves the hospital, she will be on bed rest for weeks. It appears her past use of drugs is catching up with her. This is not a good time for the singer. Keep her in your prayers.
Former Child Star Gary Coleman is being sued by a man who claims Coleman tried to run him over. 24-year old Colt Rushton says he was just trying to take a picture of Coleman when Coleman, 40, backed his truck into him. Rushton is suing him for medical bills plus pain and suffering.
The boys and girls club of America is about to unveil its new ad campaign featuring the childhood photos of Denzel Washington and Jackie Joyner Kersee. Washington serves as a national spokesperson for the organization.
Jada Pinkett Smith is gearing up for a new TV Show. Pinkett Smith will star and be the executive producer of the TNT show Time Heals. She will play a widowed nurse with a teenage daughter.
Mel B is returning to Dancing With The Stars. Mel was a huge hit during season five, and now she is returning as a correspondent. The new season kicked off this week with Lance Bass, Toni Braxton, Brooke Burke and Warren Sapp leading the pack of dancers.
This is an exciting time for Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson. Her new album comes out next week. She will be starring in the movie The Secret Life Of Bees, with Alicia Keys and Queen Latifah, which opens in theatres October 17th, and she is gearing up for her first clothing line. As busy as she is, her family wants her think about her finances. Hudson just announced her engagement to reality star David Otunga, a.k.a. "Punk" from VH1's I Love New York. Her family wants her to make him sign a prenup before they get hitched. Hudson feels making her fiancé sign a prenup takes away from their love, but her family says protect your assets and make this man sign. Hudson could learn a lot from Star Jones. Star made her husband, Al Reynolds, sign an iron clad prenup, and in the end he didn't get a thing. Hudson is already following in Star's footsteps: she's lining up sponsors for her upcoming wedding to donate items or pay cash to be a part of the ceremony.
Chris Rock returns to HBO this week with a new special Kill The Messenger, which airs Saturday night, the 27th at 9pm on HBO.
Congratulations to next year's Inductees into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Singer Bobby Womack, music groups Chic and War and rappers Run DMC.
The last will and testament of Singer Isaac Hayes was unveiled this week. Hayes left the bulk of his fortune to his 25-year old wife, his 12 children and The Isaac Hayes Foundation. Hayes died of a stroke in August.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been named the official face of the Italian fashion house Dolce and Gabbana. Campbell is getting paid close to $2 million to star in their new national advertising campaign.
Does Eddie Murphy have a new Mel? Murphy, who has been single since splitting with Tracey Edmonds, has been spending a lot of time with Singer Melody Thornton of The PussyCat Dolls.
The Johnson Publishing Company, the owners of Ebony and Jet magazines, is coming out with its first product line. Look for home and office furnishings plus a clothing line. Products will be available on line at ebony-jet.com
Get ready for these new DVD releases: Sex And The City in stores now and Iron Man with Robert Downey, Jr. and Terrence Howard on September 30th.
Quincy Jones is gearing up to release The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey And Passions. The 75-year old music giant is set to release this book on October 28th. Clint Eastwood is doing the foreword for the book, and Dr. Maya Angelou is doing the introduction. Jones is not slowing down. He is also opening a restaurant in Las Vegas. In other Quincy news, he says he will not be working with Michael Jackson on his upcoming album. The Q produced some of Jackson's biggest selling albums, including Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad. Q says he is too busy with his other projects.
Morgan Freeman and Barbara Streisand are among the honorees for the Kennedy Center Honors.
Patti LaBelle is hard at work on the LaBelle reunion. Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti are reteaming as LaBelle with the new CD called Back To Now. The new CD features production from Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Lenny Kravitz. In January, Patti's all-star salute will air as a benefit for the United Negro College Fund's Evening Of Stars. Anita Baker, Jennifer Hudson, Dionne Warwick, Yolanda Adams and Fantasia will all be on hand.
Cedric The Entertainer is headed to Broadway. The stage play American Buffalo, about small time crooks, also stars John Leguizamo. American Buffalo opens on November 17th.
I Want To Take You Higher, The Life And Times Of Sly Stone is title of the new book about the famed musician coming out in October.
Poet and Author Dr. Maya Angelou is going to be honored along with TV Producer Norman Lear at the 2008 Annual Marian Anderson Awards. The ceremony honoring them is taking place November 17th at the Kimmel Center. Lear is best known for the TV classics All In The Family, Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude. The award is named after the famed Contralto Marian Anderson, a Philadelphia native. Past honorees include Sidney Poitier, Richard Gere, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Oprah Winfrey and Harry Belafonte. Dr. Angelou and Lear go back a ways back. The doctor is godmother to Lear's youngest children.
Sanford & Son, the popular 70's show, is coming out on DVD. The complete series, 17 discs containing all six seasons, comes out on October 28th. The late Comedian Redd Foxx starred as the grouchy junkman and Demond Wilson played his long-suffering son, Lamont.
Singer Al Jarreau is hard at work on a new Christmas CD, which is coming out this fall. Brian McKnight, Aretha Franklin, Howard Hewett and Ledisi are also releasing holiday projects.
Singer Robin Thicke is set to release his new CD, Something Else, on September 30th. The CD features the hit single 'Magic.'
The 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors takes place in October. Actor Comedian Katt Williams is hosting.
The Late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes make their final screen appearance in the movie Soul Men. Soul Men opens in theatres on November 7th and also stars Samuel L. Jackson.
Upcoming TV and Film Events:
A new best of compilation featuring the music of Tina Turner is coming out. Look for 'Tina' on September 30th.
WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's the real story behind a famous singer's illness? She may be suffering from a very serious illness, but she refuses to reveal the truth.
Now that Clay Aiken has decided to come out of the closet, will other big name celebrities follow suit? One female star is ready to be a mom, and she is planning to adopt with her longtime lover. The adoption should have happened last year, but the star is not ready to come out of the closet and explain her relationship.
This big guy comes off loveable and fun on a popular reality show, but in reality he is big jerk. He is rude and nasty to the staff and assistants.