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Wesley Snipes is headed back to the big screen. Snipes, 50, will be one of the stars of Expendables III. After serving three years in jail for failing to pay his taxes, he will be joining Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan and Nicolas Cage in the action sequel that will open in theatres August 2014.
Congrats to Courtney Vance and Cicely Tyson. They were both big winners at the recent Tony Awards with Vance taking Best Featured Actor In A Play and Tyson as Best Actress. Tyson is starring in A Trip To Bountiful, and Vance, who is married to Angela Bassett, is co-starring in the Broadway play Lucky Guy with Tom Hanks.
It’s been a great week for Tamar Braxton. The singer became a mommy to a baby boy. Her reality show Tamar And Vince, with husband Vince Herbert, has been renewed for a second season on the WE network. And, in a few weeks, she will be filming a pilot for a new daytime talk show starring women under 40 called The Real. The other hosts, include Actress Tamera Mowry-Housley (Sister, Sister), Singer Adrienne Bailon (The Cheetah Girls) and Comedienne Loni Love.
Who's got the hottest cable network? Check out who’s coming to Oprah Winfrey's OWN. June 16th, Berry Gordy will be the special guest on Master Class. Wanda Sykes is bring comedy to OWN with Herlarious. The 2 one-hour comedy specials air July 13th and 20th. Iyanla Fix My Life, Raising Whitley and Life With LaToya have all been renewed for a full season each on OWN. Fan favorite Welcome To Sweetie Pie's is returning to the lineup in July. In other Oprah news, The Mighty O recently gave $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum Of African American History And Culture. It's the Smithsonian's 19th museum and is slated to be completed by 2015. The Smithsonian will also name a 350-seat theater after Winfrey.
Will Paris Jackson go back to live with the Jacksons after her suicide attempt? According to published reports, she has banned Katherine as well as her birth mother Debbie Rowe from visiting her, but has allowed a visit from her former nanny Grace Rwarmba. What led the daughter of the late Michael Jackson to try to kill herself? Was it bullying at school or not getting along with her 83-year old grandmother Katherine Jackson, who is a Jehovah's Witness? What about the wrongful death of her father and the ensuing civil trial? Paris doesn’t want to testify. The Jackson family has vowed to fight tooth and nail to keep Paris in the family. This weekend Taj Jackson, Tito’s son, is getting married. He is supposed to be co-guardian with Katherine of Michael Jackson's children. Paris won’t be at his wedding.
Chaka Khan was recently inducted into the Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame. Check her out on the cover of Ebony magazine along with LisaRaye and Jurnee Smollett.
Tennis Sensation Serena Williams is looking fit and tone as the latest cover girl for Essence magazine. Congrats also go to Williams because she just won The French Open.
Scandal Star Kerry Washington is in line to become the next “Bond Girl.”
BET’s Sunday Best returns to the cable network on Sunday, July 7th. Kirk Franklin is the host joining Judges Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans.
Is former Basketball Star Allen Iverson headed to jail? Iverson has not been paying child support to his five kids. He owes $40,000 in back support. “The Answer” is supposed to pay his ex-wife $8,000 a month, but he has not made a payment.
How can Will Smith get his career back on track? In a recent interview, he said no more blockbusters for a while. His recent movie After Earth, co-starring his son Jaden Smith, did not do well at the box office. It will barely recoup the millions it cost to make.
The Kobe Bryant auction is off, and his parents have apologized. Bryant had a public falling out with his parents Joe and Pamela Bryant when his mother tried to sell off his high school and early Laker memorabilia. Bryant's parents would have made a lot of money off the items. Kobe accused his mom of stealing the items. Mom Pamela said Kobe wouldn’t retrieve the items when she asked him to pick them up. She said he acted as though he didn’t want them. Joe and Pam have always felt slighted by Kobe, while he lavishes expensive gifts and homes on his wife's people. In the meantime, Joe and Pam have apologized for their actions.
A slap on the butt has landed former Football and Reality Star Chad Johnson in jail. The man formerly known as Ochocinco had a court hearing on a domestic violence issue. When the issue was resolved Chad celebrated by patting his male lawyer on the behind. Well, the courtroom broke out in laughter, which made the judge mad. The judge said Johnson wasn't taking the situation seriously, and she threw out the plea deal and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. Johnson has come a long way from a glorious football career and Dancing With The Stars to a month-long jail stint.
