celebrity report.....4-6-09

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 6TH, 2009

How did a stalker get close to Jamie Foxx? The Oscar-winning actor had to fight off an intruder while he was in Philadelphia filming his movie Law Abiding Citizen. The man was arrested after the incident, but you have to wonder how did he get so close? Where was security on the hotel’s side and Foxx’s own security detail? The man had tried to break into Foxx’s hotel room three times. He claimed he was Beyonce’s producer. The 49 year-old homeless man, Steven Taliver, faced numerous charges, including burglary. Taliver has a long police record, including 24 prior arrests. A judged ruled Taliver incompetent to stand trial and ordered him transferred to a hospital for treatment. Foxx has a new movie coming out in two weeks called The Soloist. The drama co-stars Robert Downey, Jr.

Will Chris Brown cop a plea? He pleaded not guilty to assaulting girlfriend Rihanna. Rihanna is willing to cooperate with authorities, but she wants the incident to go away. Brown is looking to avoid jail time, and he is due in court on the 29th. When will this case wrap up? If a deal isn’t reached, it could drag on for months. Meanwhile, the images of a beaten Rihanna will forever haunt him.

Singer Natalie Cole is appealing to the public for a new kidney. Her past use of drugs and her battle with Hepatitis C have damaged her kidneys. She is currently on dialysis three times a week, and she needs a donor. After a recent appearance on Larry King Live, Cole received hundreds of offers from her fans.

A judge is allowing Wesley Snipes to leave the country for work purposes. In a new ruling, Snipes, despite his conviction on tax evasion, will be allowed to work overseas. So, when will his jail term start? Who knows? He has a three-year sentence.

Tyler Perry has another new leading lady. Singer Gladys Knight has been added to the cast of his new Madea movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Filming is already underway with Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige and Gospel Singer Marvin Winans. The movie opens in theatres in September. Knight is also scheduled to do an appearance on the NBC comedy show 30 Rock.

Denzel Washington is in New Mexico filming his latest movie The Book Of Eli. The Boys And Girls Club of New Mexico recently benefitted from the Oscar winner. The Boys And Girls Club holds a special place for Washington. He grew up in the club in Mount Vernon, New York. When he heard the New Mexico branch was having financial difficulties and was on the verge of closing, he made a donation of $50,000 to keep it open.

Say goodbye to the CW show The Game. The show is being cancelled. The network is blaming it on low ratings. But, the show never found its footing after being moved to Friday night.

Filming has started on the new Iron Man II movie. Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson as “Nick Fury” have all reported to the set. The movie comes out next year.

Will Will Smith sign on for a new Men In Black movie? A third sequel is being discussed, but filmmakers are just waiting for Smith to commit.

Notorious, the movie about Rapper Biggie Smalls, is coming out on DVD April 21st.

The X-Men series continues as Wolverine, with Hugh Jackman, opens in theatres May 1st.

Check out some of your favorites on your favorite magazines. Halle Berry on Harper’s Bazaar, Jennifer Hudson on Entertainment Weekly, Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis on the new issue of Ebony magazine and First Lady Michelle Obama and her mom, Marian Robinson, on the May issue of Essence.

Congratulations to Fox 29 Good Day Morning News Anchor Sheinelle Jones and her husband Uche Ojeh. They are expecting their first child in September. The baby boom is also hitting 6ABC Morning News Anchor Tamala Edwards. She and her husband are also expecting their first child.

A gala celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Apollo Theatre is taking place in June. Patti LaBelle and Quincy Jones are getting inducted into The Apollo Hall Of Fame. Bill Cosby and his wife Camille are getting The Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis Arts And Humanitarian Award. Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Anita Baker will be performing for the celebration happening June 8th. Bill Cosby has another big honor coming up this fall. He’s getting The Mark Twain Prize For American Humor. Previous winners of this award include George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Steve Martin.

Congratulations to Michael Jordan, Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer and David Robinson. They are going to be inducted into The Basketball Hall Of Fame this September.

Filming has started on the new George Lucas film about The Tuskegee Airmen called Red Tails. Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tristan Wilds, Ne-Yo and Singer Jazmine Sullivan co-star in the movie which opens in theatres next year.

For a record fourth time, Samuel L. Jackson will be hosting the ESPY Awards. Sports biggest night is set for July 19th on ESPN.

American Idol Judge Randy Jackson is known for his fancy eyewear, and now he’s coming out with his own line. With the Randy Jackson Collection, he designed 22 styles of eyewear.

Get ready for the return of Al Reynolds. Proving there is life after Star Jones, Reynolds is ready to talk about his life in a new TV One special. The show, Life After, will feature Reynolds talking about his life after the bling, parties and celebrity of Star Jones.

Is there trouble with the Sex And The City sequel. I hear Actor Chris Noth (“Mr. Big”) is holding out. He wants more money, and contract talks have stalled. Can they do a Sex And The City movie without Noth? Can you see “Carrie” with another man? She married “Mr. Big” in the first movie version of the TV classic.
Get ready for the movie version of the stage classic, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The 70’s classic by Author Ntozake Shange was originally a book telling the stories of women of color through a series of poems, and now it’s coming to the big screen.
Jada Pinkett Smith’s new TV drama about nurses, Hawthorne, debuts in June on the TNT network.

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.

Jimmy Rollins in Playboy magazine? Yes! Rollins, a.k.a. “J-Roll,” of the Philadelphia Phillies is doing a fashion spread with his beautiful fiancée, Johari Smith. Look for the issue in June. Rollins proposed to Smith earlier this year, and they look to get married in 2010.

The 2010 Grammy Awards are set for January 31st.

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.

Fantasia starts her stint in the national touring company of The Color Purple in June. Fantasia reprises her role as “Celie.”

Access Hollywood TV Host Shaun Robinson has a new book celebrating girls’ self esteem with advice from America’s most successful women. The book, Exactly As I Am, features Patti LaBelle, Queen Latifah, Oprah Winfrey, Iman, Nancy Pelosi, Jennifer Hudson and Robinson, herself. The women all share their journeys to womanhood while passing along advice to today’s youth.

Ruben Studdard’s new album is produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and hits stores May 19th.

Beyonce’s new movie, Obsessed with Idris Elba, comes out on April 24th. Check out Beyonce on the new issue of Vogue magazine as well as the latest edition of Ebony. Beyonce is gearing up for a summer tour, and once again she’ll be backed by a female band.

Poet and Author Dr. Maya Angelou has an exciting new project. Letter To My Daughter: Her Path To Living Well And Living A Life With Meaning. In the book, Angelou shares her life lessons.

Producer Lee Daniels has changed the name of his upcoming release. The long awaited project Push will be renamed Precious. The movie is scheduled to be released later this year and stars Mo’Nique, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey and new comer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe as “Precious.” Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey have joined forces to help Lee with the promotion of this movie. The film Precious is based on the book Push by Sapphire, and focuses on the plight of a 16-year old who suffered years of abuse but overcomes her odds with the help of others.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s hard getting old in Hollywood. This Female Celebrity is trying to hang on after a failed marriage and public humiliation at the hands of her husband. She is very bitter, and can’t find an acting job. She has been around the block a few times. Her friends want her to move on with her life, but she still clings to the bitterness. Can she find a new man and a new job in Hollywood?

This famous Baby Momma gets a little frisky with the female models on her photo shoot. She had on a bikini and kept removing her top for the other ladies to see. Apparently, her husband doesn’t mind, he figures the more the merrier…..more money and more women.

With her movie roles drying up this Hollywood Actress figures she better get pregnant with her Baller boyfriend.