celebrity report.....12-8-08

Paula Abdul is lashing out against American Idol. The upcoming 8th season will probably be her last. A new female judge is being brought in and Abdul is not happy. In a recent interview with Barbara Walters, Abdul says the Fox network, the American Idol producers and Simon Cowell are trying to ruin her career. She cited numerous incidents, including the recent stalker who killed herself in front on Abdul's house. Abdul says the woman appeared on the show years ago, and the American Idol camp knew she was being stalked by this woman. Abdul has been hinting around that she is unhappy, and that she wants to do her own show. Abdul regularly makes headlines because of her loopy behavior. Many times when watching the show, I have wondered what was going on. Is she high? What is she drinking in that cup? Is she on meds? On numerous occasions, she has appeared incoherent and out of it. Inside sources say the producers and Simon Cowell have gone overboard to protect her image when she starts acting wacky. Now that she is biting the hands that feed her, the gloves are off and this will probably be her last go round with Idol. The new season kicks off in mid January.

Who is the real Nene Leakes? She became a star because of the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. But, in a recent television expose, Nene Leakes is a woman who is living a big lie. During the show, she was living the high life with her real estate investor husband and buying $42,000 trucks, buying her son $8,000 suits, living lavishly and spending money on clothes and jewelry. According to the TV expose, the real Nene Leakes was evicted from her Atlanta home for not paying rent. Her husband Greg Leakes, who recently lost his real estate license, owes hundreds of thousand of dollars in tax liens and to creditors. People have come forward describing the couple as phony and misleading. In a recent statement from the Bravo network, they stressed that the show, The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, is a reality show not to be taken seriously. What will happen in season two? Nene Leakes and her family are currently in hiding. She has a lot of questions to answer, including where is the money from her charity? Was Nene just frontin'? Will she back for season number two, which will air next year?

Oprah has regained her weight, and she is not happy. In the new issue of O magazine, Winfrey addresses her weight issues. The 54-year old TV titan admits gaining over 60 pounds during the past few years. She says her outlook for the new year will be on health, strength and fitness.

Congrats to Singer Jill Scott. In addition to a new HBO series, she will be giving birth to her first child next year.

Is Michael Jackson broke? An upcoming auction is taking place where over 2,000 personal items will be sold, including the famed Billie Jean glove from the legendary music video.

Everybody's is talking about Stevie Wonder. The week started off with problems at his California home. Apparently, Wonder has been having issues with family members who have been showing up and leaving things on his property. Wonder told police it was a private family matter that he can handle himself. Wonder's wife, Fashion Designer Kai Miller, is just one of the many designers who are submitting ideas for future First Lady Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama is a big fan of Miller's designs, but she has not decided who will design her inaugural gown. In more Wonder news, will he be on the new season on Dancing With The Stars? Producers of the show love big gets, and they have reportedly reached out to Stevie Wonder and the Reverend Al Sharpton.

Don Cornelius has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife. A few weeks ago, the Soul Train founder was arrested and charged with 3 counts of spousal battery, one count of dissuading a witness from filing a police report and assault with a deadly weapon. The 72-year old Cornelius is due in court on January 9th. Since the arrest Cornelius's young Russian wife has filed two retraining orders against him.

It was another health scare for Singer Toni Braxton. Braxton was absent from the taping of the finale of Dancing With The Stars. She says it was because she was recovering from surgery after having a benign tumor removed from her breast. She says she thanks God it was not cancerous. She says she'll take time during the holidays to recover from her surgery. Then she will gear up to hit the road to travel with the Dancing With The Stars touring company. The past year has been filled with medical drama for Braxton. She had to cancel her Las Vegas show because of an on going heart condition.

Bobby Brown has many regrets, and one of them is spilling the beans about his life with Whitney Houston in a new book. At the time the book was being written, he needed money and he had an ax to grind. But, Bobby had a change of heart and decided not to go ahead with the book. His co-author, Derrick Handspike, felt otherwise, and he says this book had to be published. The unauthorized biography is full of shocking details like his time with Janet Jackson. The book claims Janet's family didn't want her with Bobby because they didn't want her to be with a black man, and that Janet turned Bobby into an alcoholic. The book goes into detail about the Brown-Houston marriage, and that both got married for the wrong reasons. According to the book, Whitney married Bobby to clean up her image, and he married to love and have children. The book also revealed Bobby turned to crack and cocaine after hooking up with Whitney.

Jamie Foxx will be filming the movie Law Abiding Citizen. The movie will also star Actor Gerard Butler, and F. Gary Gray is directing. The movie shoot will take place from January to March.