Singer Robin Thicke is tired of TV, and wants to be known for his singing career. In a recent interview, Thicke complained about his role on the ABC singing reality show Duets. He says he only did the show for exposure, so people would know he can sing live. He talked about leaving the BET hit show Real Husbands Of Hollywood. Thicke said the show was hurting his singing career. He didn't stop there. The Lost Without U singer accused Singer Justin Timberlake of stealing his style. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
Queen Latifah is getting some help from Rocker Lenny Kravitz for her new TV talk show. Kravitz has a set design firm, and he will be designing the set for the Queen's new talk show. Queen Latifah makes her debut on CBS September 16th.
Soledad O’Brien is proving there is life after CNN. O’Brien will be joining Bryant Gumbel for his HBO show Real Sports.
Federal prosecutors are recommending four years in prison for Jesse Jackson, Jr. The former congressman pled guilty to charges related to his spending $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items. His wife, Sandi, is also headed to jail with a recommended sentence of 18 months. She pled guilty to filing false joint income tax returns. Sentencing for both is July 3rd.
The Wendy Williams Show has been renewed through 2017. The show airs in syndication and on BET daily, and is now an A-List celebrity stop. Williams has a new advice book, Ask Wendy which is available in stores.
It's another edition of Motown-Philly as Motown Founder Berry Gordy is being honored with The Marian Anderson Award on November 19th. The festivities, including a performance tribute, will take place at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
Gabrielle Union returns to the small screen on the BET drama series Being Mary Jane debuting Tuesday, July 2nd. Union plays a TV talk show host navigating her way through career and single life. The show was created by Mara Brock Akil, creator of Girlfriends and The Game. Speaking of The Game, new episodes also premiere Tuesday, July 2nd.
In more cable news, The BET Awards are set for Sunday, June 30th on BET with Comedian/Actor Chris Tucker hosting. “Uncle” Charlie Wilson is getting the night's big honor, and R Kelly is scheduled to be one of the night's performers.
In November, Idris Elba will be portraying Nelson Mandela in the movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. The movie opens in theatres November 29th, and will detail Mandela's early life and his 27 years in prison.
Upcoming Movies:
Mark Wahlberg is teaming with Oscar Winner Denzel Washington and Paula Patton for the movie 2 Guns, which opens in theatres August 2nd.
The Lee Daniels film The Butler, with Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, hits theatres August 16th. The movie is about White House Butler Eugene Allen, who served under 8 presidents from 1952 to 1986.
David E. Talbert's Baggage Claim, with Paula Patton, Jill Scott, Boris Kodjoe, Trey Songz, Taye Diggs, Dijmon Hounsou and Derek Luke, opens in theatres September 27th.
The Best Man sequel, The Best Man Holiday, with Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa and Sanaa Lathan, opens in theatres
November 15th.
Niecy Nash has a new book out on dating tips for singles called It’s Hard To Fight Naked. Nash returns to the small screen in The Soul Man with Cedric The Entertainer. The second season kicks off Wednesday, June 19th on the TV Land network. Nash is also on the cover of Jet magazine.
White House Down is Jamie Foxx's latest film. Foxx is going to play the President Of The United States and his co-stars are Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx Show alum Garcelle Beauvais. White House Down opens in theatres June 28th. Foxx has also been named the new spokesperson for the national campaign for Big Brothers And Big Sisters. Jamie is also playing the new villain in the next Spiderman movie. Foxx will be playing Electro. His latest movie, the Quentin Tarantino-Oscar winner Django Unchained is available on DVD. The movie also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz (Oscar winner) and Samuel L. Jackson. Foxx is also in talks to star in the movie musical Annie with Oscar Nominee Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts Of The Southern Wild). Foxx is set to play “Benjamin Stacks,” a take-off on the “Daddy Warbucks” character. Annie is scheduled to hit the big screen late next year.
Ahmir Questlove Thompson, the drummer for The Roots, has a memoir coming out June 18th called Mo' Meta Blues: The World According To Questlove.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This soon-to-be Dad has a problem. A jump-off can't stop bragging about their night together after the public girl got pregnant. She's running all over telling anyone who'll listen, but meanwhile he and the public girl are set to be parents soon. Who told side-jawns to do so much talking?
If you would like more info please email me at pattyj1053@aol.com Pattyjackson@clearchannel.com or check me out with my Midday reports at 10:35am, 12:35pm and 2:35pm during the day.
