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

Michael Jackson is being sued. Remember his Thriller video? Remember the lady who played his girlfriend in the video? Well Ola Ray is back. The former Playboy beauty is suing The King Of Pop saying she is owed money royalties from the video. In the meantime, how is Jackson preparing for his London shows which start in July? He’s been spotted getting hair plugs and minor plastic surgery. He has also been shopping, which has a lot of people concerned. Is he rehearsing? Is he taking this seriously? We don’t know? He has auditioned dancers, but what else is he doing? The backstage crew being hired for the shows has already been told to not touch The King Of Pop because he is delicate.

What is going on with comedian Eddie Griffin? The comic, who is known for drinking during his comedy act, recently broke down during a show in Connecticut. Griffin started talking about his family problems, including the fact that he just found out one of his kids that he was raising was not his. Griffin has 8 children, and friends say he is questioning their paternity.

When will Jennifer Hudson reveal all? Is she suffering from a throat ailment, or is she pregnant? Hudson has had to postpone her tour with Robin Thicke to deal with her health issues. Hudson is supposed to do a big promotion with The Today Show for a concert next week. Will she be able to do it? Will she reveal that she is pregnant?

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.

At the movies, it’s Star Trek: The New Adventures Of The USS Enterprise. This movie is focusing on Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock in their early days. Director JJ Abrams has breathed new life into this movie series. Also check out Tyler Perry. Yes Tyler has a cameo! Don’t blink. You may miss him, but he is in the movie. This is the first time he has done someone else’s film. Perry says he has been a fan of Star Trek for years.

Also at the movie, it’s Next Day Air. The comedy, directed by West Philadelphia native and Temple Graduate Benny Boom, stars Donald Faison, Wood Harris and Mos Def. Director Boom is best known for his work with music videos. He says directing a movie has always been a lifelong dream.

It felt like the 80’s last week when Singer Al B. Sure breezed through town. Sure has a new CD coming out in June called Honey, I’m Home. It was 22 years ago when he burst onto the scene with the hits Nite And Day and Off On Your Own Girl. It was fun seeing him. He still looks good. You can check out the photos on our website, wdasfm.com, or on my Facebook page. I had to chance to talk Sure about his current project, and the personal drama surrounding his son (by Kim Porter) Quincy. Quincy has been very vocal about the strained relationship with his father. Al says he will not play out his relationship with his son in public. He says it is a family matter, and is asking for prayers for him and his family.

Can you see Actor Idris Elba as the first black James Bond? I can, and so can Elba. Elba, currently starring in Obsession with Beyonce, says he would be the perfect black James Bond. Elba, best known for his role as “Stringer Bell” on the HBO series The Wire, is actually British, but he does a great American accent.

Ashanti is off to see the wizard. Ashanti will be playing “Dorothy” in the musical revival, The Whiz.

Gospel sensation Marvin Sapp is joining Dr. Ian Smith’s 50 Million Pound Challenge. Sapp says he has struggled to lose weight all of his life? He says now is the time to set a good example for his church and family.

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.

Despite her need for a new kidney, Singer Natalie Cole says the show must go on. So, she is embarking on a music tour that will bring her to this area in the fall.

Get ready for the Milli Vanilli movie. Back in the 90’s, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan were the rage: the hair, the eyes and those songs. In 1990, they won a Grammy for the song Girl You Know It’s True. Then their world came crashing down when they were exposed as frauds. Rob and Fab were not the real singers on the recordings, and it became the music scandal of the 90’s. The two were quickly pushed aside. Rob later died of an overdose in 1998. A deal is currently on the table to bring their story to the big screen.

When you think of great radio Dee Jays, you think of Jocko Henderson, and you think of The Guy With The Goods: Georgie Woods. Woods was so much more than a Dee Jay. He was good looking and smooth, but he also played a significant part in the civil rights movement. I would not be where I am today without the work of a Georgie Woods. A movie about his life is in the works. The movie Georgie Woods: The Forgotten Legend is due out in 2011.

We have to vote EVERYTIME! I bring this up because of how unfair it was when Lil’ Kim got bounced from Dancing With The Stars. A sistah can’t catch a break on that show: Mel B, Laila Ali and now Lil’ Kim. Meanwhile on America Idol, Paula Abdul is finally fessing up about her addiction to pain killers. In an interview with Ladies Home Journal, Abdul says she went under detox last fall. She says she became addicted to painkillers to deal with the pain resulting from her dancing and cheerleading days. In other Idol news, how are they going to ease the new fourth judge out? Kara is not fitting in. In a recent interview, she admitted she only signed on for one season.

Regina King’s new NBC cop drama Southland has been extended on the network. 13 more shows have been ordered. Also look for Actor Derek Luke in the fall debut of the NBC drama Trauma.

This fall get ready for Cleveland. This is the animated spinoff of the FOX hit series Family Guy. Cleveland will feature the voices of Actresses Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long.

En Vogue is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Dawn, Cindy, Terri and Maxine are back together working on a new album.

Jamie Foxx is looking to secure the rights to do a movie about famed Boxer Mike Tyson. Foxx says he is the person to bring this story to the big screen. In addition to producing, Foxx would also star. Tyson is currently out promoting a new documentary on his life. In the documentary, Tyson doesn’t hold back as he talks about the rise and fall of his career.

Dennis Rodman has had enough. The former basketball great has decided to enter rehab for his alcohol addiction. Since retiring from the NBA, Rodman has been involved in one bad incident after another. Rodman’s wife, family, former coaches and friends all played a part in staging an intervention to get Rodman to get his life together.

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.

Bill Cosby has yet 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.

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

Jada Pinkett Smith’s new TV drama about nurses, Hawthorne, debuts June 16th 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.

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.

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?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Comic Legend needs help. He is in poor health, but he won’t admit it. In addition to his mental state, he acts very strange in public. He needs to see a doctor immediately.