Is Fantasia having money problems? The American Idol winner is in danger of losing her North Carolina house. A family spokesperson says it's all a big misunderstanding, but her home is due up for auction. Fantasia has been laying low in recent months. Her last big gig was earlier this year when she starred on Broadway in The Color Purple. What is Fantasia going to do now, and can she save her home?

From reports she is losing her house because of nonpayment of HOA dues. In NC they don't play that.

Wesley Snipes continues to appeal his three-year prison sentence for tax evasion. Snipes is working a new angle. He wants to be recognized as a national hero because he has been teaching airline flight crews martial arts lessons following the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Snipes is determined to stay out of jail for not paying his taxes.

Entertainment Weekly has named their 25 smartest people in TV. Whoopi Goldberg, Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry made the list because they are driving today's smartest shows and deals.

Lionel Richie, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke and The Jonas Brothers are just some of the musical talent lined up for 37th annual edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Steve Harvey will be back hosting BET's Celebration of Gospel. The show will air on BET January 25th.

Will the former Mr. Star Jones be the next big reality star? Al Reynolds is just the latest pseudo celebrity who is looking for love via TV. Reynolds loves the limelight, and he is looking for love. Maybe a reality show will do the trick.

Singer D'Angelo is making plans for a comeback next year, but he will not be signing to Bad Boy Records. D'Angelo has been plotting his next moves and working on new material. The past ten years have seen him in trouble with the law numerous times. He has been in rehab for alcohol and drugs. With the help of a personal trainer, he is looking to get his weight back to fighting form. There is a lot of buzz surrounding his comeback and his new music. Look for the new project early next year.

Chris Rock wants to know about your hair. Rock has just completed a new documentary called Good Hair. It's all about black hair, whether you wear it natural, relaxed, weaved or wigged. Rock even traveled to India to see the people who give up their hair for weaves. Look for the documentary next year.

Tyler Perry got some good news this week. A jury found him not guilty of stealing a woman's idea for his mega hit Diary Of A Mad Black Woman. The woman claimed Perry stole her idea, and she was seeking monetary damages. A jury said there was not enough evidence to fault Perry. Perry latest movie, The Family That Preys with Sanaa Lathan, is getting ready to come out on DVD. And, get ready for Madea's Goes To Jail which opens in theatres February 20th, 2009.

Despite the lackluster performance of her movie Cadillac Records, Beyonce wants to roll on with her movie career. She is pitching herself to star in a remake of the Barbara Streisand classic A Star Is Born.

Jennifer Hudson is set to return to work this week. Since the tragic murders of her family, Hudson has been in seclusion. But, she is scheduled to start 0filming her new music video for her song, If It Isn't Love. Last week brought the Oscar winner some much needed good news. She has been nominated for 4 Grammy awards. In a statement, Hudson says this is like a dream come true since this is her first album.

These are either a well staged publicity stunts, or a pop diva or two will have a baby next year. According to published reports, it's Janet Jackson with longtime boyfriend Jermaine Dupri, but their camp is denying these reports (remember, Janet has a habit of lying). Other published reports claim Mariah Carey was seen clutching test results (a sonogram) after leaving a doctors office. Which pop diva is having a baby and which one is just looking for publicity?

I guess the underground buzz from last week could possible be either one of these entertainers.

The 15th Annual Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in New Orleans. Beyonce is the first musical guest announced. 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.

The new season of American Idol: Season Number 8 kicks off January 13-14th.

For its 50th anniversary, Motown Records is releasing a new box set of songs that the fans have picked. The box set is due December 9th. The 10 disc CD will feature 191 songs from your favorite Motown stars including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells and Martha & The Vandellas, to name a few.

Queen Latifah will be hosting the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards to be held January 7th on CBS.

The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards will take place on February 12th.

Lee Daniels latest movie with Mariah Carey, Tennessee, opens in theatres December 19th

Sinbad and Yolanda Adams will be hosting the 21st Annual Stellar Awards. Gospel Sensation Marvin Sapp is leading the pack with nine nominations including song and male vocal. The show is taking place January 17th.

The movie, Notorious, based on the life of Rapper Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., is gearing up for its release, which is scheduled for January 16th, 2009. Angela Bassett will be playing Biggie's mom, Volletta Wallace.

WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Hip Hop Superstar is the go to guy for quick money. Ladies know if you get pregnant by him, it will be a quick pay day because he pays you to keep quiet.

She's rich, beautiful and talented, but she needs speech lessons. She wants to be an award winning actress, but she needs to get an acting coach who can help her achieve her goal.

Despite her numerous awards and critical acclaim for her career, this Celebrity has often been overlooked. She is not known for her looks or style of dress, but she is enjoying tremendous success with her recent TV gig. She has been credited with the show's recent success, but she is getting a big head and she won't stop talking about it.